Seeking advice on magnifying glass / lamp for solder work

[drolo]

I would need a magnifying glass, illuminated for fine solder work.
What do you guys use? Desklamps? Devices strapped to your head, to your viewing glasses?

Something more sophisticated?



I tend to think that something attached to my head or viewing glasses could be cool, but shopping around I seem to find only crap quality stuff ...

[muddyfox]

I tried a few of those jewellers contraptions but they always gave me a mother of all headaches, so did the boom-mounted magnifying lenses with ringlight.

I now use a cheapo stereo microscope and have no more problems soldering smd.

[Muadzin]

I wouldn't mind having one of those boom-mounted magnifying lenses with ringlight. Had to use one when I did some simple soldering work in a factory and it was pretty sweet.

[RobA]

I used a cheap (relatively) boom lighted magnifier. It worked really well for about 6 months and then drove me nutty for about 5 years. It would sag constantly while I soldered so that I needed to reposition the thing all the time. Eventually, the perpetual re-tightening caused the mechanism to break completely (and thankfully), so I had to replace it. Oh yeah, the base broke after a couple of months and left a giant dent in the table. I drilled a hole in a messed up enclosure and used a C-clamp to mount the arrangement to the table.

I've bought a stereo microscope to do SMD and inspection with and I'm really happy with it. It makes soldering even really fine pitch leads pretty easy.

For doing regular PTH soldering, I sometimes just use a pair of 2.0 reading glasses and a couple of cheap gooseneck LED lamps from Ikea. My eyes are old, so a younger person might do with a bit lower magnification and be good.

I was considering getting the nice rectangular LED based magnifier from Luxo before the scope. I still think those look really nice and would be one good way to go. But, I'm really happy with the scope.

The scope I got is the AmScope SM-1TZ model with an add on LED-80MB ring light. AmScope has a ton, too many, models to choose from. I wanted the bigger base to solder on and I liked the metal housing on that particular light, so that's why I went with these. But, there are tons of different possible choices.

[drolo]

Thanks for your suggestions. I think I will try to find one of these boom mounted lamps/lenses. Hope I will find one that doesn't disintegrate after a couple of weeks ...

[Leevibe]

Thanks for your suggestions. I think I will try to find one of these boom mounted lamps/lenses. Hope I will find one that doesn't disintegrate after a couple of weeks ...

I use a $40 one I bought from Harbor Freight. It's been going strong for about 4 years or so. I'm guessing you don't have Harbor Freight in Belgium. Do you guys have a place that sells really cheap, generally crappy, straight-off-the-boat-from-China tools?

[drolo]

Nope not that I know of, but that's what we have ebay for ... :-)

[Leevibe]

Nope not that I know of, but that's what we have ebay for ... :-)

well there's that

[pickdropper]

I've bought a stereo microscope to do SMD and inspection with and I'm really happy with it. It makes soldering even really fine pitch leads pretty easy.

For doing regular PTH soldering, I sometimes just use a pair of 2.0 reading glasses and a couple of cheap gooseneck LED lamps from Ikea. My eyes are old, so a younger person might do with a bit lower magnification and be good.

I was considering getting the nice rectangular LED based magnifier from Luxo before the scope. I still think those look really nice and would be one good way to go. But, I'm really happy with the scope.

The scope I got is the AmScope SM-1TZ model with an add on LED-80MB ring light. AmScope has a ton, too many, models to choose from. I wanted the bigger base to solder on and I liked the metal housing on that particular light, so that's why I went with these. But, there are tons of different possible choices.

+1 on Amscope.  They are more expensive than a ring light, but they are very nice tools, especially for the price.  They are made in China, but the optics are quite nice.  In some ways, I actually prefer them to the more expensive B&L Stereozoom microscopes we have at work.

I went with some variant of the same model you got.  Did you get a Barlow lens?  If not, I'd recommend it; it will protect the optics from the solder fumes.  I got a 1x and 0.5x Barlow with mine, but I generally only use the 1x Barlow.  The 0.5x Barlow extends your working space as the focal distance is different, but I find it more difficult to work under; other folks I know have the exact opposite reaction so YMMV.

I also upgraded the eye guards to the angled versions which was a noticeable improvement.  I don't see them on their site anymore, but it may be worth an email to them to see if they will be available again.  I can take a photo for you if it helps.

One of these days, I am going to add a reticle, but it's not urgent.

[RobA]

[...]  Did you get a Barlow lens?  If not, I'd recommend it; it will protect the optics from the solder fumes.  I got a 1x and 0.5x Barlow with mine, but I generally only use the 1x Barlow.  The 0.5x Barlow extends your working space as the focal distance is different, but I find it more difficult to work under; other folks I know have the exact opposite reaction so YMMV.

I also upgraded the eye guards to the angled versions which was a noticeable improvement.  I don't see them on their site anymore, but it may be worth an email to them to see if they will be available again.  I can take a photo for you if it helps.

One of these days, I am going to add a reticle, but it's not urgent.

It did come with two Barlow lenses, a 0.5 and I think a 2.0. I use the 0.5. I use it near the lowest magnification too and that seems to be a good balance between working distance and magnification for me. The wide range of settings is nice to have to find the most comfortable setup and to give the possibility of higher magnification when the parts start to shrink (again).

Mine came with two sets of eye guards, a flat set and a set that has extended light shields around the whole eyepiece. I've got the extended shield set on there. On some astronomical binoculars I've got, they have light shields that extended up on an angle around the side of your eyes toward your temple at an angle. Is that the kind of eye guard you've got? It would be nice to have.

[pickdropper]

I suspect that the extended light shield eyepieces are the same as what I am referring to.  Back when I bought mine, they were an accessory.  Cool that they come with the scope now.

Having a 0.5x and 2.0x Barlow seems odd to me, but perhaps that's the most popular combo.  I still only really feel comfortable under the 1.0x Barlow.  I only use the 0.5x if I absolutely have to have more working space (which is somewhat unusual).