[I copied this from my main blog as proof that I still find a little time to play with airguns.]
I’m of an age that I need reading glasses for close up work. Unfortunately I also need safety glasses in many of the same situations. I know that you can buy magnifying safety glasses, but they are never as inexpensive as the $1.00 reading glasses from the local Dollar Tree.
I am a cautious person (milquetoast) so I thought it would be wise to do a simple test of the shatter resistance of the dollar store reading glasses. On with the science!
The dollar store glasses.
Poor sap.
My RWS Diana Model 45 air rifle. I chose it because I thought I had it sighted in at 10 yards, which I didn’t. With 7.9 grain Crosman pellets at 715 fps, it should hit the glasses with about 9 ft/lbs of energy. 
10 yards down the length of my deck.
After shooting low a couple of times I finally hit the glasses.
First lens.
The other lens. Both lenses shattered and I couldn’t even find some of the pieces.
As a control I gave my dummy some safety glasses.
First shot dented the lens.
Second shot knocked the lens out of the frame.
I wonder if that’s by design? I remounted the lens and took a third shot. 
Which eyewear would you rather be sporting when a projectile is coming towards your eye?
Imagine that small shard penetrating your eyeball.
As you can see the safety glasses deform rather than shattering.
So I guess I’ll spring for a pair of safety reading glasses, or wear the safety glasses over reading glasses. I won’t be using the readers as safety glasses.
4 comments:
Nick,
Your safety glasses should say Z87 on the frame or temple to be certified as safety glasses. Safety glass for high impact will say Z87+.
If you dick with lasers, welders tints will not work. Your safety glasses should have a wavelength(S) and matching optical density (OD). How much OD? Sorry that depends on power, beam diameter, type of laser...Check with the manufacturer.
Good article, it's a valuable lesson about protecting your eyes.
Frank
I've tested cheap (real) safety glasses before. They do not shatter with a 900 fps crosman quest. I still have them, I can shoot them with a .22lr if you'd be interested in the results.
Guys ...
I would suggest that anyone who uses "reading glasses" and wants approved safety glasses go and visit his local welding supply store. I don't mean the welding department at the farm supply store. Go to the place where they will fill the welding gas tanks. You will find your "reading" glasses with safety glass. I bought a pair for welding! For air gunning they are perfect and I use them all the time. They are bifocals, and I would not have bought them if they were expensive.
Standard reading glasses definitely don't function as reading glasses. I also need reading glasses at my age. I just put my safety glasses over my reading glasses when I need both.
Ron | http://eyepopreaders.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=20_77
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