Yes, I have searched old posts and and saw a couple options mostly with no light that I am looking at but some of the recommended ones mentioned are no longer available. And, I would like lighted options
I am legally blind and finding it more difficult to see finer detail. Have a couple pieces I want to texture and have an upcoming class on testuring soon. I would like to find a magnifying visor to wear with my regular glasses.
- Needs to have light.
- Needs to be powered by preferably AAA batteries. I have found with other LED "rechargeable" flashlights, etc that they don'tlast long per charge. With the upcoming class I won't have time during the clas to wait an hour while they charge. I can take a whole pack of regular batteries to the class and replace as needed.
Thanks
Ricc
Ricc,
My wife is going through the same thing with her vision, trying to find better ways to see things. She go on the "list" and so far three people from the State of TN have come by to evaluate needs, make suggestions, and bring various aids. We attend a local low vision "club" every month and learn of new resources, some we don't need now but may need in the future as her vision declines further. There is an amazing app, for example (for those who don't know about it) that lets you aim your phone camera at something, push a button, and someone from a network of volunteers responds almost immediately with a description of what's on the screen! We learned about the pill bottles that give audible descriptions with a push of a button and other aids.
Here's an idea for your headband magnifier: if you can find the right lighted magnifier with good lighting but the built-in power is not useful, maybe consider rewiring it to add a separate battery pack. I'm imagining a pocket or belt battery pack connected with a thin cable. Either use the existing switch or add a switch to the battery pack. It should be easy to wire in for someone with minimal electrical skills and a good soldering station, although might need to get some assistance for the catch-22 of needing a lighted magnifier to modify a lighted magnifier!
Another option might be as Sir Lucas mentioned: one of the pocket-sized power packs like I use to power iPads and such on trips. These have high capacity batteries and could feed a head-mounted light through a USB cable (it would be "easy" to add a USB connector to the lamp or wired the cable directly into the light. Might need to regulate the voltage but that's not difficult.)
Assuming you found the right headlamp the wiring and such might take a few days to set up. How long before your class?
Oh, another thing. I use headlamps on elastic headbands often around the farm here and sometimes when working on detail. My favorite has multiple light levels and uses a single AA battery. The non-rechargeable one I use is the Fenix HM23:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TBPLZ9G
This is my favorite gift for veterinarian and other farming friends!
I tested the Fenix headlamp just now with two different magnifiers It seems to work fine. I just put it on my forehead just above the magnifier and aimed the light down (it swivels). I don't know the brand name of this magnifier but it has an extra flip-down set of lenses for more power. I tried it both with and without my reading glasses. I don't use this one for carving and such but keep it at my electronics workbench.
The one I got from Graeme Priddle that I'm using in this photo says Beileshi. Very light weight, multiple magnifying lenses included. I didn't take a photo, but I also tried it with the Fenix headlamp above, with and without my reading glasses. Worked well. I do prefer the powerful lamp on the flexible neck, though. I got some from Woodturners Wonders (Supernova I think they call it) and use them all around the shop. (and usually take one when I do a demo in case the lighting is poor!) These lamps come with a strong magnetic base which is great for a a lathe but for the workbench I just put a rectangle of steel plate down. For mounting them to wood walls, I fasten a piece of steel to the wall with wood screws. (It's nice to have metal working stuff in another room in the shop!)
This magnifier has a built-in light but I think it's wimpy so I use the external lamp. It's this one, I think, cheap.
I like it so much I just now ordered a second one for "just in case".
Amazon.com : Beileshi Headhand Magnifier Glasses With 2 LED Professional Jeweler's Loupe Light Bracket and Headband are Interchangeable 5Lens Glass Magnifying Visor : Health & Household
www.amazon.com
My vision's ok for now but the carving and detail I was doing was too small for my reading glasses, especially without extra light!
JKJ
