Magnifing Visor Recommendations

[PHolder]

I find myself having to take of my eyeglasses when carving. My progressives work for reading and such but not so much for carving. I have been looking at visors to wear over my glasses and keep coming back to the Optivisors. They are pricey and another set of lenses are almost as much as a visor.

Are there other options out there? What have y'all used and what to you like?
I've looked at MagEyes, and have looked at these from Beileshi: https://www.amazon.com/Headband-Magn...07M7H3P95&th=1 and https://www.amazon.com/Headband-Magn...07M7H3P95&th=1. Also looked at this from Carson:https://www.amazon.com/Carson-LumiVi.../dp/B015MRZ1PE

Thoughts?
Thank you all.

[Nebraska]

I just wear the same glass I wear every day, so no help here.

[DiLeon]

I bought all kinds of stuff to magnify, hate the glasses types never wore them but a few times very uncomfortable and limited sight. I take my glasses off when working close up also, ..... but what I use is the lamps or clip on magnifying glass so I can adjust the depth to what I want. Magnifying Glass with 36 LED Lights 10X 20X Magnifying Lens Desk Lamp Adjustable Gooseneck Table and Desk Lamp USB Powered Magnifier for Soldering from Amazon is a good one. They cost more than the ones you're looking at but comfort and ease of usage when you need it.

[woodburner807]

I use cheap Harbor Freight magnifiers and happy with them. Also,minor magnification I use 4.0 reader glasses...bought online.

[Randy]

I have a " Optivisor" I have had for a lot of years I got it when I took a jewelry making course. I was given a "MagniVisor" with a led light on it a birthday or two back. Maybe it is habit but the OptiVisor is my go to visor. The MagniVisor is nice but notably heavier and I get a glar with the light. Which ever one you choose you want to make sure it is opical glass in the lense.

[yolli]

When I have to see something right close, I will take my glases of. While carving, painting or sawing at my scrollsaw this was no great idea. Therefore I went to my optician. They made a pair of (cheap) reading glasses just 1 dioptry more then I need. I love these glasses when handcrafting.. For the really "tricky" things I have somethng like this https://www.amazon.de/Beyamz-Lupenleuchte-Arbeitsplatzlampe-Dioptrien-Licht/dp/B07THKB9YF/ref=sr_1_6?__mk_de_DE=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3 %91&keywords=lupenleuchte&qid=1637999691&sr=8-6

[Glenn Jennings]

I use the donegan head unit with the opti loup for real close up stuff quite a bit and find it very good. They are around US$100
newbut there are chinese knock offs at haldf the price though don't know what the quality is like.

You could probably get one on the net second hand for a fraction of that price. The link below will show you their product range. Made in USA.

https://doneganoptical.com/

[dave.keele]

I find myself having to take of my eyeglasses when carving. My progressives work for reading and such but not so much for carving. I have been looking at visors to wear over my glasses and keep coming back to the Optivisors. They are pricey and another set of lenses are almost as much as a visor.

Are there other options out there? What have y'all used and what to you like?

I have tried various magnifiers, including the Optivisors, but did not like any of them. The problem for me comes when looking at something other than the carving I'm working on.... as in when changing tools. The visor style needs to be moved up and down every time I'd change tools. (If one does chip carving and use only one tool, this might be okay.) ...and I also felt like I was wearing blinders and not aware of what was going on around me.

I also found some did not work well with my glasses. I found them cumbersome to adjust to get the proper focal length to suit me.

I ended up getting a pair of prescription reading glasses, with a +2.5 diopters. These are the "librarian" style that sits lower on my nose and allows me to see over them to select tools, talk with others, etc., without having to deal with the visor.

If your eyesight does not allow you to view over glasses, without correction, than perhaps a prescription set with magnifier bi-/tri-focal with +XX diopters lowers and normal prescription uppers..?

[Kadiddle]

I have an Optivisor with a #5 lens in it. Love it for the comfort and the fact that my regular glasses can be used at the same time. Just have to tilt my head for magnification or normal sight. Just my 2 cents.
Carve On,
Kadiddle

[PHolder]

Thank you all for your suggestions. I keep going back to the Optivisor. I have yet to find any negative reviews and it seems to be a quality unit, leather pad on the headband, etc. I found an Optivisor LX, just like the original but with acrylic lenses. Cheaper but maintains the quality of the unit as a whole. Still over thinking it.