boom arm stereo microscope how important?

dragon3rdgroup · Jun 30, 2013

how important is it to have one of these for engraving ? i do a lot of wood carving but know little of engraving. i do have a visor with magnification and they work but i'm on the fence about the micro scope any help would greatly be appreciated
thank's in advance
dragon

Andrew Biggs · Jun 30, 2013

The answer to that is.......how good is your eyesight??

Most people use some sort of magnification be it a loupe, optiviser type arrangement or microscope.

Cheers
Andrew

GTJC460 · Jun 30, 2013

As a jeweler doing lots of micropave setting, I can't imagine not having one. It's total guess work without.

As an engraver, depends on the work I'm doing. Sometimes, it just gets in the way. On large bulky it's a complete hindrance. On small stuff or when working on real small areas its great.

I find that most of the time I work at low magnification so I have greater DOF. But it's really nice being able to zoom in when you need to be very precise.

It takes a while to get used to working with it. The first time I used one was at GRS. The first two days my eyes really felt fatigued after 8+ hrs looking through it. By the end of the I was sold on how beneficial it would be to have one. I now have several in our retail shop and my private studio.

You can find some great deals on eBay for used scopes including great makes like Meiji, Leica, etc... The key component to using a scope is finding a stand system you like and setting up your workspace around the scope.

Beathard · Jun 30, 2013

A lot of people have engraved with an optivisor. If your going to use a microscope, you need the boom arm... Or get really tired of hitting the back of the scope every time you turn the vise.

Donny · Jun 30, 2013

For me I use it 50% of the time. The 25% I use an Optivisor for motorcycle parts and the other 25% I use a 10X Zeiss Loupe for Bulino. Once I buy my Wild M3Z microscope I will use it for Bulino as well.

Donny

Gun Nut · Jun 30, 2013

Helps you to see more detail. I feel it is a must. Enough so that I spent the money for it.

dragon3rdgroup · Jun 30, 2013

do u think 10 to 20 power is sufficient or should it be higher

dragon3rdgroup · Jun 30, 2013

i have been thinking of attending the GRS school, like i said i am a mid to high skilled carver but have always been interested in firearms, i was a weapons repair and use specialist 18b us army special forces and i have done a lot of stock carvings ...i'll attach a pic of the last stock i did ...but i have always been interested in doing engraving ok for some reason the upload keeps failing but if you want to see it i can send it to u via email i guess ?

Beathard · Jul 1, 2013

If your going to GRS Training soon, wait for the class. You will be able to try one. You will also be able to get a good discount and free shipping.

Arnaud Van Tilburgh · Jul 1, 2013

Me being a goldsmith most of my working time I use a optiviser x3. It is almost all day on my head, even when not looking true it. I also wear eyeglasses all the time.
On top next month I will be 60. So sure my eyesight isn't what it was when being younger.
I use a scope for all my engraving and cutting jobs, stone setting and even for other jobs when I want it to be high end.
For soldering, filing, sawing and all regular goldsmitting jobs I need my optiviser, otherwise it is just guessing.
Even when making a wax model, I start with the optiviser and finish it under the scope.
I have no problem looking true the scope for over 10 hours a day when I need to.

I wish the microscope was introduced when I started goldsmitting and stone setting, but even if they were available, no one used them, even using a optiviser was quite rare 35 years ago.

arnaud

Gemsetterchris · Jul 1, 2013

dragon3rdgroup said:
do u think 10 to 20 power is sufficient or should it be higher

That's way plenty, if you want people to see something

Problem I have is manufacturers of run of the mill jewellery checking work with x10 or more even though they don't pay for that standard.

Arnaud Van Tilburgh · Jul 1, 2013

Gemsetterchris said:
That's way plenty, if you want people to see something
Problem I have is manufacturers of run of the mill jewellery checking work with x10 or more even though they don't pay for that standard.

Chris, isn't that the standard using a x10 loupe?

arnaud

Gemsetterchris · Jul 1, 2013

Arnaud Van Tilburgh said:
Chris, isn't that the standard using a x10 loupe?

arnaud

Well yes Arnaud. But then there is a difference between eye & loupe clean work & also wether you dictate the price or are stuck with a set budget.
I have to work abit faster than I'd like quite often to keep the hourly rate in my favour, though I do my best in the time allowed. Loupe clean used to be for better work a few years ago..now it seems to be expected for lower end stuff simply because more people have scopes & the advance of tools like air assist...not good for those still working the old way.

Beathard · Jul 1, 2013

Scott, I use the EMZ-5 with the acrobat stand. I love it.
http://www.grstools.com/optical_tools/microscopes/emz-5-for-acrobat.html

silverchip · Jul 1, 2013

Love my A60 Leica!!!!!!

Marcus Hunt · Jul 1, 2013

Dragon, what are your intentions for the scope, you didn't really say? For wood carving I think it'd be hopeless because your field of view is just too small. For engraving though, as Andrew says, how good are your eyes? I used a loupe when I started at 16 years old, later went to an optivisor and loupe, but then my neck packed up and trapped a nerve in my right arm......very painful...so a scope was really the only way to go. I still think ergonomically they are the best bet and enable a much better posture. I wish I'd got one years before my neck problem as it might have prevented 2 operations.

The Meiji is a very good scope, no doubt about it. It has clear optics all across the field of view (not something you always get with Chinese optics). If you are just engraving flatwork and things such as knifelike bolsters it is absolutely fine. But when it comes to gun work where one is continuously canting the vice, the limited depth of field at the higher magnification is not so good and constant refocussing is a pain in the butt. Also, it is "light hungry" at higher magnifications.

On the other hand, the Leica A60F is one helluva scope for the money. Personally, I'm not keen on the plastic body but that's just me. Where it wins hands down over the Meiji is the optics. The depth of field and field of view are much greater making it a must for the gun engraver IMHO. With a 0.63 objective the max magnification drops to 25x but that's more than enough for engraving and gives a huge working distance which for the first time has enabled me to drop my shoulders and relax.

So you pay your money and make your choice. There's nothing wrong with the Meiji, its an excellent scope but for me the Leica has the better optics for gun engraving.

Beathard · Jul 1, 2013

There is a wide range of scopes. Get the best one you can afford.

airamp · Jul 1, 2013

Hi,

I only use leica/wild scopes now.
check out the M3Z or M3C.
I also love the metal body scopes.
In Arizona it gets hot and plastic yellows and gets brittle over time.

AirAmp

Omar Haltam · Feb 27, 2014

thanks for all the great input Arnaud, i am a jeweler and watch smith in Raleigh North Carolina, and i really enjoy reading your inputs very much
I am starting to do engraving, and i hope to add this skill into my profession.

Thanks, Omar

Marrinan · Feb 28, 2014

A scope will save you a lot of pain and neck and shoulder problems down the road. Posture is paramount and you must take care to sit in correct position to prevent damage. Attempted 4 vertebra neck fusion which failed do to bone cancer issues. engraving is now a drug problem for me. Should have watched my posture sooner and used a scoop even when eye site was not an issue. Get a scoop and learn to set it up properly, not just directions on the box. I took mine to my physical therapist and he worked out height, angle and posture for me. I think he had fun doing something different.

boom arm stereo microscope how important?

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