Shopsmith Forums

I bought this lighted, magnifying headband back in March.

https://www.woodcraft.com/products/2-wa ... ier-grobet

I didn't know what to expect but I have been pleasantly surprised. I have been mostly using it with just the 1.5x or 2.0x magnification and haven't needed to use the double magnification (it has 2 lens holders allowing lens magnification to be stacked.

What I like about it: It is very comfortable. The headband itself adjusts with a knob on the top. The quality of the lenses seems good. The LED light is bright and can be tilted down to the work or removed entirely and used like a handheld flashlight.

What I don't like: While you can raise the magnification/LED unit upright out of the way when you just want to have normal vision, the unit has a tendency to flop down from the upright position. The tension holding it in place can be adjusted with the two thumbscrews on either side of the headband; but it seems to loosen up after a few up/down cycles and will become floppy again.

This has made aligning cuts and doing fine work far easier and accurate. I also recently used it while refinishing the underside of the inner gunnels of the Slow Boat, which I did with the canoe suspended above me. It was dark in there and the LED light came in handy!

Wish I had bought this or one like it years ago.

I have something similar that I got from Amazon. I have found it invaluable for removing splinters.

I guess I'm lucky. I have been near sighted all my life, so all I need to do for closeup work is take off my glasses.

I was like that too until I had my cataracts fixed.

Alan,

Thanks. I hadn't seen this one before and it definitely looks interesting. If you figure out the headband tension problem let us know. It looks like a good option and very affordable. My solution is nothing unique, but I found these impact resistance safety glasses that I like. It comes with a clip-on +2.5 diopter, but I found this to be too much most of the time, so I swapped for a +1.5 diopter. When I need magnification I use the latter one, but for machine setup or fine detail work I swap to the first one. When walking around the shop, making cuts, etc., I just flip it up out of the way for natural vision. Of course, this doesn't have a light so I have a small compact jogging LED that I have hanging from my shirt collar when needed. Anyway just thought I'd share what works for me in case any one finds this useful. I primarily went this direction because I couldn't find a good headband magnifier at the time, but the one you have looks better than anything I could find before so I will consider it. https://www.amazon.com/Carson-Polycarbo ... 411&sr=8-1

https://www.amazon.com/lectura-lentes-c ... 444&sr=8-1

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07H7N8D4N/ref=dp_cerb_2

mountainbreeze wrote:I was like that too until I had my cataracts fixed.

My Wife was the same way. She was nearsighted all her life. When she needed cararact surgery they gave her the option of keeping her near sightness and wearing glasses for long distances like it has always been or having 20-20 vision at long distances and needing magnifying glasses for close up work. She chose the long distance vision and regrets it every day. She does a lot of close work and can't see worth crap with reader glasses, new prescrioption glasses and magnifiers.

I also bought a magnifying headband very much like the one algale has. Got it from Lee Valley and has no brand name on it, but my comments match his, especially the problem with the tension holding it in place. Probably made in the same factory. For the occasional high precision work you can mount the higher magnification lenses which is very useful. If this one broke I would buy another.

Also have some bifocal safety glasses that I seem to grab more often because they are easier to slip on and I usually can find them first...

Rick