Thread: Magnifying glass

Hello Everyone

First of all i'd like to point out the huge wealth of knowledge that fora like this one are for beginners.
Thanks to all for contributing to it.

I 've been shaving with a straight for over a year now and still have questions like those two :

Which minimal magnification rate should I be aiming at when buying a glass ?

The second question is sheer curiosity : do some of you use no paste, no hone bench with success ?
I simply use a chinese stone as a final polisher. The edge is a bit agressive but I don't mind it that way.

Regards

Fabrice

I have a variety of eye loupes that I use for my occupation. I can get by with a high quality B&L 14 or 20x but I prefer my 30x. I haven't had anything with higher power but I do eventually intend to get a variable microscope that goes up to maybe 100 or better. For general checking of the edge I find 30x to be fine. From threads I've been reading lately I am getting the impression that higher magnification may be too much of a good thing.

I have found that besides my regular hanging strop having an alternate pasted stropping surface is very handy in some circumstances. OTOH, I could get by fine with a 4/8 and a standard unpasted hanging strop if that was all I had.

I use 36 x and I can see all that I need. remember that with magnification its the resolution not the power that's important. You can see more detail with a quality 30x loupe than a 60x cheapie.

I highly recommend the 10x triplet from Belomo. See BelOMO 10x Triplet Loupe Magnifier

Shop around the net for pricing.

I'm using the good ol bug eyes that sit on your head, lift when working lower over the eyes for hands free viewing.

My daughter gets a big kick out of them ...

I use a 30x loupe. It gives me all the info i need. I can see the scratch pattern & any micro chips in the edge will stand out easily. Mine was a cheapie, but as i've not used anything expensive i don't know if i'm missing out. You could also consider a USB microscope.

Oh I'd need a better one, too.
Mine is only 8 x but actually good enough to see small nicks.

Fabrice (Hello!) I did not use any pastes for almost a year now and only stropped them on leather.
Just recently I used some Chromium Oxide because I ran into a pre prepared strop.
It does seem to improve things but to me it feels a bit like cheating.

I use a 30x jeweller's loupe (and a cheap Chinese 12K).

Originally Posted by 0livia

Fabrice (Hello!) I did not use any pastes for almost a year now and only stropped them on leather.
It does seem to improve things but to me it feels a bit like cheating.

Hi Olivia.

The world is so small among monomaniacs.
Thanks for all. I now know what to look for.
I have almost never used paste either.