Magnification Devices: Who Uses 'Em, and What Do They Use?

**Scissors** · 01-31-2010, 12:30 PM

Are there folks out there who use magnifiers or microscopes to aid in honing? Or even just to investigate the state of an edge? If so, what do you use?

I bought a Bausch & Lomb 5x to 20x multiple lens magnifier (it's the last item on this page) and didn't find it very useful.

Unless they're quite compact, bench microscopes are out of the question unfortunately. I have no place to put a large device. I've been looking at USB microscopes, the Bodelin Proscope line in particular. Anyone have any experience with this? It's spendy, but it seems like it will do the job well (with a stand).

Thanks for any advice and info offered.

**English** · 01-31-2010, 12:47 PM

I use a 10x BelOMO loupe. The B&L 10x loupe is also very good indeed.

The cheap Chinese loupes only give about 6X magnification despite being sold as 10X.

When you get up to the 20X loupe, the coordination gets difficult.

I have a 50x and 200x USB scope and it is interesting but adds little value. You can see the grain in the edge, but shadow and reflection ruin any real comparison of use.

The 10x loupe shows any basic faults in the edge and you can see if the honing is even and effective very easily. I don't think you need more, but maybe you have to see a higher magnification to appreciate that fact.

Hope that helps.

**SiBurning** · 01-31-2010, 01:11 PM

I don't hone, but I'd expect those flip down magnifier hats to work well. They're usually no more than 3x magnification, and you have to get pretty close, but it should help some with eye strain.

**mainaman** · 01-31-2010, 01:36 PM

I use this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Carson-Micro-M...4973767&sr=8-2

you can also buy it @ Radioshack
not sure it its real 100x but gives good enough mag to check bevels.

**FiveOhNine** · 01-31-2010, 02:25 PM

I have a 30x jeweler's loupe - realistically more like 20x, but it gets the job done.

**professorchaos** · 01-31-2010, 02:44 PM

I used one when starting out. Helped me figure all sorts of things out. Don't use it anymore.

**SliceOfLife** · 01-31-2010, 03:51 PM

100x400x900 microscope. Mostly 100... 400 CAN be focused in with a lot of work, but 100 is easy to use, so I usually stick to it. 900 is just too strong for looking at a razor edge.

**huntmol** · 01-31-2010, 05:08 PM

I use a small 30x loupe, works pretty well

**Sticky** · 01-31-2010, 05:52 PM

I used to use a B&L Coddington ~10 power to do the black marker test.

**LaughingAtFate** · 02-01-2010, 01:19 AM

I use my grandfather's old 20x Jeweller's loupe, it's good enough for me to see the scratching and edge. Okay, so it's not as great as a more powerful microscope, and it's a little awkward to get the focus (I'm left eyed, but right handed). But it works well enough for me, Plus there's that family link and stuff

**Mulie1** · 02-01-2010, 06:17 AM

I use the Radio Shack pocket microscope also. I have been using it on knives for quite siome time. I got it so that I could see what was going on with the knives that just never seemed to come all the way around. It is very helpful in checking the bevel, assessing the scratch pattern from grit to grit, and finding any problem areas. It does have a battery operated light but I found that supplemental light from an LED (SureFire) really helps. I find it to be more useful on knives than razors because with a razor the bevel is fixed and pre-established by the spine. I found it to be a helpful (and cheap) learning tool that I don't use as much as I once did. It helped me establish my sharpening/honing protocol, and that was huge at the time.

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

**Thebigspendur** · 02-01-2010, 09:25 AM

With magnification it's not about the mag its about the resolution. A poor 100x will tell you little and a quality 10x will actually tell you more.

You don't need an SEM for razor work just enough to tell you if you have microchips and maybe the scratch pattern and gross condition of the edge and bevel and a good 10x will do that. In any event using a magnifier while interesting and sometimes helpful is not necessary for maintaining an edge.

**waxwing23** · 02-02-2010, 01:46 PM

Agfa lupe 8x

**Seraphim** · 02-04-2010, 12:57 AM

Get a shop scope off of Ebay. I got a 100x version for $79 delivered.

Here's a thread where I show it off a bit

I also have the USB camera for it, as you can see, but actually you get a MUCH clearer view by just using the eyepiece, instead of that cheapie USB camera I have on there. The shop scope itself is excellent.

**Kees** · 02-05-2010, 05:40 AM

Originally Posted by Thebigspendur

With magnification it's not about the mag its about the resolution. A poor 100x will tell you little and a quality 10x will actually tell you more.

You don't need an SEM for razor work just enough to tell you if you have microchips and maybe the scratch pattern and gross condition of the edge and bevel and a good 10x will do that. In any event using a magnifier while interesting and sometimes helpful is not necessary for maintaining an edge.

Resolution is only an issue if you do not look at the object directly. I.e. if you have it projected on a (computer) screen. Old fashioned microscopes allow you to look at the object directly through the lenses. I use an Olympus medical microscope that I bought at university.

**v76** · 02-05-2010, 06:31 PM

The cheap 30x triplet lenses you find on ebay... works well, but it's actually very rare that I use it now. Only for some restorations...

**ccgnet** · 02-11-2010, 01:12 PM

I use a 30x jeweler's loupe and have never needed anything else.

**Seraphim** · 02-11-2010, 02:58 PM

Originally Posted by Kees

Resolution is only an issue if you do not look at the object directly. I.e. if you have it projected on a (computer) screen. Old fashioned microscopes allow you to look at the object directly through the lenses. I use an Olympus medical microscope that I bought at university.

Crummy optics can lead to crummy resolution even without digital interference.