Which optivisor magnification for sharpening jobs?

[jeepin]

I keep hearing about Optivisors for seeing knife edges when sharpening, but then I noticed they make a few different magnifications and also focal lengths.
Which one would be best?

 

[eveled]

I know it’s not what you are asking about. But I use a lamp with a round magnifying glass. It stands next to my bench where I sharpen knives and clean guns.

 

[tiguy7]

I keep hearing about Optivisors for seeing knife edges when sharpening, but then I noticed they make a few different magnifications and also focal lengths.
Which one would be best?

I mostly use the 7 Diopter lens board which is about 2 3/4X magnification. I added a light which is quite handy.View attachment 2020686

 

[jeepin]

Anyone else use one?

 

[000Robert]

I use a Aven Carson Pro Deluxe. It comes with a 1.5X, 2X, 2.5X, and 3X lenses. I mostly use the 3X. If I need more magnification than that, I use one of my microscopes.

 

[jeepin]

I use a Aven Carson Pro Deluxe. It comes with a 1.5X, 2X, 2.5X, and 3X lenses. I mostly use the 3X. If I need more magnification than that, I use one of my microscopes.

View attachment 2036019

I think that’s what I should do is buy a kit that comes with the multiple lenses.

 

[tiguy7]

OptiVisor kits are available, but they’re not cheap.

 

[Doc Shipley]

Massive overkill - I use a 60x Cole Parmer "Shop Microscope"
They come up cheap-ish on Ebay fairly often and they're dang useful.

https://imgur.com/rOadY00

I'd post the whole Imgur album but the comments are all 13-year-old "humor"

 

[Doc Shipley]

I should also probably address the Optivisor subject...
I have one, bought it for making silver jewelry and have used it making knives, doing electronic repair, pulling splinters, you name it, for almost 25 years. I can't imagine a bench without one.

I mostly use an LP-5 (2.5x, 8" FL) lens; I find that the more powerful lenses tire me very quickly.
And I can't recommend the LP-100 loupe lens highly enough. It's cheap, it's unobtrusive, and once you get used to the weird focal length, amazingly useful.

The off-brand lenses are horrible, and I'm told that a lot of the "Optivisor" accessories sold on Amazon are counterfeit.