[Strogian]

OK, here's another question for you guys:

I've been looking into ways of magnifying what I see, partially to see the parts more closely, and partly to be able to sit further away from the soldering iron (heat + flux ugh..) when I'm working.

I like the idea of clip-on lenses (loupes they're called I think), but after some looking around, the "working distance" (the distance from your eyeball to the work) never seems to be more than a foot.

First off, am I correct in my definition of working distance? Doesn't that seem like a bit small?

I was looking at this site: http://shorinternational.com/LoupeTelesight.htm
(I liked the Bausch & Lomb spectacle loupes, but their working distance is only 3 1/2 inches!! What are these for?)

Anyway, what do you guys use? Am I stupid for even looking at a lot of this stuff?

 

[dsavitsk]

Loupes are for things like looking at grain structure on film negatives or the internal structures of diamonds.

I use a magnifying desk lamp that I bought from lowes for $20 (http://www.lowes.com/lkn?action=prod...-78302-D2865BL)

 

[Syzygies]

A $60 scanner can take 2400 dpi pictures with great depth of field. That's how I've been learning to solder, check my work afterwards. It's all feel up to that point, anyway?

 

[The_Mac]

If you don't need a whole lot of magnification, just pop over to the local drug store and pick up a cheap pair of reading glasses that will give you a little magnification at the distance you like (read a couple lines from a magazine as a comparaison).

 

[morsel]

Check this thread: Recommend a magnifying visor for DIY project

 

[Strogian]

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Mac If you don't need a whole lot of magnification, just pop over to the local drug store and pick up a cheap pair of reading glasses that will give you a little magnification at the distance you like (read a couple lines from a magazine as a comparaison).

You know, that seemed like the simplest way to go, but I actually checked it out... Reading glasses don't magnify!

If anything, they do the opposite...I can only read things REALLY close to my face with it. I tried the 2x one, and my vision was screwed up for about a minute afterwards.