Thread: not sure where to put this

So I'll try here. I just bought the cheapie $9.99 microscope from Radio
Shack today. How the heck do you use it. I can barely find the blade and when I do it always disappears when I try to focus. I see the power goes from 60X to 100X what power is best and what exactly should I be looking for. Thanks. Oh. BTW was that the microscope I keep hearing about or did I buy the wrong one. Its powered by 2 AAA batteries and has a small bright light in the base.

Originally Posted by willist

So I'll try here. I just bought the cheapie $9.99 microscope from Radio
Shack today. How the heck do you use it. I can barely find the blade and when I do it always disappears when I try to focus. I see the power goes from 60X to 100X what power is best and what exactly should I be looking for. Thanks. Oh. BTW was that the microscope I keep hearing about or did I buy the wrong one. Its powered by 2 AAA batteries and has a small bright light in the base.

Hi Willist,

Don't know what other people here will say about that microscope, but there was quite a discussion about that and other magnifiers over on a knife forum. They mostly are in favor of the BELOMO 10x Triplet, Loupe, Hand Lens. Of course I don't know if our razors need better magnification than what the Belomo offers. I also would be interested in peoples opinions.

John

I think the reason some recommend this microscope here is that it is an exepensive way to start examining your razor's edges. They are very hard to handle and must be kept very still as any movement at all will make your dizzy after a few minutes. I ended up getting a regular Microscope on ebay for around $75.

Have fun.

Lynn

This is the Microscope I use. I tend to keep it on 60x as 100x doesn't really improve anything and narrows the field view. I think this one is recommended because you really need more magnification than a loupe provides and you need a top illuminating model and this one is cheap. It is a little difficult to get used to. I recommend focusing it on another more stable surface then trying it on your razors. What you are looking for is improvement over time. The best I can describe it is off of the 4000 I see a smooth straight edge but the bevel is still covered with fine scratches. After the 8000, when the razor is shave ready (to me) all the fine scratches are gone and the edge and bevel is like a mirror, or black ice depending on how the light hits it. Then I do 10 strokes on a Swaty, strop and shave test. If I was wrong about the shave readyness it is usually only by about ten strokes on my Swaty.

There is an interesting discussion here on different types of microscopes etc.

John

heres the link to the microscope:

http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=2179604