Thread: What mircoscope(s) are everyone using???

I bought a Digital Blue QX5, but it leaves a lot to be desired. What make and model is being used themost these days???

Thanks,
Lee

I'm with you Lee. I bought one and it works "OK", but I think I will buy one with beter optics, etc. Uthed has some cool scopes and is very knowledgeable, but he has not posted in a while. Try searching his old posts.

I've got the $10 radio shack for now...more imprtant things to invest in at the moment!

RT

I use a $5 30X handheld microscope with a built in light. It does everything
I want except connect to a computer. The brand name is Micronta.

Originally Posted by rtaylor61

I've got the $10 radio shack for now...more imprtant things to invest in at the moment!

RT

This is the one I have too. Seems to do the trick for being able to see nicks and imperfections. It takes a while to get used to the reversed image thing, but hey, doesn't everything in this hobby??

Originally Posted by cudahogs

This is the one I have too. Seems to do the trick for being able to see nicks and imperfections. It takes a while to get used to the reversed image thing, but hey, doesn't everything in this hobby??

It was easier to learn than "cross-shaving". I can't use my left hand for anything except clicking a mouse!

RT

For a quick check I use a Zeiss handlens which has 34x. Its good to see any nicks in the blade but for detail I have a Nikon Stereo Microscope which only maxes out at about 80x but provides detail in spades. Its probably overkill for razor observations and I wouldn't spend that much for one but I've had it for 30 years having used it in my rockhounding days.

I also use the $10 Radio Shack special. I can see the imperfections in the edge, that's all I'm interested in. Keep fresh batteries in it though, they go down gradually and you don't notice until you have a headache. .....Jeff

I have one of those ebay Stereo S/ST Microscopes with 20x 40x 80x lenses. It is very nice, but not always the bottom line on a shavable edge. It is nice to see what we talk about in here although personally the 200x doesn't tell me much for day to day. Probably because I am not as technically oriented or educated as alot of our members. I didn't even buy this Microscope until I had already honed about 3,000 razors. I still believe that you can see most of what you need with a simple magnifying glass and testing the razor shaving. They are fun though, although I probably haven't used mine more than a couple dozen times in the past two years. Like so many innovations we have seen over the last 5 years, there is much debate here. I am glad I have one though. Lynn

I have a QX5 and the radioshack. I mostly use the radioshack. I was hoping to use the QX5 for some studies, but its resolution is just not good enough.

I really wanted to see the microserrations and how they change when you work on a razor. It looks to like it would probably take 1000x with good resolution to do that. I can still learn a lot with the QX5, and I like that I can take and store pictures to study later. The focusing and lighting issues are a challenge.

I've definitely found a connection between keenness and edge smoothness at 100x. The keen edges are always smooth, but the smooth edges are not always keen. I suspect there's something going on with the microserrations that I can't see at the resolutions and magnifications available.