Tools of the Trade

[Tinyplanets]

Any recommendations on needed items beyond basic storage and cleaning items? 
Jeweler’s loupe to study

Black light to check for fluorescence/UV reactivity

small flashlight for backlighting 

Digital calipers for measuring

Varying types of stands and displays

What are some of your Favorites?

 

[akroorka]

 

I use theses two lights and have had them for some time. I would suggest head magnifiers over a lupe, my lupe always gets foggy.

Marble--On!!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072K27MCK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008133KB4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[Tinyplanets]

I paint miniatures with my head magnifiers and thought those would help too!  Thank you for links.

[wvrons]

Light, light and more light.  

[Chad G.]

Head gear would be a definite plus in here in my "2 armed" world !! But I guess maybe I have enough trouble running 2 arms w/  a one track mind ?  ....   

Agree w/ Ron on the lighting situation, I finally have a satisfactory setup, got some good pointers from Ernesto (MRCOM) @ AAM on this link :: Simple setup, highly effective and most reasonable $$$ to assemble I've seen.

LINK :   https://www.allaboutmarbles.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=46681

[Fire1981]

You're light bulbs should be true white. No soft bulbs.

[Chad G.]

Regular light bulbs have a yellow type cast, no blue or white "like the sun" natural sunlight  is always best "if" you have access. FSB daylight bulbs w/ a CRI rating of at least 95 and a rating of at least 5000 K  ( KELVIN : INFO SHOULD BE ON THE SIDE OF THE BOX ALONG W/ THE CRI RATING)are best for any pictures, especially macro and or glass, will show true colors. I know I have an extensive collection of trial and error case bulbs laying in the closet.

[Tinyplanets]

Digital Calipers recommendation?

[Chad G.]

1 hour ago, Tinyplanets said:

Digital Calipers recommendation?

I have several pair of digitals, both plastic & stainless, all their doing is gathering dust. I get mine from harbor freight now, the cheaper the better & plenty accurate enough for mibs unless you want to measure to the 100th of an inch ?? 

 

[Ric]

My preference is one that can report fractional inches. Unfortunately, most of these will report to 1/128ths inch increments, which is way too precise for marbles, IMO.

Vintage American marbles were sized in 1/16 inch increments so, for example, any marble that would fall through a 5/8" hole but would not pass through a 9/16" hole would be sold as a No. 0. Any marble that would pass through an 11/16" hole but not a 5/8" hole was a No. 1, etc. And I can think of no case where a 1/32" difference in a marble's size would definitively change its ID.

[jameswymer]

I think from a resale standpoint a photo of a mib in a digital caliper looks good.