Thread: Headlamp for edge test

Hi all,

Anyone use a headlamp for checking their edge, or do you have built in LEDs on a loupe? I'm wondering if the headlamp light will be blinding and not soft enough...

Regards, James

I have LED lights on my loupes.
A headlamp might be too bright.....
Always give it a try.

Good old sun light is about it here

I have a headlamp that has a dimmer - it's continuously adjustable from barely visible to blinding. I think the brand is Coast.

A little magnification and any light is all you need.

I use a 60 watt light bulb you have to learn to know what you are looking for, I learned mostly from sharping drill bits and form tools for dies.

Yes, although I have that headlamp for working on other things I don't use it for razors. I prefer a light source that is in front of me and above so the light reflects back to my eyes. A good location if you're having trouble seeing the apex is to stand directly under a bright ceiling light, then back up a foot or two. Hold the razor in front of you and look at the apex with a loupe (I use a 10x when setting bevel) and move things around a little bit until you find the angle where the light comes down from the fixture, bounces off the apex and enters the loupe. This will make any flat spot at the apex look bright and shiny.

Like Eric, I prefer to stand under a bare bulb in my kitchen or tilt a table lamp shade to get direct light from the bulb.

Cheers, Steve

I have an old style Bausch & Lomb Microscope I got a great deal on. It has no light source but has a mirror underneath the table. I see can hardly see the edges "or at all". I wonder if I need a light above the table & how do I go about it? Any help out there?

Dave "Slawman" Huffman

So get one of those magnifier headlamps. Its a headlamp, open the lid and look down thru the magnifying glass for more shiny and gross viewing. mini loupe is mid range, USB microscope takes you to well micro. Sams Club or a Walmart should have the headlamp for under $50 , mini loupe Ebay $12. USB microscope Ebay $20. Laptop needed for USB. The library and terms used in this post will bring up how members built there rigs. Depends on what you want to see, and do you know what your looking for??

Slawman a Overhead lamp or magnatised led flashlight will give you your needed light. I did B&L microscope and mirror. No go without light source from ABOVE. The problem with flashlight is no dimming unless you increase source to light distance.
See Wirm post on USB microscopes. I stole and used his idea an set up