Thread: picked up a stereo microscope for looking at edges!

Well, after going to the texas meet, and seeing rons microscope and setup, I ordered an amscope stereo microscope. It seems to be a pretty good scope and while ive not spent near enough time with it, it seems to be working pretty well. I need to make a better ball mount for holding razors that is steadier, as I just cant hold things steady enough to get much more than 45x out of it.

anyways, here is a quick video on the scope, and taking a quick look at an ebay razor. the scope itself will go from 3x to 180x with the different lenses. and I got the adapter to put my d3200 Nikon into the 3rd port and it has 24 megapixel thingys so the pictures look pretty good to me. I hope to shoot more videos with it soon to help folks learn how to sharpen/hone.

https://youtu.be/JmpllDx-Oj8


oh, and if anyone has any ideas for videos with it, please let me know :}

I like the direct monitoring setup rather than using a PC or laptop. The worst part about good magnification is that once you see an issue you’ve got to go back and fix it. But it’s only an issue if you’re having a lazy day...

Originally Posted by lightfoot

I like the direct monitoring setup rather than using a PC or laptop. The worst part about good magnification is that once you see an issue you’ve got to go back and fix it. But it’s only an issue if you’re having a lazy day...

I have no idea what you mean by a "direct monitoring setup." A PC or laptop simply serves as an image output.

There is nothing bad about good magnification. Being able to see a flaw in an edge does not obligate you to correct it, but I'd much rather have the opportunity to be aware of it.

I have one but of course I bought mine 50 years ago for other purposes. I've always thought it was overkill since to maintain an edge a quality handlens will show everything you need to see. It's kind of a cost benefit thing.

Of course if you're flush with cash and want the best it's all elementary.

Congratulations on going high tech Joe. Looks awesome.
I think there will be plenty of room on the table in Texas for your setup too next year.

Pete <:-}

I actually tried to hook the camera up to my laptop first, but not being very good at the tech stuff, I wasn't able to get it to work. then I remembered ron was using a tv, so I raided the spare room and brought that tv up to the shop and it worked really well. and its nice that the tv is a 26" which is a much bigger screen than my laptop.

I think there is a big difference between the magnification between this and a handlens. I have 30x and a 45x loupes, and what I can see with the scope on 30 or 45 is much different than the loupes. maybe I don't have quality ones.... and while it was sort of expensive, the way I looked at it was what good is having all these expensive stones, when I cant see what it is that I am doing with them? and I am sure it will come in handy in the shop for other things like taking a real close look at my Damascus welds, pulling splinters, repairing small things, and possibly even engraving if I ever get into that. plus when you really think about it, what I paid for this scope is much less than a quality store bought grinder, or kiln. and while I built my 3 main grinders, and my kiln, I'm not able to build one of these.

on seeing issues and fixing them. I suppose that if all I wanted to do was make regular old razors or knives, then I could follow that. but I want to make good razors and knives. the higher you set the bar, the harder you have to work to get there, and I am good with that.

pete, ok, I will plan on bringing it down next year :}

The big difference between the loupe and the scope is the scope gives you a much larger field of view and much better lighting conditions as well as stability in the image. However the resolution of the image can be the same if the loupe is up there in quality.

Gotta agree with tbs. I have a Bausch & Lomb 10 x Jeweller's loupe, the type you stick on your eye. In hindsight i should have got the 8x to give me a larger field of view but for honing it's all I need, super clear. When it comes to sharing pics on the net etc you can't beat a good scope or even a cheap one but image has to be clear, as yours is. Apart from seeing chips in an edge the incomplete bevel is crucial to identify for a good result. Have fun with the new toy

Originally Posted by Utopian

I have no idea what you mean by a "direct monitoring setup." A PC or laptop simply serves as an image output.


There is nothing bad about good magnification. Being able to see a flaw in an edge does not obligate you to correct it, but I'd much rather have the opportunity to be aware of it.

Didn’t know my comment would hit everyone the wrong way. I just thought his monitor solution was creative and resourceful.
The 2nd part of my comment was supposed to be a bit of tongue in cheek but it seems that one wasn’t well articulated either...

Originally Posted by lightfoot

it seems that I hit another foul ball...

Welcome to the club. I got it.
Anything to do with honing you gotta have thick skin! That's how I roll!