First Build - TL-1A

[Simon Barden]

I need to get new glasses for reading and soldering. Eyes have changed so the focal distance is now too far away for close-up work. I tried a pair of those adjustable glasses but the in-focus depth at approx. 20cm was about 5mm with anything nearer or further away really blurred and they were just unuseable.

[MrEddy]

I have slightly odd vision. One eye is (very) short sighted, one is long sighted. And I can decide which eye to look out of so for some things not using glasses ends up working better. Marginally. Eye sight hasn't changed too much in the last few years. Thankfully. It's bad enough already.

All of that does NOT help with my pool game. Try aiming when one of your eyes wants to look at the queue ball and the other one (at a different angle) at the target. Fun fun fun.

[Rabbit]

I have to take my glasses off for anything closer than about 300mm. So soldering and reading they come off. I used to have to take them off to weld, but with a cheater lens in the helmet I can keep them on. Sometimes spraying the body becomes a grey area. For soldering you might find a light with a magnifier helps.

[MrEddy]

I'm going to have to look into that. Thought at one point that this would be a one-off, but since the next kit is due to arrive next week I guess I won't be hanging up the soldering boots just yet.

[Simon Barden]

Certainly use a good bright light to work in. Your pupils contract and increase the depth of focus and sharpen up the image. Dim light and they open right up, and everything becomes more blurry. Just like a film camera.

[McCreed]

Certainly use a good bright light to work in.

I think I once read that as we get older, our eyes require 40% more light to focus properly (and I think that's regardless of our standard of vision, ie 20/20; 20/40 etc)

I've told this story before but, for soldering or close detailed work, I wear my (full-time) multifocal glasses with a pair of x3 magnifiers from the chemist in front of those, and a head lamp.

My wife walked into the shed one day to ask me something; admired my attire and walked out shaking her head. I looked up from my work, slack-jawed and head tilted saying: "Whaaaat?"

[MrEddy]

Have any of you used one of the soldering stands? I've seen a few with magnifier and light built in, but they look pretty cheap and nasty. I'm definitely going to have to find some sort of gadget that can hold wires in place.

[Trevor Davies]

I use helping hand stands to assist with soldering onto circuit boards and find they are great. Also good for holding wires for soldering guitar circuits. I have not used one with a magnifying glass (in fact I normally take the magnifiers off , but that may need to change as my eyes get older and wiser). I do have one with the LED light and it does help - but a well lit room is still essential!

They are cheap and nasty - but they should help.

[McCreed]

Have any of you used one of the soldering stands? I've seen a few with magnifier and light built in, but they look pretty cheap and nasty. I'm definitely going to have to find some sort of gadget that can hold wires in place.

I've been using a "third hand" for soldering for years. It's an essential IMO.
I do have one that has a magnifier with an LED, but tbh I don't use it and only use the "arms". Despite my story above, I do have very good lighting over my bench.

The one I've been using most recently is from Jaycar and only cost $25 (LINK).
The main post is a pretty cheap hollow tube, but it works.
It works best for soldering things (pots, switches) out of the guitar, but I have another unit with longer flexible arms for doing in situ soldering. That also has it's shortcomings, but again, does the job. (it too was a cheapie).

You can spend more money for better quality, but from what I've seen they're all more PCB soldering orientated and will have some limitations for guitar-specific in situ tasks.

Edit:
Once again Trevor and I are on the same page!
I also wanted to add that the magnifier and LED on the Jaycar one does work OK, but the lens is a bit on the small side.

[MrEddy]

Thanks to you both. Very helpful.