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I have a KPI Hastings Triplet loupe 10x.
I would like to know what a person needs to check as they hone a razor. Also if this is a good magnification. (Bevels look small). From what I have read a good 10x is better than more at a lower quality. Also that the higher magnification loupes had to be held too close to allow enough light. What do most people find good for this sort of thing. I don't know if I should keep this or look for something else.
Thanks
I have a 30x loupe with an LED light on it that I got off Amazon for $6. It works just fine for me, no problems with the light and I get a nice clear image of the bevel.
From my (VERY VERY VERY LIMITED) experience, checking the bevel with the loupe is nice and all, but I get more accurate feedback with either a thumbpad test or trying to shave arm hair.
I use a 30X lighted loop I got for about $10 delivered to my door..
If you are interested, here is the link:
Widget Supply 25mm 30x Chrome Teardrop Jewelers Loupe, Illuminated
Good luck mate!!
Mike
The rage here used to be a cheap microscope that was available 5 or 6 years ago. A microscope of any quality has it all over a loupe, no matter how good it is. Just not enough magnification in a loupe.
Once I got both, I never used the loupe again except for checking for pits in the blade, razor condition etc.
If you are interested, the microscope was a 60-100x with a built in light and adjustable focus and zoom from RadioShack. Slick, inexpensive unit, but don't know if they are still available.
For a starter magnifier, go with what "stonehenge" said & don't waste your $ on the loupes.
No magnifier will tell you how sharp an edge is. It will tell you the condition of the edge-bevel which may point you in the right direction however the most gorgeous bevel and edge in the world may not shave worth a damn.
With magnification it's resolution not magnification that's important. A quality 10x loupe will show you more than a poor 100x.
I have 10X, 20X and 30X loupes but usually use the 10X. I watch for the edge to "disappear". When there is no longer any light being reflected by the edge itself, and only from the bevel, I know I'm getting close. I use the TNT for confirmation but don't even bother with that until the edge reflects no glints of light.
I have a 50x or 25x Brock microscope that I have been using. I like it. At 50x I can't focus on the whole bevel at the same time clearly. A little piece of fuzz looks like a chip on the edge etc. The higher magnifications opens up a whole new world and is cool but I think it is unnecessary.
[QUOTE=thebigspendur;940893A quality 10x loupe will show you more than a poor 100x.[/QUOTE]
Totally agree. A 10x Triplet quality loupe is plenty for me when honing. The 30x and higher up cheap loupes they sell (China) equals a 10x triplet loupe. The quality loupes are more crisp too. I've been using a loupe for 34 years so my eyes are also trained to use one. That can make a difference off course.
A quarter of a century of checking tattooing needle points with an eye loupe has me, like Max, trained in their use, to where I find them very effective for examining an edge. I've got a 20x B&L hastings triplet, a 14x B&L Coddington ....whatever that is ..... and a Chinese 30x that I got at widget supply for $30.00. I used the one that is handy at the time and all are adequate or better. I've also got a B&L stereo microscope with 40x but I rarely bother to go to it. The loupes are so much handier.
Loupe here too 30x LED lit,,, Never really needed more
I am planning on getting something I can take some edge pics with though but just for fun not for honing
Under good lighting it is amazing what you can pick up with the naked eye(for me that means glasses) let alone a loupe.
Richard
I picked this little scope up about 4 months ago. I like it. You just have to shop a few Radio Shacks, not every Shack carries it.Quote:
Originally Posted by stonehenge
I use the microscope to observe how the stone performs on the edge, I don't use it to determine the sharpness of the edge. I shave test it for that.
I have tried several cheap loupes from 8x-30x. They all do about the same job but the one I preferred was the 8x because it is 1.5" wide.Quote:
Originally Posted by binder
What you need to check is that the scratches go all the way to the edge & there are no odd shadows or glints possibly denoting multiple angles or bevels.
It takes time to get your eyes familiar but here's a few pics to help. These are done with a cheap USB microscope but should give you an idea
First pic is @20x. If you look hard at the centre of the edge you can see the remnants of a rust pit. Small dark shadow.
2nd pic is 200x & you can see a couple of shadows from pitting there. All this will clean up thru the progression but at this point I see if I can shave arm hair as a confirmation. I can't remember if this one was 100% set but it would be close. Visual cues are not always WYSIWYG, just another aid.
Both pics are at 2k stone.
There are also some pics of an incomplete bevel & its correction here : http://straightrazorpalace.com/advan...tml#post892889
I know that a while the image of a bevel won't let you know the effective sharpness of an edge, it does tell you lot's about what's going on with the edge. The flatness of the bevel, the completeness of it. And of course, the striations and polish of the bevel. These are important thing's to get out of the way before final polishing/finishing of the edge. Once all the above is dealt with, it's time to go to the finishing stones and polishing paste's.
I prefer for the unseen part the TNT at the 1k level, and arm hair shaving before going to the higher grit's, after the first attempt's on the 8k, I look for arm hairs to POP when addressed from just above the skin's surface. Then and only the the all important shave test!! And even if all the nail and hair tests are passed, without a great shave, your efforts are for nought!!
But that what it means to fine tune an edge, going back to the stones and get that great shave we all look forwards to.
Have a great shave on me and BBS at that!!
tinkersd