Dave Monk Posted February 4, 2023 Report Share Posted February 4, 2023 Currently I am using a 3x LED magnifier. It is high quality and I have been very pleased with it. Lately I have been doing a lot of intarsia. The accuracy of the cut is super important, not just staying on a line but splitting it. That got me thinking that maybe a wearable magnifier might be of some help. Any feedback appreciated. OCtoolguy, scrollingforsanity and Hawk 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCtoolguy Posted February 4, 2023 Report Share Posted February 4, 2023 Following! don watson, scrollingforsanity and Scroll-N-Skydiver 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Royer Posted February 4, 2023 Report Share Posted February 4, 2023 I have used an a Optivisor for engraving and woodcarving for years. They work great for me. I am new to scrollsawing, but have had good luck using it for that purpose. There are different levels of magnification with different distances from the lens to the work. Be sure that there is enough distance so that the upper part arm does not hit the magnifier. There is a bit of a learning curve getting used to it. I think that an Optivisor or other quality magnifier, would be better than cheaper ones (less headaches etc). You may want to buy from Amazon or somewhere else that takes returns. don watson, OCtoolguy, Dave Monk and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moocifer Joe Posted February 4, 2023 Report Share Posted February 4, 2023 This what I use. Purchased on Amazon. Dave Monk, OCtoolguy, don watson and 2 others 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flarud Posted February 4, 2023 Report Share Posted February 4, 2023 57 minutes ago, Moocifer Joe said: This what I use. Purchased on Amazon. I have something similar. I don't wear it much because if you look away from the work on the saw, like another part of the shop,, things get a little dizzy. I use my readers and a lighted magnifier. scrollingforsanity, don watson and OCtoolguy 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCtoolguy Posted February 5, 2023 Report Share Posted February 5, 2023 After cataract surgery in both eyes I had to use readers. I hated carrying them. I was used to wearing glasses so I had some progressive lens made with clear on top half and progressive down from the middle. So I still wear my glasses all he time but no need for readers. I used a lighted magnifier from Harbor Freight with an LED bulb. So far, so good. My biggest thing is wearing a dust mask and having to take it off to drink anything. I'm looking for one with a tube/straw in it for sipping through. Dave Monk and don watson 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrappile Posted February 5, 2023 Report Share Posted February 5, 2023 Why not some powerful reading glasses! OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Monk Posted February 5, 2023 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2023 12 minutes ago, Scrappile said: Why not some powerful reading glasses! Normally if you make your reading glasses a lot stronger it shortens the focal distance. My working distance is good I would like to see it larger. OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjweb Posted February 5, 2023 Report Share Posted February 5, 2023 I am going to follow along, interesting, these old eyes could use some help, RJ Scroll-N-Skydiver, Dave Monk and OCtoolguy 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aussiescroller Posted February 5, 2023 Report Share Posted February 5, 2023 I use the helmet magnifier as well. OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Monk Posted February 5, 2023 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2023 8 hours ago, aussiescroller said: I use the helmet magnifier as well. Can you wear you glasses under it? What brand are you wearing? OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BadBob Posted February 5, 2023 Report Share Posted February 5, 2023 Thanks for sending me off down a rabbit hole. I found a couple of the lower cost magnifiers that might be worth the money just to try them. I'm guessing that the magnification required for use on a scroll saw might be different for each person. Both of these come with a full set of lenses for you to try. The first one has glass lenses while the second one has plastic lenses. Headband Magnifier Double Lens Head-Mounted Reading Magnifier Loupe Jewelry Visor Opitcal Glass Binocular Magnifier with Lens Magnification-1.5X 2X 2.5X 3.5X Headband Lighted Magnifying Glasses with Led Light, Head Mount Magnifier Glasses Visor Handsfree Headset Magnifier Loupe for Close OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BadBob Posted February 5, 2023 Report Share Posted February 5, 2023 If you use a head mounted magnifier for your scroll saw work, what magnification do you use? OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moocifer Joe Posted February 5, 2023 Report Share Posted February 5, 2023 I use a +1.5 magnification. But it's going to all depend on a persons visual acuity with and without correction. Also the focal distance thats the most comfortable for sawing. OCtoolguy and BadBob 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerry walters Posted February 5, 2023 Report Share Posted February 5, 2023 I recently had cataract surgery. When I was asked if I wanted to see far or close, I chose far. Now I wish I had said I want to see close. Here is the reason. I have different power of readers for different tasks. One for computer work, one for reading, and one for scrolling. No matter where I am, I have the wrong reader. To make matters worse when at a restaurant I have no readers with me. So, someone has to read the menu to me. I also fear that each time I get a different power of reader I am damaging my eyes. I guess I have to live with my choice. I guess if I had made the other choice, I would not have been happy with that either. At my age I am happy I can do the things I do. At my next optometrist visit my Dr. and I are going to have a very serious talk. PS, I have a lighted 3 power magnifier for scrolling. Jerry OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrappile Posted February 5, 2023 Report Share Posted February 5, 2023 (edited) 1 hour ago, jerry walters said: I recently had cataract surgery. When I was asked if I wanted to see far or close, I chose far. Now I wish I had said I want to see close. Here is the reason. I have different power of readers for different tasks. One for computer work, one for reading, and one for scrolling. No matter where I am, I have the wrong reader. To make matters worse when at a restaurant I have no readers with me. So, someone has to read the menu to me. I also fear that each time I get a different power of reader I am damaging my eyes. I guess I have to live with my choice. I guess if I had made the other choice, I would not have been happy with that either. At my age I am happy I can do the things I do. At my next optometrist visit my Dr. and I are going to have a very serious talk. PS, I have a lighted 3 power magnifier for scrolling. Jerry Can you use the varible lens in glasses? I have had the kind with no line. Love them. Been wearing them for years now.. I know of some that do not like them. I started with bifocals with the line but when I looked at the speedometer in the car I saw double vision... the varible lens cured that for me. Edited February 5, 2023 by Scrappile Dave Monk and OCtoolguy 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Royer Posted February 5, 2023 Report Share Posted February 5, 2023 15 hours ago, OCtoolguy said: Keep in mind that with the Optivisor (other brands may differ), the lens numbers do not indicate actual magnification. A number 2 is 1.5 times magnification with a 20 in focal length. A number 10 is 3.5 times magnification with a 4 in focal length. With my glasses on, the focal length is less for me. I need good qualify glass to keep from getting headaches and dizziness. I flip the magnifier up to look away, and I sometimes look funny in public reaching up to flip the magnifier down to see something even when I do not have it on. For my cataract surgery I went for distance vision, and my progressive glasses only correct a little for far distance and astigmatism at the top. No problem using the magnifier. I use something like prescription readers for the computer, so I do not have to keep moving my head and neck to get various parts of the screen in focus. OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe W. Posted February 5, 2023 Report Share Posted February 5, 2023 2 hours ago, BadBob said: Headband Lighted Magnifying Glasses with Led Light, Head Mount Magnifier Glasses Visor Handsfree Headset Magnifier Loupe for Close I got a similar type a couple years ago and use it for really tight patterns. I also wear glasses and have not had any problems using them together. BadBob, OCtoolguy, Dave Monk and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCtoolguy Posted February 5, 2023 Report Share Posted February 5, 2023 2 hours ago, jerry walters said: I recently had cataract surgery. When I was asked if I wanted to see far or close, I chose far. Now I wish I had said I want to see close. Here is the reason. I have different power of readers for different tasks. One for computer work, one for reading, and one for scrolling. No matter where I am, I have the wrong reader. To make matters worse when at a restaurant I have no readers with me. So, someone has to read the menu to me. I also fear that each time I get a different power of reader I am damaging my eyes. I guess I have to live with my choice. I guess if I had made the other choice, I would not have been happy with that either. At my age I am happy I can do the things I do. At my next optometrist visit my Dr. and I are going to have a very serious talk. PS, I have a lighted 3 power magnifier for scrolling. Jerry Read my post above. Progressive lenses are the answer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Monk Posted February 5, 2023 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2023 3 hours ago, jerry walters said: I recently had cataract surgery. When I was asked if I wanted to see far or close, I chose far. Now I wish I had said I want to see close. Here is the reason. I have different power of readers for different tasks. One for computer work, one for reading, and one for scrolling. No matter where I am, I have the wrong reader. To make matters worse when at a restaurant I have no readers with me. So, someone has to read the menu to me. I also fear that each time I get a different power of reader I am damaging my eyes. I guess I have to live with my choice. I guess if I had made the other choice, I would not have been happy with that either. At my age I am happy I can do the things I do. At my next optometrist visit my Dr. and I are going to have a very serious talk. PS, I have a lighted 3 power magnifier for scrolling. Jerry There are some Doctors that giving people mono vision after implants, one eye for far and one for near. This practice is also common using contacts. OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BadBob Posted February 8, 2023 Report Share Posted February 8, 2023 I was in a store yesterday and happened on a rack of reading glasses. I tried on every size they had to see how far away the focus was for each magnification. Having several sets of lenses would greatly benefit me. I sometimes work on tiny things and need high magnification. For the scroll saw, low magnification would work better for me. Thinking about it, I concluded that a lighted magnifying glass lamp might work better on my scroll saw while the head-mounted magnifier would be better for other things. My near vision changes slightly with my glucose levels, and being able to adjust the magnifying glass instead of changing lenses is a better fit for my needs. Dave Monk and OCtoolguy 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrappile Posted February 8, 2023 Report Share Posted February 8, 2023 On 2/5/2023 at 10:14 AM, Dave Monk said: There are some Doctors that giving people mono vision after implants, one eye for far and one for near. This practice is also common using contacts. Seems to me that would just make me walk in circles! Well that is what I do most the time anyway. MarieC, Dave Monk, OCtoolguy and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moocifer Joe Posted February 8, 2023 Report Share Posted February 8, 2023 22 minutes ago, Scrappile said: Seems to me that would just make me walk in circles! Well that is what I do most the time anyway. In my experience with patients using monocular glasses, contacts or implants experienced more eye stress and problems with depth perception. Takes time to rewrite your brain to use each eye separately. FYI, I was a Certified Optician. Scroll-N-Skydiver and OCtoolguy 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crupiea Posted February 8, 2023 Report Share Posted February 8, 2023 I have the one posted above with all the lenses you can put in. works almost too powerful at times. Great for projects and such but I feel I have to get my face too close to use it while scrolling. Could just be my eyes though. Dave Monk and OCtoolguy 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scroll-N-Skydiver Posted February 12, 2023 Report Share Posted February 12, 2023 What a timely thread. I just ordered a headband magnifier. Fingers crossed this works better than what I have currently. ChelCass and OCtoolguy 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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