I Purchased a $13 Microscope from Amazon

MrStabby7

MrStabby7

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Hey guys, I just wanted to share a quick tip. I purchased the cheapest microscope on amazon (link below) and its a total game changer for knife sharpening.

Before, I could get knives to whittle hair but not nearly and easily or consistently as I can now. I've been experimenting on my bugout (s30v) and have gotten scary results. I used a DMT fine stone, finished sharpening and removed the burr best I could. I then put the microscope to use and was able to fine those tiny bits of burr your cant feel and got amazing results. My knife will absolutely melt phone book paper and split or whittle hair the entire length of the blade.

I will say holding the microscope steady is a pain in the hind end, as this isn't really whats its designed to do, but for $13 bucks you aren't out much.

Anyways, hope this helps someone

(amazon link removed by staff per terms of service)


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MrStabby7 said:
Hey guys, I just wanted to share a quick tip. I purchased the cheapest microscope on amazon (link below) and its a total game changer for knife sharpening.

Before I could get knives to whittle hair but not nearly and easily or consistantly as I can now. Ive been experimenting on my bugout (s30v) and have gotten scary results. I used a DMT fine stone, finished sharpening and removed the burr best I could. I then put the microscope to use and was able to fine those tiny bits or burr your cant feel and got amazing results. My knife will absolutly melt phone book paper and split or whittle hair the entire lenght of the blade.

I will say holding the microscope steady is a pain in the hind end, as this isn't really whats its designed to do, but for $13 bucks you arn't out much.

Anyways, hope this helps someone

(amazon link removed by staff per terms of service)


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Careful, its another rabbit hole once you discover the improved performance of better optics.
 
I use a microscope at work to inspect parts.

I never knew that there was a pocket microscope to be had.

I'll have to search one out
 
I also have one of those. Once your work out how to use it properly and get used to using it they are fantastic.
 
I ordered one just now because of this thread. (Also ordered the 2-pack bar keeper's powder to clean my diamond stones thanks to another thread here).
 
For $35 you can buy a wifi microscope off Amazon. I recently received one. Download an app to your iphone and take pics from the phone thru the microscope. The only drawback is you must focus by turning the dial on the microscope, not remote control of that from the phone. But the click button is on the phone, and pics are stored to your camera picture roll. You may also connect directly to your PC using the USB cable, and then use your Windows camera for pics. Works great in Windows 10. Very happy with this.
 
Thanks for the post. I have the same one but I haven’t even used it yet so I will pull it out tonight and try it.

It will definitely relieve some frustration.
 
Locutus D'Borg said:
I am not a very good knife sharpener like you guys, but a thought does occur to me. I don't know the cost, but those magnifiers dentists use over their glasses might be just the thing to eliminate the shaky hand issue. Anywho, that's my contribution.
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Yeah that’s a great idea. I’m gonna have to research those.
 
I bought a USB scope on Amazon and paid about $60 for it. The description is, (direct link to amazon removed by staff per terms of service)

Other than the claimed magnification being a joke, it works pretty darned well. My guess is that the maximum magnification is 75-100x. It has a stand which makes it much easier to use. Has a color 4.3" LCD screen and connects to a computer by USB. You can snap pics or videos with it. I tried using it hand-held and that was no fun.
 
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i have a similar cheap LED-lighted microscope too, you can find the identical product on BG, AX, GB, etc. for half the price shipped. the product is all plastic, including the lenses, made in the chinas i luv it. so you caht use acetone or alcohol to clean them. i learned a lot from using it, i even posted its microscoped images here. I was using the product regularly, had fun with it for months and months.

i haven't used it in a while, for months, actually over a year iirc. i also doht use strops anymore.

why? because i just want to get the sharpening job done with the least effort possible (and least time, least energy). and nowadays i get there without the need or help of strops and microscope.

In general, if you really need a microscope to aid your sharpening, then you're prolly a beg*nner, no offense. (while this may sound condescending and untrue, i might still be right. anyway, have phun with your chinascope as long as you use it. the day will come, within 1-2 yrs, when you'll doht care about the product anymore and basically stop using it, as i stopped ... for various reasons)
 
don't know what the above poster is talking about.

I received the microscope. It is actually a useful little tool for me to see where small/tiny imperfections of my sharpening are, like where rough scratches of coarse stones have not been sharpened out. Does it matter much for the cutting ability of the knife? Probably not. But we are knife weirdos.
 
MrStabby7 said:
holding the microscope steady is a pain
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20 to 60 power is over kill because it limits field of view making it hard to target area of interest. I find my illuminated cheapo handheld lens gives me a wide FOV at 10 to 20x, even though it goes to 30x. It is handy because it is always at hand. A cell phone camera or any camera newer then 10 years old or so will also work great. Just mind illuminating the edge.
 
Instead of creating a new thread, I'm asking this question here as it is this microscope that reveals the problem I am having. So basically if I sharpen free-hand progressively using 300, 600, 1,200 ultrasharp diamonds, then shapton pro 5k, and finish with stropping, the edges are very smooth even under the microscope. But if I use Lansky sharpener with diamonds (120, 280, 600) followed by ceramics (1k and 2k) and stropping, the edge has dings under the microscope - granted they are very tiny and very difficult to see by naked eyes. Is this because with Lansky I did not spend enough time on one stone before moving on to the next? BTW, I used very light strokes especially with the coarser stones.
 
sharp_edge said:
don't know what the above poster is talking about.

I received the microscope. It is actually a useful little tool for me to see where small/tiny imperfections of my sharpening are, like where rough scratches of coarse stones have not been sharpened out. Does it matter much for the cutting ability of the knife? Probably not. But we are knife weirdos.
Click to expand...

I agree. I have a big AmScope also, but the USB scopes are quick and easy to use. Plus, I can move it around easier than the big scope. I also have a Celestron handheld microscope that comes in handy sometimes.
 
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