Microscope, how much enlargement?

I am looking in to buying a microscope.
How much enlargement do you guys use to look at a blade?
Any microscopes that you would recommend?

I use mine to look at every razor I hone to see the quality of the edge. You can tel if you have all the nicks out and some of them are not visible any other way.

I have a B&L stereoscope that was 30x max but I got some lenses off the bay that bring it up to 45x. I also use a 30x eye loupe from Widget Supply that I like a lot. I bought one of those twenty dollar hand held, LED lit 60 to 100x and I can't stand the thing. A piece of junk AFAIC.

So 30x is enough?

I look into a loupe maybe then.
Ty

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Originally Posted by mackie

I use mine to look at every razor I hone to see the quality of the edge. You can tel if you have all the nicks out and some of them are not visible any other way.

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Yes of course? Thats the whole piont.
I was asking how much enlargement, and what kind of microscope to buy ;-)
Anyway congrats on you fine old microscope.:)

30 is enough for me. Here is the loupe I bought at Widget Supply. They sell cheaper ones but the optics are good on this one.

I use 60x on the dirt cheap Radio Shack handheld microscope. It used to be $10, and it works fine for me.

I'm also not happy with my 60-100x cheapie.

I have a 45x that I really like, and it definitely lets me see the edge well enough for honing.

The kids have one that plugs into the TV and goes up to 400x. That thing is fun, but once you get beyond 100x or so, you'll just drive yourself nuts. There is no way to polish beyond a certain point.

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Originally Posted by HNSB

...The kids have one that plugs into the TV and goes up to 400x. That thing is fun, but once you get beyond 100x or so, you'll just drive yourself nuts. There is no way to polish beyond a certain point.

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That's the problem with finishing or polishing any piece of metal. You get to where you think it's good and some guy comes along with a loupe and enough magnification and there are scratches everywhere.

There is no such thing as a perfect polish in the face of a magnifiying glass.

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Originally Posted by Wildtim

I use 60x on the dirt cheap Radio Shack handheld microscope. It used to be $10, and it works fine for me.

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I didn't get the Radio Shack model, I got this here with a 60 to 100x. I have begun to get the hang of it but for my dumb head there was a heck of a learning curve. A PITA to focus and to track the edge and the optics aren't that great. :shrug: