About two weeks ago, I received a pair of magnifying glasses from Fancii to help me when I have to deal with fine parts. There is also a light included (by using 3 AAA batteries). I decided to use the headband but you can decide to use it as a pair of normal glasses.
This product comes with a box including five magnifying lenses of different force (1X, 1.5X, 2X, 2.5X and 3.5X).
I have used it for modeling, painting and weathering and I must say that I am pleasantly surprised with this product. I tought a lot of you could be interested.
Yup. The days are gone that I could see and work on very fine details without at least readers. I also have something similar to that with 4 different power lenses. The most powerful is good for slivers. Dan
I’m older than dirt and a year ago I had cataract surgery on both eyes and now I don’t need glasses for normal stuff but I did get some glasses for reading tiny print. When I’m painting HO figures I have a pair of flip down X3 magnifiers.
Mel
Modeling the early to mid 1950s SP in HO scale since 1951
Years ago, I bought an Optivisor clone from Harbor Freight Tools on sale for $5! It has been one of the best modeling investments I’ve ever made. The built-in sidelights are worthless as they point straight ahead while the work piece is centered and close to your eyes. Not a big deal as I have several alternative light sources.
Like others I use an Optivisor-type magnifier with a headband. And, along with my task light, it’s THE most important tool in my toolbox. I’ve also found that 2.5X mag works best for me.
I have one of those desk lamps with a magnifying lens and lights built in. It really helps when doing small-scale wiring and particularly when painting details on things like Jordan kits. Yes, I still have a few unassembled Jordan kits.
I bought one over 20 years ago and it gets almost daily use. Maybe the new ones aren’t as well made, for my old one has hung in there just fine. I believe I paid about $20 something for it, and another $3 or so for a second lens.
Believe me, it is a very valued “tool”, and I couldn’t be without one.
Your eyes and especially your brain adapts to what your eyes take in but actual changes are physical and mostly genetics and aging.
When you get new correction because your vision has altered you can actually feel the relaxation effect the new corrective lenses have on your brain/eye coordination. Conversely, a sign your need for correction may be changing may be eye strain headaches (if you wait too long you may also get headaches from accidentally walking into a door).
Magnifiers reduce eye strain compared to the alternative of forcing your eyes to see fine details.
Being short sighted is a big advantage when modelmaking. As I age my short sight is getting “better” as my eyeballs stiffen up which is a bit annoying frankly since I still need the glasses anyway. Now I can’t see as well close up without my specs on.
If the detail is so fine I need a magnifying glass to see it, I can probably do without it. Not only that, detail that fine is usually very fragile and easily broken off. I prefer not to put it on in the first place. I know that fine details are important to some people but to me they are generally a nuisance. If something looks good from 3 feet away, that’s good enough for me.
Never liked any of the visors, had them, sold them. I buy cheap reading glasses in all powers up to +6.00 and you can get them stronger. Sometime I use with a magnafying light.
My wife laughs at me when I am doing fine modeling because I often forget to take my Optivisor off when I get up from the workbench. When I walk into the rec room with the light shining ahead of me she gets a real chuckle.
By the way, for those who might be considering buying the lighting system offered by Optivisor, don’t waste your money. The lights are too dim, and as a previous poster noted, they don’t shine the light in the right place. I bought a small headband style light, removed the headband, and screwed the light to the top of the Optivisor. The angle can be adjusted so I can get it to focus exactly where I want it.
Now all I need is something to steady my hands![swg][(-D][(-D]
The latest NMRA Magazine’s “Tool Man” column has an interesting summary of a new generation of vision aids out there, some of which look intriguing.
One that particularly caught my eye is the Koolertron digital electronic microscope which offers considerable magnification, LED lit, on a 7" screen all powered by a USB from a laptop or computer but also records what you see on a miniSC card.
He gives the example of soldering onto a PC board.
This seems to be similar to the unit he writes about
