Thread: Microscope recommendation

You guys might like to try an illuminated jeweler's loupe. My latest one is a 60x and gives a very nice view of the edge. Very inexpensive at Widget Supply

Very inexpensive...............

JERRY

I use a 30x eye loupe. I've got a 40x stereo microscope and a hand held 60x illuminated microscope .... but my honing improves a lot if I use the 30x loupe instead.

Jimmy

I like the loupes too. I just checked on Widget and they are out of the 30x / 60x combination loupe at the moment.

Anyone interested in getting the 30/60 should keep checking the website frequently to see if it is back in stock.

However the 20x/40x is quite sufficient.

JERRY

Decorum gentlemen :-)

Look at this one:
Amazon.com: Jeweler's Lighted High-Power Eye Loupe 30 & 60X LED: Office Products

I think I am buying it.

Originally Posted by HNSB

Rather than spending time writing insulting posts, perhaps you could have spent a few more seconds reading the page you linked to:

Originally Posted by randydance062449

FWIW.... my experience has been with a 30x that has a bulb, not an LED. From what I have seen in person most of the inexpensive 30X scopes use a bulb, not an LED.
I find the description of "LED bulb" to be confusing, I have never thought that an LED could be described as a bulb, but maybe technology terms has gotten farther ahead of me than I thought.

Originally Posted by EisenFaust

Decorum gentlemen :-)

One SE illuminated 30x microscope review was:

"The one I bought was unusable, due to the fact that the two AA batteries don't fit in the slot, which is very slightly too short."

I apologize to mainaman if I seemed insulting. I was in a humorous, good mood and it was meant to be taken lightheartedly. However, given the circumstances my concerns are valid. I'm not employed at the moment and I hate wasting money on batteries and creating more waste, especially used batteries. Although I find the radioshack microscope a good performer it is insane in energy usage. I have taken the batteries out each time I finish using it and still it drains them at the speed of... well, whatever speed photons travel.

I've been burned on enough equipment, with misrepresentation, errors, and defects to be very wary. I've seen in the item descriptions the exact same description, possibly from the manufacturer, that ends abruptly and incompletely at the very same word from multiple sellers. I have no idea the accuracy of the item description, whose accuracy seems doubtful given the same errors (I believe this was for a different microscope but you get the idea). I don't have a job, purchased some open razors for low prices and want to continue honing as a hobby. I like to watch the process unfolding with the microscope and find it very illuminating (pun intended). I don't do magic marker tests, I go up the grits (I believe buddel mentioned he did it this way on another forum) and watch the evolution of the bevel that way. I've taken to doing "rough" work on these antique store and eBetray razors that are beyond just chipped and dull, they are in need of rebevelment and edge restoration (not just honing) in that the edge geometry and edge profile (shape) must be changed to facilitate functional contact with the honing surface. For this I need to see the progress under magnification. I'm competent enough to get heels and toes, I've got the experience in changing heels and toes, but if I'm going to do this economically I've got to use a different microscope.

I'm sorry, mainaman. You're right, HNSB, I was not trying to be insulting or hostile. I just want to get to the bottom of this. I'm unemployed and going to school, I don't know how much time I'll have. Hopefully I'll have a part-time job and it won't be as much of an issue, but I'm hardly counting on that, and I hate throwing all these batteries into a land-fill.

I also wonder about the prices of the smaller batteries, like SG3 (LR41?) for the LED loupes. Some of these devices require 3 of them. How long do they last? Etc. etc.

This is where I'm at: I see so many reviews of products I've learned aren't bad, but some reviews are negative. I've been burned on products. I've wasted money on bad norton products (4k) and have payed more money than a simple replacement, I'm wary of purchasing from the same company again. I want some "boots on the ground" personal experience and information about a microscope. I feel it's important, not just for me, but I'm definitely a poor man who wants to purchase one microscope and be done with it. I don't want curt, incomplete responses.

PM me your address Axel. I'll mail you something that uses an LED, has great battery life, and pretty good optics for a low end pocket-type microscope.
I have a couple of them that I don't need anymore.