Suggestion for a bench top magnifying lamp?

[Hansblooey Ribbon]

Optivisor.

 

[capacitorless]

I've been using a cheap plastic lens version of an Optivisor. It happens to have a flip down lens for additional magnification with the resultant reduced focal distance. I've been getting by with that as well as a +1.75 pair of readers. I'll see if I can find a link for those on a budget.

Edit: Carson Magnivisor, $22 atm at Lowes: https://www.lowes.com/pd/Carson-Opt...NRadq6FHO2otyE3IxEuIr-MBfxf_WALzN1SMhXjqS5fq4

 

[rock soderstrom]

Out of curiosity, I bought a cheap pair of LED magnifying glasses at Lidl for €10 this morning.

The whole thing is a bit plasticky and rather fragile.

The magnification is interchangeable from 1x to 3.5x, it could be a bit more but it's good for soldering and things like that. The LED is bright but unfortunately the whole apparatus gets quite heavy due to the 3x AAA batteries.

Conclusion: cheap, useful, let's see how long it lasts. In my opinion, such glasses are generally more suitable than magnifying lamps for soldering, see member @MicMaven post.

 

[Electrobumps]

Out of curiosity, I bought a cheap pair of LED magnifying glasses at Lidl for €10 this morning.

The whole thing is a bit plasticky and rather fragile.

The magnification is interchangeable from 1x to 3.5x, it could be a bit more but it's good for soldering and things like that. The LED is bright but unfortunately the whole apparatus gets quite heavy due to the 3x AAA batteries.

Conclusion: cheap, useful, let's see how long it lasts. In my opinion, such glasses are generally more suitable than magnifying lamps for soldering, see member @MicMaven post.

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I have a pair of these too, but mine has a built-in lithium battery, so not heavy, Okay for what I need, but wouldn't want to wear them all day.

 

[rock soderstrom]

Okay for what I need, but wouldn't want to wear them all day.

The same here. If the workplace is brightly lit enough, the batteries can be omitted. This makes the glasses much lighter...

 

[Plonker]

I recently did a mod on a AKG p220 which uses SMDs and as most would know there not the easiest components to work on.
I tried a couple of head mounted magnifiers but they didn't work as you had to be very close to see anything and the thought of having a hot soldering iron a couple of centimeters away from the tip of my nose was bit scary.
So I returned them.
I ended up getting a goose-neck phone holder which clamped to my bench and I used the camera zoom on my phone.
Works great and I didn't end up melting the end of my nose.

 

[rock soderstrom]

I recently did a mod on a AKG p220 which uses SMDs and as most would know there not the easiest components to work on.
I tried a couple of head mounted magnifiers but they didn't work as you had to be very close to see anything and the thought of having a hot soldering iron a couple of centimeters away from the tip of my nose was bit scary.
So I returned them.
I ended up getting a goose-neck phone holder which clamped to my bench and I used the camera zoom on my phone.
Works great and I didn't end up melting the end of my nose.

Yes, that is also a solution. But I always have problems with camera systems because the hand-eye coordination requires some rethinking. It's easier with glasses. Btw, with the Parkside glasses with the 3.5x lens the focal plane is about 23cm in front of the eyes. You are quite close with your nose, that's true.

 

[Hansblooey Ribbon]

The Optivisor has ground glass lenses. I would not trust plastic lenses for the amount of time that I use these. Mine have the 3.5x 4” focal length DA-10 lenses and I use them everyday. Can be found on eBay for dinner out money. They may smell like cigarettes though

 

[RoadrunnerOZ]

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



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I have long ago ditched the boom-arm magnifier and use a headworn magnifier with LED lamp. I got mine from a market that sells all sorts of stuff from China and Indonesia. The lens carrier can carry 1 or 2 lenses and if using a single lens the lens can flip out forward for normal vision.
The fully enclosed box-type lens units are a bit clunky to use and lens interchange is either not easy or not possible depending on type. The open type with flip-out lenses means you can easily go from normal to magnified vision in a second, the light still remains on the job and they’re much lighter.
When the lenses get scratched I use QUIXX scratch remover. If they get badly scratched I use the 1500 grit wet&dry paper that comes in the QUIXX box, then I use my own 2000 and then 5000 wet&dry (wet sand only) before using the polish. Lenses come up like new.
The big downside of all these headworn units for sale is the crappy light. I tore out the light on mine and replaced with a Cree LED cycle headlamp with dual lights - one diffuse and the other pinpoint spotlight. I took the cycle lamp off its band and used cable-ties to attach its base to the headband’s light mount frame - this way the light position is fully alterable. The unit comes with 4 lenses and you can increase and change power ranges by using twin lenses together. The lamp runs on 3 AAA cells - I use rechargeable ones and carry 12 with me so I never run out on a job.
I made another with a more powerful light - diffuse only.