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Mike, get one - you'll wonder how you did without it.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

I'm 46 now. For a few years now I have needed "help" when doing things like trying to see the 6" rule when setting action height, and many other things, like soldering/wiring, etc. Anything that requires close up, finely detailed work requires it. I didn't spring for the optivisor. I bought a cheapo $8 lighted magnified headset at the flea market. Have used it for 2-3 years and it's done the job fine.I've no plans to upgrade. I could not do set up work without it.

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Mike

The only thing nescessary for evil to thrive is for good men to do nothing.

I know it`s getting late in the thread, but one question.
How can you decide on what magnification you need?
I`ve been near-sighted since about age 9, with some improvement up to 46.
I can see with my glasses on well enough to make the veteran squirrell hunter hand me the rifle and say "Here, you get it".
BUT, when it comes to the up close things, I do alot better without having to deal with the bifocals (progressive), so the specs come off.
I`m thinking that I really should get a loupe that works right without too much trial and error, and will work with my spectacles on, merely for ease of use.
Is it possible to make an educated guess if you have your prescription at hand?

Brock,
Whatcha need for your headband problem is something that I did when I wore the Smoky Bear hat in the Army. The hats we had at that time (Stetson IIRC) had a vinyl head band which was really irritating.
While in the local PX, I ran accross moleskin. I knew about using it for foot soreness, but never thought about using it for anything else. Yes, sore feet from a 15-mile road march.
You can get the stuff almost anywhere, it has a sticky back, and can be cut and molded to fit. BTW, cut it large enough to overlap the edges.
It can be changed periodically by wetting the skin itself with laquer thinner and peel it off, clean up with the same, and re-apply. Back then I used Zippo lighter fluid, but was young&dumb& full of...
Check it out.
Coe Franklin

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Give me 50 cents worth of regular.
Check my oil too, if you don`t mind,,,

Coe, I have similar vision problems. I use an Optivisor with a #3 lens. That lets me stay about 14" from my work. If I need more magnification I just put on some reading glasses which ups the overall magnification but requires me to get a bit closer to the work.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Thanks for the quick reply, Steve.
Do ya reckon a #3 lens would still suffice without the specs?
I`m only asking because you said that you`re having the same issues with sight.
I really want to go to the DR and tell him that I flat-out don`t want bifocals.
Coe

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Give me 50 cents worth of regular.
Check my oil too, if you don`t mind,,,

I've been using the Optivisor now for about 10 years but I had cataract surgery in both eyes a few years ago and don't recall if I used it with my glasses or not. I think I was just using reading glasses since I've used them for the computer and other stuff for a long time. I work with electronics so I originally got the Optivisors for working with seriously small stuff but use them for all sorts of other stuff now, especially lutherie. But you for sure don't need the bifocals with it; I'm sure of that because I hated trying to work with bifocals. I think I only paid a little over $30 for my Optivisors so you might want to get some to try. Since you can do OK up close without your glasses you should be fine.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"