Magnifying lamp?
 

I am taking an appliqué class and find I cannot see what I thought I could, LOL. The first class I sat right by the window, the second class I couldn't. Yes, I probably need new glasses. Does anyone have experience with magnifying lamps? What's a good price, what should I be looking for? Can you recommend a type or brand or specific lamp. Thanks, I HATE shopping!!

My parents bought me a Mighty Bright for Christmas from JoAnns. I really like it for embroidery and sewing. It takes me some time adjusting the bendable arm to the correct distance and it takes my eyes a short time to adjust to the magnifier, but the more I use it the Greater it becomes. I really have no idea about other makes/models. But, I would recommend this one.

I have an Ott floor lamp with a magnifyier on it. Looks like the style I have is no longer made, this is the closest I could find
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002PNRBKC/...SIN=B002PNRBKC

I love it. I also bought really strong magnifyer cheater glasses. I think they are like the 2.5X strength.

I have the same problem - can't see. I've used a couple of different magnifiers.

The ones that hang around your neck aren't worth it - they move when you breathe, plus they use whatever light source you're using. Half my problem is poor lighting.

There are floor lamps available, like Ott lamps, with a built in magnifier. Since the magnifier isn't lighted itself, I found these to be pretty useless for me, too. At least they don't move!

My favorite magnifier is a swing arm lamp magnifier. It has a circular bulb under the lens, so there's lots of light and good magnification. It has to attach to a table, however, and since we redid our living room I haven't been able to use it. I think there are stands you can get for these, I just haven't invested. This was also relatively inexpensive - less than $100 at an office supply store.

The one I'm currently using is a floor magnifier lamp, with led lights next to the magnifier. It does a good job, although it could be a bit stronger - the magnification is 1.5 diopters, whatever they may be. Mine was sold through a catalog, and I've seen them in Keepsake Quilting and Nancy's Notions.

If I'm sewing away from home, I just take off my glasses - my near vision is very good without them. So long as I have enough light I can sew.

Hope this helps.

Janet

[ATTACH=CONFIG]395256[/ATTACH]This is as close as I can find to the lamp I use. I wouldn't take anything for it, it's also used for my fine jewelry making. Very high magnifying and I just paid $5.00 for it at a thrift store! This one in the picture I seen it's $68.00...Good luck on finding yours. Oh, this also attaches to the back of a table, the arms swing as well as the head and glass itself! Its wonderful!

I have not used one but am gong to look at them today. Joanns has a 50% off all lighting sale.

Momma_K, that's similar to the lamp I have, but I think mine is a little larger.

Janet

I found a great bendable floor lighted magnifying lamp at a stitchery shop. It's lightweight and has LED lights. I put it in front of my sewing machine needle when I'm fmqing and I have to have it to hand stitch binding.

My son has very bad eyes and is into model making. He uses the first on on this link and really loves it. It's a desk type, but I think it comes in a floor type.

http://www.officedepot.com/a/browse/...ps/N=5+531472/

I love the one I have. It's a circular daylight fluorescent bulb with a large magnifying glass in the middle on an adjustable swing arm. I purchased it at an office supply store for about half of what the Ott lamps go for - WITH a coupon! :shock: I think those Otts are extremely overpriced.

I bought an awesome one for my mom several years ago, but it was about $350. It is a floor lamp on wheels, with a big magnifier (a bit bigger than a saucer, a bit smaller than a lunch plate, if I remember correctly) on a swing arm, with a circular bulb built into the underside of the magnifier's rim. It's the kind you always see the forensic techs using on tv. Don't remember the name of it, but you can probably find it if you do a google search. I plan on bringing it home and using it myself one of these days, because it's just been sitting in the closet for years and she's unable to do fine motor skills now. :(

At the last quilt show I attended I saw a vendor selling a magnifier attached to glasses. They mounted the magnifier to their frame with your vision prescription. A light was available for it. It was EXPENSIVE but the vision thru them was crystal clear. I lusted for them, but way above my budget. Like (IIRC) around $600. This was an appliance originally used in dental offices. Can't for the life of me remember the name.

I have a floor lamp style Ott-like lamp I put next to me when doing hand work. I also bought readers in a higher number. The readers I bought are also lit, they have lights where the temple pieces meet the front of the frame; they use hearing aid batteries; I bought them at Walgreen's for about $19.