Jeweler's loupe?

[Trebor]

say, does anyone here use a jeweler's loupe when they're modeling? like one that you can put on your eye? how does it work for you? I've been considering doing something like that

 

[Wurger]

Each way of making a better view while working on small bits, is welcome. But I don't think that the very large zoom is useful every time. Personally I use the 1.8-4.8x headband magnifier. It is very useful for me and I can recommend a such one. There is a lot of these offered via the net. There are tools with magnifying glasses and clamps that allow to hold stable parts in place for gluing. A such tool can be put on the table. These can have a light often to make the working area better seen.

My headband magnifier ...

 

[Trebor]

I've actually already got one of those. I was wondering how useful a jeweler's loupe would be. heh

 

[Wurger]

Rob, if your sight got worse and a pair glasses is needed , the jeweler's loupe is really very useful. I can recommend that .

 

[JKim]

This is a topic of interest for me as well. I am 50 years old so my close-up vision is not what it used to be. I use 1.00 reading glasses when I'm in my hobby workshop. When I really need to zoom in on small details, I've been relying on a magnifying glass that built into the X-Acto Helping Hands tool.

Since then I've bought a lamp with a magnifying glass built-in but still prefer the X-Acto tool due to convenience (easier to move it in and out of position).

I've heard many modelers recommend a set of jewler's loupes as Wurger posted. But there are also some "dental loupes" available on Ebay for fairly reasonable prices.

Here is one modeler that uses these...

Review: 3.5X-420mm Dental Binocular Loupes | Doogs' Models

 

[GrauGeist]

I can tell you from experience that holding a loupe in place gets very tiring after a while...especially if this is something you don't use very often (and usually gives me a headache after a while).

For intricate work, I use an illuminated magnifying glass that's attached to a large desk-mounted arm or a magnifying visor like Wurger mentioned.

 

[Trebor]

yyouch! those dental loupes are a chunk of change. but anyways, I already have the helping hands with a magnifier and the desk lamp with magnifier in it. but I just wanted to hear everyone's opinion on the jeweler's loupe. I won't get one that you have to hold, I figured I'd get one that fits in my eye. and I've also considered geting reading glasses for modeling. I have perfect vision, tho

 

[GrauGeist]

Like I said, the one that fits in your eye, like Colonel Klink's monocle, makes the muscles around your eye very tired if you're not used to it.

 

[Wurger]

I agree with GG's opinion. Long time holding a monocle in a such way may cause a kind of discomfort and a muscle pain around the eye. To be honest there isn't any reason of using the kind of magnifying glasses because the kind of the jeweler's loupe requires keeping of a model piece very close to the eye "armed" with the loupe or bowing down to the piece. I don't think it could be something nice for your backbone or eyes, especially if you have perfect vision. Therefore I recommend more the magnifying glasses of the headband type rather than the jeweler's loupe of the monocle one.

 

[Trebor]

I see. well, thanks a bunch for your guys' opinions!

 

[mikewint]

If not too late, I've found one big problem with any single lens system, i.e.: you loose depth perception. I have the helping hands Xacto type and the lamp-type magnifier and find that as a single lens system that loss of depth perception can be a real problem. I have found that the head-band type to be the most useful though mine is a bit different. The outer primary lenses (2) are 1.5X. Inside is a flip-down set, also 1.5X so that you are now at 2.25X the single lens drop-down is another 4.6X but you are now back to single lens. What I like the most is the inclusion of the LED light bar which focuses extra light exactly where you need it.

 

[fubar57]

That looks pretty spiffy Mr Wint. Who makes that version?



Geo

 

[mikewint]

Geo, that I do not know, probably China somewhere, but the seller is FixFind on Ebay. $2.99 + 1.99 S&H