loupes - information please

[secharles]

surgical or dental; whatever they are called - i did a search and came up null.

i want something better than optivisor of tamiya.

any recommendation?

about "3x" would be good; currents (above) are 2.5x so i might like to go a little stronger.

thanks

[red Dog]

I use lightcraft,

this one specifically but there's one big drawback*

 

 

The pros are that you can easily change the lens to get different level of magnification

The big drawback is that it doesn't stay on your nose: Most of the time you work looking down and these simply drop from your head because they don't fit tight enough. 
I found out that when using these you really need a headband for the glasses to stay put. I keep losing mines and it drove me crazy

 

Luckily lightcraft have many different models, many of them with a headband, so make sure you get one that stays put

 

 

[Ryan]

You can get high magnification readers, I use a +4 but I think they go all the way up to +8.

 

They are cheap on eBay and allow for better viewing than any hood type optivisor (or otherwise) contraption.

[Ryan]

I might add that its good to periodically remove the magnification aides every once and a while to view the work at normally viewing lengths.

 

The readers and other high mag helpers are brutally honest and with them removed the jagged paint line or glue spot doesn't seem as horrific.

 

[Radub]

I use the Magnivisor made by Excel. https://excelblades.com/products/deluxe-magna-visor-purple 

It is reasonably priced and has very little distorsion. Three lenses are mounted on the frame: there is a fixed one at the front, there is a hinged lens hidden inside the "peak" that can be flipped down to increase magnification and there is also a very powerful side loupe that can be pivoted over the right eye, which when combined with the other to lenses it gives extremely powerful magnification. 

Radu 

[Woody V]

THIS is the best $23 I ever spent on model building stuff. Use the head band and remove the nose pinchers and they work great, even over eyeglasses. There are other brands like this so look around and be sure to get the USB rechargeable ones.

 

[LSP_Kevin]

I've got a set similar to Woody's, but couldn't get them to work with my glasses. I was advised to replace the arms with the headband (on my set, the headband replaces the arms, rather than extends them), but haven't had a chance to try that yet.

 

Kev

[Bob MDC]

I got a loope about a year ago https://www.quicktest.co.uk/products/binocular-headband-magnifier-by-zeiss-binocmag-zeiss

it's ok but my real fall back is the luxo I bought years ago when I had the big company I have that one in the main workshop, but seriously thinking about another for the smaller workshop.

https://media.digikey.com/pdf/Data Sheets/Luxo/Magnification_Prod_Lines.pdf

They are expensive but I have no problems with glasses or eye strain compared to the loope but I saw his https://www.hlj.com/mega-tsuka-lens-magnifying-glass-godgh-mg-tz?utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=themodellingnews

the magnification looks a bit weak for the price.

If you are in the UK and looking for lighting/magnifiers give these guys a try they have good deals on from time to time.

https://www.heamar.co.uk/620440-lights-lamps-natural-daylight-lighting

 

Bob

[Theo]

Just see a docter and ask for a set of new eyes.

Runs......

 

 

Theo

[Ryan]

Hey Woody, @Archer Fine Transfers gonna give those a try, thanks for the link.

[Woody V]

17 hours ago, LSP_Kevin said:

I've got a set similar to Woody's, but couldn't get them to work with my glasses. I was advised to replace the arms with the headband (on my set, the headband replaces the arms, rather than extends them), but haven't had a chance to try that yet.

Kev

 Kev,

 

Yea, the one I pictured above is not the exact one I (we) have. There's so many different ones out now but the original one HERE is still the best in my opinion. The arms can be removed and replaced with the headband and the nose pinchers can be removed easily. The problem is that the part that comes in contact with your forehead has a lot of tiny nubs that are extremely uncomfortable, so I cut out a piece of microfiber cloth and glued it over the nubs.

With those simple mods, it easily fits over my glasses and is comfortable. 

[Woody V]

5 minutes ago, Ryan said:

Hey Woody, @Archer Fine Transfers gonna give those a try, thanks for the link.

 

Get the one I linked to in the post above. Not the one in my original response.

[Citadelgrad]

6 hours ago, Archer Fine Transfers said:

 

Get the one I linked to in the post above. Not the one in my original response.

Well, I was too quick on the draw.  The first one you mentioned will be delivered today. I will provide a mini review in this thread.  Fingers crossed.  The old Optivisor is good, but only came with one lens, and no lights, so this is a bargain, multiple lenses and a light.  

[nmayhew]

i too have the optivisor and it serves its purpose, but depth of field is measured in microns lol

 

i think there's a reason surgeons don't use cheap sh*t bought of ebay / amazon - the proper stuff is many hundreds of £ / $ etc - lots of German optics manufacturers (moved on from Tiger tank sights to something more life giving than life taking!

 

if you ever go in for an op, pray you don't see the surgeon wearing what we wear!

[secharles]

with struggles and returning (2) sets of loupes back to amazon, i ended up with a another Optivisor with a 2.75 @ 6" magnification. they seem to be good so far.

 

thanks for all inputs.

Edited December 30, 2021 by secharles