Thread: New toy! USB microscope

Much to my wife's chagrine, I'm a sucker for gadgets.

Well, I've been pondering a way to more objectively know when my honing is done and decided on a USB microscope after reading that others are using them as well. Guess my eyes are getting too old for a jeweler's loupe and on an occasion, despite my best efforts, the TPT just doesn't tell the whole story. The HHT has never worked for me as my hair is too fine. No, I'm not going to admit it's thinning!

These are not anywhere near gssixgun's quality, but thought I would share my first experiment with it.

These were taken at about 50X:

This is the Dovo that I shaved with this morning:


Hmm, not as bad as I thought it was.

Next in my rotation is an old Hammesfahr:


After it is another Dovo:



Yuck. My Boker that is in the hone pile:



The experiment continues!

Steve

Can you link the USB that you bought ???

If those were yer first attempts at pics I am impressed, I need a simple and easy USB microscope

TIA

I can't remember who said it way back when, I want to say Jimmy if not my mistake but I laughed till I was crying

"As soon as I lowered the magnification my honing looked way better"

I picked up a USB microscope on the bay last week too. It was dirt cheap and I figured it should be fun to play with. It's coming from the other side of the world, so it may take a while to arrive, but when it does I'll share any results and let you all know if it's worth playing with.

Hey, Jimmy's right! Lower the magnification and they look fantastic! LOL!

gssixgun - This is the one I got:
https://www.adafruit.com/products/636

Pretty basic, but it works well enough to fit my needs so far. Ask me again on day 2 after using it to help me hone. May have to call my niece over to help me out with these new-fangled gadgets!

Steve

Hi mikeadams,
I am most impressed with your pics, they are very clear. I have trouble holding a jewellers loupe and keeping it in focus as I move along the edge
Looking at eBay there is a huge difference in prices for what looks to me to be the same USB microscope.
Do you think this one is similar to yours??
eBay Australia: Buy new & used fashion, electronics & home d
Cheers,
Sunbird

As I'm sure you've noticed by now, the light can really play tricks when you use a microscope. Part of learning to use it is learning what's real and what's lighting artifact.

From the pictures, it looks like your honed razors all have a microbevel. That's to be expected if you're using tape.
If you're flat honing, watch your strokes. If you're finishing with a pasted strop, you might be using it too aggressively.
Or it all could be lighting artifact...

Was the Boker wet when you took the pictures? That looks like water residue on the blade.

I have one of the old 4 led 2mp models sometimes it works ok but mainly it is a toy for me. i looked at amazon and saw this one

and then there was a similar looking model that had a nicer looking stand but is was a 2 mp camera... i have the same stand your came with and it is sometimes a PITA to get a straight down look at an edge.

and yes at lower magnifications my edges are works or art

enjoy,
jim

Originally Posted by Sunbird

Hi mikeadams,
I am most impressed with your pics, they are very clear. I have trouble holding a jewellers loupe and keeping it in focus as I move along the edge
Looking at eBay there is a huge difference in prices for what looks to me to be the same USB microscope.
Do you think this one is similar to yours??
eBay Australia: Buy new & used fashion, electronics & home d
Cheers,
Sunbird

Hey sunbird!

I know the feeling. My hands aren't as steady as they used to be, that's why I'm looking for something else to help!

Looks practically identical, except mine has a 5MP camera.

Originally Posted by HNSB

As I'm sure you've noticed by now, the light can really play tricks when you use a microscope. Part of learning to use it is learning what's real and what's lighting artifact.

From the pictures, it looks like your honed razors all have a microbevel. That's to be expected if you're using tape.
If you're flat honing, watch your strokes. If you're finishing with a pasted strop, you might be using it too aggressively.
Or it all could be lighting artifact...

Was the Boker wet when you took the pictures? That looks like water residue on the blade.

Hi HNSB,

The Boker has oil residue on it.

Thank you for the input. I was sorta hoping someone would critique the edges.

It could be a light artifact, but you may be correct and it's a micro-bevel. I don't tape or paste, so I'd better re-evaluate my strokes! Getting older sucks. Stronger glasses, weaker hands....

Steve

Originally Posted by mikeadams

Hi HNSB,

The Boker has oil residue on it.

Thank you for the input. I was sorta hoping someone would critique the edges.

It could be a light artifact, but you may be correct and it's a micro-bevel. I don't tape or paste, so I'd better re-evaluate my strokes! Getting older sucks. Stronger glasses, weaker hands....

Steve

Half the fun is trying different things and observing what happens. The next time you set a bevel, watch for that thin shiny area at the edge. Rotate the blade different directions to see how the light moves across it. Then you can try different things on the hones to see what makes a difference. If you start with a flat bevel, watch for that micro to appear as you go up on grit or strop. If it's there from the beginning you may not have a complete bevel set.

If you wipe the oil off that Boker it probably won't make you say "yuck" any more.