Thread: Donegan Opti-Visor

Searched the forums, couldn't find mention of this. One of the best honing tools I own:



Optical glass, both hands free. Not the highest magnification, but it lets me see wire edges on knives and uneven bevels on razors.

Anyone else use this?

I've used it when soldering tattooing needle groups. There is an adjustable eye loupe device made for it ,to increase the magnification, which I have, and a light that also attaches to the visor, which I do not have. I have never used it for honing but it is an interesting idea. I'll have to remember to check it out.

Yes it's a great tool for watchmaking, which is what I use it for. You can get as Jimmy said a loupe to attach to it and also you can get either a miniature spotlight or even better an LED plate that attaches and floods your work area with light. I didn't think the mag was enough for razors though.

I have 2 of these don't know how I have two I just do lol...

I use them every time I sharpen or hone. I keep thinking about getting the higher magnifiers but never remembered long enough to look them up

I use reading glasses, magnification 3x, about 6 USD at any cheap and cheerful drugstore.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I've used it when soldering tattooing needle groups. There is an adjustable eye loupe device made for it ,to increase the magnification, which I have, and a light that also attaches to the visor, which I do not have. I have never used it for honing but it is an interesting idea. I'll have to remember to check it out.

Jimmy,

My curiosity is piqued: what is a soldered tattoo needle group and what does one do with it? Is it art in itself or is it used in the creation of art?

Aha, time again for a bit of wassail,

I believe JoeD has had one of these surgically stapled to his forehead. Looks good on him, though.

Originally Posted by Bruce

Jimmy,

My curiosity is piqued: what is a soldered tattoo needle group and what does one do with it? Is it art in itself or is it used in the creation of art?

Aha, time again for a bit of wassail,

Back in the old days, and still for some of us, # 12 sharps were bought in packs of a thousand. You examined the points with a microscope and separated the pile into lining needles for the sharpest, shading/coloring needles for the lesser points and garbage for the hooked or blunted points.

Then you put the needles in a template and soldered them into groups. Liners might be 3,5,7 or more depending on the job. Shaders from 5 to 7 in a flat configuration for coloring/shading or up to 14 in a round shape. Once soldered in a group the needle group is soldered onto a needle bar and then the flux neutralized and the needle cleaned in an ultrasonic and sterilized in a steam autoclave.

Nowadays they sell pre made needles on the bar. It will become a lost art. Making needles with subtle nuances to create certain affects used to be a part of being a pro tattooer. Not as much any more. Photos, sourced from Google images, show a liner on the left and a shader on the right.

Aha! Thanks, Jimmy, I learned something today.