Thread: Good Microscope Recommend?

I understand from reading here and from Lynn that I can buy a microscope for $10.00 from Radio Shack. However I want to spend a little more money and get something that is lasting and comfortable. While I don't want to spend a thousand dollars, I think it might be reasonable to expect a few hundred.

However, I don't have the least notion on what to invest in. Maybe I can get a rock solid microscope that will do the job perfectly for under $100.00?? Can someone direct me to a descent, quality microscope that will do the job well and serve me through the years? One that I will be very happy with. Particularly looking for recommends by people who own, use and love the one they are recommending.

Also, did anyone notice that the price of T.I. razors doubled in less than 2 years? Wow!

Radio Shack...$50 100, 450, 900 power I use the 100 most, find it to be an asset

Check out edmund scientifics for a variety of magnifiers and also Deutche Optik.

I'm new to trying to hone straights and I'm getting frustrated with the fact that one hones up nicely while the other (a supposedly "better" one [Boker]) is holding on to its wire-edge or SOMETHING!?!?

So this caught my eye and wanted to through out as question as to whether Jewelers Loupes (they come at least as strong as 30X) would work? Anyone? Portability is key for my setups.


tpoof, you feather chopper also caught my eye. You shoot traditional?

You can get a Carson MicroMax that goes up to 100X for about $14 + shipping. Optics Planet has it, but have been told on this forum you can get them at Radio Shack. I got one form Optics Planet and it is a shocker once you see the edge that has been shaving you face. My first foray into straight shaving was with a razor I "honed". Shaved quite well. Had a bunch of micro chipping though. And also didn't go far enough down in grit on my stones to polish the edge. Also I now look between each step of honing with the scope to see how everything is progressing.

How about USB microscopes? I'd like to get digital images of the blade.

I have a USB microscope. Its called a Dino-Lite and it magnifies 50X and 200X. It cost me £50 and it is very solid and accurate (some are cheap plastic rubbish). I bought a very basic model and it came with poor software. I use a Mac and whilst the software supplied (DinoScope) gives me a quality screen image to save the image to file I needed to find a free download called CAPTURE ME which works just great.

If you buy the better models, they all work out of the box and work well.

The problem is that 200x doesn't really tell you more than 50X. Yes it magnifies ofcourse but I think you need 1000X to go to the next level of understanding.

Also, holding the scope in the same light position whilst trying to guide the image saver over the picture with the mouse is all a bit messy. You really need a stand for the scope and a fixed position for the blade to get accurate comparability photographs.

The scope in itself works great and was a real eye opener to me compared to the old mechanical microscopes which can cost so much money.

Originally Posted by Soilarch

I'm new to trying to hone straights and I'm getting frustrated with the fact that one hones up nicely while the other (a supposedly "better" one [Boker]) is holding on to its wire-edge or SOMETHING!?!?

So this caught my eye and wanted to through out as question as to whether Jewelers Loupes (they come at least as strong as 30X) would work? Anyone? Portability is key for my setups.

Welcome to SRP ! I have a 30X eye loupe that I bought from Widget Supply here. Works well. I also have a stereo microscope in 30X and it is a bit better but the loupe works and is certainly portable.

Don't know if it's what Lynn was speaking of but I got a $13 pocket microscope with a little light built in today from radio shack. If you have something to hold your blade steady it's not half bad. Definitely is interesting to see the edge between different grits and then pasted strops and naked strops.