brightening workbench top

Re: brightening workbench top

Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX

>It looks pretty light where it has been planed already near the vise, I'd stick with oil and wax.

Pam

Re: Good eye

Dale Lenz - Tahlequah, OK

>Yes that is a fresh plane cut. The vise bench face board, maple, was a wee bit proud of the workbench surface. Actually the pine has darken over the years, normally desirable in woodwork, but not this time........Thanks for the positive post.........Dale

recommendations on bench color

Bill Tindall, E. TN

>My brother in law lighting eng. advised me on shop lighting. He recommended white floors, ceiling and walls as well as an off-white bench top to capture and reflect back overhead lighting. I applied an off white sheet of masonite (damaged sheet from Lowes for $7). It upped the illumination at the vise by 25%, quite a significant improvement. I have become quite fond of the light colored bench. Former bench cover was brown masonite.

Masonite on a bench top may not be historically accurate but I think it makes for a practical, cheap, renewable work surface.

Re: brightening workbench top

Frank Mutchler

>SYP should give a nice light finish w/oil & wax. I find that I benefit from portable flourescent lighting on the bench...the type of desk lamp that has a weighted base for stability.

When that isn't practical, I use the type of light that extends on a boom and mounts to a fixed base somewhere on the bench. When necessary,I've just drilled a hole in a piece of scrap for it to mount in and clamped where desired. I've been tempted to suspend a light from the ceiling that I can swing over any given work area on demand. 'nother 'round-tuit' ;>)!!

Re: brightening workbench top

William R. Duffield, on the Cohansey

>I use portable fluorescent lighting, similar to what you describe. The one I use has an articulated arm, and had an optional weighted base that I declined to buy. It has a ¹/₂" diameter x 2" long pin the drops into the base. I drilled a ¹/₂" hole in a ³/₄" dowel and glued the pin in. The dowel drops into any convenient doghole, and also into dogholes drilled into scrap blocks of wood that I have mounted over several power tool work stations, and into dog holes drilled into the sides of the jaws of large wooden hand screws.

The main problem with fluorescent lighting is that it is too distributed for some work. An incandescent or halogen point source bulb works better for carving and turning details, because the fluorescent bulb tends to flatten the work, thus hiding (really, deemphasizing) surface shadow details.

Check out IKEA, if you have one near, for a vast selection of inexpensive lighting "solutions" (or at least "kits" or "components") for workshop lighting.

I keep looking for an old dentist's chair light to mount over the bench, but haven't found one yet.

Re: dentist's light *LINK*

Clay Craig in Miami

>I bought this on ebay (mostly because I love the look) - it does occur to me that this could really bring some light to bear on a bench!

Clay


Surgical light

Re: dentist's light

Jim in Burlington Ontario

>Someone on the turning forum bought a newer dentists light. Yours looks like it could be a top end decorator piece.

Hey, someone else from Indian Territory.

Roger Nixon

>I grew up (OK, spent my formative years) on the Choctaw side of the Arkansas river in the tiny town of Keota. My wife is from Sallisaw so I made it to the Cherokee nation frequently.

Re: Hey, someone else from Indian Territory.

Dale Lenz - Tahlequah, OK

>I was raised in OKC. Got a forestry degree from OSU in Stillwater and that was my trip ticket out of the city. Lived in Broken Bow for 5 years and have been in Tahlequah for 15+ years now. Pretty much enjoy it. Me think I've got some Choctaw blood in me but can't prove it.....Dale