doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com What do you use for magnification?

I’m thinking of getting an Optivisor or similar for gunsmithing and fly tying. I’m curious what other members here use? One of my gunsmithing friends, retired now from that career, used an Optivisor with a number 3 lens (1.75X magnification) for general work, and switch to a number 5 lens (2.5X magnification) for fine work. He also noted that he wore bifocals under the Optivisor, therefore the magnification was additive. If anyone here can share what works, or doesn’t work, for them I’d appreciate it!

I use an Optivisor #DA-10 that I purchased in the early 80's, $28.50! As I become older, it has become my best "visual" friend! My bifocals work well with them. The Optivisor seems to be the standard for magnification.
Hope this helps,
Karl

I'm still blessed with 20-20 vision in one eye and 20-18 in the other. But it isn't as good as it was when I was much younger, so it helps to have some magnification at times.

I have an Optivisor and various hand held magnifying glasses. I also have a couple of those magnifying bench lights with articulating arms which are very helpful. And I always have a small folding magnifying glass in my pocket. It is nearly as useful as carrying a pocket knife. When I pull it out to examine some fine detail at a poorly lighted gunshow or whatever, people who try it always say, "I need to get one of those."

I also have a +1.50 diopter welding magnifying lens in one auto-darkening hood, which can be helpful when doing fine TIG work.

Oh, and don't forget the macro setting on your cell phone camera to enlarge and see fine detail in dark or tight places. I recently used that to read the very faded VIN Number tag on my car trailer.

I have used an Optivisor for my engraving work for decades. Number 10 lens. The Optivisor is a diopter value like reading glasses, not magnification.

Yup, optivisor and if you need additional power there is a swing down loop.

I have used an Optivisor since about 1986, or so. Don't recall the correction value at the moment. I keep +1.25 and +1.50 eyeglasses on the workbench, with the Optivisor hanging above it. The +1.25s and the Optivisor handle 98% of my vision correction needs for gun work.

Mag Eyes. Been using them for over 30 years for close-up work. Light, unobtrusive, inexpensive, easy to flip up and out of the way, and come with multiple lenses. Even work easily with bifocal glasses.

Welder.