MrObsessive Posted October 28, 2017 Posted October 28, 2017 Sometimes someone will surprise you with a gift that you had no clue was heading your way! Years ago, I had mentioned to a friend of mine that I worked with at a former company, I'd like to get a "Zoom-Boom" microscope-------the kind that we use on the job. At times I noticed the company would throw out the scopes due to missing or defective parts, and I had mentioned that if they ever come across one to PLEASE let me know as I could certainly use it and replace anything that's missing. Well, my friend would eventually leave the company as I would leave as well (five years ago), and we lost touch with each other over the years. Not long ago, she got back in touch with me (via another friend of mine on Facebook), and I had told her that I'm still in the same house, and we should get together sometime with some other friends that we know for a little get together. A few weeks ago, I had just got home from work and I hear a knock on the door------I open the door and it's my friend that I literally haven't seen for years. She was parked in the back of my place and said that she had an early birthday present for me, but she needed help in getting it out. I went to the back of the house, and here's what she had in her car............................ Yup! A ZOOM-BOOM microscope!! She told me that the company she's with was about to get rid of it (not sure why), and she asked them if she could have it. They gave it to her with no questions and she knew that I'd want it! I've been wanting one of these for YEARS, and now whenever I need to do some soldering, or any other close-up work, this will come in VERY handy! You all know the vision troubles I've had over the last year or so, now I've got something that not only works well, but I'm very familiar with it as I used one of these daily in a former job! So look out........you might well see a whole soldered chassis come from me one day!
peter31a Posted October 28, 2017 Posted October 28, 2017 Wow, Bill! That is very cool. Great of your friend to remember and grab that scope for you. Look forward to seeing that totally soldered chassis.
blunc Posted October 28, 2017 Posted October 28, 2017 those are really great, I acquired a Leica in similar fashion due to a department closing..those base plates are a bear to carry around by hand for any distance. I used it for replacing broken pins on really expensive Xeon processors for a while. they're great for getting splinters out also.
MrObsessive Posted October 28, 2017 Author Posted October 28, 2017 those are really great, I acquired a Leica in similar fashion due to a department closing..those base plates are a bear to carry around by hand for any distance. Ha! You ain't kiddin' Mike! Having to lug that thing from the back of my place, and then carry it through the house, then up a flight of stairs-----well, I got my workout in for the day! I was afraid when I got it that it would need a new lighting unit but no, the light is nice and bright. In my last job I was a soldering trainer----teaching folks (mostly newbies) how to micro solder using these. Brand new ones are woefully expensive, so I was more than glad to get this as it would have been tossed out anyway.
disabled modeler Posted October 29, 2017 Posted October 29, 2017 Nice surprise Bill...that will come in handy for you.
Dave Ambrose Posted October 29, 2017 Posted October 29, 2017 Those things are awesome, and you have a wonderful friend. That circular illuminator should be a real help. Many years ago, I had to work one Saturday. So did my wife. I took my three kids to work, brought my wife's box of fossils, some sodas, and set them down with the soda, and fossils at an inspection microscope in the lab. Didn't hear a peep out of them for three hours except to ask where the bathroom was.
Tom Geiger Posted October 29, 2017 Posted October 29, 2017 Now that's a cool story Bill! That's karma paying you back for all your good thoughts! I was going to get you a white Dodge Challenger for your birthday, but someone said you already had one. Oh well!
mikemodeler Posted October 30, 2017 Posted October 30, 2017 How nice of that old friend to think of you like that! While I could probably use one, what I really need is to get back to the bench!Can't wait to see that chassis, Christmas is coming!
peteski Posted October 30, 2017 Posted October 30, 2017 I had an old Nikon stereo-microscope similar to yours. Very handy. I got it when they were getting rid of it at work (about 30 years ago). But then I bought myself a new zoom stereo-microscope from AmScope. It is Chinese-made, but pretty good quality and relatively affordable. That one is even more handy since you can adjust magnification. I find it indispensable in my hobbies. I usually use it wit a 0.5x Barlow lens which doubles the working distance while sacrificing magnification. But even then with the x10 objectives the magnification is 22.5x. That is plenty of magnification for modeling.I know you will enjoy using yours. It is so nice to be able to see the really small items you work on.
crazyjim Posted October 30, 2017 Posted October 30, 2017 I'd make sure that I stayed in contact with that lady.
Dragline Posted October 30, 2017 Posted October 30, 2017 What a good friend. Only use it for evil Bill..
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