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Title: Costco Mag light for fly tying
Post by: Billy on December 01, 2015, 06:38:15 PM
I was in Costco at the weekend and bought a standby mag-light for about £15. Its cheap and cheerful but I have been looking for another one and you are talking stupid money compared to this.

I thought it would be ideal for anyone who struggles a bit with their eyesight when tying flies. A bit like myself :.

As an added bonus the pack also has a small magnifying glass which lights up and has a pair of tweezers attached.

If I remember Ill take a picture of them and post it tomorrow.

Billy
Title: Re: Costco Mag light for fly tying
Post by: rannoch raider on December 01, 2015, 08:49:24 PM
Nice one Billy, I'd be interested in finding out a little more about that. I'm looking at what's out there at the moment and would be interested to hear if anyone else is using a lamp and magnifier and opinions on the good and the bad ?
Title: Re: Costco Mag light for fly tying
Post by: Billy on December 02, 2015, 08:07:12 AM
I bought it for my man cave at home as I have a really good one in Aberdeen.
I just thought that for that price you cant go wrong.

I think the tweezers with the light is a handy wee thing especially when you have eyes like Mr Magoo.

Billy
Title: Re: Costco Mag light for fly tying
Post by: corsican dave on December 02, 2015, 09:20:08 AM
I got one of these back in the spring. seems to be fine. makes all the difference with the extra light, although I don't use the magnifier at all  :wink: they often have them on offer and appear to do so right now. very good for £25
http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/22w-fluorescent-daylight-magnifier-lamp-a29ff?gclid=CP7607PcvMkCFUNmGwodFMUCtA (http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/22w-fluorescent-daylight-magnifier-lamp-a29ff?gclid=CP7607PcvMkCFUNmGwodFMUCtA)

as Billy says, the "professional" alternatives are extortionate and some of them aren't actually any different that I can see. obviously the really good ones are hundreds of pounds, but it does for me. I use mine in a room with a standard fluorescent strip light overhead which gives me the ambient light.
Title: Re: Costco Mag light for fly tying
Post by: rannoch raider on December 02, 2015, 07:20:10 PM
Billy, Dave, Thanks for that. I'm just about to get back into it more regularly. Hard to beat either of those at that sort of price. The built for purpose stuff in tackle shops is just a rip off. I've been using a cheap desk lamp but it heats up and it's not the best light.
It's hiding in there somewhere  :)

[attachimg=1]


Time to get organised ! :shock:
Title: Re: Costco Mag light for fly tying
Post by: Lochan_load on December 03, 2015, 01:17:38 PM
I've got the one dave put up, can't fault it, never use the magnifier either but think the circular bulb gives a good even light. I struggled a bit tying on the stravaig without it because you get used to having one, would the costco one be portable enough to take away billy?
Title: Re: Costco Mag light for fly tying
Post by: rannoch raider on December 03, 2015, 04:50:46 PM
Ordered the one from Maplins online yesterday before discovering that there's a store 5 mins from where I live  :roll:
Title: Re: Costco Mag light for fly tying
Post by: Bobfly on December 04, 2015, 08:53:52 PM
Went into Maplins in Stirling today for one of their £24.99 lights as a secret Xmas pressie for myself.
BRILLIANT !!   :D :D   Lovely even white light and BIG magnification. They also stock spare ring tube bulbs.
Title: Re: Costco Mag light for fly tying
Post by: Fishtales on December 05, 2015, 12:08:18 AM
Quote from: Bobfly on December 04, 2015, 08:53:52 PM
Went into Maplins in Stirling today for one of their £24.99 lights as a secret Xmas pressie for myself.
BRILLIANT !!   :D :D   Lovely even white light and BIG magnification. They also stock spare ring tube bulbs.

I have a similar one. You shouldn't need a spare bulb though unless you break it. Mine is forty+ years old and still the original bulb. Depends on how much use it gets though I suppose :)
Title: Re: Costco Mag light for fly tying
Post by: Bobfly on December 05, 2015, 12:21:46 AM
They did say that they expect the bulb to last a long time but a lot of their customers are circuit board builders and electronics whizzos who use these lamps for hours every day. First time I have been inside a Maplins shop and I guess I had no idea at all of the general function of more than 10% of what was in there !!!
Title: Re: Costco Mag light for fly tying
Post by: Billy on December 05, 2015, 12:02:16 PM
Quote from: Lochan_load on December 03, 2015, 01:17:38 PM
I've got the one dave put up, can't fault it, never use the magnifier either but think the circular bulb gives a good even light. I struggled a bit tying on the stravaig without it because you get used to having one, would the costco one be portable enough to take away billy?

It's very light, pardon the pun. You would hardly notice it in your bag.

Billy