Gents I'm curious what your using/recommend to look at your edges while honing. I have a handheld magnifying glass and I don't think it's strong enough. Where to buy would be a big + also
Thanks
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Gents I'm curious what your using/recommend to look at your edges while honing. I have a handheld magnifying glass and I don't think it's strong enough. Where to buy would be a big + also
Thanks
I use a 10X jewelers loop.
Having tried one of the cheap USB microscopes from ebay recently I can recommend *not* getting one. It would be unfair to say that it doesn't work but the thing is so fiddly and difficult to set up that it makes the process an absolute nightmare. After 100x magnification, the picture focus is really hard to get right but it works ok up to that point.
I have a jewelers loupe coming im the mail so can't give an account of that yet. The price seems very attractive and 40x should be enough to see the bevel clearly.
This is what I use its not super high powered so you wont get you sea-sick while moving, and the light source is amazing. Yes a bit spendy but I'm worth it right. To be honest I liberated it from work Har!!!
Click link here Microscopes | Travers.com
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Here's a thread. http://straightrazorpalace.com/honin...icroscope.html I have a USB microscope and it's too hard to use and is wobbly. I've ordered a lighted loupe that gssixgun (Glen) refers to in his post there.
I use an American Optical 569 that magnifies .7 to 3X with 10X eyepieces.
That gives me a stereo microscope of 30X which works very well for me.
I have to provide a seperate light source but that is OK.
I bought the scope and eyepieces seperately on Ebay.
Its been awhile so I don't remember for sure, but I don't think I have $100 into it.
I use one of these. I'm not sure how true the magnification specs are but zooms in quite a bit. I have a loupe as well but find that 30x is simply not enough for my tastes. This cheapo little tool has served me quite well.
Mini Pocket Handheld Microscope Magnifier Loupe 160X 200x Zoom Lens LED Light 88 | eBay
Just having this convo w/ a fellow member. I also have a 30x loupe, but I need a seperate light source and also feel the level of magnification isn't enough.
I like your solution. I've also been looking at macro lenses for my Galaxy S4. Your solution may be the most problem free. I would get the magnification I need with a light. Freed from my workstation.
However, I would not be able to take pics, but that's ok. I'm looking at the edge for my own study,...,, Hmmmm.... To be able to show pics of edge progression during honing might be helpful... Hmmmm....
These scopes that I use are so cheap I'm sure you can swing both. This little hand held is a little hard to use at first but you get the hang of it rather quickly. I place it on the side of the blade and slide it toward the bevel until it comes into view. I'd like a nice stereo scope like Tarkus but the cost differential is not exactly insignificant.
Mine is something like this, except that it's from the 1930s not the 1950s:
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I have a version from the 1970s too (similar to those below), but it just doesn't look as cool, and I hone for pleasure, so I use the old one:
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I've been using this thing.. 25x Pocket Microscope ... Existing table lamp light is enough and eye relief is great. I can use it while wearing my glasses. If compared to my "60-200" radio shack light scope it is 60-100. Don't use the radio shack anymore.. No eye relief and too dark. And cheap enough to give away.
I thought I'd add some photographs from the USB microscope in question:
Shot One (Flatters and Garnett, microtome)
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b2...ps6058333c.jpg
Shot Two (Wade & Butcher, Celebrated Hollow)
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b2...psb39a091a.jpg
There is some definition there but I doubt it's hugely better than a good jeweler's loupe. Calling it 500X is pure nonsense since the 2MP resolution just can't deliver and so anything above 100k is just a blur. Fixing the stand to a surface, gluing the scope to the stand and using more patience than I was able to summon may well deliver a better image but that's the best I could get out of it.
Yeah. I'm tempted to say I get better than that with lighting and a 30x loupe(cheapie). Maybe the difference between optical and digital??
im using a dino lite basic. works like a charm. 200x
micro bevel on NOS razor, Jnat finish
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escher
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I use a 60-100x microscope perpendicular to the edge to show me how smooth it is and a 45x loupe "not sure if that is actually what it is" to see how the bevel meets the edge. So far it has worked for me, but if I stare through either of them too long my eyes will start to play tricks on me.
For everyday honing I spent BIG money on them
Amazon.com: 40 X 25mm Glass Lens Jeweler Loupe Magnifier With LED: Industrial & Scientific
and this one also
Amazon.com: SE MW10087L Mini Brass Microscope with Illuminator: Home Improvement
Keeping in mind that I can buy these for less then I can buy the Batteries alone I order them in Bulk hehehe
I find the bright LED to be the best for seeing issues in the edge quickly and easily as you are honing
The best one I have seen to date was at one of the Denver Meets I can't remember who brought it but I was tempted to make off with it :) , it was large well lit and had White and Blue LEDs more of a high power Magnifying Glass rather than a loupe, I haven't found one like it anywhere...
Awesome! The loupe that Glen linked to is precisely the one that I bought - can't wait to receive it!
Because I take my honing more seriously than gssixgun I prefer a scanning electron microscope:Attachment 165290
Urmh... I'm not sure that's big enough.
What do we call this one? MAD??
@Glen, I should've spend the extra $1.50 and got the loupe with the led :(
@MrMagnus,
I'm not sure I want to see the edge *that* closely. I'd loose my mind wondering why it wasn't mirror and completely destroy the edge. lol.
Well you learn fast what to look for, the jnat bevel you see there is top notch shaver :) and you learn alot about uniform patterns from the diffrent stones. With a 10x or 40x i don't see what i wanna see just simple things like that the bevel is hitting the edge. in daily use im using a cheap one aswell but 100x i read the bevel just as fast as with a 40x but i see much more.
If you go syntetic you get this. Not what i perfer thou. Sharp but not comfy for me. I could have hit the light abit diffrent to get a few super light scratches visible but you get the idea. Many ppl dont know how big the diffrance are betwin the naturals in pattern and vs a syntetic edge.
i spend about 30 to 40 min per razor i hone. im not in a rush.
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Here is another Jnat finish. so nice shave.
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Here is the one i use while honing. the usb scope i use when i want to learn more.
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Funny. That's the one I ordered last night. :beer1:
Cheap little 60X on the 'bay or Amazon. I buy them by the half dozen and have them in the car and most places that I work at home and in the Shave Den too.. They have a real long eye relief and make it easy to see the edge. I usually give them to my mentored guys also.
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~Richard
Like Richard,I have at least 4 of those puppys,are great.
Back in my watch repair days I had some great mag devices,still do, when I started Honing I used them,I got to the point I was seeing far to much stuff that I would try to correct and usually things went from good to bad:(
Do not hone anymore but sometimes I look at an edge.
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I'll butt in and answer the question you asked Glen -- Yes, get the one with the light. I have one without and need a separate light, which means I need 3 hands, in my set-up. I just ordered 3 of the lighted ones, because they are cheaper than replacing batteries when one burns out.
I'd put it in a different way, what do you use it for?
I simply look at the shine on the bevel, that way I understand many things, say:
Is there any flat still on the edge?
Am I honing uniformly or is there somewhere I should insist more?
Am I honing on the edge or is it time to change the tape?
Have I cleaned completely the scrape pattern of previous stone?
All that I can see with a simple 20x and carefully looking. And that's fast.:nj
Someday....
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