What device do you use to visually examine the edge?

S

Swedge

Joined
Dec 23, 2008
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I know that some here examine the edges of their knives with some kind of optical enhancer. What do you use? A jeweler's loupe, magnifying glass, what?

And what do you recommend by way of (specifications, such as power of magnification, brand names, etc., as well as dealers in that type of device)?
 
I use 1 pair of human eyes :D

Other than that, sometimes I use an 8x21 monocular turned upside-down.
 
I use one of those 10x magnifiers with 2 lenses less than are about the diameter of a quarter. It cost 6.99 at my local surplus store.
 
I don't know if this makes any sense, but I strop on cardboard and listen to to sound the blade makes as it passes. I can "hear" a wire edge.:confused::eek::o!!
 
BeLOMO 10X Triplet and LumaPower LumaHunter M1-T.

Belomo-1-big.jpg
 
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Thanks, Swedge, for bringing up this topic. My two year old just lost my magnifier(8x drug store job), and I've been looking for something else. Sometimes 8x didn't seem like enough, even with my glasses on. :D

20x sounds like enough, but does it have to be held steady(like on a table or counter)? I hold my knives up to the light to catch the glint off the edge. I guess I could bring the light to the knife. And how much does the quality of the optics come into play at that power? My first search turned up alot of inexpensive loupes($4-$6). As you can tell I don't have much experience with magnifiers. Even the glasses are new to me. :mad:

Sorry to muck up your thread with all these questions, it would probably be better to just keep my virtual mouth shut. :rolleyes:
 
I use my eyes. I'm myopic, so I just take off my glasses, find some good light, and bring the blade in nice and close. To get an idea where a trouble-spot might be, I slice paper very slowly and wherever the edge hangs or the paper tears is where I pay first attention.

Andy
 
My jewlers/engravers head set has a 1.5 or 2 X on it and that is just right.Its also easy to focus w/ both eyes allowing a broad field.When my wife is using this I use my Radio Shack hand held magnifier. Which has 3 silver dollar size flip out lenses each being 5X.
They are alittle harder to focus with. But you may flip another out giving more manification with increasing difficulty in focusing.But 10X is too much, 5X being as much as I'd ever need.DM
 
I just use my eyes and bright overhead light. Also, the thumbnail test, paper test, and arm-shave test. :D And for my straight razors, of course, the thumb nail, thumb pad, and hanging hair tests.
 
Thanks for the replies to date. I accept bright light as an "optical enhancer" but really what I am looking for is a device (other than eyes and light).

nevertoosharp, I'm glad you raised those questions.

Is there a problem with holding the device steady? I imagine that resting an elbow on the top of a table might suffice but does it?

Does it pay to go for higher quality, or is a $10 device good enough for this purpose?

Bigger is not always better when it comes to magnification. At what point does one find that the magnification is too high? What are the trade-offs for higher magnification (difficulty focusing because the depth of field is too shallow, need to hold the device steady, etc.)? What have you found is just too low?

Do you guys use multiple powers, and if so, what magnification powers do you recommended?
 
riffraff said:
BeLOMO 10X Triplet

Belomo-1-big.jpg
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Never heard of them. So I Goggled BelOMO and picked up a thread in Gemology Online. All the GIA folks seem to think they are the best, especially for the money. If I ever wear out my B&Ls, that's what I'll get.:thumbup:
 
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I use the standard of the New York Diamond District, I Kassoy 10X Triplet USA.

I carry in on a Dog Tag chain. It goes with me to all Gun & Knife Shows.

I have had it about 35 years.

Semper Fi.

Oldbriar
 
oldbriar said:
I use the standard of the New York Diamond District, I Kassoy 10X Triplet USA.

I carry in on a Dog Tag chain. It goes with me to all Gun & Knife Shows.

I have had it about 35 years.

Semper Fi.

Oldbriar
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I saw the Kassoy mentioned over on the Gemology forum, too. They are another recommended brand for the folks who sort and grade gemstones. The L609 model on the Kassoy website is very reasonably priced, too.

Come to BF and learn something new about a tool I've been using off and on for years and it isn't a knife. :thumbup:
 
PG5768 said:
I saw the Kassoy mentioned over on the Gemology forum, too. They are another recommended brand for the folks who sort and grade gemstones. The L609 model on the Kassoy website is very reasonably priced, too.

Come to BF and learn something new about a tool I've been using off and on for years and it isn't a knife. :thumbup:
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Get the 14kt gold-plated Kassoy. Bling-bling :D
 
Lighted magnifying lense and my thumbnail. If I can't see the edge, I use the end of my thumbnail to test the edge.
 
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