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head mounted lens or magnifier for SMT projects

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Robert Duckworth

head mounted lens or magnifier for SMT projects

Hi all,

I'm looking for recommendations for one of those binocular, head mounted, magnifiers to improve my SMT work. The parts are TINY compared to my old HW-16 and HA-14!

Thanks,

-Bob AH7I
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Re: head mounted lens or magnifier for SMT projects

Bob, I use an Optovisor with a 5 power lens. I sent my Dad one about 35 years ago. About 20 years ago I got one for myself. 16 years ago, I inherited my Dad's, so now I have two which I use a lot. They work well and flip up when not needed. I recommend them.

Willis 'Cookie' Cooke
K5EWJ & Trustee N5BPS, USS Cavalla, USS Stewart

________________________________
From: Robert Duckworth <[hidden email]>
To: "[hidden email]" <[hidden email]>
Sent: Tuesday, April 17, 2012 7:54 PM
Subject: [Elecraft] head mounted lens or magnifier for SMT projects

Hi all,

I'm looking for recommendations for one of those binocular, head mounted, magnifiers to improve my SMT work. The parts are TINY compared to my old HW-16 and HA-14!

Thanks,

-Bob AH7I
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Don Wilhelm-4

Re: head mounted lens or magnifier for SMT projects

In reply to this post by Robert Duckworth

Bob,

Do not scrimp on this particular item. Yes, there are less expensive
alternatives than Optivisor, but some have plastic lenses that are not
totally clear - buy quality, your eyes will appreciate it.

I have one that has a working length of about 10 inches (OK for
soldering without burning your nose), but a flip-up lens that brings
that working length down to the 4 inch region for examination. There is
also a flip-down loupe that focuses at about 2 inches for even more
magnification. The combination is quite useful.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 4/17/2012 8:54 PM, Robert Duckworth wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> I'm looking for recommendations for one of those binocular, head mounted, magnifiers to improve my SMT work. The parts are TINY compared to my old HW-16 and HA-14!
>
> Thanks,
>
> -Bob AH7I
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>

w2bvh

Re: head mounted lens or magnifier for SMT projects

In reply to this post by Robert Duckworth

I've been using the cheap head magnifiers (typically $5-7) for years and
am pretty happy with them. If you go to mcmelectronics.com and type in
magnifier in the search box, you'll find a range of quality and prices.

The one I use is the $6.99 one. I remove the 2 lights and battery
holders to make the headset lighter and use a bench mounted lamp for
illumination.

The ulitimate is a Bauch & Lomb or Sciencscope 7x-35x binocular zoom
microscope. I use these at work and they're very good. But they run $125
- $350 used on that auction site.

73 & GL,

Lenny W2BVH

On 4/17/2012 8:54 PM, Robert Duckworth wrote:

rlindzen

Re: head mounted lens or magnifier for SMT projects

In reply to this post by Cookie

Do you really mean a 5 power lens? The ones I see listed only go to
2.75 power.

Dick WO1I

At 09:20 PM 4/17/2012, WILLIS COOKE wrote:

>Bob, I use an Optovisor with a 5 power lens. I sent my Dad one
>about 35 years ago. About 20 years ago I got one for myself. 16
>years ago, I inherited my Dad's, so now I have two which I use a
>lot. They work well and flip up when not needed. I recommend them.
>
>Willis 'Cookie' Cooke
>K5EWJ & Trustee N5BPS, USS Cavalla, USS Stewart
>
>
>________________________________
> From: Robert Duckworth <[hidden email]>
>To: "[hidden email]" <[hidden email]>
>Sent: Tuesday, April 17, 2012 7:54 PM
>Subject: [Elecraft] head mounted lens or magnifier for SMT projects
>
>Hi all,
>
>I'm looking for recommendations for one of those binocular, head
>mounted, magnifiers to improve my SMT work. The parts are TINY
>compared to my old HW-16 and HA-14!
>
>Thanks,
>
>-Bob AH7I
>______________________________________________________________
>Elecraft mailing list
>Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
>This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>______________________________________________________________
>Elecraft mailing list
>Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
>This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
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Tony Estep

Re: head mounted lens or magnifier for SMT projects

In reply to this post by w2bvh

On Tue, Apr 17, 2012 at 9:13 PM, w2bvh <[hidden email]> wrote:

> ....The ulitimate is a Bauch & Lomb or Sciencscope 7x-35x binocular zoom
> microscope....

=========
There are pretty cheap ones that work perfectly for SMT. I got one new on
ebay for about 80 bucks and it is fabulous. 10x (or less) is best for
magnification. If you get one that has plenty of clearance between
objective and stage, you can use it when soldering, but its best use is for
inspection. Certainly not necessary in your shop, in fact sort of a
frivolous extra, but great fun to have.

Robert (and anyone else who might be interested), for excellent SMT advice,
see:
http://www.wb5rvz.com/sdr/ensemble_rx_ii/
scroll down the page and you'll find very helpful info on tools, how to set
up your bench, instructional videos on SMT soldering, and more. Literally
thousands of builders have followed the advice here and built working SDRs
with SMT components (over 20,000 kits have been shipped over the life of
the project).

Good luck & have fun!
Tony KT0NY

--
http://www.isb.edu/faculty/facultydir.aspx?ddlFaculty=352
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John Shaw

Re: head mounted lens or magnifier for SMT projects

In reply to this post by Robert Duckworth

A little bit different but you can get good magnification by mounting a
webcam above the work piece and viewing it on a screen.

73 John ZL1BYZ.

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Robert Duckworth
Sent: Wednesday, 18 April 2012 12:55
To: [hidden email]
Subject: [Elecraft] head mounted lens or magnifier for SMT projects

Hi all,

I'm looking for recommendations for one of those binocular, head mounted,
magnifiers to improve my SMT work. The parts are TINY compared to my old
HW-16 and HA-14!

Thanks,

-Bob AH7I
______________________________________________________________
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gm3sek

Re: head mounted lens or magnifier for SMT projects

In reply to this post by w2bvh

For the kind of SMT work that most of us are doing, a head-mounted
magnifier is far better than any fixed microscope.

The problem with fixed microscopes is that they also fix YOU and the
object you're looking at. The bulk of the microscope also blocks your
normal direct view of the workbench, making it much more difficult to
position the soldering iron tip without accidentally damaging other
parts of the board. Fatigue, discomfort and irritation build up very
quickly.

A head-mounted magnifier follows your head movements with no effort, and
gives a clear, unobstructed view of the entire work area.

The best optical solution depends on your individual eyes, so one
person's recommendation will not fit all cases. What works for me is a
second pair of +4 half-moon reading glasses, perched in front of the
varifocal (progressive) glasses that I wear all the time. These
"preamps" magnify the downward view through the bottom edge of the
varifocals, while still allowing a clear general view around the
workbench.

<http://www.ifwtech.co.uk/g3sek/in-prac/best-of.htm#0809>

I do have several other optical aids, including a x7-20 swinging arm
stereo microscope on a swinging arm, but for most work I still keep
coming back to the simple "preamps".

The big microscope is great for checking and inspection *after* the work
has been done, but not for doing the work itself.

The same web page contains a lot more information on choosing tools and
equipment for SMT.

The little LED worklight from IKEA (top of picture) is *very highly*
recommended - this is probably the last worklight you'll ever need to
buy.

--

73 from Ian GM3SEK
http://www.ifwtech.co.uk/g3sek
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gm3sek

Re: head mounted lens or magnifier for SMT projects

In reply to this post by John Shaw

John Shaw wrote:
>
>A little bit different but you can get good magnification by mounting a
>webcam above the work piece and viewing it on a screen.
>

Many old VHS cameras have superb zoom optics which are ideal for this
kind of 'head up display'. I tried it once with the camera mounted a few
feet above the workbench and the results were very good - a clear,
unobstructed, MAGNIFIED view of the entire work area, with the superb
light-gathering and depth of field that only a big lens can provide.

The only problems were the magnified camera shake (which some cameras
can help to deal with) and the requirement for a HUD monitor positioned
directly behind the work area.

--

73 from Ian GM3SEK
http://www.ifwtech.co.uk/g3sek
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Re: head mounted lens or magnifier for SMT projects

In reply to this post by rlindzen

I mean one that is identified by a 5 printed on the holder. I am not really sure what it means. I didn't select it, it just came with the head band when I bought it. One has a loop on one eye that increases the magnification, but I seldom need to use it. You can focus really close to the work, but be careful of the soldering iron so that you don't burn your nose!

Willis 'Cookie' Cooke
K5EWJ & Trustee N5BPS, USS Cavalla, USS Stewart

________________________________
From: Dick Lindzen <[hidden email]>
To: WILLIS COOKE <[hidden email]>
Cc: "[hidden email]" <[hidden email]>
Sent: Tuesday, April 17, 2012 9:56 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] head mounted lens or magnifier for SMT projects

Do you really mean a 5 power lens? The ones I see listed only go to
2.75 power.

Dick WO1I

At 09:20 PM 4/17/2012, WILLIS COOKE wrote:

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Joel Black-2

Re: head mounted lens or magnifier for SMT projects

In reply to this post by Don Wilhelm-4

I cannot re-iterate the statement below, "Do no scrimp on this
particular item."

I have purchased two different head-mounted lenses at hamfests. They
were both low quality and neither would stay on my head. I still use
one, but am constantly having to tighten it.

I am going to purchase one of these Optivisors and get rid of the junk. ;)

73,
Joel - W4JBB

On 4/17/2012 8:51 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote:
> Bob,
>
> Do not scrimp on this particular item. Yes, there are less expensive
> alternatives than Optivisor, but some have plastic lenses that are not
> totally clear - buy quality, your eyes will appreciate it.
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ve3dvy

Re: head mounted lens or magnifier for SMT projects

In reply to this post by Robert Duckworth

I went a simpler way I purchased decent over the counter reading
glasses in a few ranges 1.5, 2.25 and 3 My eyes are still pretty
good on their own but with the stronger glasses I can see those pesky
smd's just fine for inspection and soldering, even reading the values
if they have them printed . I like these better then the optivisors
because they are lighter, more comfortable and have a much wider field
of view. These are available at most drug stores and department
stores. I have a pair of optivisors but never seem to use them anymore.

BTW I find that even working on the old stuff I use the milder
lenses currently restoring a TX1 Apache and a KW2000b just makes it
a little easier to see.

On 4/17/2012 8:54 PM, Robert Duckworth wrote:

Jim Sheldon

Re: head mounted lens or magnifier for SMT projects

In reply to this post by Don Wilhelm-4

I have to add a second or a third to Don's comment here. I've had several Optivisor's over the years and got my first through Heathkit back in the day when they were all the rage. The one I still have left has no scratches on the lenses and works with my glasses for really close in work and if I take off the glasses and just use the Optivisor, I lose a bit in magnification but gain distance from the object.

The click adjustable headband is addictive.

Jim - W0EB

> Bob,
>
> Do not scrimp on this particular item. Yes, there are less
> expensive
> alternatives than Optivisor, but some have plastic lenses that are
> not
> totally clear - buy quality, your eyes will appreciate it.
>
>\
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