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Technical TOOLS: Cheap Surgical Loupes: looking for

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by MrCreosote, Feb 28, 2020.

  1. MrCreosote
    Joined: Jul 23, 2009
    Posts: 384

    MrCreosote
    Member
    from USA

    "Reading gl***" optics have you working 2 inches from your nose - loupes let you work at arm's length. They can produce 2.5-3.5 magnification at 16 inches. Even higher magnifications but around 6x, the doctors switch over to surgical microscopes.

    My dentist paid $5000 for his, but they start at $50 on eBay.

    I believe there exist cheap ones with acceptable quality (clarity, depth and field of view, weight, illumination). I've read the ratings it's hard to form any opinion.

    I've been hooked on stereo microscopes since the 70's and have 3 nice ones. I have the uber Fisher Scientific boom stand that lets me inspect valve seats a**** other things. (once you remove a splinter with a SM, you'll never go back - in fact, that was how I was introduced to them.)

    [​IMG]
     
  2. Jalopy Joker
    Joined: Sep 3, 2006
    Posts: 34,096

    Jalopy Joker
    Member

    good idea - see surgeons wearing them too - but, be sure to take them off before you get behind the wheel of the car
     
    Budget36 likes this.
  3. Budget36
    Joined: Nov 29, 2014
    Posts: 15,365

    Budget36
    Member

    The cheap dollar store magnifier gl***es allow me to work at arms length as well. I have 4 or 5 of them in various places in house and in the shop
     
    olscrounger likes this.
  4. Hemiman 426
    Joined: Apr 7, 2011
    Posts: 719

    Hemiman 426
    Member
    from Tulsa, Ok.

  5. vintage6t
    Joined: Jul 30, 2007
    Posts: 431

    vintage6t
    Member
    from CT

    X-cpe likes this.
  6. birdman1
    Joined: Dec 6, 2012
    Posts: 1,686

    birdman1
    Member

    It will ruin your eyes!! Lol
     
  7. MrCreosote
    Joined: Jul 23, 2009
    Posts: 384

    MrCreosote
    Member
    from USA

    If you are using visors or reading gl***es, if you ever look through a stereo microscope, you'll be blown away.
    Shortly after that you'll want surgical loupes.

    NOTE: if you are working at "arms length" you don't have any magnification. Strong reading gl***es "magnify" because they allow you to work closer than your eyes will focus. I used to be able to focus 1" from my nose - I used to paint the insignias on HO scale soldier dress uniforms with my naked eye. Now my min focal length is 10-12 inches. Moving from 10" to 1" is 10x magnification.
     
  8. Frank Carey
    Joined: Oct 15, 2009
    Posts: 579

    Frank Carey
    Member

  9. blowby
    Joined: Dec 27, 2012
    Posts: 8,664

    blowby
    Member
    from Nicasio Ca

    No doubt these would be a good thing to have but I don't understand what you mean above. I'm using dime store reading gl***es to read this right now, 2 feet from the screen. Take them off, it's a blur. Same thing digging through my bolt bin.
     
    Budget36 likes this.
  10. Ain’t that some ****,,,,
    Stick your head into a wheel well and you can’t see anything.
     
  11. MrCreosote
    Joined: Jul 23, 2009
    Posts: 384

    MrCreosote
    Member
    from USA

    The stronger you get those reading gl***es, the shorter the working distance. When I work under a dash, I have to take at least 2 different power reading gl***es for "near" and "far" stuff. (there is even a cheap plastic 2-stack adjustable lens reading gl*** that has a manual "zoom" adjustment - also saw a youtube where they said readers over +2.50 are illegal w/o a prescription. Go China!)

    RE: Wheel Wells! Ahhhhh...they ****! You should see the various lenses I have for my welding helmets for working in close quarters!
     
    31Vicky with a hemi likes this.
  12. partsdawg
    Joined: Feb 12, 2006
    Posts: 3,944

    partsdawg
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Minnesota

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