I guess I’m going to have to break down and get some type of magnifying glasses. The #3 reading glasses are ok, but sometimes I need more. I haven’t started to shop around, and see whats out there, so I thought I’d ask what some of you guys use.
Thanks !
Mike.
Mike:
I weaar bifocals, so I have a flip down visor at about 2.5-3.o times. I got one with an adjustable head band, the new ones have an optional headlight.
This way you can flip it up to find tools, walk around, etc.
Dave
Hi Mike,
By #3 do you mean +3.00 diopter? Reading glasses you can buy over the counter are generally available in steps from 1.00 diopters to 3.00 diopters. As you get into your forties, the lenses you are born with get stiffer and gradually lose their ability to focus at near. When most people find that their “arms are too short” they start with +1.00 or +1.25 diopter reading glasses. As modellers, we need more magnification, but it’s hard to see distance with reading glasses.
I have an Optivisor which I love. As Dave says, you can flip it up to walk around, but for near work the optics are excellent. I’m 62 and I use the one with the 20" focal length. If you are older you might try the 14" focal length model. I was able to try them out at my LHS.
Best of luck.
Ken (Eye doctor by profession, but I’d rather be workin on the railroad).
Mike, pick up an Optivisor. Nothing could be better.
Rich
I’m nearsighted, and can focus down to about 10". Which sure isn’t close enough for modelmaking.
I’ve got Optivisors in #3, #5, and #10. I use mostly the #5. Then the #10 for teensy work. The #10 doesn’t have great depth of field for me, but sometimes it’s just the thing. The #3 may have been a mistake–I don’t recall using it.
I would recommend getting the “old” ones, with glass lenses. If nothing else, they should scratch MUCH less than plastic.
I’ll note that I easily found on Amazon reading glasses at 4.0. Another option.
Ed
Optivisor. Get one with a light. Amazon has a good selection. I just looked.
Rich
I hated my Optiviser’s and sold them on e-bay. I use reading glasses from the $ store, you can get them up to a 4 but on e-bay they can be bought for up to 7. I use 1.5 generally just doing stuff but the #4 works great for close up work and these are so cheap I leave pairs everywhere.
I have a really good pair of progressives for day to day use. I did buy a three pack of very strong over the counters at Costco for cheap. They work great for close work and I keep a pair at the layout and the other two at the workbenches.
Optivisor is the best. I have 2 other cheaper brands - they work but are not as comfortable and easy to use. I use the #5 lenses. I like that they flip down over my glasses - since my eyes are different corrections I need that.
Enjoy
Paul
My wife laughs at me when I walk around the house with my Optivisor still on my head because I have forgotten to take it off.
Seriously, if I am doing any sort of work up close, the Optivisor is on my head the whole time.
I agree with the suggestion to get a light for it, BUT DON’T buy the ones that have LEDs in a frame that sits around the lenses. They do not focus the light worth beans. I bought a headlamp with a strap, removed the strap and used small bolts to attach the lamp to the top of the molded eye piece. The headlamp has an adjustable beam and two light levels. It concentrates the light right where you need it. In fact, on high with fresh batteries it is too bright.
Be aware that the headlamp eats batteries, or at least mine does. I’m using Duracells so its not a problem with using el-cheapo batteries.
Also, to reinforce a point that Paul made, spend the money on an Optivisor, not a clone. I made that mistake thinking that I would have two visors with different strength lenses, but the clone was so uncomfortable I tossed it.
Dave
Great guys, thanks, I guess I’ll start with the Optivisor, and see what’s it all about. I do like to add details to locos, and freight cars, such as the hoses, plows, un-coupler levers, wipers, cross over plates, some piping, etc., not that I’m anything close to “rivet counter”. Just for my own satisfaction.
Thanks,
Mike
So, I just did a quick search on Google, is it the Donagan Optivisor?
Mike
I can’t “quote” on Fire Fox, but, yes Ken, I mean the +3.00, and , after reading the replys, I might look the +4 or higher.
Mike
Yes Mike, it is the Donegan OptiVISOR.
Dave
Of all the tools that I own for working on my layout, the Optivisor is Number One.
Couldn’t do without it.
Rich
Getting high diopter glasses may not help if have astigmatism. You would have to wear those over your normal glasses. I’ve got an el cheapo knock off of the Optivisor. …Hey I didn’t know. It has a flip up second pair of lenses, but the magnification is so high you have to working extremely close to your face. It is not uncomfortable to wear.
Many of us are in an age group where we should be checked for glaucoma, which has no symptoms until you suffer significant vision loss. If your source of eye care is trying on cheaters at Walmart, you are making a mistake.
Hi all
Well I do have a seriouse eye condition and have had it all my life and have a few more eye problems at the moment, and quite frankly the moral checker program would junk my post.
If I said what I think about people who don’t take propper care of their eyes and get regular checks when they should.
You only get one set and if you seriously break them or ignore something fixable or controlable then thats pretty much it.
Just don’t do it.
Erhm Sorry wild foot stamping rant over.
When it comes to fiddly stuff and fine detail’s my prefered visual aid of choice is an optivisor with a 10x magnification that lense might have to be revised when the eye surgeon has finished with me hopefully lower.
It fits over my glasses is comfortable to wear and works.
Forget the it looks pretty and are pretty useless LED lights ones.
The light while bright doesn’t shine where you want it so just stick with the non lighted one and the magnification level of lense that works for you.
And any one with possible real eye problem’s please just go and get it checked out before its to late.
regards John
Excellent point Big Daddy. If you are over forty (close to the age where people start needing reading glasses) and you haven’t had a good eye exam in the past five years this is the time. Some the saddest things I see in my profession are preventable eye trauma (so wear your safety glasses) and loss of vision due to glaucoma which is called the “silent thief of sight”, but is easily detected with a proper exam. Some might consider this reply off-topic, but it is hard to do model railroading if you can’t see .
Point taken about eye health. I have yearly exams, next one due in March.
Thanks for all the great feedback!
Mike.
I got advice here when I was having the same problem seeing those tiny parts.
Here is what I got and its really good.
Carson Optical Pro Series MagniVisor Deluxe Head-Worn LED Lighted Magnifier with 4 Different Lenses
I only need the X2 lens but having four lenses is a real bonus if you have to look at something REALLY close.