lighting the router with LED

Bill, that looks like a good solution, *LINK*

Keith Newton

I know there has been a discussion before this, which I did not follow, but was wondering if anyone suggested using one of these.

I used to have a couple of them back when I was doing deep hollow turnings through a small opening, but they have gotten lost somewhere out in the great shop conglomerate.


https://www.amazon.com/Marksman-Precision-Magnetic-Shooting-Protective/dp/B07MMS7QXN/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2oKtofbW5wIVSr7ACh3vEQt7EAMYASAAEgKLP_D_BwE&hvadid=241940104258&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9025792&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1o1&hvqmt=b&hvrand=1520

Re: Bill, that looks like a good solution,

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

I'll bet this light could be fastened to the router base and the neck craned into the opening to illuminate the bit. There my be many solutions to the illumination problem once people look into solving it. The LV post earlier is what motivated me to do so.

The LED lighting on routers I have seen puts the LED 90 degrees from where they should go. Where light is needed is at the front of the router, not the sides.

The problem to solve with lighting external is to keep the light fixture out of the way.

Re: lighting the router with LED

AlMorgan

Lee Valley has a led light that can easily attache to a router...battery. Item 09A0490.

Re: lighting the router with LED

fred in ct

Bill, have a link to light or name?

searching

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

The light came from son-in-law LED collection and he didn't recall its provenance. It was for lighting signs he thought. The LED strips could work and likely could be glued on.

Re: lighting the router with LED

roger lance

Bill.....that looks like a good solution.....it's on my list of things I need to do to improve my routers as well.

This is an area that I find completely baffling.....why aren't tool manufacturers addressing this need for illumination where it's most critically needed.....where the router bit meets the work?? What are their engineers doing all day anyway??

In addition to ww, I also do some shooting and reloading of my own ammunition. There are major makers of reloading equipment that have been in business for decades and they dominate the market.....yet, they don't seem capable of innovating improvements in their equipment. I'm aware of a young fellow who has a 3D printer and is making/selling aftermarket products that improve these established companies reloading presses......good for him. But, why aren't the companies themselves making what the markets want??

Re: lighting the router with LED

Barry Irby

You can buy rolls of LED lights that are essentially tape with lights lang them at various intervals. Some have more than others. Then you hook them up to a little transformer and switch. You can use as much or little as you want. We could cut off six or eight inches and stick up into the router base and be in business. The rest of the roll would find other places to light up.

About the other question on improving and innovating.....heard a long story on the radio about a couple of guys who decided men's pants should fit better. They developed a company to manufacture them and built it up to the point they sold out to Walmart for over $300,000,000. What I can't figure out is how does this happen? Why didn't some other pants manufacturer see them coming and stomp them? This happens over and over.

Re: lighting the router with LED

frank morgan

It will cost them money to develop, test market, retool as necessary their factory (assuming they still have a factory and haven't farmed it out to China), convince their sales channels to carry it, change their advertising,etc.etc. And maybe their happy with the current cash flow? Make more money on other items, so why put money where it doesn't return as much?

Re: lighting the router with LED

roger lance

Ask Sears.......

Long Ago, Far Away

Mark Mandell - Gone Round In New Jersey

I had a "real" Craftsman router that had light built into the handle. That was just after dirt was invented but long before LEDs were thought of. Did a good job of shining on the bit but the constant vibration rendered the filament bulbs to a limited lifespan. Couldn't find the bulbs after a while but couldn't kill that damn machine. Donated it.

Re: lighting the router with LED

Derek Cohen (in Perth, Australia)

As most may be aware, as I have been posting on this, I have been looking at lighting for routers (among other things) for a while.

The issue I have with this set up is the power source. Most of the LED systems require a 12v battery, and then it makes sense to use a rechargeable battery. They are relatively small, but still too large for my use. This is one I purchased ..

Look for them on eBay. Quite cheap.

There are also LED rings of different diameters available. I wanted to site one under the router motor. But they can block the air outlet.

Look at https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/led-halo-rings/led-halo-angel-eye-headlight-accent-lights/49/2068/

These button LEDS are much better. They are self-contained and use double-sided tape to attach. Last a good time (mine are still going) ...

https://www.amazon.com/BUTTON-LAMP-Adhesive-Light-Package/dp/B0721NYMJN/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=button+led&qid=1582091672&sr=8-1

As posted recently, I am trialing the Veritas lights ...

These are better in small, enclosed spaces where other lights will not fit ..

Regards from Perth

Derek

clarification

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

Most of the LED systems require a 12v battery

These lights require a 12 VDC source. It can be a battery, or it can be a rectified 12V source powered by 120VAC, which is the arrangement I have. My source is just a no longer used 12V battery charger. The advantage is that no bulky battery pack needs to be installed on the router, only the light, and a fine wire from light to where the power cord fastens to the router. All else is external to the router. In terms of weight, visibility, ergonomics, nothing changes except light where one needs it.

Go Green!

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

Install a solar powered 12V battery trickle charger to the router for sunny days Sounds like an idea for LV next April 1.

Re:Derek, dumb question ...

Michael Farinella

Are those button lights rechargeable / replaceable?

Re:Derek, dumb question ...

Derek Cohen (in Perth, Australia)

Michael, they are throw away. It may be possible to replace the battery (which is a button), however they essentially cost the same.

Regards from Perth

Derek

A caution

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

The LED requires the correct polarity. If someone tries wiring one to a 12 V DC power supply and it does not light, reverse the leads.

Re: Band Saw Illumination

William Duffield

The ring lights you reference

https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/led-halo-rings/led-halo-angel-eye-headlight-accent-lights/49/2068/

are also easily adaptable to bandsaw illumination. You need to cut the ring to get it around the bandsaw blade, but that is not a problem, since power goes all the way around the ring for extra reliability. You also need to mount the ring light to a piece of clear plexiglas, and mount the plexiglas horizontally to the upper blade guide/blade guard assembly.

Re: Long Ago, Far Away

Frank Orfanello

Mark,

I had that router too. It was a beast and finally died when it fell of the bench one too many times.

As you said, the light worked well until the filament broke. At one time I had 4 or 5 spare bulbs in a drawer but through them out 10 years after the router broke.