Magnification

I wear an Optivisor while reloading. Makes close inspection much easier. I do need reading glasses so I wear my glasses and the Optivisor is just above my glasses. If I want to inspect something closer I slightly tilt my head down and look up through the Optivisor lens and not through my glasses. My lens in the Optivisor is a number 5 which focuses at 8" so you have to hold the object about 8" in front of your eyes. Number 5 is 2.5x magnification. You could go with a number 4 lens which focuses at 10" and has 2x magnification. I also added the loupe which can be turned in front of the lens and really gets you close. I do like one of the Optivisor lights and there are different models. The light is handy too. Well worth the price and I consider it necessary for close inspection and not just for older eyes either. http://www.doneganoptical.com/products/visorlight

I have a harbor freight magnification light (swivel type). I wouldn't be without it. I can't see how the clamp breaks however...mine got attached to the bench and the clamp itself hasn't budged in years.

Over the years I have found that good Magnification runs hand in hand with good Illumination. Anymore I need more light on my bench working surfaces. You can never have too much light on a working surface.

Years ago I got several magnifier lamps like these from Harbor Freight. A factory was moving so I grabbed some of the stuff they were dumping. I like the fact that they can easily be swung out of the way.

Ron

Like RG1 said you need to match the magnification to your work distance. I have a set with several lenses. Note, Some of the Optivisor copies use plastic lenses which can scratch easily.

I have these as well of lighted magnifying lights. Each has there use. They make LED light kits for the Optivisor now.

As your eyes get older, we need all the help we can get at times.

Yes, different strength readers for different distances.

I use +2.0-+2.5 for most reading, reloading and mechanic-ing. I have +1.5 bifocal lenses on my sunglasses for driving to see the dash board. +4 to +5 for close work.

Not readily available locally but there are high strength reading glasses, +5.0 and +6.0. Craft stores may have them locally but I ordered mine on line from vendors that deal in eye glass products.

Also, reader strength can be additive by wearing two sets of lenses. I have a +2.0 cheater in my welding helmet and wear a pair of +2.0 safety reader glasses underneath.

I've put on two pair of reader glasses sometimes when I need more strength for a moment and my high strength glasses are not with me.

Lots of options out there.

wiiawiwb said:

... I initially thought about getting a magnifying lamp that would attach to the workbench. Some people have complained about the clamps breaking off which leads me to wonder whether that is a good solution. ...

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I have had one of those mounted on my bench for many years. Seems that every single time I am doing something at the bench, I need to use that magnifier.

I also have one on my primary computer desk. Invaluable.

I think that I got them from Harbor Freight ~15 years ago. Cheap!

BTW, aside from mundane tasks I think that they are of most value when having to locate & do minor surgery on one of those annoying little skin-colored splinters (or almost invisible slivers of metal) that is just below the surface. The lamp combined with the dandy, precision tweezers on a Leatherman Micra make for a formidable weapons pair for locating & removing such things.

I also keep an old set of reading glasses at the bench for those times when I need some better close-up vision and cannot use the lamp ... I just put the 2nd set of glasses on over the ones that I am wearing.

I added one to my bench. Very handy

I have both, don't like either one, but I use the optivisor and various other magnifying glass scattered about. The clamp on one that I have has just been moved out to the storage building. Bought it from Lowes several years ago and it won't stay where I need it. It creeps down.

Have a blessed day.

Leon

Spectacles work for me when reloading, but at the range a good pair of contact lenses beats a pair of spectacles hands down.

All depends on what your doing. I have a pair of glasses that are Bi & Tri focal only. These work best for doing close work. If I need more detail the Optivisor is my first choice. The magnifying glass is used for quick looks mainly.

I use a magnifying visor, 2.5X IIRC. I don't wear it for reloading, just inspection and I focus by moving the part closer/farther away from my visor. I have tri-focals that are great for my reloading. Plus a 100 watt desk lamp for lighting my "station"...

Those of you with the HF magnifier lamps... Is the mag glass any good? I've been less than thrilled with the HF hand magnifiers.

I keep 1.25 or 1.5 readers close by all of the time. Not the best long term solution but there have been a few times when that wasn't enough magnification and I simply put a 2nd pair of readers on and doubled up.

You can also use the camera function on a phone and enlarge the picture if you really need to see something and don't have your readers with you.

The lighted magnifier does come in handy when you want to take a close up picture with your iPhone to share with the forum

wiiawiwb said:

There are times when reloading that reading glasses are just not providing the necessary magnification. I initially thought about getting a magnifying lamp that would attach to the workbench. Some people have complained about the clamps breaking off which leads me to wonder whether that is a good solution.

I'm leaning toward getting an Opti-Visor.

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Picked up one of those headband magnifiers to try at the local Acme surplus for cheap. Has 2 different flip down magnifiers plus an additional mag lens. Bought it partly because one of the process engineers at work is always wearing one on the floor. Used it a couple times, and then went back to what I already had.

I have a lamp just like the one Nature Boy posted a pic of. It gets used quite a bit.

Also have a couple of inexpensive loupes, a 5X and a 10X. I don't use them often, but they sure are handy. My wife has laid claim to the 5X.
Ideally, I'd have a 4X, 7-8X, and 12-14X.

https://www.amazon.com/Carson-Magni..._UL160_SR160,160_&refRID=8CGK3HW9SXYQXDHPKF70

At work I sometimes spec cameras, optics, and displays for replacing microscopes. The digital cameras are too close to $1K to even consider, but that would be a nice way to go. HDMI into an inexpensive monitor makes for a nice 10X-20X display.

The bench magnifier lamp is a great tool. I would recommend having both. Only thing about the bench lamp is you may have to get up from your chair, step over to it, or reach for it pull it to you. If you're closely inspecting every case the Optivisor is handier. Get both for the best system.