My Vision is shot! Whats do use to see with?

You're tempting me, and I'm already trying to find enough reasons to warrant a trip to HF. If you get 'em report back on your impressions please!
 
That would have been a hell of a sale Dave... $34.99 reduced to $8 do they go on sale a lot? Hell that would pay for lunch and gas as well...
 
I don't have to use one yet, but have looked at some locally at various stores. There are two things that I noticed that I would recommend looking for.

Get one that has lights on both sides of the magnifier window. Otherwise you get some shadows cast across what your looking at unless you flip the light around every time you look at something from an odd angle.

Also, the rectangular ones are way easier to see through since they generally have much larger openings.

I'm not sure what magnification level would be best. You want help, but don't want to disorient yourself too much... Maybe something between 2.5X to 5X would work. You might take a look at any locally to get a better feel for them.

-VJ
 
Vj you think the round fluorescents will cast a shadow?

Also do you have any links to the square ones your talking about?

Its hard to compare if I have never seen one...
 
I haven't tried the flip down magnifiers, yet. I do have a couple of the headlamp LEDs and they are great, especially when spelunking into cabinets.

I have been looking for something like the swing arm fluorescent magnifiers. Anything to help the circuit boards look bigger to find what's wrong.

ken

Edit: The cricular ones with the magnifying glass in the center work great. My mother had one for her crafts & I used to "borrow" it and the light going all the way around helped to eliminate any shadows. That's why I've been looking for a good one with a light. I've got one of the soldering helpers (with the magnifying glass and alligator clips but no light) and it's ok, but I still want the big swing arm one.
 
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Thats what I was thinking Ken with the round light everything should be lit up like a Chevy Chase xmas tree...
 
Vj you think the round fluorescents will cast a shadow?

Also do you have any links to the square ones your talking about?

Its hard to compare if I have never seen one...

They should be Ok for the light purposes, but most of those have tiny openings which makes it hard to use. The larger rectangular ones were way better at the store. I guess you should just be checking any lamp to see what the diameter of the opening is to better visualize what it will be like when you use it. The larger the opening the easier it is to see what is going on and less likely that you need to move the lamp.
 
The rectangular ones are like this... This particular one has 2 bulbs in it with one on each side.

daylight_magnifier_lamp_D2304_Deluxe.jpg


Cheapest one yet $60

http://www.globalindustrial.com/gcs...aign=DeskLamps-nextag&infoParam.campaignId=WI

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607902_4wco.gif
 
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Those are pretty cool... I see what you saying about shadows. They do cost more don't they. Thanks for taking the time to link them up.
 
Those are pretty cool... I see what you saying about shadows. They do cost more don't they. Thanks for taking the time to link them up.

No problem.. Check my last update... $60 isn't too bad... Way more than harbor freight still.
 
Any one fell for these at Harbor Freight?

Head Strap Magnifier with Work Light
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http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=95890

I have this one, which cost me about $6.00 on sale

It has served its purpose, but the problem I have with it is the four interchangeable lenses don't fit securely enough into the visor and tend to fall off in the middle of work. A bit of Scotch tape on the lenses where they snap onto the visor helps a bit.

You get what you pay for, and for $6 I am happy and I probably would have been almost as happy paying $10.
 
My dad's done circuit design for 30+ years and seeing both his setup at home and at a couple different workplaces, a swing arm circular opening round flourescent tube magnifier has always been nearby. Thread reminded me, I've really been meaning to get one of them, they always helped when I was messing w/ stuff at his workbench.
 
i bought one at lowe's and for the life of me i can't find it now. It just has the one bulb behind the lens, and it does cast shadows, you end up twisting things at an angle to look at them, but i love it anyway. I use it constantly.
Anyway, if i were to buy another one - this is what i'd get - (or at least one similar)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350263242044
5x magnification, and a nice round tube, plus, its only about 30 bucks shipped.
 
I've been using a round magnifier for years. No circuit board workbench should be without one. Shop around - I found my second one on clearance at an office supply store for $20.

Bill
 
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