Thread: Jewellers Loupe

This may be in the wrong forum and if so will a Mod please move it? Thankyou.

I have a question about jewellers loupes; is a 5X powerful enough or would something more powerful work better? It seems liek a 5X would work fine and that something more powerful would just be too much, but I thought I'd ask the experts. Thanks in advance gentlemen.

-Tye

This should probably go under Honing, but no harm in leaving it here either. I believe that 10x is the minimum and something finer than that would be even better. I use non-visual tests for my blades most of the time.

I think most jewelers loupes start at 10x. thats the standard for most jewelry inspection. If you are using it for razor work and its the only think you are going to use I would suggest a hand lens. They are made by B&L and Zeiss and others. Mine has 2 swing out lenses of 12x and 24x and together they are 36x which I find ideal for a quick razor edge inspection while I'm Honing. You should check out edmunds Scientific on the web they sell many magnifiers at very reasonable prices

Powerful enough for what is the question. To see any nick is in the edge. yes, but barely so and/or you better have good eyesight. I'd recommend the 25x. For anything else you'll need a microscope.

X

I just picked up one of the $10 60x-100x Radio Shack microscopes this week to look at edges with. It works well for me and I'd recommend it. Easy to see the difference between a blade honed by Lynn and one of mine, saves the time needed for a test shave in a lot of cases.

I routinely use a 30x handheld, lighted, microscope from Minolta. The Radio Shack 60x-100x works well also.

The Radio shack is lousy device. It is very uncomfortable to use, will give you (me) headaches after short time staring at the edge. 15x and higher jeweler's loupe is much better choice.

Nenad

I agree with Superfly. I don't even know where my radioshack miscroscope is. I got one, used it a few times and never pulled it out again. The lenses are horrible, but that's what should be expected for that price. I guess I just hate cheap optics. Good optics don't just make things look bigger. They make things look BETTER. Clearer, crisper, better defined.

Oh great, now I have more to buy? :-) I really hope I get a new razor for my B'day. Now I gotta put away funds for a jewerlers loop? I think I have a way to persuade the girlfriend on this one, hopefully I don't have to get engaged to do it!

Originally Posted by superfly

The Radio shack is lousy device. It is very uncomfortable to use, will give you (me) headaches after short time staring at the edge. 15x and higher jeweler's loupe is much better choice.

Nenad

Yes Yes. I totally agree. I bought it used it once and threw it in the draw.. It is a piece of crap.