Magnifying Glass Lamp or Glasses for Close Soldering?

msg

Hey, any of you guys know a of a good place and specific product for magnifying close up soldering work?

I've seen those magnifying/lamp combos that are swing arm mounted, and also some magnifying glasses that you'd wear.

Features to look for, useful magnification level, preferred brands, products, etc.?

I checked out some glasses at Harbor Freight, but not quite the quality I'm looking for.
Also seems like 3x magnification wouldn't be the upper limit I'd like, but would be a useful option.

machone

I have both. Glasses are better. The lamp gets in the way. I use an Optivisor.

msg

Great, thanks!
Which lenses/magnification do you use, and what kind of tasks do you use it for?

Do you wear it with eyeglasses?

machone

Not sure about the lenses power and I would recommend glasses if you normally wear them.

mhardy6647

Can you buy those things like my dentist uses on the open market? That seems like it would be ideal for soldering SMDs, e.g.

motorstereo

This is what I use. It has interchangeable lenses and right now I'm using a +5 for times like today when my +1.50 reading glasses just aren't enough

msg

Which brand/source is that one, please?

motorstereo

^^^^^I honestly don't remember as I've had it for several years. I do know that Harbor Freight sells ones that look quite similar.

edit; I just checked and the only marking on them are Donegan Optical Co. made in USA. They must be old to have been made here in the states.

msg

That's a second for Donegan. Nice, thanks!

machone

It looks like Donegan makes Optivisor.

motorstereo

machone wrote: »

It looks like Donegan makes Optivisor.

Yes they do and it looks like they run about $40

msg

I decided to give that Yoctosun one a shot, and it arrived today.
Not bad for $16. The lenses are surprisingly clear. Used them to change a watch battery earlier just for fun. Pretty comfortable to wear.

Not sure how this is going to work out for soldering though since you have to get your face kind of close up to the work to focus. I imagine I'll be running a small fan to evac the fumes/smoke.

https://www.amazon.com/YOCTOSUN-Magnifier-Professional-Jewelers-Interchangeable/dp/B01H8808H6

I'll report back if they end up totally sucking.

txcoastal1

Pics wearing them or it never happened

sbb2112

msg wrote: »

I decided to give that Yoctosun one a shot, and it arrived today.
Not bad for $16. The lenses are surprisingly clear. Used them to change a watch battery earlier just for fun. Pretty comfortable to wear.

Not sure how this is going to work out for soldering though since you have to get your face kind of close up to the work to focus. I imagine I'll be running a small fan to evac the fumes/smoke.

https://www.amazon.com/YOCTOSUN-Magnifier-Professional-Jewelers-Interchangeable/dp/B01H8808H6

I'll report back if they end up totally sucking.

How did you like these? I have 3 of the optivisors and the band tightening knob on 2 is not staying tight anymore so looking for better

msg

These did not end up sucking, I'm happy to report. I've gotten quite a bit of use out of them already, and even for some unexpected stuff, like fixing a user-mangled DVI socket on a video card

Works great so far for little projects here and there, but I've not had a chance to solder with it. The only thing I've noticed is that I end up getting my face really close to the work while wearing these. Need to take a measurement, but I'd say around 8" - 12" away with the max mag glass in place. Not sure how well that's going to work out. Not feeling particularly enthused at the thought of flux and solder spatter, and I'll definitely need a fume fan.

Pretty comfortable, though, and the LED's a nice touch. I typically wear a headlamp while doing this sort of work, and haven't needed it.

Definitely worth the $16.

I've also picked up soooo many chicks while wearing these. Way more than @Hermitism, except when he gets new boots.

txcoastal1

Where's my pic?

Hermitism

I have old school jeweler's glasses that look like something a mad professor would wear and you have to get really close, also. It's great for getting splinters out of a finger. It has another lens that folds over in front to double the magnification. The chicks dig it. No light unless I duct tape a flashlight to my head.

sbb2112

Why has F1's avatar been hijacked? Banned?

msg

txcoastal1 wrote: »

Where's my pic?

I'm doing my hair.

txcoastal1

msg wrote: »

txcoastal1 wrote: »

Where's my pic?

I'm doing my hair.

Does it look bigger, asking if I need to get a pair for the wife

reverb

+1 for the OptiVisor. Tried the lamp as well but it always seems to be where I don't need it to be.