Thread: Just got a microscope from RS -- Cool!

Yes, in my opinion, you can easily dull the blade when using the Radio Shack microscope. I hadn't thought of using scotch tape to protect the edge. This was mentioned previously. But, be very careful!

those scopes are a great tool. i was honing up a e-bay razor i bought for 14 bucks and could not get an edge on it, so i scoped it and found a crack in the blade! that scope also shows you when you set a nice bevel , for 12 bucks any one who hones should have one.

The scope helps me in many ways.

Several times razors just wouldn't take an edge like I thought they should. When I viewed them with the microscope, I detected little indentations or pits caused by rust, extending throughout the blade. To my eye, and even with a loupe, the blade looked good. But, under the scope, the rust could be seen honey-combing the metal to various degrees.

A few times I clinked my blade against something, or dropped it in the sink, and wondered whether I had bunged up the edge. Visually, it looked good. But, from experience I have found out visual inspection isn't the final answer. Shaving with an edge that is ever so slightly rounded or dinged is a formula for razor burn. And, the scope has given me the ability to know a blade is still in good shape without sacrificing my face to find out!

As I become more comfortable with honing, I use my scope less and less. But, I don't expect the scope to ever become unneeded and unused.