Magnifying glass for grafting

[AstroBee]

That looks really nice but I am wondering if a 100 watt halogen bulb might throw off a lot of heat.

Jim,

That could very well be an issue. I don't have personal experience with that, but halogen bulbs do throw a lot of heat. An LED would be far better.

I actually bought this one in December: http://www.brushymountainbeefarm.com...oductinfo/239/

It seems okay, but not super great quality - it appears to be built in Russia. I'll give it a go this spring. My son tried it and said he could see the bottom of the cells better without it - but of course 10 year old eyes can count the hairs on a flea.

[db_land]

Db do you have the name of the app that you used. I have download 3 of them and thay all stink. I can't even see my hand in them. They won't focus.

The app is called "MagLight+Magnifying Glass" (abreviated on my iphone with "Mag.Light"). I downloaded it from the "App Store" at the iTunes website. At the time I downloaded it, the app was free --- now it looks like they're asking 99 cents for it. Here's a link for it https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/magn...406048120?mt=8

[David LaFerney]

I found the Optivisor with glass lenses, wide choice of powers and diopter for $42 in the maxiaids.com catalog. Is that a good price?

I use a 2x optivisor with light- works great.

[squarepeg]

2x usually equates to +5.00

[db_land]

Here is a magnified image of comb cells made using my iPhone Mag.Light app:
I put a speck of sawdust in the middle, slightly damaged cell to simulate an egg or small larva --- the white speck is at the bottom right wall if the cell.

Barry: I think we need an "Applied Technology" forum. The smart phone technology is quite amazing and has many potential applications in all aspects of beekeeping.