Just got my Stereo Microscope, very very useful (found problems)

I just did my first honing of a razor I bought off ebay, and it gave a very good shave. However, when I looked at the edge under 30x Magnification I saw about 1/2 dozen little micro nicks and one decent one.

Now I looked at it again with my eyes (20/20) and I could only barely see the 1, the rest I couldn't.

So, back to the hones. Put it on the 1k Norton until all the micro nicks were gone at 40x magnification. The did the progression to make it shave ready again (Norton 4k/8k Chinese 12k Strop)

Shaved even better!

The razor now looks just as good under a microscope as a brand new Mach3 or Fusion does at 40x magnification.



http://www.amscope.com/images/Picture_3643.jpg

Welcome to the club of the magnified and enlightened! I consider mine to be an invaluable tool for every single razor that I hone. Nothing beats a stereomicroscope for ease of use. The depth of field allows you to focus simply by moving the razor rather than twiddling knobs so you get a better view faster.
Good buy!

I'd love to get my hands on something to be able to see what's going on,

I'm wondering if anyone has used one of these before ?


http://imgs.inkfrog.com/pix/best.ausupplier/T129_2.jpg

Something more in my price range, but if it wouldn't do the job then i wont waste my money

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Originally Posted by netsplit

I'd love to get my hands on something to be able to see what's going on,

I'm wondering if anyone has used one of these before ?


http://imgs.inkfrog.com/pix/best.ausupplier/T129_2.jpg

Something more in my price range, but if it wouldn't do the job then i wont waste my money

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I use one on my bench. It takes a bit to get used to it but it serves.

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Originally Posted by mademperor

I just did my first honing of a razor I bought off ebay, and it gave a very good shave. However, when I looked at the edge under 30x Magnification I saw about 1/2 dozen little micro nicks and one decent one.

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Way to go. :tu Without magnification, at least a good eye loupe, a honer is in the dark. No pun intended. People would be amazed at what they can get a "good" shave out of if they could see it magnified. Having magnification really makes a lot of difference in getting that edge right and a truly smooth shave.

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Originally Posted by netsplit

I'd love to get my hands on something to be able to see what's going on,

I'm wondering if anyone has used one of these before ?


Something more in my price range, but if it wouldn't do the job then i wont waste my money

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If the magnification range is 60-100x, I'm not sure that's ideal because the magnification is too high. Personally, I think you see most of what you want to see at 20-40x because you can see larger areas of the blade with sufficient magnification. Then again, I've never used this scope and Ken has.

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Originally Posted by Utopian

If the magnification range is 60-100x, I'm not sure that's ideal because the magnification is too high. Personally, I think you see most of what you want to see at 20-40x because you can see larger areas of the blade with sufficient magnification. Then again, I've never used this scope and Ken has.

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I've got an old stereo scope second or third hand with 30x, a 30x and a 20x eye loupe and they serve the purpose well. I would like to get one of the better scopes with the 100x capability that you can take photos of your edges with. Maybe if the economy comes back around I will. Meanwhile the 30x is real good.

I use one of the 60/100x scopes. The Radio Shack variety: it works dang good, but you do have to "learn" it's quirks and idiosyncracies for sure.

How much was the microscope, mademporer? I soooooo want a stereo scope.

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Originally Posted by Ben325e

I use one of the 60/100x scopes. The Radio Shack variety: it works dang good, but you do have to "learn" it's quirks and idiosyncracies for sure.

How much was the microscope, mademporer? I soooooo want a stereo scope.

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$144 shipped 20x/30x/40x/60x (2 sets of eye pieces, 2 objectives)

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Originally Posted by mademperor

$144 shipped 20x/30x/40x/60x (2 sets of eye pieces, 2 objectives)

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Nice ! Where might they be found ? :)

I bought one almost identical to that one but I think it was one step up. Mine has a knob rather than a switch which allows for 3 settings (Light beaming down, light beaming up, both). I love it. I find that 20x & 40x is all I need. Mine came with the other set of 2x opticals bringing mine up to 80x, but that set of opticals is a much narrower field of view. The 20x/40x is a very wide angle of view and like Utopian said, it makes for easy and quick review of the entire edge by just moving the razor across the field of view.

Stereo Microscopes rock.

40x has been plenty for me and is actually my preferred magnification to use when viewing edges.

Chris L

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Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Nice ! Where might they be found ? :)

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Originally Posted by mademperor

I just did my first honing of a razor I bought off ebay

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Warning: Browsing ebay may lead to more browsing

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Originally Posted by hoglahoo

Warning: Browsing ebay may lead to more browsing

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And browsing always, and I mean ALWAYS leads to buying some damn thing....:gaah:

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Originally Posted by netsplit

I'd love to get my hands on something to be able to see what's going on,

I'm wondering if anyone has used one of these before ?

Something more in my price range, but if it wouldn't do the job then i wont waste my money

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This looks VERY much like the Radio Shack one ($13) I have with different knobs. It works. The image you see is very clear and sharp once you get it positioned and focused. It's tedious and awkward to use but it works. At the lowest power of 60x you're looking at a very small length of the edge. Then it takes a steady hand to move along the blade and keep the edge in the picture. but it works.

+1 with Kenrup and Quick, it may be small but it works quitw well for the little money it costs, and without it you are only guessing about the edge!

Check out Edmunds Scientifics and Deutsch Optic for a range of magnifiers and microscopes.

I reread my post and I think it may have sounded like I was poo pooing the stereo microscope. Not the case. I'm planning on honing my own razors and having 4 or 5 in a rotation. This means I would be inspecting about 1 edge a month on average. If I was going to be looking at an edge more frequently, like about once every week or two and/or using the microscope for anything else, I'd get one of those. (If I had any money I might get one anyway :))