Thread: What type of magnifying glass to buy

Hi guys

I want to have a look at the bevel and cutting edge on my razor to see what is actually happening down there !
I dont want to invest in an electron microscope and cant see myself taking pictures with it etc, so am looking to source a cheap and effective way of viewing the cutting edge and sratch pattern on my razor.


I live in London but dont mind buying on line and waiting a few weeks.

Regards
London

Well, seeing you have selfishly barred the acquisition of an inexpensive electron microscope (doesn't everyone have one?!?!), perhaps a simple 30x jewelers loupe might fit the bill. I've had 3 of the 30x - 50x pocket microscopes and I far prefer this loupe. Granted, it won't show you *everything* but it's good enough to see if you're honing the very edge using the marker on the bevel trick, and you can see if the scratches from the previous hone have been replaced by the ones of the next finer hone. You will NOT be able to see if it is *sharp*, nor will you be able to tell if it is overhoned unless grossly so, but you WILL see any significant nicks/chips and even some that are so small as to have no effect on the shave quality (well, at least it does in my case).

The link is to the source where I got mine but these loupes can also be found on ebay and perhaps a local jewelers supply shop in your area.

Regards

Christian

I was going to suggest exactly the same. I cannot recommend yet though, as i've only recently bought one & am awaiting it's arrival. Got mine from that auction site.

+1, I got one from Widget Supply some time back when kaptain_zero recommended it. Works very well.

A 30x loupe is a great tool and will help a lot more than the very cheap microscopes. If you get one I would advise the kind you can hold in your eye - then you can have both hands free to hold the razor.

Just got the one kaptain_zero mentioned above
and I like it!

I don't recommend the Belomo 20x geologists loupe. It focuses too closely.

That one from widget is probably a 10x magnification. I interpret the 30x-20mm to mean 30mm x 20mm meaning the focal point and something else. End result being false advertising.

Belomo 20x is a true 20x and the 10x is great too. I use both. But I mostly use the 10 because its easier on the eye.

Hey guys, I tried the lighted 30x on ebay which is alright and has a 25mm decent size lens but only focuses in the middle of the lens and is plastic. I tried the 30x triplet and it has no light and focuses only a mm away from the object and is basically useless. This 40x lighted one I just got works really well...

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It has a glass aspherical lens and bright lights and uses AAA instead of coin cells. The quality of the lens is superior to the others.

I got a x15 lighted loupe from Lee Valley Tools and it does quite well. I can see my edge, but it's not huge or anything. I suppose I could try a stronger magnification, but for now this one seems to get the job done.