[R-390] Filter Repair

[quartz55]

I need help with connecting #40 wire together.  When I do it, I loop each end, try to crush them on each other, solder them and then glue them with epoxy for insulation and stability.  However, these wires are almost impossible to see, even with the headband 3.5x magnifier. It doesn't look anything like the picture, I wish it did, it's looks about half that size through the magnifier and the depth perception is poor, so it's hard to get the pliers to crush the wires together.

Has anyone got a better way to connect these tiny wires, it takes me about a half an hour to do 2 connections?  I'm getting a pair of the surgeons loupes so at least that will get it so I don't have to look at them from 3".

Also notice that the glue seems to want to ball up, surface tension I reckon.  Is there any way I can get the glue to spread out more evenly on the wires?

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg287/DogTi/R390A/coilbrokenwire_zps7a702c9c.jpg

Dave