Which Headband Magnifier?

[Jonathan MeadParticipant @jonathanmead91773]

I'm looking to buy a headband magnifier, and it looks like there are lots of different types available out there, ranging from £2.99 loupes to £45+ Optivisers. I wear reading glasses and have a pair of prescription safety glasses for use in the workshop, but need something stronger for close work such as fine machining and marking out.

What do you use and recommend?

[Jonathan MeadParticipant @jonathanmead91773]

[Gordon WParticipant @gordonw]

I have a cheap one with a variety of lenses and 2 LED lights. The lights are useful but I find it difficult to focus using the headband. I now tend to use a hand-glass. I don't use glasses for close work but anything over 2 ft. need them.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Jonathan,

Have a look at this previous thread … It started off as a question about workbenches, but morphed [as these things do] into an interesting discussion about assisttive optics.

MichaelG.

[AndyPParticipant @andyp13730]

I have a couple of genuine Optivisors – 4 dioptre for general work and 7 for really small stuff and swear by them, comfortable enough for use hours on end and adjustable enough for my big head! Beware cheap imitations as the lenses are c**p.

No connection etc. etc.

Andy

[Steven VineParticipant @stevenvine79904]

Hi Jonathan

I bought an Optivisor about 5 years ago. It was around £30 or £40 if I remember correctly. The lens I got was high magnification (it is stamped 7), so I have to be around 6 inches away from an object to focus in and scrutinise it properly. I keep meaning to get another lens that will allow me to be a bit further away, because, sometimes, it is inconvenient having to get up real close to an object to get it in focus at high magnification. Sticking my head 6 inches away from a moving chuck gets a bit hairy sometimes (but I am still here with all my bits). I don't know what the cheaper options are like, but I paid more hoping to get quality. I'm very pleased with the Optivisor and it gets a hell of a lot of use (because my reading eyesight is not good). The plastic lens is still good and I'm careful not to scratch it. I use it over my reading glasses and it works well. I keep it on sometimes for long hours, it is not too uncomfortable at all, and I just flip it up and down as required.

Steve

 

 

Edited By Steven Vine on 21/01/2016 18:13:54

[JAParticipant @ja]

I have used an OptiVISOR (as it is molded on the lens carrier) for over 10 years. I have two sets of lenses, an 8 which is almost never used and a 4. The latter is useful for almost everything. The one failing is that the holes in the lens carrier wear allowing the split pin retaining the lens to fall out. The split pins have been replaced by 6BA screws and nuts. The lenses have no scratches on them.

The only other problem is that it cannot be in two places at the same time, the workshop and office. I intend to get a second for use on "electronics" in the office.

Obviously I am very happy with mine. It is well worth the money.

I should add that I use it instead of reading glasses. It does not work well with reading glasses

JA

Edited By JA on 21/01/2016 19:34:50

[speelwerkParticipant @speelwerk]

Optivisor is good to work with, negative is the plastic band around your head with hot weather it causes much sweat. Niko.

[AjohnwParticipant @ajohnw51620]

If I am feeling manic as I can usually manage with reading glasses I use a pair of this sort of thing of Russian origin

**LINK**

I'm not sure I would recommend the pair I use as they zoom and focus independently and that is tricky to set up. The working distance is very good though. The link will probably bring up a lot of chinese optics. From my experience they can be surprisingly good. The big advantage they offer is true stereoscopic vision. I have used headband types mostly the ones that RS Components sell which are basically industrial parts but I think they are not as good as these. I'd be inclined to risk buying a cheaper pair of binoc's. Maybe some have dioptre matching for people who have unbalanced eyes. It's important to relax the eye when using these and not to inadvertently try and focus at the working distance – usually more of a problem for the young.

I also find a desk magnifier very useful. I found some of these very seriously discounted

**LINK**

They are little odd hence the discount I suspect. There might still be some about on the web. They have an on off switch and a PRESS to START button. No idea why as the tube does start as soon as it's switched on. It may help when the tube has aged but I've used 3 tubes over 5+ years probably 10+. If I was buying again I would try to get one with a flip up dust cover but I've had no problems from regular cleaning.

For really find work one of these comes out

**LINK**

They crop up now and again and have very crisp optics and a decent working distance even for things like soldering, even working on watches at times. I'm sure if needed a model engineer could mount one on a boom stand. I also have a couple of very capable stereo microscopes but these tend to be a lot more expensive.

John

–

[Peter KroghParticipant @peterkrogh76576]

Optivisors for the last 30 years. At times have sewn up head bands of various materials to suit/as needed. Have probably 4 of them around.

Pete

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi Jonathan, I have one of these **LINK** I need to use reading glasses and these work fine for me in combination with my reading glasses.

Regards Nick.

Edited By Nicholas Farr on 21/01/2016 22:27:11

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

I have a head band magnifier from Tricky Dicks(Dick Smiths), bought not that long before they started their down hill slide. You'd think that if Woolworths took them over, they would hardly go bust !! They have 2 bifocal lenses + 1 other pivoted on the RH side. It has 2 incandescent lights, if I got another set it would be from Jay Car, similar but with LEDs.

One mod done was to replace the rivets that the lens piece tilts on the head band with thumb screws.

Ian S C

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

I have a Lactona *4 which is very good, I got an American relative to buy in USA and give it to me as a Xmas present, a lot cheaper than buying in Uk

[steamdaveParticipant @steamdave]

When I visited the USA a few years ago, I bought myself a Bausch & Lomb headband magnifier and a spare set of lenses.
http://www.bausch.com/our-products/vision-accessories/professional-magnifiers/magna-visor#.VqIYq0CM77w.

Looking at the B&L site for UK, they don't appear to be listed.

Not cheap, but excellent quality and comfortable to wear. Having said that, I rarely use it because since having my cataracts removed, my eyesight doesn't seem to warrant their use (at the moment) for the kind of metal butchery I indulge in.

Dave
The Emerald Isle

On eBay (of course) item number: 360932097730

Edited By steamdave on 22/01/2016 12:04:11

[AjohnwParticipant @ajohnw51620]

If people want and are prepared to pay for industrial quality there is no need to use the USA

**LINK**

Anyone can buy off them and items arrive next day. FarnelI some times make a point of being cheaper than RS on some items and appear to be offering free next day if before 8pm. Seems to be a similar time to RS for next day.

John

–

[Stephen BensonParticipant @stephenbenson75261]

I am a clockmaker and i have a Optivisor with no5 lens for bench close to work and a number no4 lens for working on the lathe or milling machine.

On my close to Optivisor I have the new Quasar LS light fitted which is brilliant

I would post a picture but yet again I was defeated by this awful user interface I even put the  picture on photobucket ready

 

Edited By Stephen Benson on 22/01/2016 15:26:15

[clogsParticipant @clogs]

Hi all,

did mention before that I just bought a Anglepoise desk magnifier with 25'ish LED's in Lidil's for €38 about 2 weeks ago…..works a treat…..does have a lens cover that flip's up….

clogs

[Stephen BensonParticipant @stephenbenson75261]

I am a clockmaker and i have a Optivisor with no5 lens for bench close to work and a number no4 lens for working on the lathe or milling machine.

On my close to Optivisor I have the new Quasar LS light fitted which is brilliant

 

Works well with my varifocal glasses, and the LEDs are too bright to look at so they shed a lot of light

Edited By Stephen Benson on 22/01/2016 16:38:37

Edited By Stephen Benson on 22/01/2016 16:39:49

[mechman48Participant @mechman48]

Posted by Nicholas Farr on 21/01/2016 22:18:18:

Hi Jonathan, I have one of these **LINK** I need to use reading glasses and these work fine for me in combination with my reading glasses.

Regards Nick.

Edited By Nicholas Farr on 21/01/2016 22:27:11

Use these too, same with me as I have varifocals for everyday use & bifocal safety glasses when in my man cave, worked fine when I needed to pick up a centre dot as a try out .

George.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by Ian S C on 22/01/2016 09:21:28:

I have a head band magnifier from Tricky Dicks(Dick Smiths), bought not that long before they started their down hill slide. You'd think that if Woolworths took them over, they would hardly go bust !!

Woolies went under a few years ago!

Neil

[John ReeseParticipant @johnreese12848]

A friend of mine got tired of the Optivisor sliding around on his head. He modified the headgear from a clear face shield to accept the Optivisor plates. That gave him a ratchet adjustable headgear with a band over the top of his head.

[Bob StevensonParticipant @bobstevenson13909]

I now use a set of inexpensive 'dental loupes' made in China and bought from Ebay for £25……..I watched the prices come down (from about £120 a couple of years ago) and bought in when I discovered an aquaintance hd a pair and asked to try them. They are essentially two small telescopes mounted on safety glasses. They are 3.5X and work at about 40 centimetres,..so ideal for turning small items in the lathe without bending over. They were supplied fitted to cheap safety glasses but I tranfered them to a pair of Uvex 'Futura' safety glasses which are my favourites as they cover the complete eye socket and are top quality. I hope to never have to go back to conventional magnifiers

[Stephen BensonParticipant @stephenbenson75261]

Posted by John Reese on 24/01/2016 21:26:21:

A friend of mine got tired of the Optivisor sliding around on his head. He modified the headgear from a clear face shield to accept the Optivisor plates. That gave him a ratchet adjustable headgear with a band over the top of his head.

Must of an old one a new genuine Optivisor fits very securely I often forget to take mine off

[Philip RoweParticipant @philiprowe13116]

Posted by Bob Stevenson on 25/01/2016 00:34:13:

I now use a set of inexpensive 'dental loupes' made in China and bought from Ebay for £25……..I watched the prices come down (from about £120 a couple of years ago) and bought in when I discovered an aquaintance hd a pair and asked to try them. They are essentially two small telescopes mounted on safety glasses. They are 3.5X and work at about 40 centimetres,..so ideal for turning small items in the lathe without bending over. They were supplied fitted to cheap safety glasses but I tranfered them to a pair of Uvex 'Futura' safety glasses which are my favourites as they cover the complete eye socket and are top quality. I hope to never have to go back to conventional magnifiers

Bob, these sound quite interesting, is it possible to fit them onto a pair of prescription glasses?

Phil

[Bob StevensonParticipant @bobstevenson13909]

Phil, potentially yes!…….tho' it would depend on the particular frames used. The loupes fix to nose bridge area using two small screws which I replaced with 2mm stainless nuts and bolts. Personally I prefer my complete eye sockets to be covered by teh safety glass lenses since small chips from turning/milling sometimes hit ones face when close to the work, although since using these loupes I have not had this problem (thus far!) It should be quite possible to mount the loupes on quality saftey glasses (as i have) and fit prescription lenses inside.

 

The Uvex 'Futura' glasses are ideal for use with the loupes because, unlike conventioanl glasses, they are adaptable to ones physiog. by means of extendable arms and hinged front frame, so you literally adapt for perfect fit. Additionally the front frame is nice and thick and provides good achorage for fixing the loupes securely.  The loupes themselves are adjustable for interpupillary distance and convergence angle, and can be flipped up out of ones vision.

 

……I can try and post some pix tommorrow…?

Edited By Bob Stevenson on 25/01/2016 18:29:47

[Author]

Posts