Aging eyes

[David Ryle]

So, a new(for me) backsaw arrived this week the result of yet another trip to eBay. It's in pretty good shape but it needs sharpening. My eyes have never been my strongest asset and now in my late fifties they are worse than ever. Any thing smaller than 10tpi I cannot see clearly, I've been thinking of using a watchmakers loupe,anyone got a better idea and if you have gone down this road what magnification proved useful.

[Curt Putnam]

You might consider one of the magnifying lamps - you get the light you need and about 2x magnification. Might allow you to sit or stand straighter and ease any back problems.

[Wayne Cannon]

I have an inexpensive magnifying headset, similar to what dentists and jewellers use. It has two strengths of interchangeable magnifiers, flips up when you don't need it, down when you do. I only wish it had a lamp. A good LED headlamp would probably have eliminated the need for the magnifier in my case. Five years later they told me that my problem was cateracts. What a difference.

[Jim Koepke]

I use readers or a magnifier lens over my bifocals. Sometimes two pair of readers stacked makes for good magnification.

You will have to see what works best for you. I have used various readers over the years so there are a few extra pairs about with which to experiment.

jtk

[Charles Bjorgen]

For that very purpose I bought the magnifying bench lamp from Lee Valley. I also added the dog hole add on. It works very well for me. I've tried the various head magnifiers but don't find them comfortable. Here's the link:
http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?p=56768&cat=1,70596,43349,56768

[george wilson]

I do some very tiny work,as you may know. I was using 4x drugstore glasses for several years for closeup work. Since my eyes are about the same,I can get away with it.

A few years ago I got new plastic lenses implanted in my eyes,and it greatly improved my vision. Now I can easily read my wrist watch without glasses,and can see .38 caliber bullet holes on paper 100 yards away.

I did not get the multiple focus ones thoug,as they would not be paid for by my insurance,and were something like $10,000.00. That might have been per eye,I can't recall.

My new lenses are great as is,and for very closeup work,I still wear the 4x drugstore glasses. There is only ONE drugstore here that sells that high a magnification. The rest sell 3.75X at the most. That one drugstore specializes in aids for the sick room and the elderly,which I guess I AM at nearly 76!!:) But still not feeble!!

I had gotten 4x prescription glasses,but can't tell the difference,and now they are mixed in with my drugstore ones,and I've forgotten WHICH are the prescription glasses!

The only problem I have noticed is I can get pretty tired after wearing the 4x for 2 or 3 hours. Otherwise,they are great.

I do not advise trying to work through a fixed lamp type magnifier. Too restrictive,and it doesn't let you move your head around,especially when filing a long saw blade,etc.. I can't stand headband type magnifiers myself,though my friend Jon wears them. The glasses allow perfect freedom when moving about. I wear flat top type lenses so I can look over the top of the glasses when walking about the room or climbing stairs. You can't see anything at distance with 4x glasses!!

Not too long ago,I had to make a replacement letter "E" with serifs 1/32" high. My letter E in my 1/32" set of letter stamps broke. I was able to do this with my 4x glasses,though in use,they do not seem to be excessively magnifying. Go to a drug store and try some on. I'm sure you can find 4x glasses on Amazon. But,don't buy the $3.00 ones. Get ones that cost about $20.00 at least. Those super cheap ones just aren't up to the quality you need,and sometimes their lenses are mismatched.

[Prashun Patel]

How's your lighting? Things improved for me immensely when I upgraded my lights to LED's this summer.

[peter Joseph]

Watchmaking is my other hobby. Being able to see what you're doing is essential. I use a bausch and lomb loop clipped to my eyeglasses but in order for the watch to be in focus, your eye needs to be very close to the subject which wouldnt be practical for your purposes. I'd try a magnifier lamp as others have recommended or a hood with a magnifier. Even when I have good lighting, I often wear a headlamp to illuminate exactly what I'm focusing on.

[michael langman]

Optivisor is the industry standard for needed magnification while working. The lenses with the 6-7 inch focal length is the one to use while working with your hands.

[lowell holmes]

Old age is a pain, but it sure beats the alternative.

Read the string I started this morning. :)

[Curt Harms]

How's your lighting? Things improved for me immensely when I upgraded my lights to LED's this summer.


+1 on more light. It's pretty universal I think that eyes lose acuity in low light as they age.

[Mike Holbrook]

I love my two task lights, both LED's. More light and magnification solves many sight issues.

Click to enlarge:

345889

Both of mine are on their own stands, which I find to be very convenient. The long flexible arms allow me to position them exactly where I need them.

[george wilson]

Remember,the higher the magnification,the closer you will need to have your head from the work.

I tried a pair of those little telescopes that are mounted on eyeglass type frames. Not very cheap,but not nearly as expensive as doctors use. They focus about 14" from he work,in spite of their magnification. I felt as if my hands were not attached to my body! Sent them back. The guy who imports them for Manhattan Supply was not nice or helpful at all.

[Gary Cunningham]

Optivisor is the industry standard for needed magnification while working. The lenses with the 6-7 inch focal length is the one to use while working with your hands.

I use an Optivisor when building scale model kits. Good lighting is also important.

[george wilson]

I might mention that just getting new lenses in your eyes is not the only factor in keeping good vision. I was told that by an optician,but he didn't explain.

[Rich Riddle]

My dad is a professional hand engraver....think dies not jewelry. He uses a specific magnifying glass held up with an arm. They look like this. By the way, the piece he uses is the one situated on the table, not the one on the "hand." He has an eye appointment tomorrow and indicated he might have to retire if his eyes cannot be corrected. He's 86.

345917

[John Glendening]

The thing is as we age the eye's lens becomes less flexible and so for most of us seeing across a range of vision that was normal at 25 is not so normal at age 55 or 65. It's just a natural process. In some cases there may be other vision degradation factors, too, but we all get a little less flexible over time. One answer is obviously better lighting, another may be Walmart readers, or prescription bifocals/trifocals.

I went through the cataract thing a few years ago in both eyes. My ophthalmologist and I worked on a plan for my vision correction. I've been exceptionally near-sighted since the 2nd grade, so I wanted unfettered long distance vision and readers for close work. My brother had the same procedure a little while later he opted for long distance in one eye, and closeup vision in the other. We're both happy.

The bottom line, get at least an eye exam with an optometrist, and recognize that your vision problem is not a weakness, just a normal process that goes along with the calendar flipping over year after year. Then make the adjustment that you need so that you can continue to enjoy what you do, rather than having to work harder at it.

At 69 years, it's all good!

[Patrick Chase]

FWIW I use a couple things that I've accumulated over the years from soldering/electronics and similar hobbies, so this isn't strictly for woodworking.

I have a pair of LED magnifiers (2X and 5X) on swing arms that can be dropped into dog holes in my bench, such that both of them can reach the entire work surface (I bought 1/2-to-3/4 bushings from McMaster IIRC). I also have a pair of OptiVisors set up with 4-diopter (2X) and 10-diopter (3.5X) lenses. Both of those have LED light attachments (https://www.amazon.com/Quasar-Led-Lighting-System-Optivisors/dp/B0058ECQ46/ref=pd_bxgy_328_3?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=BTJGQPD9CQJVNDYHCFE8). The reason I have two of each is because I try to avoid "stacking" magnifiers, because aberrations and distortion tend to get very when you do that. In my experience that sort of setup can be headache-inducing if you have to look through it for any length of time.

One consideration with saw-filing is that you often want raking light, which means that the light source should ideally be controllable independently of the magnifier. What I usually do is set up one or both of the swing-arm magnifiers as raking lights at whatever angle I want, and then use a visor or (more often) the other magnifier for viewing.

Another consideration with saw filing is that you ideally don't want to be hunched over the saw if you can avoid it, for two reasons: First, it's uncomfortable. Second, it leads to a "cramped" filing stroke and that can hurt tooth geometry (at least for me). Lower magnification allows longer working distance, and bench magnifiers permit somewhat higher working distance than visors at any given magnification because you can vary the distance between the magnifier and your eye. I therefore mostly use the 2X magnifier for saw filing.

[Mark Salomon]

optiviser and better task lighting works for me

[David Ryle]

Thanks for the input gentlemen. My eyes have been getting progressively worse since I turned eleven.I have an astigmatism so surgical correction is not without it's problems.I think I will try the optivisor and see how I get on.

[Stewie Simpson]

David; I purchased the Optivisor but found its benefits were limited due to its lack of an inbuilt light source. My new magnifier with L.E.D. better suits my purpose, of which includes sharpening high tpi backsaws,

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/swagman001/stopped%20chamfer%20plane/DSC_0416_zps4dbc3b3d.jpg (http://s1009.photobucket.com/user/swagman001/media/stopped%20chamfer%20plane/DSC_0416_zps4dbc3b3d.jpg.html)

[george wilson]

Just TRY out some drug store reading glasses next time you are at the drug store,or even some super markets. You don't have to buy them just to put them on and read a magazine through them.

DON'T try those $2.50 ones that our Ace Hardware here sells(and others in that chain might also). As I mentioned,they have cheap lenses,and sometimes mis matched lenses. I found that out trying them myself. My partner Jon always wore them and liked them,but not me!

If your eyes are not of similar optical value,you might have to get a prescription glasses made. I did do that,but had them mount my prescription lenses in the frame of a pair of drugstore glasses. After a CAREFUL inspection,looking at the frames the optician had for $50.00 +,I decided they were EXACTLY the same Chinese made frames I already could get cheap with the drug store glasses. And,I only wear them when doing small work anyway. No need to let the optician sell you the same frames for bigger bucks!

Personally,I can't stand to have a head band around my head with that "roof" coming out that holds the lenses. The eye glasses do as well,or even better,as I think the maximum magnification of the optivisors is 2.75. Yes,they can have a little extra lens that can swivel out. But then you are looking through 2(or more) lenses. That cuts down on the quality of the image,and uses up a good bit of the ambient light,too. Looking through ONE lens is by far the best option. I even tried a set of those high quality swing out lenses that clamp to your eyeglass frames. The kind watch makers use. I didn't like those either.

This is a struggle I have already been through,tried everything,and the reading glasses at 4x are my best solution. You may not need to get such powerful glasses as the 4x. But,with them I can make a 1/32" high letter "e" to replace the one that cracked off in my old set of 1/32" letter stamps WITH SERIFS.

Looking at the pictures below,it was about impossible to get my small Canon self focusing camera to focus on what I WANTED it to focus on! Anyway,I got a good closeup of the finished letter E. If my 4x glasses allow me to do this,they are good enough for anything I'm doing! There are only a few thousandths of space between the elements of a letter "E" this tiny. So,I recommend my approach to magnifying glasses.

[Patrick Chase]

Looking at the pictures below,it was about impossible to get my small Canon self focusing camera to focus on what I WANTED it to focus on! Anyway,I got a good closeup of the finished letter E. If my 4x glasses allow me to do this,they are good enough for anything I'm doing! There are only a few thousandths of space between the elements of a letter "E" this tiny. So,I recommend my approach to magnifying glasses.

Yep, glasses/visors definitely work.

That picture of the "E" is really good for handheld macro work with a point and shoot. You must have steady hands. I'd probably be running off to get a tripod and focussing rail (http://www.reallyrightstuff.com/B150-B-Macro-focusing-rail) if I needed to take a picture of something like that. The fact that you're imaging a small subject makes things easier since you don't have to worry about tilt/parallelism (i.e. you only need one point in focus) but even so that's fairly tricky.

[Patrick Chase]

David; I purchased the Optivisor but found its benefits were limited due to its lack of an inbuilt light source.

That can be fixed (https://www.amazon.com/Quasar-Led-Lighting-System-Optivisors/dp/B0058ECQ46/ref=pd_bxgy_328_3?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=BTJGQPD9CQJVNDYHCFE8) easily enough.

[John K Jordan]

+1 on more light. It's pretty universal I think that eyes lose acuity in low light as they age.

Yes, just turn on a light in a toddler's room and watch his reaction.

I was about to suggest more light too, maybe try that first. My shop is so bright with a bunch of T5 HD fixtures that some joke about needing sun glasses.

More light closes down the iris, and like a camera lens, which gives better depth of field and focus. In addition to the bright overheads in the shop, I use even brighter LED task lights for close work. The best I've found are from Ken Rizza, Woodturners Wonders.

I do use the magnifiers as well for very small work but I usually don't need them with enough light.

JKJ

[george wilson]

Just lucky on the little E,Patrick. That camera wanted to focus on whatever it decided to focus on. I have a load of BAD pictures as a result.I now have a Canon Rebel with a macro lens attachment,which I can manually focus. I need to take a lot of new pictures,and weed out the old ones. I will one of these days.

[Mike Allen1010]

Dave, I feel your pain brother!


Saw sharpening (especially small TPI back saws!) is one area of woodworking where being able to clearly see the work is absolutely essential. I've sharpened waaaay too many saws; it used to be a lot easier when I could see the details clearly without having to bend over to get so close and my back didn't hurt nearly as much as it does now.




I have an inexpensive magnifying headset, similar to what dentists and jewellers use. It has two strengths of interchangeable magnifiers, flips up when you don't need it, down when you do. I only wish it had a lamp. A good LED headlamp would probably have eliminated the need for the magnifier in my case. Five years later they told me that my problem was cateracts. What a difference.


+1 to what Wayne said. I use a magnifying headset and an adjustable, inexpensive desk lamp to get the light where I need it. I think you can get the headset from Lee Valley, or certainly Amazon - I think I got mine for around $25. I also have a much cooler headset with built-in lights courtesy of my friend Creeker Don S. Maybe he will chime in and mention where he got it.


FWIW, once I had a magnifying headset, I was surprised at how often I use it for things other than saw sharpening – it's been a real lifesaver for me. Only challenges is the focal length requires you to get pretty close to the work, so that typically requires little bending over - my back hates that!


My personal calculus is I'll happily take better vision and deal with the back issues (my personal remedy is bourbon and Advil). I'm not a doctor, but, I'm pretty sure that combination isn't great for your liver. The way I see it is I'm lucky to have made it this far and I don't plan to live forever. I guess solutions often require compromise – I'm good with that.


All the best, Mike

[Patrick Chase]

My personal calculus is I'll happily take better vision and deal with the back issues (my personal remedy is bourbon and Advil). I'm not a doctor, but, I'm pretty sure that combination isn't great for your liver.

Acetaminophen and alcohol together are very bad news (https://www.drugs.com/food-interactions/acetaminophen.html) for your liver. They're each somewhat toxic to the liver, but the combination is "synergistic" (worse than the sum of its parts).

Ibuprofen and alcohol both irritate the stomach lining so if you're susceptible you probably don't want to mix them (https://www.drugs.com/food-interactions/ibuprofen.html) for that reason, but it's not as problematic as the acetaminophen interaction.

[Mike Allen1010]

Thanks Patrick, I really appreciate your advice. I will endeavor to make more responsible choices..

[Patrick Chase]

Thanks Patrick, I really appreciate your advice. I will endeavor to make more responsible choices..

Sorry, that was meant more as an aside than as advice. I have an unfortunate level of familiarity with this stuff because of getting clobbered by a truck while riding my bike to work a while back. I gave up drinking, period.

Advil is Ibuprofen, so what you described isn't bad IMO. If your stomach isn't irritated then I wouldn't worry too much about it. I refrained from saying that in my first post because I've been accused of being cavalier about potential health issues in this forum :-).

[Eric Commarato]

As others have stated, get a pair of Optivisors, they are the best an run about $35-40 a set. You can also buy different optimer lenses for these and a lighting kit. I also purchased a cool old magnifying lamp made by Dazor that has 3 compact florescent bulbs that I really love. You can find these at good prices in Ebay, but don't get taken. Also Dazor is a first rate company that is still in business and still offers parts for most of their lamps.

[lowell holmes]

I have a pair of reading glasses at 3.25 power that I found in a drugstore on Padre Island that I use. They do really well for me.

You might just shop for high power readers instead of other devices. You also can find really strong powers on line.

[Steve Hubbard]

David,
You have received great advice about lighting and various types of instruments. You also asked aobut magnification. I have used an optivisor type headset for several years (maybe the best $24 I have spent in woodworking) for joinery and other tasks. I used the 2x lens for a couple of years, but the 10 inch focal length became a problem for an arthritic neck. I switched to the 1.75x lens with its 14 inch focal length. I cannot tell much difference in magnification, but a big difference in neck comfort.
Steve

[Mike Allen1010]

David; I purchased the Optivisor but found its benefits were limited due to its lack of an inbuilt light source. My new magnifier with L.E.D. better suits my purpose, of which includes sharpening high tpi backsaws,

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/swagman001/stopped%20chamfer%20plane/DSC_0416_zps4dbc3b3d.jpg (http://s1009.photobucket.com/user/swagman001/media/stopped%20chamfer%20plane/DSC_0416_zps4dbc3b3d.jpg.html)



Stewie, what's the focal length for your magnifying lens with built in light? Err... I guess what I'm really asking is how close do you need to get the lens to the saw and how close do your eyes need to be to the lens to get a clear image? Seems like it might be an interesting solution and I appreciate your feedback.

Given the beautiful work you do with your own saws, it clearly welcome works well for you!

Cheers, Mike

[lowell holmes]

Mike and David,
Did you see my post regarding reading glasses. They have glasses up to +6.25. Mine are 3.25 and I don't need nor use a magnifier hood anymore. George Wilson posted something about it before. I just noticed he posted in this string as well.

After reading his post, I found some +3.25 glasses that did the trick.