Thread: USB Microscope/magnifier

Good Morning my fellow SR enthusiasts!!! (added an extra cup of coffee today and I'm wired)

I'm looking for reviews/suggestions for a good CHEAP USB Micro to purchase in the future (Daddy's got a Bday next month and Momma owes me for the dishwasher)

I won't be buying a set of stones anytime soon, but I would like to examine the blades I have (thanks Marty and Bill for the honing on my blades).

I want to monitor my stroping and monitor the edge for experience purposes.

I've got a hand held LED that gives up to 120 X mag. I'm so worried about dinging the edge when I use it!!! It's like I'm holding a newborn for the first time. Any suggestion with the handheld is greatly appreciated, too.

Have a good one and smooth shaves!

Cheers,

Jer

I use a belomo 10X loupe. A quality product that is well priced. You dont need to have it glued to the edge to see what you really need to see.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00QT...son+microscope

Carson eflex - good scope.

I'm also looking for a USB microscope.

Originally Posted by Longhaultanker

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00QT...son+microscope

Carson eflex - good scope.

I just bought this for use in repairing some of my pocket watches AND to look at the blades. It is 2 MP but is under $50. There are better ones but the price starts jumping up from there.

You don't need to spend a lot of money unless you want to. There are many choices on the bay in the $15 to $35 range. Most are up to 800x magnification and 2 MP. The 120x loop should be plenty if not to much to look at the edge. Being that powerful I guess you need to get close and be steady to get a good view. Perhaps set it down on the bench or table and bring the loop to the razor if your worried about dinging it. Good luck.

Have a couple of tips that might help some of you: I bought an supposedly 5MP 200-800 power scope from ebay-China, turns out the seller was a POS and Cam WAS 2MP, so I made them pay me back for their LIE, Make SURE that you are getting what you pay for or you could get some Genuine JUNK. Turns out that the scope I use cost me $5.00 shipped if memory serves.

Beware of Amazon too, for their policies backing the Customer Are NON existent, especially with third party sales.

I had gone to the salvation Army thrift store a while back and picked up a student microscope(6.00) which was not much good for the task I bought it for so I cut off the scope from the frame and with a hose clamp, mounted the digicam/scope to that, Made a HUGE difference in clarity and stability to focus with a knob, plus a plastic or foam mouse pad for the base and no more worry of dinging a razor.

The other small thing I did was to use a small piece of Pvc pipe1/2" with a bit of foam glued to the female end so I could Tilt the scope back and make fine adjustments to the easily turned lens of the scope, helped Very much. There was NO factory setting for the fine adjustment of the lens, even the fine threads were sloppy, so 1/4 turn adjustments made a big diff. in image quality.

That's about it.

If you are worried about hitting the edge with the loupe. Here is what I do with my Carson, Mico Max, add a piece of foam to the contact edge. “Show the World How You Modified Your Tools”, (post 78), a great thread packed full of tips.

The foam protects the edge and after a while cuts a notch in the foam that makes registration of the edge for focus easy.

If you want to slide the scope down the razor, lift it off the edge or bevel and hook your pinky over the spine as a guide, slide the scope down the bevel, with it off the bevel and drop back onto the bevel when you stop, you will be in focus or very close and no danger of the edge biting into the scope and damaging it.

With the Micro Max the scope rests on the spine and bevel.

If you are buying a USB scope, buy the highest pixels you can afford, but 2mp scopes can take great pics. Really for what we do, you don’t really need that much detail.

I have about a 5 year old, Veho 2mp, 60/400 x, it takes good photos.

You do need to experiment with your set up

Originally Posted by Euclid440

If you are worried about hitting the edge with the loupe. Here is what I do with my Carson, Mico Max, add a piece of foam to the contact edge. “Show the World How You Modified Your Tools”, (post 78), a great thread packed full of tips.

The foam protects the edge and after a while cuts a notch in the foam that makes registration of the edge for focus easy.

If you want to slide the scope down the razor, lift it off the edge or bevel and hook your pinky over the spine as a guide, slide the scope down the bevel, with it off the bevel and drop back onto the bevel when you stop, you will be in focus or very close and no danger of the edge biting into the scope and damaging it....

Awesome idea - I use a very similar hand held and worry about the edge. Checked out the thread ... gotta get to the craft store.

Adam

Thanks Marty...should've just waited till the meet. I have a feeling a lot of questions will be answered that day!!!