Magnifier for work bench

After trying out a number of bench- and light-mounted magnifiers over the years, I found I had much better luck -- first with an Optivisor -- then with simple magnifying 'reader' glasses from the drug store. The light and field-of-view are much better, and the 'distance' is always right without having to constantly bob back and forth. (I used the Optivisor for a long time, but the glasses are much more natural, less like 'tunnel vision.')

Just a personal take.

I use one of those type magnifiers and I find it quite helpful. I find I still leave the old readers on while using it. Seems to sharpen up the view better for me anyway.

I strongly recommended you get a bench light with the magnifying lens.  I use mine every time I sit down to work at the bench.  I don't like the Optivisor because the field of vision is tiny, and you have to hold the item very close to your eyes to focus on it.  (At least, my eyes require that.)

Magnifying reader glasses get my vote too.  I have 3X, which is good for most tasks, and 6X which is good for working with smaller details.  The 3X lets you work at a comfortable distance from what you're working on, while the 6X requires you to get in a lot closer.  As for light, I have a nice, bright LED headlamp in addition to my overhead lighting.  This way, getting the light focused where you're looking happens naturally...when you look at something, your head points the light at it. 

rcguy

How many of you use a magnifying glass of some sort for your modeling?

I need a better light for my work bench so I have been looking at different types of LED lights  including the ones that have the big magnifying glass with the LED light around the outside .

I'm just wondering how usefull the magnifying glass would be and if I should just stick with buying a LED light without the magnifying glass part. 

Thanks for your input. 

I found that I have poor coordination, working with a magnifier close to my hands and the work, and farther from my eyes, than when I have the magnification at my eyes, and I can hold the work at normal arm's length.  I use an Optivisor.  I have no problem with the small field of magnified vision, and it means that I can hold things as I used to, before my vision started to go.  That is, I can hold a figure in one hand, brush in the other, with my arms at about a 45-degree angle at the elbows.

I also have a lighted magnifier designed like glasses, with arms that fit over your earlobes, and a nose piece.  I don't like it as much as the Optivisor, because I don't like the weight of the eyepiece, which includes the battery case, on the bridge of my nose.

But everyone will be different, and there is no objective best.  You might find that using a bench-mounted (or stand-mounted) lighted magnifier is easier for you.  In the end, you'll have to try things and find which one is the most comfortable for you.

As important as any magnification is lighting.  If the light is too dim, it won't matter if you can see without magnification or not.  My work bench is well-lit, both with general area lighting, and with light I can focus as necessary on any particular spot.

Hope that helps!

Brad

I have one of those adjustable movement fluorescent ring lights with a magnifier, and love it.  Problem is, the switches wear out even before the bulb/starter, probably because of the high voltage spikes.

I have an old one with a bad switch that I intend to modify with LEDs and a better switch, a decent toggle switch.

However, I mainly use it for the light, very seldom for the magnifier, but in addition to the cheaters I ordinarily wear, in a tough case it is great.

For the cheaters, I use ones from Dollar Tree (a buck a piece).  I have three sets of different magnifications for different working distances.  They work great.

The idea of a positionable light ties in to magnification.  The brighter the working light, the more your eye pupils stop down, giving you greater depth of field.  When you are using magnifiers, or higher diopter cheaters, your depth of field decreases.  Strong light helps improve this narrowed depth of field.

Thanks for all the input everyone been very helpful.

I ordered a nice bright LED light without the magnifier.

I will try the reading glasses approach if I need some magnification and see how it goes.

I forgot to mention that, that I also started using a pair of generic reading glasses for some work, just to....see, how they'd work (pun intended).  I also have started using them for reading.  They're convenient and they do help, too. A seven-dollar buy at Walgreen's.

I started with using a desk magnifier and I quickly became frustrated that it didn't have the reach I often needed, and or, it was a pain to reposition. Along with that, it ate up valuable table space. I had the weighted type, not the clamp type. There are pros and cons to that too. I then tried several head mounted magnifiers and I didn't like the weight of them. Ultimately, I migrated over to reader glasses coupled with interchangeable clamp on magnifier lenses. Amazon sells the magnifier system for about $15. For me, it is the perfect answer. They are comfortable, and they keep your field of view wide open. That equates to less bumping of things. Lastly, the kit comes with I think five different lenses, but,  I have never needed to use more than one. Pick the lens that works and then forget about it.

For what it is worth.... that is my evolution on this.

I had one of these I bought on Amazon. After owning it for a while I bought another for my fishing work bench. I highly recomend them.

I use this desktop magnifier.

Brightech Magnifier

Been using for years the cheap optivisor from Harbor Freight and works  great.

https://www.harborfreight.com/magnifier-head-strap-with-lights-38896.html

I have one of those also, along with the desktop lamp/magnifier. I found out that if you use the head mounted magnifier along with a desktop magnifier you can get even more magnification with both combined. Plus the desktop magnifier has a built in lamp and virtually eliminates shadows so you can see everything clearly. I love it.

I have one of those lamp/magnifier combos.  And, I use high powered cheap cheaters from dollar store.  If the magnifier is larger than about four inches, then you can see through it when you are wearing strong glasses and see fine- the powers add.