Vince and I were talking this morning about magnifying lights/glasses. You can probably guess how that conversation went! I think I’ve ordered three floor magnifying lamps. Almost seems like there was a fourth one but either there wasn’t or I’ve hid it because it isn’t sitting here with the rest of them. Every one of the lamps has something I love and something I do not love.
As to the floor lamps, I did a review of the three I have in this blog post. Currently, I use them all about equal amounts. I don’t really dislike one any more or less than the others and I don’t really like one any more or less than the others.
I want ONE lamp that I love and if it’s out there, I haven’t found it and if I keep ordering lamps, I’m not going to need it because I’ll be living in cardboard box under a bridge without electricity! Vince doesn’t understand why I can’t just go buy a lamp and be happy with it. It’s like a mattress . . how do you know til you use it? Yes, I could send them back if I did it right away but honestly, that’s more trouble than it’s worth and since I do have some things I like about them all, I’m not sending anything back . . at least for now.
We have four recliners in the family room (we didn’t plan to do that) so I have magnifying lamps by three of them. I can sit anywhere and stitch. The Ott light is the only one that has a regular light (the magnifier is not lighted . . is that lit?) so it can be used for knitting or reading. At some point, probably in summer when it’s hot, I’ll do more stitching in the basement bt I’ll still be stitching upstairs while cooking or watching Addie play . . so . . well, I’m probably justifying keeping all these lamps.
The latest addition to the magnifying lamp collection is a small, Brightech clamp on. It just arrived and I’ve used it one hour. I like it. After a few days, I’ll give you a better opinion. So far, I’m thinking this may be the best yet for me.
I first clamped it to the table next to the chair but the arm thing isn’t long enough and I couldn’t get it in a perfect position.
The first idea I had was a long board. I remembered the back board I had removed from the floor stand. The problem with a lightweight board is that the clamp kinda pulls the board over in the direction the light is swiveled towards. Make sense?? It’s like the lamp caused the board to flip forward. I ended up putting the board under one leg to keep it stable but that wasn’t comfortable.
Next I tried a small acrylic cutting board but that didn’t work well either. I grabbed a big wooden cutting board. It fits across my lap and even though it’s a bit heavy, the weight is distributed across my whole lap so it doesn’t seem heavy and it’s working great.
The magnifying area is a bit small but it swivels easily and I can move it all around the cutting board so I hope the size of the glass isn’t going to be a problem. There may be one with a larger glass but it will probably be heavier and result in more issues.
If I love this lamp, Vince can probably make something that may work better than a cutting board. It’s so portable and with the cutting board, I can take it most anywhere I go and I do like that.
I’ll do another post after having used this for a while.
Cheryl says
I may or may not have a collection of lights for stitching. My favorite is the newest, Stella2. Pricey, although I did get $50 off, thanks to Priscilla & Chelsea. Next I’ll add the Stella Go (cordless) when it’s available for preorder.
Judy Laquidara says
Do they make one that magnifies?
katie peterson says
Would a wooden TV tray work? The legs could go down the sides of the chair cushion and that should stabilize it? Plus maybe you could raise and lower it, to your liking.
Judy Laquidara says
That might be perfect! Thanks!
Nelle Coursey says
How about one of those TV tray tables that is wooden? Would that work?
Judy Laquidara says
Someone else had suggested that but the ones I found so far are too wide. Most are 26″ between the legs and the space between the arms of the recliner is only about 20″.
Kristin says
I have this light and it also came with a base that can be attached and the clamp removed. When using the light with the base, I place it next to me and set a book or my iPad on the base to weigh it down a little bit and keep it from tipping. It works pretty well. I did purchase the magnifying glasses you recently bought as well. I am not sure yet how I feel about them yet. I just can’t seem to get a comfortable fit when using (and the light is a little dim). I guess I am still on the hunt for the perfect combo – light + magnification! 🙂
Judy Laquidara says
I am liking the light/glasses and I use it a good bit. If I use it for 5 or 6 hours in a day, it doesn’t bother me, but then the next day, it kinda hurts my nose so I know it isn’t something I couldn’t use EVERY day for a lot of hours.
Val says
I have this lamp and love it. I have a rolling cart next to my chair and attached a piece of wood to the bottom of the first tray then clamped the light to that. It works perfectly and is exactly where I need it.
Judy Laquidara says
Sounds like a perfect setup!