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Hey gang,

I'm returning to painting after a long hitaus (again) but I'm having trouble doing the highlights and small details on my models without getting eye strain.
I'm on the lookout for some kind of magnifying glass stand type of thing, maybe with a light built in. There are quite a few different kinds available so I thought I'd check in with you guys to see if you had any recommendations or things to watch out for.

Cheers,
James.

I have an old IKEA table that is my hobby table.
About 6" in from the edge at the sides I drilled holes and have my swivel lamps installed there:

I tend to lean back in my chair and paint (less back strain) and the lamps reach easily (use a "full spectrum" light in each).

Then, if the part being painted is still hard to see either use "cheater" reading glasses or the good old jeweler's visor (some of the new ones have lights built in):

Or you can use this guy (I have one but it feels in the way to me).:


I am unsure if you are looking for name brands but I find the full spectrum lights are important since many new lights are either a very "warm" colour so it has some cream/brown tones to it or it is the "bright" type which has a lot of blue to it and is rather harsh to the eyes (a cold clinical look to it) which most of the bright LEDs lean toward.

I would look in an art shop, many have different lights on offer but tend to be a bit expensive like how most specialty shops get.
I would make a note of what they offer and then see if you can find a deal online or something similar at a Walmart.

Good luck!
.

I purchased a desk lamp with a magnifying glass on it similar to the one pictured above.

It is... underwhelming.

I mean, it works, but only at a very precise spot which is usually quite awkward. The distance between the focus point and the lens is slightly shorter than the length of a paintrbrush... so when I use it I'm forever bumping into it.

And it doesn't even magnify things all THAT much.

I used it a couple times, then just gave up on it. Now I just use it as a second desk lamp. I'm not sure I could blast the dust off it without damaging the lens anymore...

I rarely use my helping hands from Harbor Freight. But it's cheap and, when I need to use it, it's definitely handy. It's a light and magnifying lens that uses batteries and sits on the desk.

More useful is an Ott-Lite bulb. You can get them at arts and craft stores with a coupon, and I've seen an Ott Lite lamp at Fry's for $30 on sale.

I bought a cheap magnifiying glass with a lamp in it (and by lamp, I mean 2 LEDs) at Hobby Lobby last year, and I hardly ever use it, mostly for reasons others have described. It just isn't as helpful as I had hoped.

I bought this to see if a magnifying lamp would help...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Andoer-Illuminating-Magnifier-Magnifying-Reading/dp/B00L329R6C/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1476816152&sr=8-4&keywords=magnifier+lamp
Think I got it for about £8 and the light is useful (white LED).

It's been useful, particularly for cleaning mould lines, etc but hand-eye coordination take a bit of getting used to through the lense when painting and as others have said you have to position the model in the correct focal point.

Since then I've had my eyes tested and now have glasses, which are so much better and easier to use (accepting getting old has its advantages!)