Patrick_Nevin Posted July 14, 2007 Share Posted July 14, 2007 The things like a gambler's visor but with lenses attached. Cost isn't insignificant (£35 last time I looked) but are they good? Reason I ask: have jeweller's loupes which are very good, bar the fact they fall out at times that seriously cast personal doubt on the intelligence of inanimate objects. Last night the etch survived this, but I am by nature unlucky and fear the unassisted future ;) So may I ask, do any ARCers use these things regularly and do they become a) essential something you use for specialist tasks only c) a dust magnet or d) other? MTIA - Patrick Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Edgar Posted July 14, 2007 Share Posted July 14, 2007 I've been using them for over 20 years, and wouldn't use anything else. I get mine, for about £16, from Squires, and they do one set with built in lights, for £26. They go, with complete ease, over my ordinary reading glasses, and, with a soft headband, held by velcro fastener, can be worn for hours, without discomfort. Before I retired, I worked with extremely fine copper wire, and found these tools an absolute boon. A colleague, at work, was experiencing eye problems, and the first question, from his doctor, was "Do you use a jeweller's loupe?" There was a company, Ernest Turner, in High Wycombe, which made electrical instruments, and this doctor had seen dozens of their operatives, all with eye troubles, brought on by looking, with only one eye, through a loupe. Edgar Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nzgunnie Posted July 14, 2007 Share Posted July 14, 2007 I got an Optivisor from Squadron, with a No4 and a No7 lens. They are great, and I find they work really well. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Patrick_Nevin Posted July 14, 2007 Author Share Posted July 14, 2007 I've been using them for over 20 years, and wouldn't use anything else. I get mine, for about £16, from Squires, and they do one set with built in lights, for £26. They go, with complete ease, over my ordinary reading glasses, and, with a soft headband, held by velcro fastener, can be worn for hours, without discomfort. Before I retired, I worked with extremely fine copper wire, and found these tools an absolute boon. A colleague, at work, was experiencing eye problems, and the first question, from his doctor, was "Do you use a jeweller's loupe?" There was a company, Ernest Turner, in High Wycombe, which made electrical instruments, and this doctor had seen dozens of their operatives, all with eye troubles, brought on by looking, with only one eye, through a loupe.Edgar Cheers Edgar and nzgunnie for helpful replies. £16 is far better than £35 for me for a speculative item; hence I've now ordered from Squires (and the doctor's tale ensured I got Authority To Proceed ) Thanks both! Patrick Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BOC262 Posted July 14, 2007 Share Posted July 14, 2007 Optivisor, readily available from Squadron (and MicroMark, and I'm sure online sources too). Very comfortable for hours of wear, no interference with eyeglasses. I have 2 of them--1 set up with lenses for high magnification, detail work, and another set with a lower magnification which I wear ALL the time when modeling--just enough mag to greatly reduce any hint of eyestrain. IMHO, they are worth every penny spent! HTH, Karl Quote Link to post Share on other sites
redruffensore Posted July 14, 2007 Share Posted July 14, 2007 Reading glasses are cheaper, come in a variety of magnification and nowhere near the hassle of modeler's binoculars.. I've used reading glasses since 1990, never will use another pair of modeling binoculars. Caz Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Old Blind Dog Posted July 14, 2007 Share Posted July 14, 2007 With my weird-a** eyesight they simply won't work. I generally take off my glasses to read or do close work (my eye doctor tells me that I use the eyes' natural magnifying-glass effect and that my particular form of near-sightedness is "a blessing" for this type of work!) The only magnifying device I've ever found that actually works with my eyes are hand-held jeweler's loupes; since the lenses in the Optivisor are at a fixed point, I can't adjust them to work properly. Believe me, I was majorly disappointed when I discovered this (but my wife now uses the Optivisor for her jewelry work). :) Old Blind Dog Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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