Thread: Four new saws (hmm 60+ yo maybe)

Originally Posted by hiroller

I highly recommend a headband magnifier!

Goes without saying, at my age.....

Just on the subject of headband magnifiers, it was either last year or the year before that there was a stand at the Brissy WWW Show and they had just that. I'm pretty certain it incorporated a light too, which is probably another pre-requsite for those with less than perfect vision .

I had meant to get one and forgot to return to that stand and neither could I remember the name of the exhibitor: sans eyes, sans memory, sans wits, sans everything.....

.

Regards
Paul

probably Carbatec - I think that's where I got mine

I think I posted this previously, but for those interested in a headband magnifier I suggest you look at this short video first: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwnLeL3jGco

I use a Donegan Optivisor with a #3 lens which is good for a focal length of around 14" / 355mm, which is about right for back saws. These are a lot cheaper OS but you can get a very similar looking one from Henry Eckert.

These are also fantastic for when removing splinters and repairing kids toys.

Originally Posted by Bushmiller

....I had meant to get one and forgot to return to that stand and neither could I remember the name of the exhibitor.....

Paul your description fits the one McJing sells. I got mine there. You may find the dinky lights useful, but I found them pretty useless, & the extra weight made them more uncomfortable for long sessions, so I took them off.

Originally Posted by hiroller

...I use a Donegan Optivisor with a #3 lens which is good for a focal length of around 14" / 355mm, which is about right for back saws. These are a lot cheaper OS but you can get a very similar looking one from Henry Eckert...

Hiroller, the video is a bit long on the sales pitch & a bit short on technical info, but I deduce from the video blurb that they use an asymmetrical lens, to give them the varied objective distance. The cheapies use a simple lens, which is why they have ever decreasing working distances as the lens strength increases. You end up with your face in the work, so having a longer working distance would be a blessing. Be aware though, that the working distance will depend on your having a normal near-point, or wearing your reading specs that give you a 'normal' near point, otherwise your working distance will not be quite as advertised......

Cheers,

The Donegan aren't that fancy. They just have a simple lens like the McJing and Henry Eckert ones where you fit different lenses to vary the focal length.
The ones I have come with glass lenses rather than acrylic which is why they are probably more expensive.
The video just explains the need to choose your lens by focal length rather magnification.
I guess I was being lazy by including a link to someone else explaining it rather than writing it out!

Originally Posted by hiroller

The Donegan aren't that fancy. They just have a simple lens like the McJing and Henry Eckert ones where you fit different lenses to vary the focal length.....

Yeah, after I rattled off my post I did some checking, and they are no more fancy optically than the cheapies. Having glass lenses of a better quality would have to be an advantage, though. I also found a site offering Chinese knock-off with glass lenses, anybody tried these??

Cheers,

Nick and Ian

Nope. Not Carbatec and not McJing. I just don't remember the company's name, but I'm sure there will be other similar items out there.

BTW Nick, I thought the Francis Wood and Sons backsaw has come up really nicely.

Regards
Paul

Originally Posted by Bushmiller

Nick and Ian

Nope. Not Carbatec and not McJing. I just don't remember the company's name, but I'm sure there will be other similar items out there.

BTW Nick, I thought the Francis Wood and Sons backsaw has come up really nicely.

Regards
Paul

Thanks

Search ebay. That's where I got mine from.

I have the McJing version - poor quality, uncomfortable and poor optics (for my geriatric vision anyway). I have ordered an Optivisor from US on eBay, not too expensive.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/141262126...84.m1439.l2649

There are other suppliers on eBay, some with reasonable postage to Oz (A$12 in my case).

Cheers
Peter

Originally Posted by Heavansabove

I have the McJing version - poor quality, uncomfortable and poor optics (for my geriatric vision anyway). I have ordered an Optivisor from US on eBay, not too expensive.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/141262126...84.m1439.l2649

There are other suppliers on eBay, some with reasonable postage to Oz (A$12 in my case).

Cheers
Peter

Peter, I know the McJing version isn't optically perfect, but it does improve my ability to see small objects! I don't find it all that uncomfortable, either, but have probably just got used to the darn thing because I wear it at least half the day, now. The boss had some other brand for her craft work, which I tried & found impossibly uncomfortable, so maybe it's just different heads suit different models. Anyway, I'll be very interested to hear how you find the Optivisor - if it's markedly better than what I've got, it will be worth the price, I reckon. please give us a 'review' after you've used it a bit.

Cheers,

George st Sydney http://jewellerssupplies.com.au/imag...s/P118_119.pdf

I've been pretty happy with my Optivisor. I bought one with the glass lens over the cheaper acrylic after trying some cheap copies locally and being a bit disappointed. Though I'm a bit fussy with my optics - I can't stand dirty glasses.
I notice Peter that you linked to one with a #4 lens (10in). I had the same lens at the saw course in Mel and found the focal length a fraction short for filing saws, so I then got a #3 and found it more comfortable. The headband itself is just hard plastic and took a bit of getting used. It easy to adjust the size and I don't seem to notice too much now. i think if I spend more time using it over summer I'll glue some leather or toweling inside the band.
I'll be keen to see how it compares to the others.
I chose this brand after reading reviews here in the metalwork forum.