Recommendations for Magnifying Glasses

[39 LaSalle]

A couple of years ago during Lowes inventory sales I picked up a few pairs of birth control magnification glasses, reading glasses...whatever you want to call them for cheap. Problem is, they were cheap for a reason. They've all pretty much broken in the same place, and not because they were abused in any sort of way.

These days I find them necessary to do any sort of detail work, often when I'm underneath a car working. I know I can't be the only one with this problem, so does anyone have any suggestions of brands which won't break when I look at them funny?

 

[LeeG]

I use safety glasses with magnifiers. Similar to this.

3M Safety Glasses with Readers, Nuvo Readers, +2.0 Diopter, ANSI Z87, Clear Lens, Gray Frame, Soft Nose Bridge, Side Shields

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007JZ3UG0/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[goldtang]

I use this style of Magnifier I only have the 2x but with my glasses they are ok found this on Amazon https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B07HRM9GW9/

 

[RTM]

This is a +1.5, gotta scroll thru to find others. I have their non magnifying, very comfortable.

IRI-S | Clear reading area +1.5 safety glasses | Bollé Safety

IRI-s, the first universal safety eyewear that fits perfectly to everyone: a “memory form” B-Flex bridge, fully adjustable in height, depth and width, an ultra-enveloping frame with pivoting ergonomic temples, embraces precisely all face shapes with reading area in clear and smoke versions. |...

www.bolle-safety.com

 

[HenryAZ]

For fine work, on a bench probably not so much under a car, OptiVisor makes great magnifying glasses, in a wide range of magnifications.

 

[RoninB4]

A second vote for Optivisor, it's considered a standard in die/mold making. I've used them for decades and find everything else to be a distant second choice. Do take the time to find one with glass lenses instead of the plastic lenses. The glass allows more light and less image distortion so what you're viewing to be a more clear/sharper image. Plastic can/will get grinding particles embedded where glass will not. Make sure it's really glass when you get them, my last one got substituted with plastic but I needed it for work and couldn't return it.

 

[39 LaSalle]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm particularly keeping the 3M style on my shopping list. I guess I should have been more specific in that I want something that is streamlined and fits like a normal pair of glasses rather than the bulky, looks like I'm a diamond cutter style of magnifier. I have those too, but for the type of work I'm doing they are too heavy and obtrusive to be of any use. My main requirements are that they be light, durable, and easy on/off. They don't even really need to be "safety" type per se as about the only thing I'm worried about is the occasional crud dropping down in my eyes. I've got other safety glasses for grinding, wire wheeling and the like.

 

[timgunn1962]

I've been using Bolle and 3M safety readers for years. They are about the same in most respects. The big difference I've found is that the bifocal bit is moulded onto the outside of the 3M, but the inside of the Bolle. With the 3M, every scratch ends up on the bifocal bit because it sticks out, right where you want to be looking through them, whereas the scratches distribute much more randomly on the Bolle. The Bolle last me at least twice as long as a result.