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 Post subject: gem clip
PostPosted: Mon Jul 15, 2013 1:34 am 
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has anyone used this product? i wonder how sturdy it is.

http://www.riogrande.com/Product/Multi- ... pes/114133

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 Post subject: Re: gem clip
PostPosted: Mon Jul 15, 2013 2:06 am 
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I have a similar holder built in to my microscope. The wire ends are not very robust, but the do hold a stone with a girdle fairly well. It will also allow you to rotate the stone and lift it up/down while you are viewing a stone. I use mine all the time, microscope is over 5 years old.

john

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 Post subject: Re: gem clip
PostPosted: Mon Jul 15, 2013 11:25 am 
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Thanks for the response, John. I think I'm mostly interested in this product because it has an interesting vertical movement- not just a tilting action, like all the others. Is yours like that?

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 Post subject: Re: gem clip
PostPosted: Mon Jul 15, 2013 12:59 pm 
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I have tweezers with a similar head for my scope as well. (Got it from Tim Spauwen, use it daily)

The gadget you posted is interesting because I like the idea of having a 3rd hand apparatus for all sorts of things...like photography, spectroscope, dichroscope, etc.


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 Post subject: Re: gem clip
PostPosted: Mon Jul 15, 2013 2:13 pm 
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I have not used one of these, but it looks very nice, and is quite reasonably priced.


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 Post subject: Re: gem clip
PostPosted: Mon Jul 15, 2013 2:32 pm 
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ordered it. i'll let you all know.

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 Post subject: Re: gem clip
PostPosted: Mon Jul 15, 2013 3:55 pm 
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I think there are several of these in my future.
The little electronic alligator klippy you can probably throw away. But the rest of it looks great.


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 Post subject: Re: gem clip
PostPosted: Thu Jul 18, 2013 3:46 pm 
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it arrived today.
it feels very substantial.
as gene pointed out, the 3rd, alligator style clip is not very useful.
but the other two have a lot of tension. the plain wire clip isn't so great, as it's alignment plus its tension forces it past 'closed' position so that the clips pass each other and twist in their housing. over a short amount of time, this will bring it out of alignment and you probably won't be able to hold a stone very well.

the coating on the other is very nice. it's not subtle, so if you're going to be grading diamonds, say, it's going to be in the way. but i don't mind because i bought it to hold things firmly in place.

other than that, it's pretty well made.
its rotation is very smooth because its got ball bearings in there. the twisting has a nice, natural tension - and then there's the locking thumbscrew to hold its position.
the base is very heavy at 8.6 oz. so whatever you put there isn't going anywhere.

Image
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 Post subject: Re: gem clip
PostPosted: Thu Jul 18, 2013 7:11 pm 
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Kewl, Thanks for the full review! :wink: :lol:


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 Post subject: Re: gem clip
PostPosted: Thu Sep 05, 2013 4:55 pm 
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FYI, as I understand it, Rio Grande no longer carries this item. They told me over the phone it was "discontinued." Not sure if it is available elsewhere...


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 Post subject: Re: gem clip
PostPosted: Thu Sep 05, 2013 7:20 pm 
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interesting. it's not the BEST product i've ever purchased, but i'm certainly glad i own it.
it's very handy but mostly for photography, and its intended use: setting up a stone under digital mag. in the shop (for customers to see)
it's not for everyday, hands on observation. that's a job for tweezers or normal gem clips.

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 Post subject: Re: gem clip
PostPosted: Fri Sep 06, 2013 3:07 pm 
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Well, this is confusing. Looked at Rio's website today, just for grins, and they are showing the gem clip as a close out item. I understand they've just redone their website, so maybe that's the disconnect.

Bottom line, the website says the item is available (although I was told over the phone yesterday that it wasn't).

So sorry to have added to the confusion!!!


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 Post subject: Re: gem clip
PostPosted: Sat Sep 07, 2013 5:33 am 
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I found this one in dino-lite.com http://www.dino-lite.com/products_list_minute.php?product_number=MS16C%20Specimen%20Holder it looks similar :?:
just search for "MS16C Specimen Holder" you will find it in ebay amazon and other websites.


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 Post subject: Re: gem clip
PostPosted: Sat Sep 07, 2013 4:29 pm 
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It's the same indeed. Danny sent me one too, I second his review: nice unit, extremely stable (it's best feature), and you have pleanty of options. My biggest criticism is that that it does a poor job at being straight. I can't find a point where I can have the clip extended along a straight line so that I can turn the stone and end up in the same place... you always end up a few mm higher or lower when you flip from crown to pavilion which puts you out of focus...

Conclusion: a normal gemclip on a heavy/stable foot works best.


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 Post subject: Re: gem clip
PostPosted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 6:53 pm 
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update:
on ebay now
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Microscope-Gem- ... 27e0ba731e


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