Light Magnifier for painting miniatures

[wisdomknight]

What do you miniature painters here use for painting minis?
Do you use anything like a manifier?

My eyes are starting to get a bit worse compared to when I was younger and it seems as though I have to hold small things farther away to focus that before.

I think I might be better off if I had something for close up work.

[samuraitrev]

Hi WisdomKnight. I bought a table lamp which bolts to my desk it has a Daylight bulb in it and a magnifier. I think they're used by electronics work on circuit boards etc. I bought mine from a shop called Maplin.
Pros
Good magnification for fine detail.
Adjustable arm so you can position the light/magnifier where you want it.
Good value

Cons
(In my case) When I used the magnifier for an hour it made my eyes ache.
I forget the lights there and bang my head on it! (sounds funny but does get annoying)

I will post a picture of it and a link tomorrow as I'm on my PS3 at the moment.
   

Here's the link http://www.maplin.co.uk/22w-fluorescent-...lamp-47980

[wisdomknight]

Thanks Samurai!
Id love to see it

---

Thanks Samurai!
Id love to see it

[BanjoBoy666]

I bought this one recently. They kicked the price up since then though.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0011DIPKC/

Good light and magnification but it does make my eyes tweak after a little while.

[Emp]

I also have one of those but just use it as the light not the magnifier anymore.

My main problems are that like Trev I keep banging my head against it.
I am having trouble focusing when I look trough it and the baddest thing I experience is that the back of my brushes keep hitting the lamp when I am painting.

I thought it was going to be the best thing but unfortunatly I now think of it as a big waste of money.

[Pfr_Fate]

(09-13-2012 08:28 AM)Emp Wrote:  I also have one of those but just use it as the light not the magnifier anymore.

My main problems are that like Trev I keep banging my head against it.
I am having trouble focusing when I look trough it and the baddest thing I experience is that the back of my brushes keep hitting the lamp when I am painting.

I thought it was going to be the best thing but unfortunatly I now think of it as a big waste of money.

I use something like this....

http://www.amazon.com/Donegan-OptiVISOR-...s_indust_3

[Emp]

Yep, that crossed my mind too. A guy in a local gamestore uses that.

[wisdomknight]

Great points guys and thanks for the links s well guys.
Im just not sure, I was thinking about this as it is more in my price range:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003EW1...PDKIKX0DER

But now thinking about bumping my brushes into it, now you got me thing
It crossed my mind as well in getting something like Fate mentioned, but I never even wear my normal glasses because they irritate me, so...

[Pred]

go to your local store and grab a pair of $5 reading glasses. I dont
have this problem, but I couldn't imagine using one of the magni-lamps.
It just seems it would constantly be in the way.

[Old Dwarf]

[/quote]

I use something like this....

http://www.amazon.com/Donegan-OptiVISOR-...s_indust_3
[/quote]

I have these they work great,I've has the Magnifier
like Sam but as has been noted I found it awkward
to use.

OD