My carving lamp seems to want to give up the ghost. I got it at Michaels. I think it’s this one:
https://www.michaels.com/playlist%2Fshop-by-age-5-7/10120398.html

Anyway, it works OK (in terms of light and magnification) but it’s cheaply made and the plastic housing for the stand clamp broke and I’m having hold it together with duct tape. A couple of the plastic arm tighteners also broke and I had to replace them with metal nuts. Overall it’s crappy and feel like I wasted $40.

I’m in the market for a new one but I don’t want to repeat this experience. So I’m hoping for suggestions from the carving masses. I’d like to have a 2 - 3 power lens (I think, looking at the Michaels listing it appears I have a 1.75 power now. [* see side rant below]). And good lighting. I found many online but they get pretty pricey real quick so I’m looking for a good value as well.

Thanks.

*Side rant: why must they give the magnification in diopter only? Would it kill them to just say 2x or 3x? It’s frustrating to have to find a conversion chart every time I find a possible candidate.

I use a folding Ott light for lighting and readers over the top of my trifocals for magnification. I find this works better for me with regards to work space and logistics. if I need stronger readers, they are cheaper to replace than a lighted magnifier.

I went on Amazon and found one of those cheap Chinese magnifying desk lights, for under $25. The bulb burnt out years ago and was not easily replaceable, so I have 2 small lamps positioned on either side of it, one of which is a clamp on gooseneck. The magnifying lens has a small area with a higher magnification on it.
Basically, something like this. I actually prefer having the light separate from the lens because I can adjust each of them to my hearts desire. I've been using it for about 6 years now, and I am happy with it.

OTT light all the way they have one with a mag glass on the top - usually cheaper at Joanna and use a coupon ! If no mag on the light and you use some kind of jewelers glasses. For sure still go with an ott light - take that advice from the blind girl .... great lighting the only way I can still do things

I'm not a good person to advise on carving... only hacked one, and it's my avatar... and sig. Only found 2... one AQ and one geo / lb hybrid.

Anyway, I do do lots of close up work, soldering and inspecting things...

I have several hand held mags, and one I do recommend to people who do such things... I know it by the name Aunt Mary's Sewing Magnifier... has (at least mine does) one large diameter lens and one smaller lens... they are part of the clear plastic handle that comes with a cord to suspend it on your chest while working... Although I often mount a bracket to the handle to support it while working... I do like the separate light source concept... also use third hand devices to hold things. Would not surprise me to find Michael's has them... very adaptable with what I find to be good magnification. If they don't have it, try sewing shops or your local optician... (I used to be that guy).. Also like the head mounted magnifiers... but can't say the old lighting ones were desireable... but with led lamps might be worth it... for really close up work... much depends on the job and the operator.

As for the Power vs Magnification ratings... I like to know the Power in diopters... but don't care if it is provided on a magnifier... same for the magnification rating... but then I know how to quickly rate them by looking through the lens... not hard.
A one diopter lens will focus light at a distance of one metre... a two diopter lens at 1/2 metre or about 20 inches, plain glass is 0... you can get a rough idea by taking the magnifier into sunlight and see how far you go to focus it. that's 1 / diopter for distance in metres.. or meter if you like.

Magnification is also simple, it's just the measure of how big something appears in relation to how the real object appears. So take something that you can see in and out of the lens, say a white horizontal line on a wall (or black tape) then look through the lens half in half out... if the line is twice as wide in the lens as on the wall, you have 2x, three times is 3x and so on.. try turning the lens 90 degrees left or right... it should still be the same, otherwise you probably don't want to use it... I could go on and on.
I use the same type of test using straight line over head lights to judge the curves on lenses of all types, say mags or cheap sunglasses, but it's a bit fancier... reflection shows a known straight line, but will due to curvature of the lens show it as curving. However the curve is a steady curve, you don't want wiggles in the curve... curves on both sides of the lens are what create the power... and it should not change greatly over the whole surface or you get power that changes... for example, cheap sunglasses should be made for 0 power for the normal person. Over small areas of the surface, the deformations can change the power quite a bit an from + to - as well.
Older people like me find that very upsetting at times but never find out the why... one reason we used to encourage people keep their old bifocals and have them coated into driving sun glasses... oh and the power of the old reading segment has changed enough to not work for reading at arm length, but works well for the distance of your dashboard instruments in the intermediate zone... anyway anyone who wants more of my rants can PM... I'll opine if I can... but I did retire many years ago so I'm rusty on really technical... rough explanations and a pointing finger I can attempt.

Oh,my admittedly poor carve was an old eraser with a medium xacto straight blade... if you think it is messed up, you should have seen my fingers... ouch.

I have an OTT light(actually, I have 2) , which has a very strong light and also a magnifier. I cannot carve without it, period. I think the model number is, reading it from the bottom of my lamp, PL 7972. It sits on my desk, and both the light and the magnifier are each on their own "snake-y" neck, alling me to adjust to any level or angle. *LOVE!* One of the best investments I've ever made....got it at JoAnne's.

Indoors, I use an OTT light with magnifier combined with a magnifying visor with LED lights (combined also with 3.0 reading glasses). I have a visual disability to compensate for.

I discovered quite by accident that carving in full sunlight on the picnic table in the back yard proves to be the perfect light, I use only magnification. If your climate permits it, give it a spin.

Warrior Woman
illuminated

I discovered quite by accident that carving in full sunlight on the picnic table in the back yard proves to be the perfect light...

Did you ever try that with orange PZ Kut? That stuff lit up like a neon sign in sunlight!

When I was carving on PZCut 10+ years ago, I only carved negative line drawing stamps so that wasn’t an issue. Pink stuff just looks like pink stuff in sunlight!

Warrior Woman
now having acid flashbacks ;-)

I got this for carving: http://a.co/d/huhswBU

Cheap and cheerful and has worked very well.

I second OTT light. A little pricey but so worth it! Mine is a table top lamp style and I use reading glasses. I use to have a magnifyer/lamp combo before and heard about reading glasses and switched, its soooo much better! Also much more portable than my lamp since I like to carve when I travel. As for the light when I travel I use my phone, it’s amazing!

Wait for a Joann’s 50% coupon

Just a wee addition to my first post... you might not have any luck with Aunt Mary's... but...

Just try google for ' hands free magnifier' for similar products.

Forgot to say, they now have led illuminated ones, but an external lamp would be more use... your option.

I bought this one at Amazon. This one is similar. This one does 5x magnification.

another source... if there is a Fry's near you, they carry several inexpensive models.

Thanks everyone for your input so far.

I bought this one at Amazon.

Give me a review, do you like it?

Give me a review, do you like it?

Keep in mind that I'm reviewing the first link which has been discontinued. The second link seems like the same thing, but I can't be certain.

I really like it. I usually work on my stamps in front of my computer so that I can have a reverse image on the screen on front of me.

I have the lamp clamped to a back corner because it reaches to just the right position and moves out of the way when I want. I used some scrap 1"×2" boards between the clamp on both sides of the desk (between desk and clamp on both sides) so that the torque doesn't mar or break the desktop.

The light works well if I use the magnifier or not. (Some parts of a stamp don't need magnification to carve.) The magnification works well when needed. The rare times when I need even more magnification I use a jewelers loupe, but my eyes tire sooner with more magnification.

The springs keep the magnifier and light right where I put it. The only problem I've had is that over time the final joint (the "wrist", if you will) has become too weak to hold at any position so I keep it in one position and use the arm to adjust the height.

If my lamp totally broke and I had to but again, I'd but that second or third link (which seems to have more magnification). Pick your magnification well because more magnification means you see a smaller area of the stamp.

Thanks, OB, for taking the time to do that write up. Appreciated.

Ottlite is 50% at Jo-anns this month, online only

I don't know if this has been mentioned, but I have found from my experience, that a separate light and magnifier is better than the combination. The reason is that it's much better to have the light coming from a SLIGHT angle to the material, not directly on top. That gives you some shadowing on the grooves, and makes the carved areas more distinct. I wear a head-band type magnifier over my eyeglasses, and point my separate light so it comes from the back, left of my work (since I'm right-handed). My two-cents worth.

This is the one I have, and the only one that I recommend, because I like to be able to angle the light and the magnifier separately so they are always out of my way and give the best angle. Well worth the $50, I bought 3 other types before ingot this one and it is the best.

Most of the time, ott lights are 40% off at Joann.