OzarkSawdust Posted September 19, 2019 Report Share Posted September 19, 2019 Is it just me...or does anyone else have trouble seeing the little lines to cut on? I wore glasses most of my life. About 15 years ago I got my eyes lasered and only need +1.5 reading glasses if the light is not real good. But...I'm having a heck of a time trying to see all those little lines to cut. After I stare at it for a while with the small #1 blade going up & down, and the little light on the saw kind of shines on one side leaving a little shadow on the other...they get kind of fuzzy lol. What do the rest of you do? Am I the only one having a problem? OCtoolguy and don watson 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrappile Posted September 19, 2019 Report Share Posted September 19, 2019 I have a magnifying light.. Like this: https://www.harborfreight.com/fluorescent-magnifying-lamp-60643.html They are considered good especially for the price. There are better ones and I am sure worse ones. I have this one and expensive one (around $120) I don't think my expensive one is that much better. OzarkSawdust, GrampaJim, don watson and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foxfold Posted September 19, 2019 Report Share Posted September 19, 2019 I cheat and put my patterns through Inkscape, that way I can change the lines to 'red' as I find them easier to follow that way and I can also make the lines a little 'wider' too without compromising the overall pattern. OCtoolguy, Be_O_Be, danny and 2 others 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
don watson Posted September 19, 2019 Report Share Posted September 19, 2019 (edited) +1 for the advice given by Brenda (Foxfold) Don W PS You can make the lines any colour you like. I use red as it gives a good contrast but green or blue are pretty good. PPS @ Brenda, I don't think it is a cheat. Edited September 20, 2019 by don watson added PPS OzarkSawdust and OCtoolguy 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trackman Posted September 19, 2019 Report Share Posted September 19, 2019 I have two Otta Lights by the saw one on each side to stop the shadows. OzarkSawdust and OCtoolguy 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ike Posted September 19, 2019 Report Share Posted September 19, 2019 I have a magnifying light like Ozark sawdust has, I got it from mansards for $40 and it works rine gives off plenty of light. ddI have had it for about 5 years now and burnt out one bulbat the cost of $10 It's the only way I can cut any more, These old eyes are getting pretty old IKE. OCtoolguy and OzarkSawdust 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loftyhermes Posted September 19, 2019 Report Share Posted September 19, 2019 Another vote for changing the lines to red, also use a magnifying light. OzarkSawdust and OCtoolguy 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crupiea Posted September 19, 2019 Report Share Posted September 19, 2019 My lamp light is a big overhead thing that I can adjust quite a bit,. Those little scrollsaw lights dont do it for me. OCtoolguy and OzarkSawdust 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill WIlson Posted September 19, 2019 Report Share Posted September 19, 2019 Sorry to break it to you like this, but it's called "Getting Old". Happens to most of us, at least the lucky ones. stoney, OCtoolguy and OzarkSawdust 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OzarkSawdust Posted September 19, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 19, 2019 8 hours ago, Foxfold said: I cheat and put my patterns through Inkscape, that way I can change the lines to 'red' as I find them easier to follow that way and I can also make the lines a little 'wider' too without compromising the overall pattern. How do you get the lines to change color? I found a spot that said black, and I changed it to red...but it still printed black! OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foxfold Posted September 19, 2019 Report Share Posted September 19, 2019 (edited) 52 minutes ago, OzarkSawdust said: How do you get the lines to change color? I found a spot that said black, and I changed it to red...but it still printed black! Mmm, several reasons. 1) Did you have what you wanted to print on the 'page' as it only prints what it can see. 2) I always do a ''trace bitmap'' of my pattern and work on that if it's not a PDF.. 3) If it is a Pdf then click on the colour you want the main pattern to be (I use grey) and then ''right click' on the colour you want the outline (stroke) to be. Edited September 19, 2019 by Foxfold OzarkSawdust and OCtoolguy 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OzarkSawdust Posted September 19, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 19, 2019 3 hours ago, Foxfold said: Mmm, several reasons. 1) Did you have what you wanted to print on the 'page' as it only prints what it can see. 2) I always do a ''trace bitmap'' of my pattern and work on that if it's not a PDF.. 3) If it is a Pdf then click on the colour you want the main pattern to be (I use grey) and then ''right click' on the colour you want the outline (stroke) to be. I'll go in and try that...thanks! I took one of their images and put text on the page with the letter stencil maker and printed. Haven't tried with my own picture yet. It's a neat program and I'm sure I'll love it...when I use ut some and find my way around. Thanks again! OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockytime Posted September 19, 2019 Report Share Posted September 19, 2019 I take my patterns to Office Depot and have them copied in red. At the same time they can enlarge them for me if I want. I don't do inkscape. I used an LED magnifier for some time but now only use the magnifier for an excellent light source. I have discovered I scroll better with a head magnifier. I don't have to swing a light out of the way when changing blades and there is nothing between me and the pattern. The head magnifier is cheap, has excellent optics, comes with five different power lens and is very comfortable. They are available on ebay for $10 - $16 depending who is selling them. They are all the same. OCtoolguy, OzarkSawdust and Hermit 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OzarkSawdust Posted September 20, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2019 (edited) I got a light/magnifier at Harbor Freight today. I put it on the bench and wow! Much easier to see the lines, and better light too! Thanks again to Scrappile for letting me know about it. I called the store in Joplin to make sure they had one before driving an hour...lol. Now I just need to do something...maybe a rubber band...to keep the "toilet seat lid" open while I'm using it. Les, Thanks...I might get some of those also. They look more portable. Do they have a light? Just started on a Steve Good hummingbird pattern. More of a challenge that anything I've done yet. Several tight spots and points. I take it when a line just goes into a keeper part and stops you are to follow the line...stop at the end...and back out. Edited September 20, 2019 by OzarkSawdust danny 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockytime Posted September 20, 2019 Report Share Posted September 20, 2019 1 hour ago, OzarkSawdust said: I got a light/magnifier at Harbor Freight today. I put it on the bench and wow! Much easier to see the lines, and better light too! Thanks again to Scrappile for letting me know about it. I called the store in Joplin to make sure they had one before driving an hour...lol. Now I just need to do something...maybe a rubber band...to keep the "toilet seat lid" open while I'm using it. Les, Thanks...I might get some of those also. They look more portable. Do they have a light? Just started on a Steve Good hummingbird pattern. More of a challenge that anything I've done yet. Several tight spots and points. I take it when a line just goes into a keeper part and stops you are to follow the line...stop at the end...and back out. They do have a light but use a couple of batteries which make them too heavy to be comfortable. OzarkSawdust 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCtoolguy Posted September 20, 2019 Report Share Posted September 20, 2019 1 hour ago, OzarkSawdust said: I got a light/magnifier at Harbor Freight today. I put it on the bench and wow! Much easier to see the lines, and better light too! Thanks again to Scrappile for letting me know about it. I called the store in Joplin to make sure they had one before driving an hour...lol. Now I just need to do something...maybe a rubber band...to keep the "toilet seat lid" open while I'm using it. Les, Thanks...I might get some of those also. They look more portable. Do they have a light? Just started on a Steve Good hummingbird pattern. More of a challenge that anything I've done yet. Several tight spots and points. I take it when a line just goes into a keeper part and stops you are to follow the line...stop at the end...and back out. I use a mini bungee cord to hold the toilet seat up. Put a hook in the groove, wrap it around the goose neck and then the other end back in the groove. Works great. OzarkSawdust 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jollyred Posted September 20, 2019 Report Share Posted September 20, 2019 I use glasses to read, and also use the 1.5 glasses for general use. When I am scrolling, or doing other detailed work, I switch to 2.5 glasses, which let me see the little lines better. To try them, you can get a pair for $1,00 at Dollar Tree. If you don't like them, you're not out much. danny, OzarkSawdust and OCtoolguy 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OzarkSawdust Posted September 21, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2019 (edited) On 9/19/2019 at 8:25 PM, octoolguy said: I use a mini bungee cord to hold the toilet seat up. Put a hook in the groove, wrap it around the goose neck and then the other end back in the groove. Works great. Found a mini bungee on the workbench last night and tried it. Worked great! The toilet seat lid didn't fall down all night...lol. Thanks! Edited September 21, 2019 by OzarkSawdust OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrappile Posted September 21, 2019 Report Share Posted September 21, 2019 (edited) I quickly removed the toilet seat cover, on mine. Didn't want to hear my wife yelling about leaving the toilet seat up!,,, oh never mind, that was something else,,,, but ya, I removed that cover from my lights. Edited September 21, 2019 by Scrappile OzarkSawdust and OCtoolguy 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCtoolguy Posted September 21, 2019 Report Share Posted September 21, 2019 4 hours ago, Scrappile said: I quickly removed the toilet seat cover, on mine. Didn't want to hear my wife yelling about leaving the toilet seat up!,,, oh never mind, that was something else,,,, but ya, I removed that cover from my lights. I left it on mine just so I could protect the lens when I'm not using it. But most of the time I forget to put it down. Same as the toilet. Lol. OzarkSawdust 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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