Opinions on Optivisor from Donegan Optical?

I have been using an optivisor for about 3 years and it is like my third hand when doing small assemblies. My only advise is to have plenty of light either on your bench or attached to the visor if you use the magnification optics you will have to be very close to your subject.It requires alot of light if you are that close and can cause headaches if used for extended periods. I have gotten kind of woosy if I should look somewhere else in the room with it on. The lenses on mine are plastic I supect that the acrylic is more clear and give less visual distortion.

Hope this helps Barry

Thanks. :-)

If I were to buy one, which magnification would you recommend? Which one do you personally find most useful?

Oh, trust me, you don't know the meaning of the word "woosy" until you've spent several hours working under a sharp table lamp, really squinting to see that 2mm long pin which is supposed to go into a

0.5mm wide hole in the side of a track-link ... :-P

Well, shortly after I posted the message, I looked at the spare lenses which were available for the regular Optivisor and noticed that they too didn't exactly look like they were made out of glass.

Must've been the Butinox-fumes which somehow affected my brain ...

Thanks.

So you think I should go for either the #3 or #7? (Field of view isn't really that important when working with such small parts, just as long I can see what I'm doing ... and avoid bloodshot and foggy eyes.)

Perhaps the strength of the magnification may depend upon your personal eyesight? I picked up a similar unit called "Magni-Focusser" some time ago. I don't know what the power of the lens is, but it requires me to have items I'm working on really close to the lens (3-4"). I'd rather have a weaker lens so I could hold the items a more comfortable distance away, say 10-12". If there was some way for you to try out the different lenses, I think it would be a good idea. Or if you order by mail, order several lenses if you can.

As mentioned, the heavy magnification along with the "tunnel vision" of the hood can make you woozy when looking at other more distant objects, such as trying to pick up a tool from your workbench.

Good luck!

Bob Boudreau Canada

I use a number 4 with a monocle of about 1.5 power. I also have the little krypton light as well. It takes some getting used to, but once its adapted to it becomes a very valuable tool; especially for fine painting and detail work. Its always wise to take a break and give your eyes a rest every 15 minutes or so as the magnification can put a strain on them. When I get feeling 'woozy' it usually means its time to shut down for the evening and go walk the dog. For me this is a hobby but not a addiction. Mike IPMS

I bought the #7 ($31) and wouldn't be w/o it. I do ship modelling so close up stuff is a must. Not long ago I was browsing Hobby Lobby and they had a bunch of the lenses for these on clearence for $1 ea (reg $16) so I bought all the had - #4, #7 & #10. I use the #7 mostly as it magnifies just right, but I'm not too close to the work such that I might touch it with the lens, like I've done with the #10. I'm real happy with it & if it ever breaks will certainly buy another. BTW, I wear glasses and they work great with them, no interference at all. They are also awesome for locating tiny slivers in your hands. They also make a small swing-away lens that hooks onto the front of the Optivisor in the event you need to get REALLY close to something too.

Sorry, I was a bit fuzzy inside the head due to paint fumes when I replied so I misunderstood what you wrote. My bad. (Was up all night painting the window-frames in the living room.)

Well, at about $30 I realize that it isn't exactly the creme de la creme of magnifiers, but as long as it'll help me with a few fine details it'll do. :-)

Thanks. Because of the small size of the parts I'm working on, I'm now leaning towards buying the #7. I've never worn glasses or worked with such magnifiers before, so I don't really have a point of reference for how it would feel to wear one, but if the magnification on the #7 should prove to be a little too uncomfortable to work with I'll just get one of the other lenses.

Yeah, I saw it listed on Squadrons website. Hm ... Another useful thing to have I guess ... :-)

Oh, a quick walk around the neighbo- neight- neigb- ... out in the fresh midnight air usually clears the fog from my eyes. :-)

Well ... If you can't put a small motor in it there's very little chance that the not-so-local hobby shop will have it, so I guess I'm stuck with having to order it from the states. (But on the other hand it's (relatively) cheap, and the shipping is pretty fast.)

Thanks. :-)

Do you have a hobby shop or drafting/engineering/mapping store near you where you could try them out? We have both and the latter is where I bought mine, after trying them all out to see whats best. Unless you want your face real close to your work, a few inches, methinks the #7 will do just great. With it I'm maybe 9" away and thet allows for lots of head movement w/o hitting the work in progress.

I prefer the glass version to the plastic. Magnification is up to you, but I would suggest starting with a middle range. It will take some time to get used to it(it took me a couple of weeks of every night use), but once you do, it will be an invaluable tool. I got mine a few years ago, after loosing my close up vision (something about passing 40). I can honestly say I do better detail work now than before.

Enjoy

Kurt

Kurt Greiner

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Egads! Looks like good quality equipment, but ... I couldn't find any mention of retail prices anywhere. Expensive I presume?

Do a Google search for escenbach clip-on lens. They seem to go for about $30 for the ones which clip on to eyeglasses.

I did a Google search for "eschenbach 1646 clip-on lens" last night, but none of the sites that popped up then listed any prices.

But, for whatever reason, searching for "escenbach clip-on lens" did the trick, and I ended up on this site:

By Richthofen's monocle! If the prices listed on this site are any indication, it's actually cheaper than a Tamiya Tiger II! :-)

Thanks!

Gosh, Gents! What's wrong with big sales taxes?? America's Democratic (Socialist) politicians are all drooling to emulate your system so it can't be bad, can it??? :-)

Bill Shuey (who lives in the Socialist Welfare Republic of Maryland)