Magnifier alternatives?

[Stretch]

I started using a magnifier with light while scrolling some time ago, and it works well for me overall.

I have noticed one drawback though; when the magnifier is not centered on the part I am looking at the mage is somewhat distorted, If I am not careful I will try to "correct" course on my cutting based on the distorted image through the lens.

My question is this, is there a better way to magnify while cutting  (other than laser eye surgery!)?

Are some magnifiers better than others with less distortion at the edges?

Any help would be appreciated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Sycamore67]

Yes, some magnifies are better than others.  I use an Ottlite magnifying light with glass lens.  I use the 3X and has minimal distortion.  In general, it costs more to make a good glass lens.  I tried some cheaper alternatives and was very disappointed.

[jollyred]

You could try reading glasses, from the dollar store.  These are basically magnifying lenses in a frame.  There are also some made with lights on the frames to light up the area being looked at.  The advantage of the glasses is that you are looking through them no matter which direction you look at.  As long as you don't need to look at a distance, they can be left on for most tasks while scroll sawing.  Start with a 2.0 strength and adjust as needed.  This is the reason to start with dollar tree, since they only cost $1.25, so you can try several at a low cost.

Tom

 

 

[Millwab]

Brian, do you really need the magnification?  I used a magnifying light for awhile but found that the extra light on the table was more helpful than the magnifier.

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

Get a magnifier headset. You can get ones where you dial in the strength. I can not scroll any more with out a magnifier. You get use to it just like anything else.

[Bill WIlson]

I use reading glasses and lots of extra light.  So far that is working for me.  I tried one of those magnifying lights one time.  I immediately didn't like it and it would have taken me some time to get used to it.  If I needed more magnification, I might try something like this;

Some people at work used ones like this and they say they work pretty well.

[Bo Liljeborn]

I use reading glasses to in combination with a strong LED lamp to light up the table on the scrollsaw, has tried magnifying lamp and some like the one above with several lenses but the reading glas is the best for me and its cheap

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

Years ago I started out with a magnifier /lamp. I used it mainly for the light. Now adays I can not scroll without using the magnifier. need to get a good one if you are getting one. I use to get them at Office Max in the Drafting dept. I have no problem cutting with them. again one of those things you grow into the more you use them.  

[Hawk]

I agree with @Bill WIlson, I use a magnifier head set along with reading glasses and I have clear view of the lines for cutting.

Chris 

[Gene Howe]

9 hours ago, Bill WIlson said:

I use reading glasses and lots of extra light.  So far that is working for me.  I tried one of those magnifying lights one time.  I immediately didn't like it and it would have taken me some time to get used to it.  If I needed more magnification, I might try something like this;

Some people at work used ones like this and they say they work pretty well.

Mine is very similar. It's very helpful as an addition to (over) my trifocals.

[OCtoolguy]

I wear progressive glasses after having cataract surgery. I didn't like having to mess with readers so I had progressives made with no correction on the top half progessing from there down. I use the $40 lamp/magnifier from H/F. Works great. I did upgrade to an LED bulb though.

[kmmcrafts]

I have 3 of the ones like Ray mentioned but I didn't get mine from H/F, I got them from Menards for around $40. Have had them for about 15 years and upgraded to LED bulbs when the Fluorescent started getting tired. 

One came with my old Hawk Ultra and is what Hawk used to sell with their saws. Not sure of brand or anything but it is a clearer lens to look through but none of them really bother me to a point I can't use them. 

I would love to "try" one of the more pricey ones but doubt I'll spend the money unless I hit the lottery that I never played before and don't intend to either.. What I have works for me.. I'm sure there is better out there but.. if what I have is working for me then why spend $200 on a magnifier light.

I often wonder about the lens quality and if they get past quality control in some of the lights. None of mine are inconsistent throughout the entire lens, But I've read this a dozen times in the past 20 years of being on these forums etc. Not a lot but I hear it from time to time which leads me to wonder if some lenses are just faulty lenses. Maybe they got past Q/C and made it to the consumer.   

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

46 minutes ago, kmmcrafts said:

I have 3 of the ones like Ray mentioned but I didn't get mine from H/F, I got them from Menards for around $40. Have had them for about 15 years and upgraded to LED bulbs when the Fluorescent started getting tired. 

One came with my old Hawk Ultra and is what Hawk used to sell with their saws. Not sure of brand or anything but it is a clearer lens to look through but none of them really bother me to a point I can't use them. 

I would love to "try" one of the more pricey ones but doubt I'll spend the money unless I hit the lottery that I never played before and don't intend to either.. What I have works for me.. I'm sure there is better out there but.. if what I have is working for me then why spend $200 on a magnifier light.

I often wonder about the lens quality and if they get past quality control in some of the lights. None of mine are inconsistent throughout the entire lens, But I've read this a dozen times in the past 20 years of being on these forums etc. Not a lot but I hear it from time to time which leads me to wonder if some lenses are just faulty lenses. Maybe they got past Q/C and made it to the consumer.   

there is a huge difference in quality of lenses as well as size of lens. If you are ever in Staples look at the magnifiers there. They have different grades and you will see the differences. I use to have a great little store by me that was hobby, craft and drafting oriented. This is where I bought mine and what a difference. 

[Wichman]

I've worn glasses since the second grade. I currently use two pair of glasses, both Z87 safety rated. On has progressive lens and the other is a "workstation" lens, everything from an arms length away and closer is in focus, past the arms, fuzzy. With the workstation lens there's no looking up or down or sideways to try to get the right "band" of focus, it's all the same. 

Many years ago I got an inexpensive magnifier light ( not sure where, but it was not expensive ) and it has worked well. When I had the opportunity to get the Hegner, I went whole hog and got the premium package with a very ( for me ) expensive magnifier light, it works very well. 

If I need extra magnification ( those 2/0 blades are tiny ) I use a clip on magnifier. They clip onto the glasses frames and can be flipped up when not needed.

[OCtoolguy]

Back when I was into competitive pistol shooting, the first thing I was taught was to focus on the target then focus on the front sight and alignment of the two. So, I had special shooting glasses made that were made to a focal length of about 30 inches. Actually it was just one lens. The other one was frosted. Both were amber. Must have worked. I was California state champion one year. 1982. Now, I only shoot at moving targets. 

 

[Millwab]

On 2/2/2024 at 8:49 AM, kmmcrafts said:

Have had them for about 15 years and upgraded to LED bulbs when the Fluorescent started getting tired.    

Kevin, where can you find LEDs to replace the round fluorescent tubes?  Do they plug in the same?

[kmmcrafts]

8 hours ago, Millwab said:

Kevin, where can you find LEDs to replace the round fluorescent tubes?  Do they plug in the same?

Yes they plug in the same, however some of the plugs are not at the same angle and while they do work sometimes they take a little work to get the bulb to fit in right. I bought one at my local menards but as mentioned the plug was a bit of a different angle on the bulb. Then I found some on ebay that had a rotating plug and tried one of those.. which worked perfectly so I ordered more for each light. Here is a link the those with the swivel plug on eBay. 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/222261066257

[MarieC]

Kevin, I am looking for a magnifying lamp for my Hawk and I noticed it has a hole on the top of the saw to put the light "peg" in.  Do you have any idea where I might find a magnifying light that would fit in that hole?

[Wichman]

Marie,

     Most of the lighted magnifier with the swing arm use the same mounting technique, a seperate clamp that has a socket that the base of the arm fits into. Some of the "desktop" lamps do not have this.

swing arm:

 

The "desktop" model:

[kmmcrafts]

1 hour ago, MarieC said:

Kevin, I am looking for a magnifying lamp for my Hawk and I noticed it has a hole on the top of the saw to put the light "peg" in.  Do you have any idea where I might find a magnifying light that would fit in that hole?

I haven't found a light that won't fit in the Hawk saws.. I always thought the stem on the lights was all the same until I got my Hegner.. None of the lights I have here fit into the bracket on my Hegner.. Now, I do not know if the Hegner bracket is factory or something someone made up.. Looks like the factory one.. It's a close fit but not a single light I have fits into the Hegners light bracket. 

I've bought three of my lights from Menards years ago.. they no longer sell that light, however the same brand etc light they sell probably the same thing but is a LED light.. Some of the lights I've had over the years that came with saws that I bought.. all of them have always fit into the Hawk.. But I have no idea what brands of lights I've had and used but so far they've all fit other than the Hegner, LOL So that being said.. Maybe as Whitchman stated, they're all standard sized? and my Hegners bracket is either messed up or some homemade bracketry I don't know..

IF you get a swing arm light like show in above photos and the light doesn't fit the saw.. you can always use the clamp that comes with the light and make a wood bracket and clamp it off of the saw. Some folks don't like to have the light mounted to the saw as some say it makes the light shake from the saws vibrations. I've not had issue with that.. but since the Excalibur doesn't really have a light mount I do have a board set up to the wall behind the saw and then clamp the light to that board so it isn't affixed the the saw in anyway. 

 

[MarieC]

3 hours ago, kmmcrafts said:

I haven't found a light that won't fit in the Hawk saws.. I always thought the stem on the lights was all the same until I got my Hegner.. None of the lights I have here fit into the bracket on my Hegner.. Now, I do not know if the Hegner bracket is factory or something someone made up.. Looks like the factory one.. It's a close fit but not a single light I have fits into the Hegners light bracket. 

I've bought three of my lights from Menards years ago.. they no longer sell that light, however the same brand etc light they sell probably the same thing but is a LED light.. Some of the lights I've had over the years that came with saws that I bought.. all of them have always fit into the Hawk.. But I have no idea what brands of lights I've had and used but so far they've all fit other than the Hegner, LOL So that being said.. Maybe as Whitchman stated, they're all standard sized? and my Hegners bracket is either messed up or some homemade bracketry I don't know..

IF you get a swing arm light like show in above photos and the light doesn't fit the saw.. you can always use the clamp that comes with the light and make a wood bracket and clamp it off of the saw. Some folks don't like to have the light mounted to the saw as some say it makes the light shake from the saws vibrations. I've not had issue with that.. but since the Excalibur doesn't really have a light mount I do have a board set up to the wall behind the saw and then clamp the light to that board so it isn't affixed the the saw in anyway. 

 

Okay, thank you Kevin.  I do have a magnifier light that I clamp to a shelf for my EX 21 which works great.  I bought a stand up light but it seems to always get in the way especially when I use large pieces and I know it will be awful with my G426 saw since I plan to cut even larger pieces.  Hmmm, I will look for a magnifier with a "peg" then and see if it will fit.  Thank you so much for your help once again.

[Sycamore67]

I tried my magnifier attached to my Hegner and there was a very slight vibration.  It bothered my eyes so I mounted it to the workbench next to the scrollsaw.  

[OCtoolguy]

On 2/8/2024 at 9:19 AM, MarieC said:

Kevin, I am looking for a magnifying lamp for my Hawk and I noticed it has a hole on the top of the saw to put the light "peg" in.  Do you have any idea where I might find a magnifying light that would fit in that hole?

My suggestion is don't mount your light to the saw or it's stand. Mount it to the wall or to something that won't pick up any of the vibration from your saw. It can cause you to have problems with vibration and eye strain.

 

[BadBob]

I have a OttLite 2-in-1 LED. The lens is fine, but the stand is too short for my scroll saw, and the post is in sections that tend to come apart when trying to adjust it. Support was zero help. I should have returned it.

I didn't see that a magnifier helped me on the scroll saw.

[MarieC]

On 2/10/2024 at 6:02 PM, OCtoolguy said:

My suggestion is don't mount your light to the saw or it's stand. Mount it to the wall or to something that won't pick up any of the vibration from your saw. It can cause you to have problems with vibration and eye strain.

 

Yes, my EX 21 is set up that way....I guess I will have to build another shelf for my Hawk...No problem...I like shelves