Workbench lighting

[Qwit Pushin]

I love these lights! They're easy on the eyes, don't produce heat, and they're energy-efficient - What's not to like?!

[Aaronw]

And don't forget the "Easy Bake Oven!"

Yeah, that is a job LEDs will never take from the trusty incandescent.

Another big plus to LEDs is their ability to be laid out in shapes. I'm considering LED lights for a model display case because of the way I can hide them in the structure of the case. The very low heat emmision is another plus, I don't want an easy bake display case.

[Monty]

For once, Harry, the label is telling the truth. LED lights use only about 10-15% of the power of incandescent bulbs. The Doc is right too, in that they are a higher temp range and do have much more "daylight looking" light and NO HEAT!!! I got one at Target that has a LED and is a flexible gooseneck extension and clamps onto my lowest shelf above the workbench. I can move it around to change the intensity of the light directly on the work. Really nice setup!

Phil, can you tell me the part number of this lamp. Sounds like something I should check into.

[RodneyBad]

Thanks Harry for the Idea. I'm been using an Old swing arm lamp with a 60w bulb.

Nice and warm in the winter time tho..

Gonna check out those LEDss tho..

[Nick Notarangelo]

I know Harry thier is a company that makes LED light units so the big floresents so you can swap out the bulbs and balest for just the LED tubes,were getting those for the shop and it makes life a lot easier,plus no hums and pops

[crazyjim]

I still use the old round flourescent bulb magnifier lamp. It's going on 30 - 35 years old. When/if it goes, I'll be getting one of those LED things.

[berr13]

I just bought one of these lamps today, and I'm a happy builder. I've been toiling with a low power magnifier and an incandescent lamp, and feeling much like a medieval monk illustrating hand-made books in a dimly lit cell. This thing is GREAT! Lots of light, great magnification, and I really appreciate the no heat aspect. Highly recommended!!

[charlie8575]

Right now, I can occasionally use a tray-table and even when I get something a little more permanent erected, it may not be as permanent as I like.

SomewhereI saw a clamp-on, battery-powered LED light. I'm going to see if I can get one that actually does what I need at a reasonable price, and if I can, I'm getting it. Even with all the lights on in the living room, illumination on the table is horrible at best.

Charlie Larkin

Edited May 11, 2014 by charlie8575

[mademan]

On both of my work benches I have 18" florescent fixtures from walmart, $24.99 and they light it up very nicely. I would show a picture of my bench but I am at work 18 hrs from home.

[Jeff Johnston]

I haven't needed a magnifier yet but I catch myself squinting here and there. I think it's coming.

Oh it's coming LOL !!! I started having to wear Wal-Mart cheater glasses while building a few years ago. I used to brag how I was 40 and still had 20:15 vision. That lasted about 4 years !! NOW I am 49 and I have to have my wife read me the menu if the restaurant is too dark LOL.

Funny though... I have a couple friends who wear glasses and are, for most of their life, near sighted. Its weird to see them take OFF their glasses to look at something up close. I'm the opposite. I have to wear glasses to read now. Definitely have to wear them to build. We're getting old ! If only my brain felt as old as my body HAHA. Sometimes my body has to remind me that I'm not 30 anymore....

[robertw]

For many years I've used one of those swing arm style lamps that clamps to the back edge of the bench. I use a GE Reveal 100 watt incandesent bulb in it and have stock piled enough of those now banned bulbs to last the rest of my modelling life. I tried one of the magnifier lamps but found it too big and always getting in my way. The light from flourescent and curly bulbs is never bright enough, distorts color and bothers my eyes after a short time. As for the heat given off by the incandescent bulb, my model room is small and during our long winter (it hasn't ended here yet) that one bulb is enough to heat up the room to a comfortable level within a half hour. I might try the LED bulbs someday but the flouescent bulbs, never again.

[charlie8575]

For many years I've used one of those swing arm style lamps that clamps to the back edge of the bench. I use a GE Reveal 100 watt incandesent bulb in it and have stock piled enough of those now banned bulbs to last the rest of my modelling life. I tried one of the magnifier lamps but found it too big and always getting in my way. The light from flourescent and curly bulbs is never bright enough, distorts color and bothers my eyes after a short time. As for the heat given off by the incandescent bulb, my model room is small and during our long winter (it hasn't ended here yet) that one bulb is enough to heat up the room to a comfortable level within a half hour. I might try the LED bulbs someday but the flouescent bulbs, never again.

If you can get them, Rob, I also recommend the 100W equivalent (uses about 70W) Sylvania Halogens. They have no noticeable difference in light quality and cost a few pennies less to run.

Charlie Larkin

[Pete J.]

My work bench has a storage shelf overhanging the bench. Until recently I had 8 surface mount halogens to light the surface of the desk. There were two issued with them. The first is that the bulbs didn't last very long and it seems that there was always one burned out. They are a real pain to change. Second, they produced a lot of heat. Enough to heat the 3/4" plywood that I made the storage out of to damage the unbuilt kits stored on the shelf. I recently replaced the halogen with two strips of kitchen under counter LED lights from Home Depot. They were not cheap but they cast a very even light over the bench. The shadows are very muted so they don't interfere with building and generate no heat at all. So far I like them a lot. Very nice change.

[Modlguy]

Good subject to bring up, Harry. I have 4 banks of great lights hanging from the ceiling, and a about 3 desk lamps one with a huge magnifier! I think the older I get the more lighting I need.

Since I just became a subsciber I think this would be a good subject for a Cranky video.