User Report

Bifocal Safety Glasses
by Les Miller

Australian Woodworker Magazine, August 2002. P65

The most frustrating aspect of woodworking for those who wear glasses, is those operations involving machinery that require the use of safety goggles or glasses. The lenses in safety glasses cause blurred vision in the very applications where there is the greatest risk to personal safety, and safety goggles invariably lack the volume required to allow a person to wear their normal glasses inside the goggles.

The Woodshop Specs Safety Glasses offer a solution to this common problem. The conventional polycarbonate protector lenses - while not guaranteed unbreakable - meet the high safety performance requirements of ANSI Z87.1-1989. The lower third of each lens is modified to provide clear vision in close range. They are available in a range of magnifications: +1.0, +1.5, +2.0, +2.5, +3.0.

The pair tested performed well in focal ranges from 300mm through to about 750mm. The Woodshop Specs are not only fitted with integrated side shields to prevent side intrusion of waste particles, but the temple arms can be adjusted both in lenght and panasonic angle. This ensures that the wearer is not only comfortable, but also obtains the maximum level of eye protection.

The +3.0 magnification Woodshop Specs tested were comfortable to wear and provided good protection when used for routing, chisel grinding, wood turning and drilling on a drill press.

They are available fro around $50, from Gregory Machinery Pty Ltd, 119 Jane Street, West End Qld 4101, Tel: (07)38444433, or email: info@gregmach.com