Thread: RadioShack 60x-100x optical magnifier

I used mine last night and found it very useful in determining the impact of the pasted strops and polishing hones.

-Bob

I bought one of these and all I can say is at least it only cost $10.00. Yes you can view the edge with it.

I then purchased a nice Edmund microscope on Ebay for $65.00 and it has been my workhorse ever since. With the Edmund and a custom made razor holder, I can see the edge and the bevel, but especially, I can clamp the razor in by sliding it under a piece of plastic and then scan the entire bevel as I am working it to make sure I am getting all the deformities out.

The Radio Shack went into a drawer as soon as the Edmund arrived and is *never* used. The RS has no table, no method of attaching the razor to the scope, and attempting to use it on a regular basis for precision work was an exercise in frustration.

Instead, I have a 30X loupe I use for routine examination and field work (antique shops) and the Edmond 40X and 100X for serious honing.

I can take a razor from pitted, chipped oblivion to smooth shaves against the grain with the Edmund and no other tests (except the shaving test).

By the way, if you use a good microscope, and you have 100X, you can view the actual cutting edge by tilting the razor up slightly on the table and using the high-precision vernier to move the focus from the bevel out to the edge. With practice, this will give you a "3-D" effect that allows you to see how sharp the edge actually is. I actually don't know how to do a thumbpad test, and I don't have enough hair to spare for the HHT

I have some telescope eyepieces that let me view between 25X and 100X but the field of view is so small and I have to hold the razor so close to the eyepiece at 100X that it isn't very useful. I wonder how the radio shack scope compares

I have a 30x loupe, but using it with the proper lightning is a problem.
As I couldn't buy the Radioshack microscope beacuse I'm in Europe, I ordered a similar one - this. It's a real bargain, but I'm not expecting much.