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 Replies: 17 / Views: 3,354 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3592 Posts |
What do you use for magnification ? Is there something besides a hand held magnifier ? I also get back pain from long hours of searching,anybody figured an easier,less painful method ? I'm older so these things are more of an issue.Love to hear some ideas.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1418 Posts |
Anymore, I use a usb microscope. Although they can be costly, they help a lot.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
850 Posts |
i use a hand held magnifier and I agree with you it hurts my back and I'm not even 20 yet. I will invest in a usb microscope so I can take close up shots on my laptop and not having you use a magnifier and a camera. I had one as a kid but I need to update it.
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Valued Member
United States
476 Posts |
Good lighting compensates for lack of magnification IMHO. I sit at our dining room table (who dines formally anyway) which has incandescent lighting, and use an LED desk lamp, that is great. As for the back pain, it's all about the posture baby. :)
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4212 Posts |
I bust 10 rolls at a time on the dogs bed (not on your carpet, leaves big grey/black spots), grab 20-30 in my palm and start flipping. Hand held mag. Throw savers in a can. Gleen afterwards. DD is right, eventually you find your posture. And remember, your wife wont give diddly-poo about that silver find if you let spent roll pieces pile up. Best equipt? Grandkids with a heads-up
on keepers. Happy huntin!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2600 Posts |
750 and 123,
First, I have a 5X and an 8X hand magnifier. Things that catch my attention and some certain dates that I know are hard for me to see go under the Omana stereo microscope. No doubt that the scope has paid for itself and it was expensive.
I also was getting both neck and back pain. To facilitate sitting upright, I purchased an artist travel easel. It is a wooden briefcase with an adjustable easel on one side. I then took a piece of 5/8s plywood and cut to 24"x30" and mounted a rail that runs horizontally across it. It is about the size of a ruler and 3/8" thick. After adjusting the easel to the proper height and adding good overhead lighting, I spread coins along the rail and start searching. I can go for an hour or two and have no ill effects. Well worth it for me.
Jim
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Almost every year about this time Walmart had in the toy department a hand held type microscope to connect to a computer. You would just pass the thing over anything and it shows up on your computer screen. I think it was about 300X for power. I've seen them at some toy stores too. Keep thinking of getting one but also keep forgetting. And actually not to expensive. |
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Valued Member
United States
467 Posts |
When looking a coins I have a bright desk lamp and do all sorting on black craft felt from Hobby lobby. I removes a ton of glare and makes it easier on the eyes.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
3592 Posts |
I'm getting some good ideas already...looks like I'll have a project in my wood shop this winter.Posture,lighting,and convienience sound like the three main factors.I'm thinking along the lines of the old school desk/chair combos with built in lighting. Only problem will be finding a spot in the house to put it..unless I build a small addition.Appreciate the ideas and hope to hear some more.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2448 Posts |
I wish I could just get rid of the neck and back pain. Unfortunately, after all these years, I'm stuck with it no matter how good my posture. Sometimes, it takes me a month to do the 50 or 60 rolls I bring home. Matter of fact, it's raining like the dickens, think I'll go to the bank. Can't dance and it's too windy to haul rocks today. See ya.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3592 Posts |
carmykle, one thing that really works for me is the inversion table (Teeter's Hang Up)...I still get some pain, but it doesn't last if I use the table on a regualr basis.And oober, I like the black craft felt idea.I'll add that to my project...thanks
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New Member
United States
14 Posts |
I'm using a lamp that I got at a fabric/sewing store that has a nice bright light plus a magnifier lens on a separate, flexible arm. Changing your posture every few minutes should help with the back/neck pain. Taking breaks is wise as well--you can turn a half-day project into a full-day project!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
716 Posts |
Besides the light in the room I also use two $10 type desk lamps bought at Walmart. I also put an air-purifier on the desk while searching. |
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Valued Member
United States
99 Posts |
I also set up on the dining room table. I roll out a soft cloth and lay coins out face up in rows. I use an over sized 3x magnifying glass to do the original exam. If something looks strange or the coin displays a choice condition I take a closer look with a stronger magnifying (7x loop). I usually put on my nerdy headband spotlight at this point. After an hour or two my back starts giving me fits. I am thinking that a taller table might help. Bending over looking through that magnifier is hard to correct once you get caught up in the moment.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1952 Posts |
I use a microscope I think it is 20-40 magnification. I had a usb Camera for it that sat in one of the eye holes but sold that cause I couldn't get used to it so now and then I just get up and clean the black ring from around my eyes and got back at it. I think I got the microscope for about 160 or so and the camera was in the 200 range. it was worth it but the camera was too strong for the scope and made the photos so large I had to minimize them to see the coin and never could get the whole coin in the shot. so now I just put my cannon sd1000 on the eye piece and set it for video and get the best photos
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2448 Posts |
Maineman, sounds interesting, but how do you mount a light or magnifier on that kind of table/chair? Do you drop a lot of coins in that contraption?
Edited by carmykle
10/20/2010 12:08 pm
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Replies: 17 / Views: 3,354 |
Posted 10/14/2010 08:11 am
