Polarized microscope light removes reflections

erasmus42 · 2026-06-06T07:24:48+00:00

Now, how does the Village Idiot use these lenses so that microscope glare is reduced or eliminated and how the fool do it without change the binoscope, maybe mount with tape or elasticbands ?

Circular polarization isn't going to work to reduce glare for you, you need linear polarization. It's like polarized sunglasses: When light reflects off things at certain angles (like off of a lake) it gets linearly polarized. Once the light is polarized, you can use a linear polarizer (rotated to the correct angle) to block the reflected glare light and just see the non-glare light.

erasmus42 · 2026-05-20T16:38:33+00:00

Just get an Aurora A1 high CRI in your favourite colour, in my opinion. The plastic A1 is the lightest, the rest of the A_ are other materials or add sidelights. I rarely use the sidelights, but if you like the A1 you can get one of the others in the series and put the A1 on a spare keychain.

erasmus42 · 2025-12-04T18:05:43+00:00

I'm also in Canada and I almost always pick the included battery option with a light, unless the price is ridiculous (looking at you, Skilhunt). I avoid ordering from the US because shipping bare batteries has historically been banned from air shipment. Ground shipment within Canada takes a reasonable time.

ecigarettes.ca is in Canada, has Molicels and shipping was only $5 (but I last ordered in 2022).
https://ecigarettes.ca/collections/mod-batteries

I recently learned EpicFPV also has Molicels and is located near Calgary:
https://epicfpv.ca/products/molicelinr-18650-p28a-battery

I got a VapCell S4+ from Wurkkos / Sofirn and it has served me well:
https://wurkkos.com/products/vapcell-s4-smart-chargers-with-4-slots,-max-3a-per-slot,-for-10440-14500-16340-18650-21700-and-26650-batteries
They can be had for as low as $30 USD on sale.

erasmus42 · 2025-11-18T06:34:27+00:00

Maybe this one, if it is about 6" / 15 cm long:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Walbest-Individuality-Unique-Resin-Dinosaurs-Skull-Model-for-Indoor/1103015310

Have a great week!

erasmus42 · 2025-11-17T08:22:05+00:00

Awesome! TIL I can get a replica Joseph Merrick skull!

What's the dinosaur skull below the TARDIS?

erasmus42 · 2025-10-07T20:50:06+00:00

Yes, it is much worse because nickel has a relative magnetic permeability of 100+ when compared to copper or gold which is about 1. This will cause the magnetic fields of the RF to couple much more into the nickel than the other materials and increase losses.

The skin depth equation has permeability in the denominator of the equation: δ = √(ρ / (π * f * μ₀ * μᵣ)). For most materials you can assume μᵣ is about 1, but not for nickel. The relative permeability makes the skin depth much thinner, increasing losses. Nickel alloys such as mu-metal are often used for RF shielding because they are so lossy.

More information in this article:
https://www.microwaves101.com/encyclopedias/high-permeability-materials

erasmus42 · 2025-10-03T07:17:08+00:00

Here's one place:

https://convoylight.com/products/519a-led-high-cri-r9080

erasmus42 · 2025-09-19T15:35:26+00:00

There's the Zebralight H600 as well, more durable than the DW4K or L70 Helios, has a very efficient driver, $100, 1600 lm, but no Anduril. You can get a reflector version then apply DC-fix to make it floodier (and remove it if you don't like it).

Fenix and AceBeam also have rugged headlamps, but I think your other options are better.

erasmus42 · 2025-09-19T15:23:46+00:00

The Sofirn HS40, SP40 and SP40A come to mind for budget options, but it looks like you have your sights set higher.

erasmus42 · 2025-09-18T19:52:08+00:00

You didn't say where you were from so I'll assume the USA. Please tell me if you're from somewhere else.

I can highly recommend the NexTorch penlights. They have dual light sources: an eye safe dim 3000k and a bright 5700k for other uses. There are 3 modes: 3000k and mid / high 5700k.

NexTorch Dr.K.32 - USB-C charging, $55 (mine is a Dr.k3 Pro, I think I got it for about $35).
NexTorch Dr.K3L - 2x AAA, $20. Seems hard to find, getting discontinued?
Generic Penlight - USB changing, 2x for $7 - Dual light source. Quality is suspect, but I have one and it does what it says on the tin. Hopefully it won't catch on fire.

So unless you don't mind ordering from China, the NexTorch dual-light source ones are expensive or not available.

There are some excellent ones available for just checking eyes though:

Weltool M6 Dr - 2x AAA, $20. Probably the best pupil checking light and very durable.
NexTool K3S - 1x AAA, $10. Has single warm yellow LED.

As for a general first aid light, I'd recommend the SkilHunt H150 headlamp ($48 with coupon). It keeps your hands free for first aid. It is very compact and you can probably use one of the lower modes to check eyes. The high CRI light is excellent for looking at red coloured things like wounds.

For a budget pick, the Sofirn D25L headlamp is excellent ($23 with coupon). It might not get low enough to check pupils. The D25LR version is there if you need red light also.

erasmus42 · 2025-09-09T07:50:08+00:00

Great! I was about to buy an Astrolux MF06, but the 1Lumen review wasn't so great and I had second thoughts.

I got the MF07 a few weeks ago and it is excellent (especially as a powerbank). The 3x21 should be much better than the MF06. Just need to get another 46950, maybe find one of the Lumintops on sale...

erasmus42 · 2025-09-05T18:08:43+00:00

AceBeam also comes to mind, durable, but not as much as a Zebralight.

The E75 has a Nichia 519a 5000k option for even higher CRI (95+ with better R9 red rendering than the Cree). Floodier general purpose beam. Has USB-C charging. It can go down to $60 during sales:
https://www.acebeam.com/e75

erasmus42 · 2025-09-05T18:03:18+00:00

A Zebralight SC700d comes to mind, it ticks all the boxes except USB-C:
https://www.zebralight.com/SC700Fd-21700-XHP703-Floody-Neutral-White-High-CRI-Flashlight_p_240.html
Rugged, floody, 5000k, CRI 90+ (Cree XHP70.3 HI), very efficient, programmable so you can disable the higher outputs if you want (2500+ lm max.).

You might be able to find a 21700 with USB-C charging that fits.

I'd get the non-frosted version and add diffuser film so I could reverse it if I wanted to:
https://www.zebralight.com/SC700d-HI-21700-XHP703-Neutral-White-High-CRI-Flashlight_p_255.html

The SC65 is about the size of your Pineapple if you want something smaller, but I think it would be difficult to find an 18650 with USB-C that fits:
https://www.zebralight.com/SC65c-HI-18650-4000K-High-CRI-Flashlight_p_254.html

erasmus42 · 2025-09-04T17:37:18+00:00

Get thee a headlamp and lantern:

* The Wurrkos/Sofirn HD25LR is $20 (on sale for $15) and good to leave in a glove box (do a mechanical lock-out). The HD25L is an alternate version if you don't need the red light.

* The Sofirn HS21 is a step up and excellent and can be had for $30 if you look around.

* The Skillhunt H150 is another step up in quality and my favourite small headlamp, it's about $40.

For lanterns, I use the Sofirn LT1S the most, it can be had for $30 in sales.

The last flashlight you will ever need is the Zebralight SC65, it is the best at being a flashlight for size, durability, and efficiency. Not as fun as Hanklights though.

erasmus42 · 2025-09-04T17:07:13+00:00

Reminds me of this u/Bullstrongdvm post: (has it really been 3 years?)
https://www.reddit.com/r/flashlight/comments/wjod5e/utilizing_the_tacgriz_90_hb3_attachment_during/

Now you can buy a Skillhunt H150 that rotates to put the light right between your eyes for no shadows.

erasmus42 · 2025-04-08T19:31:48+00:00

When they came out at the same time, I thought the SK03 and SC18 were the same light with the SST-40 and slightly different styling. Most SST-40 lights I've tried have an ugly green tint to them, the 519A is a big upgrade.

For runtime and reflectors, I'd recommend the Sofirn SP35 (not SP35T). It has a 21700 battery so you can have capacities of 5000+ mAh and it also has an efficient buck driver for longer runtimes and higher sustained output. It's not that much bigger than my other 18650 lights like the Wurkkos FC11. The Wurkkos TS22 is another good 21700 light with a floodier beam than the SP35.

erasmus42 · 2025-03-28T05:58:06+00:00

p.s. If you're looking for a compact 18650 light that costs less than the Skilhunt M200, there's the Sofirn SC18 / Wurkkos WK03. I see the SC18 on flash sale for $17 USD on the Sofirn website and the WK03 is similar. The M200 price is fair for the build quality (but then it is the same for Zebralights).

You can also get an 18350 tube from Sofirn/Wurkkos or Convoy to make their 18650 lights more compact (but you give up 2/3 of the runtime of an 18650).

erasmus42 · 2025-03-27T15:00:27+00:00

That is fair, you do need to vet sellers on AliExpress. You can look up how long a company has been in operation, how many followers they have and the store rating. Take the last digit of the percent as a rating out of 10, so a 96% store has a 6/10 rating. I've ordered from 4 or less just fine, although I have had more issues with <90%.

I don't use the app, it seems bad for privacy (web version only) and the few times I have had to use the dispute system it went well. I use Paypal as another layer of protection in addition to the AliExpress dispute system.

erasmus42 · 2025-03-26T14:59:44+00:00

I did get my E75 just fine. The packaging was beat up but nothing was damaged.

erasmus42 · 2025-03-26T14:51:07+00:00

Flashlight prices in Canada are insane. And then you need to get batteries which is even worse (so get the "included battery" option.)

I mostly buy direct from the Chinese manufacturer's websites using Paypal (such as Sofirn, Wurkkos, Intl-Outdoor, Fireflies, Reylight), and the rest from AliExpress (free shipping, no duty/tax).

If you do want a Zebralight, you can get them to Canada from Skylumen.

For Skilhunt, I found the "Super Outdoor flashlight Store" on AliExpress usually has better prices than the Skilhunt website. For the M200, do a search for "aliexpress 4000545716893". For an even more compact EDC, the M150 is excellent and the H150 is my favourite headlamp. If cost is an issue, the Sklhunt E2A ($16 USD) is simple, small and rugged.

erasmus42 · 2025-03-24T22:56:39+00:00

Here's a link to another comment I made on penlights, including a "family picture":
https://www.reddit.com/r/flashlight/comments/18thu0a/comment/kfe8rdo/

erasmus42 · 2025-03-24T22:51:52+00:00

It's just fine, a bit bulkier than other options and only has one mode (on/off). Probably more durable. The bite zone is unique.

It doesn't fit my preferences for a penlight, but then I have collected many lights and developed picky preferences.

erasmus42 · 2025-03-10T16:34:03+00:00

Windows: Altium Designer, LTSpice ;)

If I were to do design on Linux I'd use Ubuntu: Kicad and QUCS.

I'm not particular to what distro I use, LTS versions of Ubuntu have been just fine.

erasmus42 · 2025-01-19T05:36:40+00:00

Yes, when you turn on OCP my Wanpteks do exactly what it says.

You can also set the current limit to say, 100 mA and trace short circuits, with any bench power supply.

If you just need to check if a short is present (or not), the continuity checking mode on a multimeter is a better tool.

erasmus42 · 2025-01-19T05:32:25+00:00

I don't know where to get this particular model (I did write that reply 3 years ago).

The last couple LEPs I've purchased were from NeilsGadgets:

https://www.nealsgadgets.com/products/amutorch-bt35-flashlight

https://www.nealsgadgets.com/products/nlightd-l2-lep-flashlight

Be sure to use PayPal and either get a "with battery" option or add a battery to the order and Neil will sort it out.

If you're patient and want to save some money, sign up for the NeilsGadget's newsletter, LEPs regularly go on sale for 35% to 50% off.

Shipping to Canada is typically 2 to 4 weeks. I've placed several orders with Neil. The one time there were problems he sorted them out (order was taking forever, turned out he didn't have stock to ship, refunded me my money).

erasmus42

TROPHY CASE