+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 13

Thread: Magnification

  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    Oklahoma City, OK, USA
    Posts
    1,041

    Default Magnification

    What do you guys do seeing and tying small flies? I typically tie down to a 2x short 18, but the midges on one of my home waters are quite a bit smaller. Lots of days the fish don't care but there are days when they do. I am am going to take the sub 20 plunge, but need some more magnification over my readers.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Ontario Canada
    Posts
    363

    Default

    Desk mounted magnifyier and lamp combo.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2002
    Location
    Lakeland, FL USA
    Posts
    2,186

    Default

    I also use a desk mounted magnifier with the built in light and it has worked very well for me for the past 15 years. I find the biggest difference between the cheap desk mounted magnifier and the more expensive ones is in the articulating arm that holds the magnifier and light. On the cheap ones, the extension arm tends to be weak and will not stay where you position it. It will sloooowly creep down until you find yourself all scrunched up trying to see the vise and fly. On the more expensive models like Luxo, the arm stays exactly where you put it. I also think that the magnifier and the light are bit better on the Luxo, but the biggest difference is in how the arm stays in place. If you decide to go with a desk mounted magnifier with the built in light, I would strongly recommend that you look on Craig's list or Ebay and buy a used Luxo rather than a cheap model from your local office supply store chain. Just one man's opinion...


    Jim Smith

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    Red River, New Mexico
    Posts
    784

    Default

    I have a pair of 5x magnifying reading glasses that I now tie with. As I said in another post, the desk magnifier w/light that I had kept getting in my way when I wrapped materials. But that was just me. Everything depends on the amount of help to see that you personally need. I tied everything for many years with no help at all. Not any more.....

    Joe

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Coeur d'Alene, ID
    Posts
    2,521

    Default

    You may also want to try the Daiichi Large Eye Hooks (#1100), 16 - 26 for some ease at tying them on when in the stream.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2014
    Location
    Nashville, Tennessee, USA
    Posts
    858

    Default

    Orvis also sol Big Eye hooks.

    Ed

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    NE Gwinnett Co., GA
    Posts
    5,933

    Default

    My daughter gave me one of those little threading guides, in practice it works like a dream, it's on my lanyard. For tying I have a floor stand lighted magnifier that has me spoiled.
    Want to hear God laugh? Tell him Your plans!!!

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Ventura, CA
    Posts
    368

    Default

    I have a Magnivisor. It works well. The good thing is you can tie anywhere you want. In front of the TV, on a tray and I take it to the mountains and tie there. I tie down to a size 22 with no problem.

    Beaver

  9. #9

    Default

    I'm with Beaver...or a variation there of...

    For me the fixed magnifiers and the flip downs ,etc... mean you always have to have your eyes in an exact fixed position...you have to maintain that focal point.....doesn't work for me.

  10. #10
    AlanB Guest

    Default

    With the right glasses I don't think you'll need magnification. Reading glasses are not normally the right glasses! Put your readers on and hold a book where you can see it best. Is that the same distance that you tie at? If not then there is a problem. I find tying distance can be up to 50% different to tying distance. The simple solution is to go to an optician that offers 2 for 1 deal for your next set of readers. Measure the distance from the bridge of your nose to the vice jaws, get the optician to set the focus of the glasses at that distance. This is a simple adjustment if it is done when the lenses are ground to shape.

    I've worn glasses for normal vision for well over 30 years. Only in the last few have I needed them for close work. Before I simply took my distance glasses off. I was starting to struggle with 16 and 18s. Now I'm back to tying as small as I like with just the right glasses.

    These are on hooks labelled size 24, however the same hooks in size 18 have a similar gap to Partridge Vincent Mariarno size 24. They are small.
    Micro Dries_0001.jpg

    The problem I have with magnification is that it makes everything bigger. You go from winding fine thread on a small hook to winding rope on an anchor. I need clarity not magnification. However, I do know that some people find magnification helpful, one is my friend Barry Ord-Clark. Here is what he uses. His come from the UK but with the correct name for them you may be able to find a local supplier to you. If you look at the standard of his tying you'll see it is a great recommendation for these.

    Cheers,
    A.

+ Reply to Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts