Thread: Magnifiers: 10x Triplet and 30x Triplet loupes

QUICK REVIEW:
Two Triplet magnifiers (loupes) are reviewed... a 10x loupe ($20 US), and a 30x loupe ($40 US). The 10x works with normal lighting. The 30x needs extra light and ultra-careful use. Both are recommended.



A MORE IN DEPTH REVIEW:
The two loupe magnifiers reviewed are available online or locally for about $20 to $40 US each. 'Triplet' is not a manufacturer, but rather the lens design - Triplets generally provide a good image. The 10x loupe is made by Peer. The 30x loupe is a generic Chinese made unit. Both can be found on Amazon or elsewhere. It is recommended that the loupe you acquire state 'Triplet' somewhere on the housing. Loupes generally come with a case and it's use will help keep the lens clean. The loupes themselves have metal cases that hinge around the lens. This also forms the handle to hold and use the loupe.

The razor is held very close to the loupe. The loupe is then held very close to the eye. Typically 'very close' means a few millimeters. In use, any loupe must be carefully braced. This bracing should occur between the loupe hand, the razor hand, the skull, and the earth... thereby reducing vibration and movement and allowing proper viewing. Notice in the photos how the ring finger and pinky extend to allow contact with the other (razor) hand. Now, by bringing the loupe hand up to the face (along with the already braced razor hand) the user can rest the loupe hand on his skull such as to allow completely stable viewing. In addition the user's body should be relaxed and braced firmly against a stable structure. Once everything is in place the user slowly brings the razor in the last few millimeters to get the image focused. Without following this procedure it is difficult to get usable viewings.

The 10x loupe reviewed allows the observant user to detect larger sized errors on the edge of a razor. It is not powerful enough to help with assessing a perfect edge. It is most useful in the early parts of honing (ie 4000 grit or less). It requires practice to use as the eye, loupe, and razor must be held very close together to provided a focused image. The relatively lower magnification means that normal room lighting can be used.

The 30x loupe does provide more magnification but is more challenging to use for two reasons:
1. Additional light is needed for proper viewing (the more light the better)
2. The loupe must be held VERY close to the razor and as such must be handled with even more care than the 10x loupe.

The reviewer recommends that either the 10x loupe or (preferably) the RadioShack 60x-100x magnifier be the first optical magnifier in the straight razor shavers toolkit... then for an additional perspective the 30x loupe may be acquired. Many users report the 10x is underpowered for optimal razor use, so consider the RadioShack unit or perhaps a real microscope. Also, if budget is of less concern, then consider an optical or even digital microscope - keep in mind lighting is beneficial and a magnification setting of about 50x-100x power is needed for straight razors. Decent microscopes (proper) cost about $75 US and up.

Optical magnification is absolutely crucial if the beginning straight razor user is to minimize frustration during the learning curve... any of the three magnifiers mentioned is far better than none.



The reviewer welcomes any feedback.

The QUICK REVIEW above should read as follows:

QUICK REVIEW:
Two Triplet magnifiers (loupes) are reviewed... a 10x loupe ($20 US), and a 30x loupe ($40 US). The 10x works with normal lighting and is for identifying major edge errors. The 30x needs extra light, ultra-careful use, and is for identifying medium to smaller sized edge errors. Neither loupe reviewed will replace something comparable to the RadioShack 60x-100x unit, but both are recommended as they provide a far clearer image.




Thanks.
-Forzato




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My telescope eyepieces are handy for the job. Getting light under the higher powered lens can be difficult though