Versatile Microscope Tool

There are some tools that are almost as useful as the hairpin, paper clip or tweezers.  Yet, very few people know about them.  One of these is called a Stereo Microscope or, alternately, a Dissecting Microscope.  In past years, they were so expensive that no matter how useful they might be they were simply beyond the average person's budget.

The SMZ-04, for instance, that I showed in an earlier article sell for over $700 at the linked URL.  I would NEVER suggest someone buy an SMZ-04 as a crafting tool.  The good news is that as expensive as that high end scope is, it is NOT my favorite Stereo Microscope.  Nor, do I think the optics are all that much better than my favorite Stereo Microscope.

Here is my favorite Stereo Microscope and I DO recommend it for crafting and just about about everything else around the house.  It gets used a lot.  It's the 20 power My First Lab iExplore Stereo Scope.

I use the CA Scientific version of this microscope.  But, I just found another source with an excellent price.  BH Photo sells the Ken-O-Vision version of this same Chinese manufactured scope.  I think it's fair to assume that they probably come from the same supplier.

At BHPhoto they sell the Ken-O-Vision 20x Stereoscope for just $67.50.  And, believe me, that is a bargain.  First, it is a great thing to have around if you have children and grandchildren.  And, it's also a great thing to have around if you want to inspect things, like the condition of your blades.  The following pictures were taken with the predecessor of the iExplore or Ken-O-Vision.  The iExplore's and Ken-O-Vision's optics are better.  But, we can clearly see that while there is some wear at the very tip, in a pinch I can re-use this blade.

And, at different angle...

Suppose I'd come to the end of all my new blades and my new supply had not arrived yet.  I have 20 used blades.  But, which ones are hopelessly dull or broken and which ones might have a little more life in them.  You won't have to guess with this versatile microscope.

By the way, if you are looking for a present for a child and your are thinking about a first microscope, this is the microscope I would recommend.  A child can explore coins, printed images, their fingers, bugs, dolls, flowers... just about anything and everything.  A Compound Microscope will be used less than a Stereo Microscope over the entire lifetime of the child.

Both of these scopes use a battery powered long-life LED lighting system.  So, there is no need to plug it in to view your blades and bugs.

Fun , Fast, easy to use! NOT hyperbole.

One of the things that use to bother me immensely when I was in the video game business was the fact that our packaging was just plain downright deceptive.  I don't know how many of the readers of this blog were old enough to have a video game system back in the early 1980s, but the graphics were REALLY crude back then.  But, you;d never guess is by the packaging and flyers.  Here's a sample.

But, here is what you REALLY got!

At least this next one showed the actual graphics one saw when playing the game.  But, that is not what caught the eye of the consumer as they scanned the video games on the wall at the stores.

Then there were my discussions with Alan and Stephen Hassenfeld of Hasbro, when we talked about how toys and games were priced.  Hasbro is really NOT a toy and game company.  It is, fundamentally, a plastics company.  Toys and games are a means of moving plastic.  But, the cost of the plastic in the games is insignificant.  So, it is the advertising budget that sets the cost of a toy.  And, one sentence still rings in my head.  Well, bangs around in my head, so I'll have to paraphrase... "The bigger the smile on the actors, the less likely the game is to actually be fun!"  Over the years I've found that to be 100% true.  I don't buy games where the actor's smiles in the ads look like a happy face on steroids!

So, it is a delight for me to report that the eCraft packaging, with the slogan, "Fun, Fast and Easy to use!" is not deceptive hyperbole.  It's the truth.  And, this past weekend brought that home to me is a big way.  It's fun.  A LOT of fun.  And, it's fast.  In fact, maybe a bit too fast.  And, since all my granddaughters wanted to me to do was get out of the way after showing them the controls, I think it's safe to say that it is, in fact, easy.  At least easy enough for an 8 year old to operate it with proficiency!

I know that some of you are thinking.  It's electronic.  Of COURSE an 8 year old can do it.  So, how about this one.  It's at least easy enough for a sixty six year old with more than their fair share of head injuries to use it with some proficiency.  Does that work better to prove the point?

But, had they added one more word.... "inexpensive" then I would have had to take real issue with them.  This thing is going to cost me a FORTUNE in paper costs and it's going to be hard to explain all this glitter on my hands, clothing and what's left of my hair!!!!  That's  the downside of Fun, Fast and Easy!  It's going to get used and it's going to get used a LOT!

Brother, can you spare a dime????