Radio Shack Microscope

ssblood

ssblood

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Jun 20, 2002
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Been looking for something to check out my edges after getting the edge pro. Can't sharpen anything at the moment but that don't matter.

Bought one of the lighted microscopes from the shack tonight and wow.11.59 and two triple as later I can look at the individual colors on my phones display. Looked at my Emerson that has never been sharpened but used to wack some branches amd stuff, still looks flawless. Can finally see what I'm doing with the Sharpmaker and realize the UF just aren't leaving the finish that the 3000 tape is.

Awesome toy!
 
It really is amazing to see what's REALLY going on with the edge, when viewed under magnification. No matter how good it might look to the naked eye, viewing it really close up makes for a genuine slap-in-the-face reality check. Can be disheartening, maybe even embarrassing, on the one hand, but on the other hand, it immediately makes clear what needs to be fixed. That's a very good thing. :)
 
I returned that microscope. It was just too hard to hold still.

I have a desktop 100x microscope that I use, though, and the view under high magnification does tell a different story.
 
Well, you convinced me.

I just ran up to The Shack and picked one up.

I have used a loupe before but it's maybe 20X so this is showing me an awful lot more than I was seeing previously.

100X is showing me that the edge I have felt was really friggin' sharp is, actually, really friggin' sharp. :)

B
 
Did you get the mm-100 or mm-200? I found the mm-200 has an LED.
When looking at something can you set the microscope on top of the object or do you have to hold it steady above?
I could see how that would be a problem,I'll probably pick one up.
 
I got the MM-100.

It's got the LED and a clear plastic "platform" that I can set down on the blade to see the edge.

My kids have been using it all afternoon and evening to check out things around the house from the leather in my strop to the surface of an orange to the shrimp I made for dinner. :)

I should've gotten two...
 
Yep. Will be awesome when the shoulder is good enough to sharpen again. Can see steps from every stone on the EP! Emerson just has such a perfect factory edge. Crazy to look at.
 
The microscope has already made a difference.

I have a small Sebenza that just never got sharp. I couldn't figure it out and couldn't let it be.

Looking at the edge on my ParaMilitary (both blades are S30V,) I could see how highly polished the edge had become and the Sebenza edge was clearly ragged in comparison. After just a little bit of sharpening, the scratch pattern was much improved and then a light strop really brought the edge up.

The level of detail just isn't available with my 20X loupe and the edge always looked okay at that level of magnification.

I think the LED really helped too.

B
 
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