[fkvesic]

I've old eyes - short and long sight and an astigmatism; the lot! I find I can only work on netsuke with my glasses off, but my eyes start to ache after about 45 minutes, so magnifying glasses are in order. I bought some x3 clip-ons, but they're worse than useless, though my hand-held x8 magnifier is great, if useless for a carver. I note that Janel uses the changeable lens clip-ons that rest at a distance from the eye and am wondering about investing in those, if I can get them at a higher magnification than x3. I'm also not averse to a table model, or one that rests on the collar bone or jewellers' loupes, but I'm not keen on the visor types.

Does anybody have ideas about what works and what doesn't?

[Janel]

I started magnification with using a goose-neck 4-5 inch diameter magnifying lens. Later, as now, I use a higher power set of lenses with seamless bifocals that focus at the primary carving distance for the bifocal and the top area is for arm's length so that the carving bench/tools are not warped and blurry. They do come off when I walk anywhere. This system changed to seamless after using the "executive" style of distance over bifocal half and half lenses when the optometrist could not get the style right anymore.

In combination with the antique loupes I get 8.5-10 x. The lenses of the loupes are prismatic and made of glass. I don't know what I will do if something happens to those old friends.



I, also, am curious to learn about what others use with success.

Janel

[fkvesic]

Did you have yours fitted by an optician, Janel? My optician at the daft end of Glasgow said that "people don't ask for these, so, no, we don't do them." After searching the city, I found that no optometrist supplies them. Gah!

If I could get something up to the order of x8 over the counter, I'd be happy with that.

[Janel]

The loupes are antiques. The special glasses are ordered through the optical department at Walmart, of all places. I like the optometrist there. He knows what I do as a carver, has seen me cry when I was told that I needed bifocals after 40+ years of no glasses, and is willing to attempt to meet my needs to help me to see what I am doing (carving).

It is just a prescription, but a stronger one, plus the adjustments for my particular astigmatism. The earlier bifocals with the seam became difficult for the lab to produce. Perhaps the equipment changed over to the more popular seamless varieties. Who knows. I hope that you find a willing and able optician to make what you would like for magnification aids.

Clive, the optivisor can have an additional lens mounted to the frame for greater magnification? Could a modification be made to add a second one on the other side of the frame?

Janel

[Janel]

You described "with the option of a optiloupe attachable single lens". I assumed that this was a single lens for one eye could be attached, but maybe you mean a single lens that both eyes look through together. I have no experience with optivisors. So I wondered, if it were a single lens attached for a single eye for greater magnification, if a similar second lens could be added to the other side. Really, I just need to look it up and look at what you are referring to. Sorry for the confusion.

Janel

[kwinn]

I use a pair of 2x non-prescription reading glasses along with a 4x Optivsor, giving me 8x total magnification. The focal distance is about right for carving, but as Janel hinted at, tools on the bench are a bit blurry...

Kelly

[jonbouy]

You can google headband magnifiers and lots of sites give assorted types of magnifiers.
try
www.yourableshop.co.uk
www.helptheagedshop.co.uk
www.theloupestore.co.uk
www.visionenhancers.co.uk
www.richardwardopticians.co.uk
and many more.

regards
john

[fkvesic]

Many thanks, people. Your suggestions gave me a lot to think about and I've gone for a multiple lens headband, where the lenses can be combined for x8-ish magnification and which can be worn with my everyday glasses, or without. We'll see if it works.

Thanks, John, too, for the list. The Loupe Store is the best for UK supplies, I think, and is where I've bought the lens headband; they'll also issue refunds or change the piece if it isn't suitable.

[fkvesic]

The headband visor with interchangeable lenses up to x8, light and single loupe came yesterday and I can wear it with my glasses. It works fine for me and is relatively cheap at £21. 40. OK, so the headband plastic feels a little brittle and may not last a lifetime, being from China via Germany, but the lenses are calibrated well and it's light to wear. The next step up in the range (German) costs between £129-£179.

If I need anything of a higher magnification, it'll have to be a microscope, so I'll see what can be done with this set, first.

[tsterling]

Hi Freda,

Sorry to be so late on this thread, but I've been on a long road trip.

I got my opthalmologist to make up a prescription for the close vision bifocal portion of my glasses, adding a little magnification to that, and also calculated for the working distance I normally use for carving. Then I had that prescription put into a set of carving glasses, the entire lens, not just the bifocal portion. Basically ending up with prescription magnifying reading glasses. I wear those with one of my optivisors for carving and engraving and it works very well. Since this is a single-vision prescription, set in an inexpensive frame, the don't cost your first-born male child like bifocals do. I also choose safety glass, rather than the lighter plastics, for better scratch resistance since we're using so many abrasives in the studio.

One hint, though - don't wander around the studio with these glasses, they only work for close carving! Don't ask why I know to warn you about this...

[fkvesic]

Hint taken, Tom, as I got up to make a cup of tea yesterday without removing the band and wondered what was happening...

I gave up on the optician route as mine seemed so unhelpful and no others in the city could help. That says it all about the state of miniature carving, or jewellery making, even, in Glasgow. As I can wear the band with my varifocals anyway I reckon I'm not damaging my vision. I never realised the whole thing was such a performance, though.

[Toothy]

Hi Freda and Tom

I have been interested in this whole discussion re magnification. I have been using loupes made by Lactona which were given me when we had our dental units fitted. I have 2 sets a 2x and a 4x magnification. I also use an Optivisor with 4 or 5x (I think ) and a 10x lens. Both these are used with my varifocals. Lately my optician has given me a pair of bifocals with the reading portion set for my carving distance and the upper portion set for arm length/computer distance. I would like a microscope but on my pension it is beyond reach.

Thanks for all the advice and, yes, walking around with the magnifiers on is a definite no no

Toothy