ONE OF THE ABSOLUTE BEST TOOLS ANY GUNSMITH (or amateur) CAN EVER OWN!

WOW - I should have contacted the Company and asked for a commission - LOL!!

IMPORTANT: I ordered the #4 lenses (2X magnification at 10"). To me that was the happy medium between magnification and working distance focal length. Probably the best all around lens unless you are really working close - then you might want something more powerful.
 
cmansguns said:
These glasses when worn properly at a gun show will have you looking at a beat-up, worn out, finish gone Model 10 and yet when the glasses are on, they show an early Registered Magnum in ANIB condition.:):D
Click to expand...
Charlie, I had mine on this weekend when I traded into a re-barreled .38 M&P...With the glasses on at the gun show, it was an unfired postwar gun...:(...Ben
 
I got my Donegan Opti-Visor in 1969 at watchmaker's school.
It's still in almost daily use.
The only original parts still left are the visor and lens, everything else has been replaced several times.
Some light scratches on the lens, but still going strong.

Last year just for the heck of it I bought a Chinese made visor from Amazon that came with a set of lenses.
Poor quality and the glass lenses give some distortion, so I don't use it.

Some tools are industry standards for a reason and Donegan is the one for vision.
 
Clearly I needed these Saturday morning when I mistook a torx screw for a hex screw while mounting a scope rail. :=(. The rail is on but I stripped one screw head and getting it off would be unpleasant to say the least. I've been nearsighted for almost 60 years, so the only time I use "readers" is when I'm wearing contacts. However, my up close vision appears to be getting worse now.

Does anyone here have experience with the 1.75x version? The 14" focal length appeals to me at first glance (sorry for the pun), vs. 10" for the 2x version. In addition to tinkering with firearms, I modify and build tube guitar amps and effects pedals. There are times when (a) I don't want too much magnification, and (b) don't want to be too close to high voltages.
 
TheTinMan said:
Clearly I needed these Saturday morning when I mistook a torx screw for a hex screw while mounting a scope rail. :=(. The rail is on but I stripped one screw head and getting it off would be unpleasant to say the least. I've been nearsighted for almost 60 years, so the only time I use "readers" is when I'm wearing contacts. However, my up close vision appears to be getting worse now.

Does anyone here have experience with the 1.75x version? The 14" focal length appeals to me at first glance (sorry for the pun), vs. 10" for the 2x version. In addition to tinkering with firearms, I modify and build tube guitar amps and effects pedals. There are times when (a) I don't want too much magnification, and (b) don't want to be too close to high voltages.
Click to expand...

Sit down at the workbench you normally work at and try to measure the distance that is most comfortable. You may need a bit of help from your wife or friend to actually do the measuring while you pretend to do something. I never had a 1.75 magnification so I can't help with that.
 
I've used one for probably 40yrs.
I have the 3.5x magnification lense in it,,,#10 lens?
Focal length is short for sure,,about 4" or a bit less.
But I use it for everything, engraving, stock work, checkering, repair, lathe and mill work.
Watch out for that lathe chuck spinning around!
I just can't see anything without it.

There's an extra 'loup' that attaches to either on side or the other for extra magnification, but I don't seem to use it.

I started out engraving, checkering, etc with just using my regular eye glasses.
Then I added one of those small clip on jewelers loups to the glasses for magnification. Then age takes over.
Now I just use the OptiVisor and have for all those yrs.

I've repaired the visor frame a couple times, the plastic cracks but it superglues back together nicely.
The head band(s) are replaced with soft deer skin strips now. But it keeps going.
The screws that hold the lense plate get loose every so often, why that would be I don't know.
 
Please note that wearing prescription lenses or cheaters WILL change the focal distance of any OptiVisor's lens. If you do wear glasses you might want to try and remove them while wearing the OptiVisor.
 
An OptiVisor is a fine (if not inexpensive) aid.

A "budget" solution would be a few pair of "dime store" reading glasses (aka "cheaters').

Available in various low to higher magnifications and cheap enough to have multiple pairs.

John
 
I have an Optivisor kit with the full selection of lenses and the little lamp. Haven't used it in at least a decade.

What I do use are these safety readers by Pyramex. Must have a dozen or more pairs stashed all over the place. There's a couple by the mill, some over at that lathe and some more over at that other lathe and two right here at my desk and three new in the wrap in a drawer on my toolcart.

Emerge(R) Plus Reader - Full Reader Eyewear - Pyramex(R)

Not bifocal. These are full lens magnification and can be had in +1.5, 2.0, 2.5 & 3.0 diopters. ANSI Z87 certified for impact resistance and inexpensive.

Amazon has 'em as do most safety equipment suppliers

Cheers
Bill
 
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Several years ago my wife wanted our garage floor to look impressive so we had it done. Finding a small screw, pin or spring on the floor is a major challenge. One of the tools I am most thankful for....and has saved me many times, is a 4" round magnet attached to a metal pole that I can "sweep along" the floor to gather up parts that have jumped away.
 
I used mine this morning while rechecking a serial number on a 1903 HE when I discovered that an evil safe elf had welded up the original and cleverly replaced it with an even smaller font...:mad:...Ben
 
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