Hello Patricia and list, I tested the use of expensive binocular mineralogy microscopes, with the result that the position to which my thorn was forced gave me serious problems.
I've found that a cheaper and valid solution is the use of low cost USB web cams. There are of more than the right resolution on the market for a 10-20US$. (Test them for macro focus distances before buying!) I know of a toy "microscope" consisting in such a USB cam encapsuled in a four finger long cylinder sold for about 25$ and really, really, good for this use. With those little cams, I'm able to magnify on my need the images I'm looking at on the PC display positioned in front of me. At the same time I can point the cams to the object from different perspectives giving me the chance to have always the best possible idea of what's going on at the iron's tip. My dorsal thorn is greatful for this solution as comfort can be now really written in capitals here. A not secondary advantage is the position of the arms in such a configuration, that give me more fine movement precision at the solder point. Last but not least, the solder smoke is definitively away from my face (I couldn't say this using the microscope!). I hope this will help you (and others) too... Andreas ik2wqi Patricia Wilson wrote: > It took about 45-50 years but I finally found an advantage to being so > near-sighted all those years: I can still focus as close as close as an > inch or less. I use one of those round fluorescent tubes around a big > magnifying glass. > ...omissis
