desktop magnifying glass

17 posts ยท Aug 5 2002 to Aug 13 2002

From: Indy Kochte <kochte@s...>

Date: Mon, 05 Aug 2002 11:10:19 -0400

Subject: desktop magnifying glass

Got a question for you modellers out there (and this is pretty much only
applicable to those who use or know of what I'm looking
for) - where would one get one of those large magnifying glasses
that you mount on a desk for miniatures work? (or other teeny applications)
Not entirely sure where to look, but I did try a couple local hobby stores I
know of, but nada.

A lighted one would sweet, but any at all would be helpful (you see,
I want to paint serial numbers on the rivets on my DS miniatures  ;-)
;-)

Mk

From: Roger Burton West <roger@f...>

Date: Mon, 5 Aug 2002 16:13:55 +0100

Subject: Re: desktop magnifying glass

On or about Mon, Aug 05, 2002 at 11:10:19AM -0400, Indy typed:
> Got a question for you modellers out there (and this is pretty

I don't know whether this applies in the USA, but in the UK I've had a lot of
luck in lighting sections of department stores. Anywhere that has a good
selection of desk lamps would be worth a try.

From: Roger Books <books@m...>

Date: Mon, 5 Aug 2002 11:15:16 -0400 (EDT)

Subject: Re: desktop magnifying glass

> On 5-Aug-02 at 11:11, Indy (kochte@stsci.edu) wrote:
;-)

I've seen them at Lowe's (big home repair place). All the electronics places
online carry them at inflated prices.

From: Doug Evans <devans@n...>

Date: Mon, 5 Aug 2002 10:26:46 -0500

Subject: Re: desktop magnifying glass

Caveat big time: cheap ones can have bad locking mechanisms. Nasty to have
both hands busy while fiddling with something tiny, and have the
mag/lamp
head 'lean' slowly forward.

I've seen these in Hobby Lobby's, art stores, business office supply stores.
Plenty of places, but I've not found one I'd trust that didn't scare me away
at the cost.

Good luck, and, as this is a bit OT for the list, keep me aware of how you're
doing.

The_Beast

From: Laserlight <laserlight@q...>

Date: Mon, 5 Aug 2002 11:26:59 -0400

Subject: RE: desktop magnifying glass

> Got a question for you modellers out there (and this is pretty

I got a lamp-and-4power-glass for about $20 at, IIRC, BigLots.  And
google said:

http://www.dickblick.com/zz551/29/products.asp?param=0&ig_id=3607

among others.

From: Michael Brown <mwbrown@s...>

Date: Mon, 5 Aug 2002 17:52:40 -0700

Subject: RE: desktop magnifying glass

Take a look at fabric stores. If you can, try to find an Ott Light (Full
spectrum). May not need to magnify if you can REALLY see what you are looking
at. I cannot recommend these enough.

Michael Brown

[quoted original message omitted]

From: Michael Llaneza <maserati@e...>

Date: Mon, 05 Aug 2002 18:56:43 -0700

Subject: Re: desktop magnifying glass

Ott Lights are also recommended for professional color work, maybe you can get
work to pay for one.

> Michael Brown wrote:

> Take a look at fabric stores. If you can, try to find an Ott Light

From: W. Nitsche <bnitsche@u...>

Date: Tue, 6 Aug 2002 09:45:05 -0700 (PDT)

Subject: Re: desktop magnifying glass

I noticed Costco started carrying Ott Lights (the desktop version) about a
month ago. I'm not sure if this was a limited offering (I haven't been since
then), but they were being offered at $30! Shows how much craft stores or
their distributors mark these up. Anyway, if you have a Costco nearby, check
in the office equipment section.

--Billiam

From: Daryl Lonnon <dlonnon@f...>

Date: Tue, 6 Aug 2002 11:05:56 -0600 (MDT)

Subject: Re: desktop magnifying glass

> I noticed Costco started carrying Ott Lights (the desktop version)
about a
> month ago. I'm not sure if this was a limited offering (I haven't

I just bought one of these about 2 weeks ago.

I got it home and realized it wasn't a "full" spectrum one. (What's the
difference... is it just the bulbs?)

Even without being full spectrum, it works awesome. I think lighting wise it's
just as good... you just don't get the "true" colors you get under the full
spectrum one. Given that I'm colorblind AND I rarely view my miniatures under
daylight (usually flourescents or standard bulb lighting), I'm not sure how
big a deal that is for me.

Daryl
> --Billiam

From: Yves Lefebvre <ivanohe@a...>

Date: Tue, 13 Aug 2002 12:35:18 -0400

Subject: Re: desktop magnifying glass

> At 11:10 AM 8/5/2002 -0400, you wrote:
;-)
> Mk

I saw something yesterday: It is a magnifying glass that you attach to
yourself. There is a rope you pass behind your neck and the glass lay
perpendicular to your chest. There is also a battery operated lamp you could
fix on it.

I tried it (just put it on) and I think I might buy one for painting. I think
you can buy that from office supply store. One good thing is that you can move
with it so you can paint anywhere or change your sitting position (to couch
potato style for example). You could probably even try to drive your car and
paint at the same time, but this is a bit risky:)

From: John Sowerby <sowerbyj@f...>

Date: Tue, 13 Aug 2002 12:39:06 -0400

Subject: Re: desktop magnifying glass

> I tried it (just put it on) and I think I might buy one for painting. I

Yeah, getting acrylics off your dashboard is awful, and as for enamels on your
gearstick....

From: KH.Ranitzsch@t... (K.H.Ranitzsch)

Date: Tue, 13 Aug 2002 18:43:48 +0200 (CEST)

Subject: Re: desktop magnifying glass

> At 11:10 AM 8/5/2002 -0400, you wrote:

Around here, flea markets often have stands with all kinds of hand tools. I
have several times seen such glasses there.

A well-stocked hardware shop (the tool kind, not the computer kind)
might be another idea. Or a medical supplies shop? Or if you have a jeweller
in town, he might know a source.

Greetings

From: Indy Kochte <kochte@s...>

Date: Tue, 13 Aug 2002 12:47:53 -0400

Subject: Re: desktop magnifying glass

> Yves Lefebvre wrote:
[...]
> I saw something yesterday : It is a magnifying glass that you attach
I
> think you can buy that from office supply store. One good thing is

Oh, great, give Jon Davis ideas for next year's ECC (you see, he claims he
gets his camo schemes from painting while driving down to attend ECC;
the sharper squiggles usually indicate he just missed a truck ;-)

From: Jon Davis <davisje@n...>

Date: Tue, 13 Aug 2002 12:55:30 -0400

Subject: Re: desktop magnifying glass

> Indy wrote:

From: Indy Kochte <kochte@s...>

Date: Tue, 13 Aug 2002 13:10:04 -0400

Subject: Re: desktop magnifying glass

> Jon Davis wrote:
[...]
> > > I tried it (just put it on) and I think I might buy one for

Just trying to level the playing field in the miniatures contest.  ;-)

From: Laserlight <laserlight@q...>

Date: Tue, 13 Aug 2002 13:27:45 -0400

Subject: Re: desktop magnifying glass

> (to couch potato style for example). You could probably even try to

Right, don't want to bump a truck and wreck your paint job.

Not that you should paint while driving anyway--even if you've got all
the windows down, the fumes from the spray paint cause problems.

Jon said
> Nuts! Now you're giving away some of my trade secrets!
Indy said:
> Just trying to level the playing field in the miniatures contest. ;-)

Just to clarify: Trying to raise the bar or lower it?

From: Indy Kochte <kochte@s...>

Date: Tue, 13 Aug 2002 13:31:13 -0400

Subject: Re: desktop magnifying glass

> "laserlight@quixnet.net" wrote:
[...]
> Jon said