How to choose a magnifying lamp?

[Discharged]

Eyesight's not getting better, and I need a magnifying lamp to do close up work. But I'm finding the decision about which one a little tricky.

Seems to come down to LED or fluorescent, 5" or 7". I'm pretty sure I need a clamp-on one, not a solid base, and not a floor standing one. Also, I don't understand if it's important or not to have one with that green-tinted glass or not.

Anyone have one or can recommend on over the other?

 

[KFH]

I have a 5" fluorescent which uses the 1" diameter round tube. It has a clamp for the desk and works fine although it does tend to get in the way if I leave it on the desk. I got it from Proops at a show a few years ago. I don't think it is my eyesight that is the problem, everything is getting smaller. I also have had to buy miniature tools to help as my hands are on the large side.

 

[malcolmsanford]

I have a 5" fluorescent which uses the 1" diameter round tube. It has a clamp for the desk and works fine although it does tend to get in the way if I leave it on the desk. I got it from Proops at a show a few years ago. I don't think it is my eyesight that is the problem, everything is getting smaller. I also have had to buy miniature tools to help as my hands are on the large side.

Must be a bit of a pig having that up in a loft KFH.................... why everytime do you post I get an hankering for spicy southern fried chicken lol

 

[KFH]

I just hanker after FOOD, haven't worked out how to keep a pig in the loft yet though. If I did not have lots of willpower I would never get through a loft hatch.

I could always change the last letter of my ID but that may give everyone a problem if they like chicken.

 

[Discharged]

I have a 5" fluorescent which uses the 1" diameter round tube. It has a clamp for the desk and works fine although it does tend to get in the way if I leave it on the desk. I got it from Proops at a show a few years ago. I don't think it is my eyesight that is the problem, everything is getting smaller. I also have had to buy miniature tools to help as my hands are on the large side.

Do you think you'd be much better off with a 7" lamp?

 

[KFH]

I don't think 7" would make a big difference for me. It would allow for bigger work pieces without moving the work or the magnifier but as I am not using it every day and am normally working on small items having the smaller unit is not an issue for me. Also I got it at a good price.

I can use both eyes to look at the work and have not used a lager magnifier so cannot comment on what the improvement may be. One downside of a larger magnifier for me would be the increased risk of banging my head on it when its not in use :smile5:.

 

[Discharged]

Yes, I'm also working on small pieces - about 5" x 3" x 3". I imagine if you were doing a tapestry or jigsaw the size might matter more.

Thanks for your comments.

 

[Guest111]

we used them at work CPC do em for about £20 some mention the diopter size,which for those who dont know simply means magnification,we have square ones,a word of caution though,as it takes your eyes a second or 2 to adjust to them its better not to keep looking away from mag and then looking back,I find it gives me a headache the bigger the better within reason,just get the best one for the price you want to spend.

 

[telectrix]

i found a pair of +2.5 dioptre specs off the shelf at tesco for £2.99 worked for me. just when you look away from the close work, ewverything is swimming .

 

[Flyingsparks]

I am also looking for a suitable way of magnifying things when working close up

I wear varifocals and find it very difficult when repairing circuit boards as I can no longer read the values of the components.

The desk magnifier that I currently have seems to get in the way when soldering so I have been looking at getting a headband magnifier. Anybody had any experience of these ?