What do you all use for close up work? I’ve been using strong reading glasses, but I’m doing some inlay work on a banjo fingerboard and even the strong reading glasses don’t seem to provide enough clarity and magnification when using a 1/32″ router bit to rout exacting recesses. Stronger glasses will give more magnification, but then I’d have to get on top of the work; too close. I looked at the binocular type glasses like surgeons and dentists use, but wow!, what a price.
What are you folks using?
Replies
Add more light. In brighter light the iris in your eyes can "stop down" more, increasing your depth of field and improving vision. If you think those glasses surgeons use are expensive, price some operating theater lights. But a good bright halogen work light can work wonders.
I also shift to hand tools for fine details. It's safe to get closer, and "oops" are almost always fixable.
Have you tried those magnifier headsets from Harbor Freight, they come with an assorted set of lenses and the thing is cheap.
Ditto Steve - bright daylight spectrum light!
Ditto Dusty - that cheap HF headset really works great - for really high magnification I need to get very close - $6!
(http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=38896)
The Wood Loon
Acton, MA
I definitely agree with the more light recommendation.
If some of you feel like you are having de javue you are. The following is an oncor presentation:
For magnification what works great for me are these Optivisors
http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?FamilyID=4227
I have three visors and four lenses.
I also have a light accessory on one of them to illuminate down into mortises etc.
http://www.loupe-magnifier.com/quasar_ls_lighting_system.htm
the batteries last and last and last.
I have also put the side loop on and like this.
I had one visor for years for my precision metal working, layout, etc., and then I began to use it more and more for my wood working. I went out and bought a couple more visors so I don't need to switch lenses and I am glad I set myself up. I use them for sharpening, paring fine dovetails, sawing dovetails everything.
Talk about serious nerd accoutrement This is it baby !
A fellow wood worker told me about a vision exercise system that he swears by and has allowed him to dump most of this stuff and see better. The system was like three hundred and fifty dollars. I have not pursued it but might be worth a look. I don't remember the name of the system. Does anyone have experience with this sort of thing?
roc
Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe. Abraham Lincoln ( 54° shaves )
Roc,
I like the light source on the Quaser. I have had one from Lee Valley for a number of years. It has a single lamp. Pre LED technology.
Why can't they put a generic cutout for the nose? That edge digs in after a bit.Don
Youth.
Chris @ www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com
(soon to be www.flairwoodworks.com)
- Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
Not sure if this would work for you and the work you're doing but have you thought of one of those, well I call 'em Engineers lights? The ones with the long articulating arms that have a round flourescent lightbulb with a magnifying glass in it. Ye kin angle it just about anywhere and ye still have both hands free.
Handy little gadget fer me. Winders work good too.
Regards,
Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Edited 3/25/2009 9:26 pm ET by KiddervilleAcres
How about prescription glasses? If I can't properly focus on something, then making something appear larger with reading glasses only makes it larger, not clearer. Prescription glasses should correct one's vision and further magnification may not be needed.
Best,
John
Quick, I've struggled with this problem for a little while now, and have found that strong, clear, full-spectrum light makes the biggest difference. Of course, there needs to be some magnification for those of us over the age of 45, but if the light isn't good, the magnification doesn't help as much as it should.
If you try the "engiineer's light" Bob mentions, be sure and get one with the circle-shaped light, not one with a simple incandescent bulb. I used one of these magnifying lamps a few years ago on a project and it really helped, but my eyes have gotten worse since then. Not sure if the fluorescent would do the job nowadays.
FG,
You just made a light bulb go off in my head (pun intended). Maybe I'll do it outdoors on a sunny day. One of the problems I have is that I'm working with a little router (Dremel) in a little base on a small object. There's not a lot of room to direct light into there. I got Dremel accessory which is an LED light on a flexible snake arm, but it doesn't shed as much light as I'd like and it's kind of in the way. I think I might try the sun and see how it goes.
Sunlight works great! Even hazy sunlight, LOL. I like to read the newspaper when out for breakfast. I've recently changed my default table to one next to a big window so I can actually read without squinting. Wearing stronger glasses didn't really help much and made my eyes resist distance focusing. Sunlight did the trick.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Optivisor, with a #5 lens is what I use most. I also have several sets of the cheap ones from HF, but I don't like them nearly as well as the Opti.
Since these head-sets hold the lens a bit farther from your eyes, you get a bit more depth of field, and not so close to the face.
Of course good light helps, but it will not come close to giving you the same perspective as having both.
Do some online shopping and you will find a better price than the link above. I think I paid $25 for mine, about that many years ago, so one buck a year is cheap.
http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=optivisor&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=1148765921&ref=pd_sl_10whwtpspo_e
Keith,This appears to be the same unit as the one that Woodcraft sells for about $27 WITHOUT the lenses? How did you settle on the 5x? Were you able to test drive a unit before you purchased?My plan is to use this at the lathe. I have been using some 1.5x cheapo reading glasses that work OK as long as I am fairly close. Would like to get some distance, and the comments here lead me to believe that the Optivisor would allow me to do that. Comments?Am going to visit a WC this weekend, maybe I can see what I can see, so to speak.........Thanks for the help.Rich
Richard, I didn't say 5X. it has a 5 etched in one corner, but it is not that powerful, maybe 2.5.I don't think you could use this power on the lathe, other than sharpening.
Keith,OK, thanks. I am nearsighted, with astigmatism, plus now need a bit of magnification for close, something I have never had to do. As I said, I use a very low X in some reading glasses, but I have to bend a bit more in order to focus. The higher mags force me even closer. I'll try the optivisor at WC, but sounds like a trip to the eye doc may be in order for some "shop glasses"......... Thanks for the help, have a good day.R
I did that a number of years ago, it actually made the eye doc's day because someone wanted something different. Mine focus closer up than reading glasses and I was lost when I dropped them and they had to be fixed.
Tom
Years ago I asked the eye doc for a special pair of shooting glasses. One lens "normal", the other focused at "front sight" distance. They were fine while shooting, altho' you had to wear them for a few minutes before actually shooting, so your eyes/brain could adjust, but no way could you pick up brass off the range. Brain would scream, "This can't be happening!!" I also made the docs day, especially when I pulled a 1911 out.Woodcraft on Sunday to look at the Optivisors, so I'm keeeping my options open.You mentioned "focused up closer." My problem is that the reading glasses seem to be focused TOO close, forcing me to bend a bit at the lathe. I'm already at comfort height for the rest of my body, so just bending my neck down is inducing some discomfort.Thanks for the thread.Rich
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