I have both the 30x jewelers loop and the 420 scope which is damn near the same exact thing you got a radio shack. I got them both thru ebay for dirt cheap. I actually use both of them. Sometimes the scope is just too sensative or my hands are too shaky.

Do you know how long into flower I have to wait until I can see the trics? You are able to use the jewelers loop to see the trics?

Loup works fine, I have a 120 year old tailors loup from eastern europe (30x, for counting threads in a stich) and I use that more often then the scope. The scope requires batteries, had plastic lenses, and will not last as long as a real peice of equipment. The loup works fine for checking tricomes and sex too.

I guess the hardest thing for me is the scope requires the buds to not be moving at all and i need to squish the lense right near the bud to see, the fans have to be off and shit because the slightest movement causes distortion. And because the image goes through multiple lenses it inverts, which means the scope is confusing to move around to get looks at different angles of things. This is unlike the true image in a loup which is simpler to get readings off of and requires no special technique.

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But do you know How FAR into FLOWERING I have to be before I can see the trics ????

should see something in about 4 weeks, you dont start checking the color till your near your harvest date, indicated by your genetics.

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I'm 100% with speedhabit. I just didnt have the time to type all that when I originally responded. You'll see the trics no problem with either one and pretty early aswell. Way easier to see clear, milky and amber thru the scope, just tougher to manage the movement etc... the 30x jewlers loupe is easy and fast but you have to put your face and eyeball all up close.

I bought both of the magnifiers mentioned here in this thread (radioshack Illuminated microscope60x to 100x) and ( the 30x jewelers loop) to be honest with all of you it seems that the jewelers loop is easier by far to see the leaves close up. It may be different when the trics. appear as they are probably smaller than anything I am looking at now ???

When I use that scope from radio shack and try to see them "on the plant" I was way too shaky, So someone on this site said to just clip a little bitty snip off of the bud leaf and put it on a plate. Then it stays still and is much easier to see and steady the scope. I didn't like not being able to get close enough without mushing my buds, when I say little bitty, I mean little tiny edge. That way is easiest if you don't mind a clip or two. It took some practice but now I have no problem. I've seen some killer scopes like a usb scope someone bought and posted the site, It looked great, cost was 60 bucks delivered at this link you can see it PC scope

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Good seed, dirt, light, water, what's the big deal?

but if you are then please check out my grow
$toney Montana's Dutch Passion BLUEBERRY grow and yes constructive critsism is welcome as I always want to learn something new !!! Thanks

I bought that Radio Shack magnifier to trich check and had a Hell of a time trying to use it on the living plant. What I ended up doing was tearing a small piece of leaf closest to the buds off and setting it on a table then putting the lense on it to hold it in place. Worked wonders. Who knew there was so much juice in those babies.