Loupes + other forms of magnification..What do you use?

Nisse

Nisse

Old geezer
I am old school, not looking for forum style perfection in my edges eyeballing no loupe is my preferred style :)
 
JayGee

JayGee

Forum GOD!
My 2p worth;
a decent loupe is well worth getting.

It has really helped me understand where I've being going wrong. Also very useful to have a look at Jamie's & Billy's edges to know what I'm aiming for.

Looking at the reflection off the bevel in strong light wasn't telling me near enough. I guess once you know what you're doing it's not so important. As we are self taught, the hardest thing is to work out what not to do & the belomo loupe has been invaluable.
 
Shave to the grave

Shave to the grave

Forum GOD!
JayGee said:
My 2p worth;
a decent loupe is well worth getting.

It has really helped me understand where I've being going wrong. Also very useful to have a look at Jamie's & Billy's edges to know what I'm aiming for.

Looking at the reflection off the bevel in strong light wasn't telling me near enough. I guess once you know what you're doing it's not so important. As we are self taught, the hardest thing is to work out what not to do & the belomo loupe has been invaluable.
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As it'll be an online purchase, any recommendations as to where I would go to?
Thanks
 
JayGee

JayGee

Forum GOD!
I got mine from eBay, a Russian seller that seemed to specialise in loupes/optics.

I don't have the seller details, deleted the transaction as it was a while ago.
Sticker on the box;
belomostore.com

Possibly a connection to the store posted by Jamie? From memory it was about that price, went for the 10x.

I was using a cheap 10x triplet loupe & the belomo is significantly better, much brighter & no pin cushion effect.
 
R

R181

Grumpy old man
JayGee said:
I was using a cheap 10x triplet loupe & the belomo is significantly better, much brighter & no pin cushion effect.
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That is why a decent loupe is worth it. It reduces/eliminates optical distortions and should have coated glass so you don't get colour fringing/aid in brightness. That makes a big difference and you don't have to break the bank to get one either. Well, worth the little extra.

Bob
 
JayGee

JayGee

Forum GOD!
R181 said:
That is why a decent loupe is worth it. It reduces/eliminates optical distortions and should have coated glass so you don't get colour fringing/aid in brightness. That makes a big difference and you don't have to break the bank to get one either. Well, worth the little extra.

Bob
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Yep, Belomo 10x loupe & Atoma #400 diamond lapping plate worth every penny (& then some).

Learning to hone with stones that aren't flat & not being able to fully see the results of the progression is possible, just a LOT more difficult.

To hone a razor well is enough of a challenge, thank you.
 
Lord Fatboy

Lord Fatboy

Forgo Mud !
Shave to the grave said:
As it'll be an online purchase, any recommendations as to where I would go to?
Thanks
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As I said in the OP and later, I have a really expensive one but never use it, 'cos this one works better for 3 quid. Almost as well as my German field telescope (EDIT: Microscope - it was not used in the invasion of Poland). I'm in the minority here though :D I suspect few have tried the one I like - even though it's only 3 quid, but if they have one they like then they needn't bother. Where it really shines is it's stability (it rests on the spine) and it's ability to change the light source in a stable and reliable manner, either by moving the loupe to an angle on the spine (see OP) or "torquing" the edge toward or away from the lens, both of which are - in my experience - harder to do with a "free hand" loupe. This ability shows up a very different edge to the one seen from a single angle.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/60X-30X-...=item2aa77fc869:g:4CAAAOSwTypa4ugX:rk:21:pf:0
 
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Shave to the grave

Shave to the grave

Forum GOD!
Lord Fatboy said:
As I said in the OP and later, I have a really expensive one but never use it, 'cos this one works better for 3 quid. Almost as well as my German field telescope. I'm in the minority here though :D I suspect few have tried the one I like - even though it's only 3 quid, but if they have one they like then they needn't bother. Where it really shines is it's stability (it rests on the spine) and it's ability to change the light source in a stable and reliable manner, either by moving the loupe to an angle on the spine (see OP) or "torquing" the edge toward or away from the lens, both of which are - in my experience - harder to do with a "free hand" loupe. This ability shows up a very different edge to the one seen from a single angle.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/60X-30X-...=item2aa77fc869:g:4CAAAOSwTypa4ugX:rk:21:pf:0
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Thanks, appreciate the info & link. They're almost giving them away :happy:
 
R

R181

Grumpy old man
Lord Fatboy said:
http://www.tomonagura.com/honing/microscopes-vs-reality.html
I'll try to post some photos of my own.
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Thanks for posting that. Liked this comment "Lastly – how the bevel looks does not necessarily translate to how it shaves." . If the two bevels don't meet, is set, all along the length of the blade it matters little what the bevel looks like. With an unset bevel to continue up the progression you are really just polishing a turd.

It does take some time to learn how to correctly interpret what you think you are seeing under magnification to make use of that info. We all eventually get there.

I've been surprised a time or two when a blade I thought was shaving well started leaving scratches on the leather during the next pre shave stropping. Sure enough on inspection with a hand loupe the cause was evident. I have also checked at random blades that were giving me good shaves and found to my surprise that there was a minute chip in the edge of the blade. Would not have know it from the shave.

Personally, I do not think you need really high magnification for it to be useful in honing. Along the same lines I believe with very high magnifications you are just making mountains out of mole hills with very minute imperfections that may very well have no bearing on how the blade actually shaves. All this is just how I see it personally and everyone is definitely free to do whatever works for them.

Bob
 
Nisse

Nisse

Old geezer
Tested a loupe on an edge giving me less than stellar shave, was looking ok to my eyes but apparently I need stronger reading glasses or a special pair for workshop use, because using a loupe in good light outside in the sun edge looked terrible in more than one way, rehoned with focus on technique and the use of loupe to check result and now shave is back to normal.
 
S

shadowman12

Legendary Member
JamieM said:
I use this one x 10. https://www.theloupestore.co.uk/Magnifiers-Triplet/Belomo-Triplet-Loupe.html

Before buying a Triplet magnifier, make sure you can see the whole lens. Three lens components should be visible (pic 2). Never buy a car without seeing the motor.

This is what we regard as the Ferrari of Triplets in the industry and is highly recommended by The Loupe Store. Made in Belarus, you will find it hard to work with any other Triplet Loupe. Its touch and feel are addictive and its large Achromatic Triplet Lens is of a special, superior quality. Recommended by experts in many fields around the world, this is the professionals choice. In the UK, only available here through The Loupe Store.

Its magnification power and focal distance are probably the best adapted technical values you can find in a magnifier...
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I have the same but I find it quite hard to see the edge properly. What's a good usb microscope?
 
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