Suggestion for a bench top magnifying lamp?

[Johnny1234]

Hi all.
Hope this is an appropriate category for this question. I am look for a magnifying lamp for my work bench.
Looking for something sturdy and reliable as I have run into to many POS in my travels. Maybe around 100
dollar range.
Many Thanks
Johnny1234

 

[pucho812]

I used to have something similar although mine was a standard fluorescent bulb. But here you go, 25 bucks and doesn't take up much counter space.

https://www.amazon.com/Magnifier-St...pcontext&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=A2UPMZGQGXZTQ0

 

[NOON]

If you're getting on in years and working on surface mount things then it's worth getting something with really good optics in the lens, I've found cheap ones to have more distortion, smaller usable area and poor depth of field. You can get much better quality in the second hand market. I got a great deal recently on 5 medical grade inspection lamps from a doctors surgery that was closing down. Still had fluoro tubes but you can easily get LED replacements on Amazon etc.

 

[Whoops]

I use this one, it works fine

 

[ruffrecords]

I have exactly the same model. Had it about 10 years now. Works perfectly. Also you can use it with reading glasses and get a kind of telescope effect. Very useful when reading values of very tiny components.

Cheers

ian

 

[Johnny1234]

Thanks for the replies.
Going to try the $35 dollar lamp from amazon, will let you know how it works out.

 

[VanguardAudioLabs]

Here's what i'm using. I have to make sure the knob is tight for the clamp every once in a while, but it's been awesome.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CQNPXTJR/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

 

[nashkato]

i found those lamps ( still have one from a doctors office ,though ) annoying.
dont know , i used them wrong most propably but it always got foggy from breath.
also i find the magnifying factor to low for my eyes .
i now use smaller lenses removed from a beamer/projector .
perfect for me if you need to find broken traces or shorts after reflowing.

 

[VanguardAudioLabs]

i found those lamps ( still have one from a doctors office ,though ) annoying.
dont know , i used them wrong most propably but it always got foggy from breath.
also i find the magnifying factor to low for my eyes .
i now use smaller lenses removed from a beamer/projector .
perfect for me if you need to find broken traces or shorts after reflowing.

Something like this might work for you instead. I have something similar that's a little older with a weaker light and without the swappable lenses. However it does have 3 lenses that you can "stack" to get incredibly close magnification.

A jeweler's loupe is also useful for me when inspecting PCBs or capsule damage.

 

[Whoops]

Thanks for the replies.
Going to try the $35 dollar lamp from amazon, will let you know how it works out.

You said you wanted "something sturdy and reliable as I have run into to many POS in my travels",
that lamp from amazon is very fragile and flimsy.
Look at the arm joints and compare to the lamp I posted, you will see that the one I use is much more robust.

That Amazon lamp will break in a pinch

 

[thelivingroom]

I use this one, it works fine

View attachment 138807

I’ve been using the one from Harbor Freight that’s very similar to that for the past 5+ years. Works great, and the magnification is good enough to read the dumb print on the blue TDK and Murata MLCC’s. I’m particular about lighting color temperature, for my sanity and shooting photos, and changed the fluorescent ring to a 3000K.

 

[pucho812]

Thanks for the replies.
Going to try the $35 dollar lamp from amazon, will let you know how it works out.

View attachment 138854

My old one was like that except fluorescent bulb. The clamp was great. The weak point was right were it would insert into the clamp. Flimsy metal.

 

[MicMaven]

I am look for a magnifying lamp for my work bench.

SERVING SUGGESTION 193874 -- Use a head-worn magnification visor like jewelers do.

I HATE using a magnification lamp for multiple reasons.

1) The boom arm gets in the way.
2) The lamp is either too bright or too dim and may glare on the object.
3) The magnification is often too weak for the task or object
4) The boom and lamp constantly consume valuable air space over my desk
5) Expensive
6) Did I mention, it is always int he way over the desk?

The photos depict my alternative - whether they provide mor or less magnification depends on the model. I prefer the first one with white frame - they all work over eye glasses, too. While they may have LED lamps, I prefer other lighting over the desk for that.

Just MY take. Your mileage may vary. / James

 

[VanguardAudioLabs]

I’ve been using the one from Harbor Freight that’s very similar to that for the past 5+ years. Works great, and the magnification is good enough to read the dumb print on the blue TDK and Murata MLCC’s. I’m particular about lighting color temperature, for my sanity and shooting photos, and changed the fluorescent ring to a 3000K.

The Murata MLCC print is SOOOOO TINY. Great caps (we use them in our Hartley oscillator DC-DC converters and a few other spots too on Vanguard mics) but if they fall out of the bag and you have to sort them, it makes your retinae bleed.

 

[mr coffee]

Why not get an industrial video cam and use a VGA monitor on a stand?
I just made the switch from a 5x lighted magnifying glass and it keeps the soldering fumes out of your face AND a wider range of magnification

I bought a C-mount adapter to fit a quality 50mm lens off an old 35 mm SLR to the video cam hooked up to an old but nice monitor and it is fantastic. The adapter and camera cost less than 50 bucks.

 

[VanguardAudioLabs]

it keeps the soldering fumes out of your face

huffing soldering fumes is a key DIY experience though

 

[john12ax7]

SERVING SUGGESTION 193874 -- Use a head-worn magnification visor like jewelers do.

Do these focus at typically soldering distances? The typically jeweler type often need to be used a few inches away, works well for inspection but not for soldering and assembly. Would like to find one that worked well at distance.

 

[VanguardAudioLabs]

Do these focus at typically soldering distances? The typically jeweler type often need to be used a few inches away, works well for inspection but not for soldering and assembly. Would like to find one that worked well at distance.

the one i have, it depends on the lens i'm using. But i've found myself mostly using the benchtop magnifier on a swivel arm (I linked it above), unless i'm doing super detailed inspections that need much higher magnification.

 

[MicMaven]

Do these focus at typically soldering distances?

Yep, they work for me.

(Disclaimer deleted . . .)

The main reason I prefer head worn lenses is ... I naturally adjust my posture and move my head slightly to adjust the view and maintain focus. I also have the other type of lighted magnifier on an articulating arm, but it remains in one position, focused at one distance, at least until I bump it or move it by intention. If the project moves, I must stop, put the hot iron down, move the piece, and adjust the boom to refocus, before I can re-take the iron and do the next joint. With head worn lenses, my hands remain in place and I just move my head or change posture to maintain focus without interruption.

Of course, your mileage may vary, depending on your eyes and what prescription / mag power you need. It also depends on the complexity of your project. A fixed lens on a boom is OK if you are just touching up a couple of cold solder joints or adding a connector to a cable. It is quite another matter if you are building a full ham radio transceiver or linear RF amplifier with 450 through-hole and SMT parts, and you harbor unrealistic, groundlessly hopeful expectations it will actually work when finished.

Good luck. / James

 

[rh001]

The amazon 10x magnifier is probably 4x....it turns out the diameter is customarily related to the magnification. smaller the diameter the larger the magnification. It's actually the thickness at the center that determines magnification and a 4 inch diameter lense with reasonable thickness will be about 4x. and actually if one could find a 4 inch diameter yet thicker lense and thus greater magnification it would have a smaller sweet spot than the typical 4x lens so as usual you just can't win.

I took my 4 inch diameter 4x lens to my optometrist and had her figure out a prescription for reading glasses based on distance of about 10 inches between lens and object to be magnified and 6 inches between lens and the reading glasses on my nose. So I get the needed magnification without hunching over or fogging up the magnifying glass. My optometrist had not done this before but she knew what to do based on what she already knew. I suspect any optometrist can do this. Without magnifying lens the reading glasses focus at about 12 inches and so are useful that way also.