source for small magnifying lenses

[Mark Bolton]

Anyone in their travels come across somewhere selling perhaps 3/4" wide x 1" long either glass or poly carbonate lenses? These are going to go into a telescoping fence assembly to magnify an adhesive backed scale below (on the inner portion that projects out). I currently have small 3/4" round lenses in there and theyre just too hard to read. I dont have any additional width to go with a larger diameter round lense so im stuck with that but can go wider (legth of the scale).

Id love glass as the polycarbonate scratch and dull pretty bad.

Been looking ar surplus sites and searching but coming up empty.

Thanks

[Ruperto Mendiones]

Try a jewelers supply online or, preferably, in person.

[Art Mann]

These guys might have something you could use or adapt to the purpose.

http://www.scientificsonline.com/ (http://www.scientificsonline.com/magnifiers-value-pack.html)

[Dan Hintz]

Have you considered buying some acrylic rod and cutting a slice along the length?

[Mark Bolton]

Dan, no, but great idea. How do I polish the cut face?

[Chris Parks]

Flame polish it with a small soldering torch would be the best way. Look up flame polishing on Youtube and you will get the idea. It really is simple, quick and magical.

[Dan Hintz]

Dan, no, but great idea. How do I polish the cut face?

If it's a clean cut, flame polishing will be enough (and the ideal solution)... otherwise, you'll want to set up a sanding jig and attack the lens with the jig first.

[David L Morse]

An inexpensive and readily available alternative to polycarbonate rod as the starting point for a diy solution is the reading aid often called a bar magnifier. One advantage to that is that any trimming you might need to do would not involve cuts in the optical path, just the sides and ends.

[Dan Cameron]

Google "bar magnifier". You will find a wide variety of acrylic magnifiers that you can cut into short pieces.

[Peter Kelly]

These guys might have something you could use or adapt to the purpose.

http://www.scientificsonline.com/ (http://www.scientificsonline.com/magnifiers-value-pack.html)I used to love going to this place as a kid. The showroom in South Jersey was extremely cool.

[Frederick Ieppert]

What about using a cheater lens for a welding hood? They come in different magnification and can be cut down to the size needed.

[Mark Bolton]

What about using a cheater lens for a welding hood? They come in different magnification and can be cut down to the size needed.

This is the route im leaning towards. I was excited about making a lens. Then more excited about the bars. But im limited in height and the bars are relatively tall/thick. I had looked at the cheaters (use them in my own hood) and I think thats likely the best route for something relatively thin.

Thanks everyone