I’ve been seaching stores in my area for a pair of optivisors, but no one is stocking them. I was hopeing to try the different lens sizes. I have good eye site, but still require assistance in seeing the smaller detail parts when working on N & HO scale trains. My question is what do you guys use? I ask this because I will problably have to buy online, and this will help me choose whitch magnification size lenses to get.
Thanks in advance, Truck.
Hobbytown USA carries them
http://www.hobbytown.com/Search/Search?Search=magnifier
I prefer to use a clamp on magnifying light with flourscent bulb like this one:
[:-^]
Micro Mark has them as well as most good Hobby Shops. I have one, but like BLUE, I use a magnifying lamp that is desk mounted more.
Johnboy out…
Another vote for a magnifying desk lamp. I have a Optivisor clone, don’t use it except for extreme close ups once in a while. Wearing it is awkward, as you can only see through the lenses and below, nothing on either side. If you need to select something, you need to raise the unit. And the plastic headband can get sweaty if worn much.
My lamp has a small diameter fluorescent blub, and I can place it any where I need it, no vision restrictions to the side.
If you’re still stuck on the Optivisor, I’d suggest getting to try one on to determine the magnification power. Too strong and you’ll need to have your work inches from the lenses, too weak and you would have the work maybe too far away to be practical. Worse case would be to buy the unit with several different strength lenses and return those you don’t want.
http://cgi.ebay.com/DELUXE-HEAD-STRAP-MAGNIFIER-W-LED-LIGHTS-VISOR-HAT-NEW-/360240815793?pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item53e0069eb1 This is what I use has 4 different lens and a LED light, also you can combine 2 lens for better close up. Works great as far as I’m concerned. I also have the bench magnifier also with the bulb. Jim.
I use the Optivisor with 2.5x lens. I find this provides a good working magnification. They also fit nicely over my glasses. I have a couple of other brands and find that they are less comfortable and less easy to adjust than genuine Optivisors.
Enjoy
Paul
If they work for you, “cheaters” from the dollar store are an alternative. I have a number of pairs which all cost less than $5 and some were only $1. Mine are 1.5x, 2.0x, and 2.5x, although you can get 3.0x as well.
My eyesight is normally OK but as I get older focusing is a problem close up and these take care of the problem for me. I also have two desk lamps on my bench so can get good illumination on pretty much whatever I’m working on at the bench. In addition I have a magnifier with the third hand but don’t use it too often.
Just an alternative you might want to think about.
Jim
Truck,
I have the Mascot version ($16) and it comes with 2.5X lenses. I do wear glasses and it’s very convenient to use with my glasses on. When I don’t need the magnification at the moment, I can just flip the lenses up and out of the way.
I find that the (imitation) leather headband on the Mascot is much more comfortable for me than the hard plastic version with the knob in the back. The headband adjusts very easily by sliding the band through the loop and it stays in place.
Besides my task light, my magnification visor is my most used tool. I even use them for non-MRR-related stuff.
Hope that helps…
Tom
I’ve got the Optivisor glass-lensed version in 3, 5, and 10. I use them all, depending on the particular task. If I only had one, I’d pick the 5; but if you’ve got the bucks, I’d recommend you get all three. I’m glad I did. The big problem with using a high-magnification version is that there is less depth of field–some tasks are too “big” for it. And, of course, the low magnification doesn’t get in really close.
When you’re working close, you’ll want lots of light. Your eyes will stop down and give you greater depth of field–always good in model building.
Ed
I had a similar question last year. After researching this forum, I decided to purchase an Optivisor with a 2.5 x lens as a reasonable starting point. I believe the working distance for this lens is approximately 7-8". I purchased it from MicroMark on sale. I’ve used it to assemble N-scale structures and find it very useful for this purpose. I also find the adjustable headband very comfortable and like the ability to tilt the lens up out of your line of sight. If you buy higher mag. lens, the working distance becomes less which could present problems.
Before deciding on a visor magnifier vs. magnifying lamp, you should determine where you’ll need the magnification, on the train layout or at the work bench. If you’ll only need the magnification at the work bench, then the magnifier lamp with its built-in lighting might be more appropriate. On the other hand, if you’ll also need the magnification on the train layout, the Optivisor, being more portable, might be what you’ll need. I decided to buy the Optivisor rather than a magnifier lamp for this reason. I have high levels of lighting in both my train room and at my work bench so the Optivisor works fine for me in both these locations.
A couple sources you might check for all types of magnifiers are the following:
www.eHobbyTools.com They carry Optivisors by brand name and have discounted prices.
www.telesightmagnifiers.com The carry visor magnifiers that look like Optivisors, but are not referred to by that brand name. They also offer discounted prices
Both of these sources offer magnifying lamps and a number of other types of magnifiers.
I’ve never purchased anything from either of these two sources, so I know nothing of their reliability.
Hope this info. helps,
Bob
Something I forgot to mention in my post above is in regard to the use of magnifying reading glasses that can be purchased at Dollar Stores, drug stores,etc. These are only magnifying lens and can not be worn over regular eye glasses. If you have astigmatism, these glasses will not correct for this vision abnormality and you’ll have some distortion in your vision when you use them. Obviously, if you wear contact lens there would be no problem wearing the magnifying glasses.
Bob
Truck,
Walthers offers an optical lens headgear with three interchangeable lens plates (3x, 4x and 5x).
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/240-600h
Rich
I have an Optivisor with 2.5X power lenses. I wear them a little high so that to look through them I drop my chin down and to see normally, I raise my head and look under them. Sort of like bifocals in reverse. As others have pointed out, lots of bright light is good, especially as our eyes get older. I was lucky in that I got to try them out before I bought a pair at my LHS. A friend in another department where I was employed worked in an instrumentation lab and they had Optivisors of different strengths. That helped me decide that 2.5X was right for me. Then the LHS let me try on a pair before I bought them.
Magnifiers should not a substitute for going to an optomitrist and having your vision corrected with glasses or contact lenses!!!
I do prefer an Optivisor over a magnifying lamp. I find the field of view larger just by turning my head, rather than having to move the light. I did however cut out (with a cut-off wheel in a Dremel) most of the “roof”, which allows me to look up and out without having to move the Optivisor or my head.
The standard lens is the 2.5, that increases the size of what you’re looking at by 2.5 times at a distance of 8", plenty for 90% of work in HO. You might find the higher # lenses more useful for N and Z scales or jewelery work.
I started using an Optivisor almost 30 years ago when my vision was 20/20 and was amazed at what I wasn’t seeing “clearly”. This is the single most tool that helped increase the quality of my modeling.
[quote user=“modelmaker51”]
Magnifiers should not a substitute for going to an optomitrist and having your vision corrected with glasses or contact lenses!!!
My vision is fine. My eyes get checked once a year. Working on concrete trucks there tends to be quite a bit of welding at times. And that is a strain on the eyes in it’s self. But I have been working with smaller led’s # 0603 and 36 gauge wire. you can barley see the solder pads with good eyes.
All of your responses have been great. I have decided on both the magnifier lamp and the optivisors. I beleive it would be wise to own them both. And thanks to your replies, it helped me in making my decision.
Truck.
I’ ll second this. As long as you don’t need the RX these work fine. The dollor store has them and they great in the sizes mentioned. I have multiple sets of each - 1 at the spray booth, 1 at the build desk, 2 or 3 around the layout. Ebay has some great deals if you buy bulk - 10 for $10
ratled