Helping Hands And Magnification For All Kinds Of Specialty Crafting

Some crafting projects and home repairs can take several hands more than you have. And when you need those extra hands they often are not home to help you.

That's where something like the Kitclan LED Light Desktop Magnifier comes in handy. This is a small tool that can help you hold things while you work on them.

The large magnifying lens that is 3X, which is sufficient for most purposes, makes it easy to see what you are doing up close. The neat thing is you can work on things without the magnifier too. It swivels up and out of the way for use with just the extra "hands" part. There are two adjustable points on the neck of the Magnifier so you can adjust the magnifier as needed. The lens can also be rotated 360 degrees.

I really like that there is a small LED light bulb to really help you see what you are working on. The light works by plugging it in with the included USB cord. I found the cord to be way too short, so I have replaced it with one I already had here at home that is 5 times longer. Now I can use the magnifier pretty much anywhere I want to without having to worry about a tightly stretched cord. You can use 3 AAA batteries instead of the USB cord, but the light is not as bright then.

The alligator clips that come with the magnifier, hold things tightly so you don't have to worry about things slipping while you are working. They swivel around 360 degrees and move side to side to reach towards or away from each other depending on the size of the item you are working on.

This magnifier is great for small detail work while making jewelry, working on electronics, making fishing lures, and more. There is also a small tray at the bottom to hold bits for you while you work.

Now I will tell you that most of this unit is plastic, so you need to be careful while using it, especially with anything hot that might melt the plastic or from dropping it. For example, the coil to hold your soldering iron. The end of it touches the plastic so you need to adjust it some before letting a hot soldering iron be put in it. If it was made from better material I would be very excited about it, but since it is just plastic, not so much! It is still a fairly good product.

You can purchase the Kitclan LED Light Desktop Magnifier HERE!

This reviewer received the product free or at a discounted price in order to bring you an honest review. No other form of compensation was given. All opinions are those of the reviewer.

A Nice Set Of Brushes For The Beginning Artist Or Avid Crafter.

When it comes to crafting I tend to be a bit of a dabbler. I love art and I love creating. Over the years I have learned that having quality tools and supplies makes a big difference in the outcome of any project you are working on. Paint brushes are no exception to this. In fact having quality brushes can make all the difference.

Santa Fe Art Supply has a nice set of brushes that would be great for many crafters and artists, especially a young artist just starting out or crafter wanting a good set of brushes without breaking the bank!

What I really like is the case that the brushes come it. It is perfect for carrying all the brushes with you in a safe way, protecting the bristles and providing easy access to them as you work. The case is well padded and comes with a carry strap to put around your wrist or to hang from and easel or hook keeping them from taking up valuable table or work space.

The pop-up feature inside is a great idea. Each pocket is held in place with a Velcro strip. Those can be unattached and then set up to hold the brushes upright at a slight angle making it easy to see them and even more so, to pull them out of their pockets without damaging the bristles as you do so.

The brushes themselves are a good quality brush that can be used for a number of things; Acrylic, Oil, Watercolor, Gouache, Ink, & Face Paint. That's why I think this is a good starter set for a young budding artist. They can get a feel for a variety of brushes in several mediums and learn how to use them properly before spending a lot of money on specific brushes for specific mediums.

The handles on the brushes are long giving the artist a chance to experiment handling a brush and getting used to allowing it to be an extension of their arm. They are balanced fairly well, although I wish they felt a little more substantial in my hand as I was using them. The set comes with the 15 brushes and then a bonus brush with a shorter handle and ergonomic grip. I actually like that brush better than the 15 that are a part of the set.

Santa Fe Art Supply does offer a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee and Lifetime Replacement Warranty on the set of brushes, which is a really nice bonus. You seldom get that with most art supplies.

I do have one complaint that must be addressed. When the brushes arrived there was a very foul new plastic smell to them and the case. It was quite hard to deal with and I had to leave the case opened and air it out for several weeks before I could use them. The smell still lingers even after 4 weeks! Just an FYI for you if you have trouble with some odors!

You can purchase your own set of Santa Fe  Art Supply Artist Brushes HERE!

The reviewer has been compensated with receiving the product free in order to bring you an honest review. All opinions are those of the reviewer.