Desk lights and magnifiers

[SteveE]

I'm thinking of investing in a quality work light to serve dual purpose identifying/prepping fossils and also in my woodworking adventures.

 

Do ya'll use combo light/magnifying lamps?    What works, what doesn't work?   What spectrum works best for you?    Any suggestions for best bang for the buck?

Thanks

[Fossildude19]

I have one like this that works well. 

[snolly50]

I have a fiber optic ring light on my B&L Zoomscope. It is spectacular for that application. They are pricey, but I was lucky to find a used one in a package deal. For general lighting LED arrays seem to be popular, but I have no experience in a prep setting. I have a "lightbox" for photography passed to me by my photographer daughter. It employs duel Halogen lamps. This provides a bright, shadow-free light. However, they throw off so much heat I think they would be unsuitable for prepping.

 

Really the only practical advice I can offer is choose source(s) for multi-directional lighting to provide even illumination. Good luck, have fun.

[Kane]

It also depends at what magnification you want to prepare fossils at. The higher the magnification, the brighter the light needs to be. I do most of my work under a stereoscope that has a built in LED ring light, but I also use a separate ring light lamp outside the blast box for additional brightness. 

 

If what you're doing requires less magnification than a microscope, but more mobility of the item, Tim's suggestion above works quite well. If you need to see very fine detail up close, there are a range of affordable and wearable magnifiers that jewelers use (some with tiny and directional LED lights), but you'll have virtually no effective working distance between the lens and the object. 

[Troodon]

I use the light recommend by Tim and it works quite well for macro prep work..  My steroscope is what I use for finer work..But like Kane said it all depends on the type of work you are planning to do.

[Ptychodus04]

I also use a light like Tim suggested for low magnification (3x) prep work on large specimens. I use an LED gooseneck light for my microscope.

 

[SteveE]

Well, sign me up for the WTSC..... (What Tim Said Club).    With so many endorsements, I too ordered that one and..... it's perfect!  Thanks all

[Fossildude19]

9 hours ago, SteveE said:

Well, sign me up for the WTSC..... (What Tim Said Club).    With so many endorsements, I too ordered that one and..... it's perfect!  Thanks all

Glad I could help. 

[Sagebrush Steve]

On 4/9/2019 at 6:37 AM, Fossildude19 said:

I have one like this that works well. 

What is the working distance from the magnifying lens to the fossil?  At 5x magnification I imagine it is about 4 or 5 inches (=120 to 125 mm)?

[SteveE]

10 hours ago, Sagebrush Steve said:

What is the working distance from the magnifying lens to the fossil?  At 5x magnification I imagine it is about 4 or 5 inches (=120 to 125 mm)?

 

I have good eyes and am at the point where reading glasses are optional yet I reach for them more and more.   With the light 6" from my eyes, I can focus on work anywhere between 5-13" (a nice depth of field).  It's about the same with my arm fully extended and the lamp moved away accordingly.   Farther out, I can regain focus if I move within the focal depth , but it takes more effort.    I have yet to use it for more than 20 min at a time, so have no comments about fatigue