Magniflying Lamp For Bench

[Zippi]

The first magnifying lamp I got from my son for Christmas and it lasted around 6 months.  The switch stopped working and it finally went out.  I got a new one a few weeks ago and it's already starting to go bad.  I guess I'm going to have to buy a better quality magnifying lamp.  My question is, which magnifying lamp is of good quality and will last?  What magnifying lamp do you have that has lasted for a few years or more.   The pic is the magnifying lamp I currently have and the first one was similar to this one.

[64SS350]

I believe mine came from Hobby Lobby, it's white with a five footed roller base. I finally got tired of base being in my way, so about two months ago I welded a corresponding pipe to a piece of angle (×2) and placed one by the hobby table and one by the lathe. Now I can easily take it from one work area to another.

I have had it for at least 5-6 years, is not LED, but pretty bright. I also bought a second ring bulb to have, but haven't needed it yet.

Hope this helps!

[Zippi]

25 minutes ago, 64SS350 said:

I believe mine came from Hobby Lobby, it's white with a five footed roller base. I finally got tired of base being in my way, so about two months ago I welded a corresponding pipe to a piece of angle (×2) and placed one by the hobby table and one by the lathe. Now I can easily take it from one work area to another.

I have had it for at least 5-6 years, is not LED, but pretty bright. I also bought a second ring bulb to have, but haven't needed it yet.

Hope this helps!

I appreciate the info.  I've looked at the lamps at HL and didn't really see anything that was above 3X .  The 5X that I have works really well for me.  I don't mind paying for a good quality magnifying lamp, I just don't want to pay a lot of money for another cheap Chinesse product that won't last. 

[espo]

Your picture of a Magnifying Lamp looks very close to the one I have used for many years. The one in the picture looks to have what I think would be a better arm adjustment. Looking at my lamp just now I can't find a brand name per say but it was made by LEDU Corp. of Trumball Ct. The label says it was made in Sweden. The metal arms and the hood are white in color but I'm sure that there are color options so I wouldn't use that as any type of guide. Maybe a Google search of the company could lead you too them if they are even still in business. I bought this lamp at an office supply store over twenty years ago and have only had to replace the bulb one time, and the lens came lose once. 

[Zippi]

7 minutes ago, espo said:

Your picture of a Magnifying Lamp looks very close to the one I have used for many years. The one in the picture looks to have what I think would be a better arm adjustment. Looking at my lamp just now I can't find a brand name per say but it was made by LEDU Corp. of Trumball Ct. The label says it was made in Sweden. The metal arms and the hood are white in color but I'm sure that there are color options so I wouldn't use that as any type of guide. Maybe a Google search of the company could lead you too them if they are even still in business. I bought this lamp at an office supply store over twenty years ago and have only had to replace the bulb one time, and the lens came lose once. 

Thanks for the info Dave.  Yeah, my prior lamp and the one I just bought have no name or any information of any kind on them.    

[peteski]

I have couple of LUXO Magnifier lamps.  I got them from the company I worked for back in the early '90 when they were downsizing.  They are about 40 years old now and still work perfectly well.   They are all metal and very sturdy.  They are old-school and use circular fluorescent lamp.  I installed the newer3000K Kitchen and Bath bulb in them for better color rendition.  Looking at their website, they now sell modern versions of my lamp: https://www.luxo-lighting.com/luxo-magnifiers  I'm sure they are pricey, but as the saying goes: you get what you paid for.  If you get one of those, it should last you lifetime.

But I almost never use it as a magnifier.  Instead my Optivisor (with a #7 lens plate) has become my to-go magnifier).  I also have a high-intensity halogen lamp (on a long goose-neck).  When working on miniature projects, you can never have enough strong lighting.

Photo of the half of my workbench.,  One of the LUXO magnifiers is over the lathe (I painted that lamp black).  The halogen lamp is bent around the drill press.  You can see a small part of the other (gray) magnifier at the left edge of the photo.  There also is another halogen lamp on the left bench (not visible).

Edited July 3, 2022 by peteski

[Zippi]

5 hours ago, peteski said:

I have couple of LUXO Magnifier lamps.  I got them from the company I worked for back in the early '90 when they were downsizing.  They are about 40 years old now and still work perfectly well.   They are all metal and very sturdy.  They are old-school and use circular fluorescent lamp.  I installed the newer3000K Kitchen and Bath bulb in them for better color rendition.  Looking at their website, they now sell modern versions of my lamp: https://www.luxo-lighting.com/luxo-magnifiers  I'm sure they are pricey, but as the saying goes: you get what you paid for.  If you get one of those, it should last you lifetime.

But I almost never use it as a magnifier.  Instead my Optivisor (with a #7 lens plate) has become my to-go magnifier).  I also have a high-intensity halogen lamp (on a long goose-neck).  When working on miniature projects, you can never have enough strong lighting.

Photo of the half of my workbench.,  One of the LUXO magnifiers is over the lathe (I painted that lamp black).  The halogen lamp is bent around the drill press.  You can see a small part of the other (gray) magnifier at the left edge of the photo.  There also is another halogen lamp on the left bench (not visible).

Thanks for the info and the link Peter.  You are right about you get what you pay for but those price are a little above my pay grade.

[SCRWDRVR]

I have that exact lamp the cord has a usb on the end and the thing you plug it into to plug it in went bad pretty quick but I replaced that with one from an iPhone and it has been great ever since, I’ve been using it about a year and a half now…

[slusher]

Put a new switch on it. I would try that first…

[Zippi]

15 hours ago, slusher said:

Put a new switch on it. I would try that first…

Thanks Carl.