Suggestions on a 20X magnifier?

S

SAK

Joined
Sep 28, 2001
Messages
508
I have a 10x-21 Triplet loupe for examining edges. I need more magnification and am looking for something that is 20X (maybe even with a light). I am looking for something other than another Triplett loop. My eyes are getting older and the close vision ain’t what it used to be.

What do you use/suggest?

Thanks,

--SAK
 
Try a printer supply house. We use them at work at the NY Daily News. I believe we get them from a company called Edmund Scientific. You might try a google search for that name.
 
20X Hastings Triplet

But be advised:

"We caution buyers that laws of physics dictate that both the diameter and working distance of a magnifier must decline as power increases. Accordingly, the 20X system, while an excellent high-power magnifier, is relatively small and has a short working distance. The next step from the 20X Hastings is a full microscope."
 
20X is about the limit of what you can do hand-held. You just can't hold something stable enough with your hand to see a clear image through a 20X magnifier. 20X loupes are made for inspecting objects that, by themselves, don't move. All you have to do is hold the magnifier stable. But, even that is a challenge for most folks.
 
If you go to Radio Shack, you can get this small (smaller than a deck of cards) 60-100 power, lighted microscope. It is PERFECT for looking at knife edges-that is why I bought it. Looking at g-10 up close is darned cool too. I paid $15 Canadian for mine!
 
I may go to RS and buy the one Crayola has. I have two that I purchased from Edmund and you just don't have much "working space", though the optics are first class.
Amazing what you can learn with them when sharpening.
 
Crayola :

... you can get this small (smaller than a deck of cards) 60-100 power, lighted microscope.
Click to expand...

That is area magnification, what most people mean is linear magnification which is the square root of that.

Radio Shack sells one which is 10-20 via a simple zoom which is what I use. Small and is lighted.

Lee Valley sells a convertable one (monocular to microscope) which looks more functional, never tried it.

-Cliff
 
Crayola,
Is this what you have?:
Radio Shack Illuminated Microscope


Cliff,
I looked at Radio Shack online. I guess they don’t have the 10-20x anymore – or at least I could not find it.

Thanks also for the clarification on the area magnification.


Berettaman12000,
I understand exactly what you are talking about – the lack of “working space”. My 10x loupe is OK but needs a little more power (for me anyway). However, like pendentive and Gollnick mention, I imagine a 20x loupe would be even more challenging – with less working space. That’s why I am looking for something other than another loupe. I just wondered if someone made a larger magnifier on a stand or something. Maybe something like this only with a higher power?:
Desktop Magnifier with backlight
 
SAK -

Yes, that is what Crayoloa is talking about. He recommended it on another thread and I recently bought one. It's great! It's really small. It's lighted and rests on the blade so its stable. Works great. All for around10 bucks.
 
Originally posted by Gollnick
20X is about the limit of what you can do hand-held. You just can't hold something stable enough with your hand to see a clear image through a 20X magnifier.
Click to expand...

This is especially so if you down a large latté from Starbucks before inspecting the knife. ;)
 
Thanks for helping me help out Panella!

SAK, that is exactly what I have. I thought it would be "cheap", but it is pretty cool what you can see with that. If I can ever get a microscope like some lucky knife nut forumite bastids have, I'd get that. Until then, this little guy will do me just fine. It is awesome seeing scratches in steel, screw heads, and everything else that is knife related up real CLOSE!
 
Originally posted by Crayola
It is awesome seeing scratches in steel, screw heads, and everything else that is knife related up real CLOSE!
Click to expand...
I like looking at my skin and fingernails.
 
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