I'm Going To Super Glue The Darned Loupe -

[dadistic]

I have a B&L 4X watchmakers loupe that I've been trying to use for some time, but for the life of me I can't figure out how to keep the darned thing in my eye. Is there some kind of secret watchmakers trick that no one talks about, so that the real watchmakers can laugh at the novices?

 

It would be funny watching the loupe bounce all over the place, except it invariably seems to bang right on the balance, and I'm getting tired of my heart stopping every time that happens!

 

If someone would send some clues my way I would greatly appreciate it!

 

Thanks,

 

David S, flinger of wedge pins and mangler of hairsprings

[ro63rto]

You need a loupe headband.

[dadistic]

Yeah, I've thought about that. I also have a couple of visors that I use. I swear though, I've seen video of people using the loupes where it looks like the loupe is stuck to their face, and I can't figure out how they do it :-)

 

Thanks!

 

David S - ping ping ping, ricochet rabbit

[ro63rto]

[emoji12]

Bausch & Lomb Watchmaker's Loupe: http://youtu.be/Io3EP7pNa24

[dadistic]

You know, that guy has a fat face (no insult intended). When I do what he does, the loupe just slides out either the top or the bottom, and forget tilting the head.

 

Oh well, maybe the headband *is* the answer if I really want to use a loupe.

 

Thanks!

[oldhippy]

I never had any trouble using an eye glass I could walk around all day and never drop it. The trick is don't put pressure on it in a way where you might try and force yourself to wear it and keep both eyes open.

[rogart63]

I don't have any trouble holding a loupe on my eye. At least until there is some sweat . Then it slides out. So now i use the simplest and cheapest headband . 

[WillFly]

I attach a clip-on lens to the sidebar of my specs - works a treat, but it's not worth getting specs just for that!

[oldhippy]

I attach a clip-on lens to the sidebar of my specs - works a treat, but it's not worth getting specs just for that!

How about this Willfly, I wear glasses all the time, I have done from the age of about 4 but when it came to watch/clockmaking I never wore them with an eye glass I found I could see better without. :D

[Ray]

I bought the cheapest pair of glasses I could find (from Aldi), pushed the lenses out and fitted the clip on lens to the arm. Works a treat and I find it much more comfortable than a loupe.

[WillFly]

I bought the cheapest pair of glasses I could find (from Aldi), pushed the lenses out and fitted the clip on lens to the arm. Works a treat and I find it much more comfortable than a loupe.

Good idea! I like it!

 

Will

[Geo]

I did similar with 99p pair of specs, but I had to leave the lenses in! :D

[Don]

I've found that different loupes fit me differently. B&L seem to stay in my eye really well, but I prefer the view of my Asco loupes. They're a bit bigger and so fall out easily. I feel I should try to take the time to learn to hold them without a head band, but I've got too many other things to worry about when I'm wrecking working on a watch. So I use the headband.

[Ishima]

I find that the best method is to simply position it in your eye so that the natural tension of your skin holds it while your face muscles are relaxed.

So touch the eyeglass to the bottom of your eye, slightly before where you want it to sit, 'hook' the edge of the eye glass into that bit of skin, then do the same at the top of your eye, done right, and with a little practice you can keep a loupe in your eye while keeping your face totally relaxed and passive, no effort required.
That's not to say my eyeglass never falls out, silly things like that will happen once in a while even with experience, which is why I think a lot of very experienced and highly trained watchmakers, even the Swiss watchmakers, often opt to use the headband/holders, because your eyeglass falling out is just a concern you don't need when working on something very complex and delicate.

In my work capacity I'm sitting down, standing up and being interrupted so frequently I can't justify the faffing about it takes to use a holder (saves me precious milliseconds), but they are good.

Edited August 4, 2015 by Ishima

[oldhippy]

I find that the best method is to simply position it in your eye so that the natural tension of your skin holds it while your face muscles are relaxed.

So touch the eyeglass to the bottom of your eye, slightly before where you want it to sit, 'hook' the edge of the eye glass into that bit of skin, then do the same at the top of your eye, done right, and with a little practice you can keep a loupe in your eye while keeping your face totally relaxed and passive, no effort required.

That's not to say my eyeglass never falls out, silly things like that will happen once in a while even with experience, which is why I think a lot of very experienced and highly trained watchmakers, even the Swiss watchmakers, often opt to use the headband/holders, because your eyeglass falling out is just a concern you don't need when working on something very complex and delicate.

In my work capacity I'm sitting down, standing up and being interrupted so frequently I can't justify the faffing about it takes to use a holder (saves me precious milliseconds), but they are good.

Ishima,

 

An excellent write up.  

[dadistic]

I agree, very helpful. This is the kind of advice I was hoping for, thanks everyone. It looks like I'm going to be getting a holder, as I have a lean face and I don't think there is enough there to hold the loupe. I'll practice some more, but I think loupe by itself may be a lost cause. :)

Edited August 6, 2015 by dadistic

[oarieder]

I tried to fashion my own using some wire but that was a disaster.  I actually found a really great way to do it that doesn't include using the loop wire:

 

1. Grab a simple LED headlamp. You may already have one.  They typically have an adjustable stretch band.  Something like this:  http://www.harborfreight.com/five-led-magnetic-head-lamp-93549.html  
2. Remove the lamp part and place the flexible band flat on the table
3. Then with some sharp scissors cut a slightly smaller than half-inch slit at the folded end lengthwise.  Since it's folded over, it will create a less than one-inch slit.
4. Take your loupe and squeeze it into the slit
5. Adjust the band so it's not too tight and pull it over your eye.  It will not move, I guarantee.

 

You're good to go.

 

-A

[Geo]

Very innovative Adam, thanks for the suggestion.

[dadistic]

You need a loupe headband.

 

Well, I got myself one of these and have been using it with a 4X loupe and comparing it to my 3.5X Optivisor. The band works great with the loupe, it stays in place nicely and is comfortable. The loupe works better for some things, but I still find myself going back to the Optivisor and my other 2.2X visor when I want a wider field of view or a little more distance from whatever I'm working on.  The band is well worth the ~$5.00 I spent on it. Thanks again, all!

 

David S - Barney Google with the googly eyes

[canthus]

Here's my adaptation of an old pair of eyeglasses, 2 large rubber o-rings (to hold the eyegalss in the metal frame) and an elastic band (to pull it over to the side a bit)  !!!!!!

 

 

[dadistic]

Ingenious!

 

David S