Lens Mods to sx160is?

My next door neighbor said one could affix a jeweler's loupe to the lens of a camera for greater magnification in macro mode.

Question: True?

Question: The sx160 lens retracts automatically after 60 seconds as a power save measure. The only way to prevent this is to keep fooling with the controls. If anything is "stuck" to the side of the lens, I would imagine it would break the tiny gears that move the lens when this happens. What is a good way to affix the loupe so it will harm nothing?

Disable power save.

That was a head slapper! I shudda known that. Will do right now!

Of course, all this kludging COULD be precluded by buying an EARLY DSLR for a few $$, used, and taking advantage of its features.

Still, I'm going to push what I have until the need to upgrade overrides the need to improvise.

Trying to resist Item 3 of the 10 things rookies do wrong: load up on equipment before they have an idea how to use it.