Thread: Microscope Examination

Thanks Lynn and Joe,
I tried using the RS microscope with no avail - kind of like trying to use a rifle scope or binoculars with poor optics - I've gotten spoiled by using Swarovski nocs for hunting. So, I've been trying to find a 20x 40x 80x stereo microscope similar to what Lynn mentioned at the beginning of this thread.

Lynn, who did you buy yours from and is 80x sufficient? I like the idea of it being somewhat portable since I'm honing my razors in the same sharpening station at my wood shop. It would be nice to grab it and go. Who on eBay did you purchase from and were you happy with the transaction?

Joe, what is your consensus on the usb microscope? I always could grab one of my notebook computers and dedicate it to it? At $70 who makes the optics?

I don't know. It's the Intel QX5 that Korndog links to in his 9/11 post.

Originally Posted by Rik

Joe, what is your consensus on the usb microscope? I always could grab one of my notebook computers and dedicate it to it? At $70 who makes the optics?

Korndog,
Have you have a chance to use one of these? I'm trying to decide between this and a stereo microscope.

Originally Posted by Korndog

Hal, have you seen these? Some guys on the knife forums have had great things to say about them. Built in light source and 200x mag:

http://www.compuvisor.com/qx5diblmicom.html

fwiw, I have one of these intel microscopes I bought refurbed on ebay. It's nice to have a monitor-size picture and the quality is reasonably good at 60x, but the next increment is 200x and is pretty grainy. Focus is very touchy. I often times get frustrated with it and go back to the Radio Shack hand-held. Would I buy it again -- maybe

Whoa! ..... I think I am one of the first who advocated the use of magnification to check the progress of honing and stropping wa-a-a-aa-a-y long ago on the Yahoo! site. It is a delight to see this idea really taken hold and I still advocate it, especially for newbees.

The ideal magnification to me is dependent. It you are using a jewelers loupe, 10X is ideal since anything larger will require the razor to be dangerously close to your face.

With a stand microscope, I perfer the 60X magnification. This is ideal for a close-up of the edge. I find more than 100X to be one of those diminishing returns situations.

Still, as a restorer of old microscopes, in addition to razors and fountain pens, I do have an extra biology microscope to sell for someone who, like Tim Allen, needs more power ..... pm me!

I agree you were the first one I saw. It must've just taken a while to catch on.

I have a comment on 60x. I was using it as my standard, but then I observed something that Lynn also mentioned. It's in a message on the Yahoo site that was yesterday or today. When I started checking at 100x I found that even the Ebay razors I put in good shavable condition had nicks and waves that were invisible to my eye. When I leveled those out, the razors got much better. So, I think you really need 100x.

See my next message for 200x shots.

Originally Posted by uthed

With a stand microscope, I perfer the 60X magnification. This is ideal for a close-up of the edge. I find more than 100X to be one of those diminishing returns situations.

There are six 200x QX5 shots in the first post here http://www.straightedgerazors.com/fo...9&page=2&pp=10. They look great to me.

Originally Posted by azjoe

fwiw, I have one of these intel microscopes I bought refurbed on ebay. It's nice to have a monitor-size picture and the quality is reasonably good at 60x, but the next increment is 200x and is pretty grainy. Focus is very touchy. I often times get frustrated with it and go back to the Radio Shack hand-held. Would I buy it again -- maybe

The Radio Shack scope has been mentioned numerous times, but I've seen no link for it. I'm assuming this is the one...

http://tinyurl.com/4ngp6

Randy

Hi Randy!

You found it. It does work but you do get what you pay for. I ended up returning mine.

Originally Posted by Joe Lerch

There are six 200x QX5 shots... They look great to me.

Yes, I saw them a few days ago and they looked pretty good to me, too. I checked and my model is the older QX3... I believe it uses the same optics, but the QX5 camera has higher resolution. Since mine's a refurb, it could be that it's just somewhat of a lemon, too.