Magnifier Visors

I got a similar set.

Magnification is 1.5, 2.5 & 3.5(different lense which you need to swap), mine also got a build-in light.

Not bad at all, I use them from time to time when the "helping hands" don't work.

Thanks MMF.

I have a cheap pair and was wondering if these would be a better choice.

Mike

The thing I would be concerned about with the less expensive visors is lens distortion. The more expensive ones are ground and polished to precision optical standards. This provides the same focal point all the way across the lens to compensate for differences in eye spacing. The down side is the quality ones cost $35 +/-.

I use reading glasses from Walgreens - the 1/2 lense, 3.25 correction ones. 3.25 is the highest "correction" they make. There are times I'd like to have more magnification.

I use a similar set on the same magifiers page, item # 86052 for $30.
The optical quality is quite good. Though uncomfortable, a necessary item with my
degrading eyesight.

Hi Mike,

I have a set similar to what you've posted. I have used them quite a bit, but lately I'm finding that my magnifying lamp gets quite a bit more use. I found that with the goggles, I have to either hold the part up close to the lens (within it's focal range) or hunch over the desk to get my head down closer to the part. Either way tended to be a bit uncomfortable. I like the lamp better.

Murray

Hi Mike !
I live just north of Toronto in Canada. We have a store here called Lee Valley Tools.
They sell a magnifer that I just love. It is made out of aluminum and comes with 3 different focal lenghts. you can find Lee Valley on the web @ www.leevalleytools.com
Check it out I think you will be pleased.
Cheers
Bob McCabe

Bob, which magnifier are you referring to?

James (in Canada, and looking for one too)

Mike, I use an Optivisor as do several of the figure painters in the club. It has a loupe available but I'm not there. Yet. It sells for about $30 retail. The disadvatage I saw in the one you're looking at is the velcro closure. While this is infinitely variable, velcro tends to loose its grip with use and reuse. You don't want to be constantly l readjusting your "eyes" while trtyng to do some fine work. The Optivosor has a set screw adjustment that stays put when locked in. In the long run, I think you'd be happier with that.

Anyone find a problem with depth perception when using a magnifier lamp?
That is where I find the visors are better than the lamp.

Thanks for the replies everyone.

I like the lamps also but since I already have a flexible arm lamp with a 100 watt bulb for building I don't want another lamp to get in the way.

ajlafleche,

I agree that the velcro headband would not be as good as the type you mentioned.

Murray Kish,

One pair of magnifying goggles at that link that Bob McCabe posted in Canada has a working distance of 14" from your work which would be more comfortable as the ones I have now are about 8-10" away which is a pain.
Of course the more power they have the closer you have to be to the surface from what I have seen.

Mike

I have visors along the same lines....and the thing I don't like about 'em is the headband is awkward, and I have to hold my work so close to my face, that I found it easier to use a magnifying lamp, that way I could hold everything at a comfortable distance. That's just me though, as I'm sure others work better that way. Another thing I didn't like was the cheap construction of it, after paying $35.00, and I went to put in batteries and there were screws corroded....almost like it had been used. But, I'm the type who just kinda finds it easier to fix the problem on my own, rather than deal with customer service. Other than that they work fine.

Well I was going to buy a pair of these headband magnifiers today at the flea market for $5 but decided to go see the ones at Harbor Freight and I'm glad I did. They were on sale for, get this..........$2.49


They are pretty cheaply made, but to my surprise the optical quality is quite good. They magnify at 1.8x, and 2.3x through both lenses but with the single-eye loupe they will go to 3.7x, or 4.8x although I don't think I need that for modeling.
I am sure they will scratch easily though so I am going to be real careful of that. They also have lights on them but they don't really illuminate anything that well so I am not using them.

Mike

That looks exactly like what I have, only mine cost $35.00!!!! Damn!!!

QUOTE: Originally posted by kik36 That looks exactly like what I have, only mine cost $35.00!!!! Damn!!!

Heath,

They have some that look just like them in the Micro-Mark catalog for $39.95 also, but there is small print next to the picture saying, "Beware of cheap imitations" so I am thinking mine are the cheap imitations.

Mike

Mike I think you've got the same one that I got. Mine was cheap too (got it at a surplus store), but not as cheap as yours. I took the little 'lights' off cuz they didn't really help and just weighed the thing down.

I have seen some of the 'higher quality' ones and I believe that the biggest difference was with the lense. The better ones have glass lenses, where mine are plastic.

Murray

Thanks Murray.

The ones I really want are the Bausch & Lomb Magna Visor and they are also plastic lenses but they are optical quality such as plastic lenses in good sunglasses.
Here's what they look like:

Mike

I have one Mike, but have not used it yet. I got mine on e-bay and got it for $6.00 dollars. I also picked up one of the magnifier lamp for $2.00 at a second hand store. All I had to do was replace the burnt out bulb.
mark956

QUOTE: Originally posted by mark956 I have one Mike, but have not used it yet. I got mine on e-bay and got it for $6.00 dollars. I also picked up one of the magnifier lamp for $2.00 at a second hand store. All I had to do was replace the burnt out bulb. mark956

Mark,

You bought the Bausch & Lomb Magna-Visor for $6 or are you talking about the one I bought?

Mike

I've tried several of the "visor" gadgets, without much luck. There seem to be two problems.

One - as somebody mentioned earlier, they create problems with regard to depth perception. I have particular trouble painting with a visor: I can't sense how far away from the model the brush is. (Some years ago I had an interesting conversation with the ship model restoration specialist at Mystic Seaport Maritime Museum. He used an Optivisor all the time. When I asked him how he dealt with the depth perception problem, he laughed and said, "I don't have a depth perception problem. I'm blind in one eye.")

Two - like most other 53-year-old human beings, I have two eyes that have deteriorated at different rates. So two identical lenses don't work for them.

A while back I happened to discover, at a Woodcraft store (also available online: <www.woodcraft.com>) a set of magnifying lenses that are made like clip-on sunglasses. They clip to the nosepiece of my regular eyeglasses and, when flipped down, add a magnification factor of +2. What a revelation! For me, at least, they work great - and cost about $15.00.

I too wanted to buy one of those opti visors from my LHS but I think they're expensive @ $30. I've read it in some forum that having a lamp magnifier is a better option than the opti visor & one of those brands is called Ott Lite which is portable but expensive. I found some being auctioned @ ebay & I won. Haven't got it yet but I hope it comes up to my expectations. It looks like this: