Head worn magnifiers - any tips on what to buy?

[dave]

I keep thinking about investing in an optiviser, but the cheap reading glasses at 2.5 do the job well enough for me most of the time. I have also been known to use my headtorch from my hiking kit if a little extra illumination is needed.

[Peter Gillson]

after having my chaterachts treated I invested in a pair of bi-focals specially for modelling. The 'top half is for general, long vision while the lower section are magnifying lenses.

i took a bust into the opticians to show my comfortable painting distance and each of the magnifying lenses is set to that focus point.

the pair work really well.

Peter

[JR]

I've had to go for a large desk magnifier at 1. 75 with light. Two desk lights , one of which is on a arm and an optivisor such as Mr Smith showed . Found d the highest lens at 3.5 too strong for anytime over 5 mins , so have the 2.5 in most of the time . Often find the desk set up to be enough to do most stuff . Only having one good eye is a hindrance as I have limited depth of field . Trying to get a paint brush sleeve on with out messing the bristle is NOT fun I can assure you .

[David Lovell]

I work almost all the time in brail scail(as they like to call it) usually to a chorus of couldn't do that way to small its not seeing that makes it hard its handling some of the parts that's a challenge but all part of the fun.
Karl and Banjer have hit the nail on the head go to the optician and get a decent pair of reading glasses if you've got reading glasses and need a opti whatever their no good , there not working at the distance they've been made for ,as they said show the optician what there needed for they can tweek them just that little bit more mine did when you go to collect them and they sit you at the desk (your work bench)and ask you to read from the card hold it at reading/working distance if any good even the top paragraph the smallest one should be pin sharp or as the boys said take some parts with you big and small if your not happy tell them your paying.
Make sure you pick some frames that dont slip down your nose all the time thoes lovingly crafted lenses are built to perform best at a set distance from your eyes.
Good lighting is essential also I use a sheet of printer paper over the cutting matt it out lines what your working with much better than the usual cutting matt green plus I bought myself a posh one as a treat grey one side black the other seemed a shame to cover it in assorted glues.
Honest a proper pair of glasses will give you a shock as to what you've been missing. Dave

[tony b]

If you have a local hobbycraft, it could be worth a look, they sell a head mounted magnifier cum LED light at
a reasonable price, I've just got one and it works a treat. I think a good light is as inportant as a magnifier.
I've managed to break the sides on the spectacle type, twice, maybe I'm just hamfisted.
Hope this helps.
Tony. B.