Fw: [sdiy] Death of DIY?

[KA4HJH]

>One of the things that China is manufacturing these days are
>inexpensive stereo microscopes.  I plan on getting one now.
>
>No reason not to do SMT... although it will be a lot less fun
>to tinker with.

Right now I'm wearing eyeglasses that are about -14.00/-4.00 diopters in
both lenses. I have very little stereopsis left. I haven't been able to
wear contact lenses since 1996 due to allergies (my eyes are too dry and
sensitive). For the last several years presbyopia has been setting in,
ruining the one thing that always worked--my near vision. In fact with my
eyeglasses on I can't see anything close-up at all now. I'm supposed to get
two new pairs of glasses, one with a less negative power for near vision.
When this will happen remains to be seen as it won't be cheap. Having
worked in retail optical I know what the wholesale prices are and even that
wouldn't be cheap for me.

I've seen those cheap binocular microscopes. I always wanted one just for
the fun of it. But I won't be doing surface mount with one--I need the
money to buy new glasses. I have NO desire to work with SMT, period.

-- 

Terry Bowman, KA4HJH
"The Mac Doctor"