Tying bench question

[timsetteducati]

What do you use for light on your benches? Also any advice on what I should have behind my vise? At times it is hard to see the thread and how well the pattern is developing. I can't get new eyes but am looking to see what you guys are using to lessen the strain on the eyes. Thanks for the help. Tim

[Nick Pionessa]

you should have good light, it will make a big difference in your tying and also in eye fatigue. just and ordinary goose neck type of desk lamp is just fine. anything you can position directly over the vise. i prefer the daylight colored compact fluorescent bulbs, good light and no heat. 75-100 watt.

[VERNBURM]

Ditto what Nick said on the daylight spectrum bulb and I like a soft light colored background.....like a light blue piece of fabric.....paper works as well, but make sure you dont get anything to glossy or the glare will fatigue your eyes

[k clancy]

I'm kinda late in this reply but, I use a lighted magnifying glass mounted on a swing arm for tying. It has a ring of LED lights surrounding a 4" diameter 2.5x glass. the LED lights are very bright without being harsh, and they don't generate any heat the 2.5x glass makes it easy for my tired old eyes to see what the hell I'm doing even down to 26's for Tricos and midges. Got it at Office Depot, caught it on sale for about $40. Best tying investment I've made since my first good scissors. With the high magnification focused on the fly the background is blurred out and basically irrelevant.

[garymitchell]

I also use a low power magnifier with a built in incandescent bulb, and tie in sizes 2/0 to 28. The lamp/magnifying glass is on a swivel arm, clamped to my table. I'm also in the habit of using a piece of thin white cardboard 8 1/2 by 11 on the table under the fly.

[Michael Hartman]

Led light bulbs are extremely expensive but are worth it if you hung one over your desk or maybe 1 lamp it would be perfect. They aren't harsh unless you look into it. But they provide a very Crisp white light

[JoeSperanza]

I have an Ott Light, a little expensive but worth it

[byronfishpaw]

Oct 19, 2012 10:43:28 GMT -5 timsetteducati said:

Also any advice on what I should have behind my vise?

Like Vern pointed out - something soft in color. I took an empty paper towel tube and paperclip paper to it. Then stand it up behind the vise. Unless it gets really windy works well. Can change paper color to suit you. Beer bottle can help for support (the tube that is).

[SteveKowalski]

"Beer bottle can help for support (the tube that is)."
emptying it can make your tying sloppy or more creative,
results may vary