A question was asked about my preference in magnifying lamps. I’m still not 100% sure I’ve found the perfect lamp but these are the ones I’ve bought so far, along with my opinion of each.
I sit in a recliner while stitching and the recliner isn’t a super wide one, nor is it a really skinny one. The arm of the magnifier doesn’t reach nearly far enough from the base to be very helpful when stitching. The bulb isn’t LED, which isn’t a problem. This is the first light I bought and it’s the one I use the least.
This one has the same problem with the not reaching far enough over to where I need it to shine. The base isn’t nearly heavy enough and I find myself having to re-position it 100 times a day to keep it from falling over, depending on which direction I have the light facing. If it isn’t right over the base, the whole thing wants to fall. Also, there’s a very flimsy connection to the electric plug and any movement at all and this one comes unplugged (where the cord plugs into the base of the lamp).
The one saving grace and the only reason I didn’t send it back is that it will also work of batteries (3 D cells I think) and it’s supposed to work for 60 hours off those batteries. If ever there’s a time we don’t have power for an extended time, it might help keep me sane so I can stitch.
So far, this one is the one I like best. it has a wire support that comes out from the base and that keeps it from tipping over if it gets extended too far. The base is quite heavy. I love that it has a built in cover that I can close to keep it from starting a fire if the sun shines on it. It has several brightness levels. It will reach way across the chair. The plug is very secure.
The top comes loose from the base, the long pole can be removed and the light itself screwed into the base, making it a table lamp. I love that feature (though I’ve never used it as a table lamp).
The only thing I don’t like about this one, and there may be a fix that I just haven’t figured out yet – I sit in the chair with the floor stand in front of me and the lamp in front of the floor stand so the lap is hanging over the floor stand. If I wanted it on the side of my chair, the “head” of the lamp isn’t turned correctly to give me a good field of vision through the magnifier. The glass area I look through is oblong and there’s a sweet spot where I have the best vision through it. If the lamp were on the side of the chair, it would be turned so that I’m looking through the narrower part of the lens.
This one was also the least expensive of the three.
Again, just my opinion and if anyone has other lamps you love, please share that info. Thanks!
Holly says
Hi Judy! Finding the perfect magnifying lamp has been a challenge for me too. The one I would love to buy I saw on Nicola Parkman’s flosstube #23. She shows it at the 24.40 minute mark. It is a little pricey for me.
Felicity Stitches flosstube #8 does a review of several lamps she has used. I bought the brighttech she shows at 34.05 and I did love the light and magnification but after constant twisting of the light to get it just right I snapped the light from its arm (probably my fault). I am going to do some research but I may end up buying the brighttech again.
During the day I only need bright sunlight and 4X reading glasses but nighttime is a whole different story. I am still looking…
I stitch on 36 and 40 count linen using the sewing method in a hoop.
I am not much of a commenter but I have been following your awesome blog since Chad was still in school and have also gone from a quilting fanatic to knitting to a return to cross stitch after a long break. I have recently become more interested in making quilts again. Not enough time in the day now. lol
Judy Laquidara says
Thank you so much for putting the time in those video suggestions. I will go find those. Have you noticed Nicola’s scroll frame that she twists the side bars on to tighten or loosen? I know it’s terribly expensive and have no idea what it is but I would love to have one of those.
I feel like I might make quilts again but am not yet ready to commit.
Kristin says
I really appreciate the you spent putting together this post and for all your information! Thank you!! 🙂
Jenny Moss says
Judy, I have used the Dazor floor lamp for at least 25 years and I love it. In fact I have two of them. I have the Ott also but never use.
Judy Laquidara says
Thanks. I’ll look at those.