Mag-light
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IMO, a mag-light is great for inspecting one's work, but if one intends to use the mag-light while soldering, the need to be 8 inches or less away from the work will interfere with most soldering irons...That is when a magnifier worn on the head, or clip-ons, are better...
Jerry, wa2dkg _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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In terms of freedom of movement and field of vision, I like the drug
store reading glasses better than the big black visor type magnifiers. Depending on your age, a diopter rating of +1 to +2 is good for most soldering, and +3 for small SMD. They're cheap and readily available. 73, Larry N8LP Jeremiah McCarthy wrote: > IMO, a mag-light is great for inspecting one's work, but if one intends to use the mag-light while soldering, the need to be 8 inches or less away from the work will interfere with most soldering irons...That is when a magnifier worn on the head, or clip-ons, are better... > > Jerry, wa2dkg > _______________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Post to: [hidden email] > You must be a subscriber to post to the list. > Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm > Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com > > > Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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In reply to this post by Jeremiah McCarthy
Jerry, WA2DKG wrote:
the need to be 8 inches or less away from the work will interfere with most soldering irons...That is when a magnifier worn on the head, or clip-ons, are better... ---------------------------------------- My Optivisor puts me only 6 to 8 inches from the work. In 25 years of using it, I find working that close is not only easy, it seems the most natural position. Take almost any of our younger builders whose eyes still have the flexibility to focus at short range and you'll see them working at that range automatically as they lean in for a close look. I don't always use the Optivisor when soldering, but it's no problem when I do. It depends upon the size of the work. One advantage of the head-worn visor is that it flips up out of the way when it is not needed, so it gives me back the range of focus that I had when I was 20 years old. Working close also helps ensure I have the support I need for fine control of my fingers. I can rest my forearms and hands on the work surface on either side of the circuit board or whatever I'm doing fine work on so the only my fingers need to move to manipulate my solder and iron or other tools. If you've ever seen a watchmaker at work you'll know the position I mean. It allows for very precise movement of one's fingers without needing the stability of a surgeon's hands. That's one reason I often avoid using a vice to hold the circuit board. The vice puts it in the air, floating above the bench, where it's hard to get to without holding one's arms steady in the air or trying to brace a finger against to board for stability. I prefer to lay the circuit board on the bench for most work so my arms and hands rest on the table on either side of it. If the board needs to be held steady, I simply put something on the board to add a little weight. A small block of wood or some B-B shot in a spare pink anti-static bag make great, versatile weights that won't endanger ESD-sensitive parts. Of course, the circuit board is laying on a grounded anti-static mat and I have a strap grounded through a 1 megohm resistor on my wrist. I think the bottom line is that there is no one 'right way' for all builders or all situations. The position that protects the board and components and which gives the builder the stability and fine control of the tools is the right one for each person, whatever that is. A surgeon may want to stand back and look through small telescopes. Others do better working so close we best not inhale too hard or a loose SMD might disappear... Ron AC7AC _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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