Workbench lighting?

Re: Workbench lighting?

wayne anderson

>I use the newer high output 1" diameter T8 flourescent lights. Nice and bright, good color, and cheaper to run, and less shadows than incandescent lighting. -wayne

February 2006

Christopher Schwarz

>Tony,

That section on lighting was in the "Ultimate Hand Tool Shop" article:

Title: Arts & Mysteries: The Ultimate Hand Tool Shop

Author: Adam Cherubini

Issue Date: 2/2006 Volume Number: 153

Page number: 34 Article length: 4 pp.

Abstract:

The perfect hand tool woodshop may not exist, but you can come close if you provide enough space to work efficiently, storage for your tools and raw materials and good lighting. We look to historic examples and present day methods.

I love track lights.

Thomas Skaggs, Foothills of Mount Level

>I put track lighting above my benches and have never regretted it. The general lighting in the shop is flourescent. But I put tracks over my benches. I love it because I can add, delete, spotlight, angle the lights etc. Such a flexible system and my bench tops are so nice and bright.

Tom

Re: I love track lights.

Kevin French

>Roger that Thomas I have a 4 lamp 4' Flourescent over my head when I stand at the bench. a 2 lamp 4' Flourescent directly over the bench and just cam up with 4 track light heads that are spotted on 2 vises. I also have a snorkle lamp sitting on the bench. I likes my light.

Re: Workbench lighting?

Adam Cherubini

>I have some specific recomendations in the article, but I think the salient point is that point sources and raking light and shadows are good. The guys on the other forum seem to prefer the shadowless industrial casino-like light in which you confuse night and day, first shift from third.

I hope you like that article!

Adam

Thanks!

Tony Sade (Charleston, WV)

>

Ditto in my new shop

Don in Northern Arizona ex-Kenmore, NY resident

>

Re: Workbench lighting?

Ernie Miller

>I run a mixture of lights T8 florescents, track light and a good old fashion floor lamp with a goose neck on it so I can get light where and when I want it. I also use differant bulbs including a couple grow lamps in the flroscent fixtures to get asmuch of the spectrum covered as possable. I have a couple tru lights in the cans that are used in the mall at jewelary stores. they give every thing a totaly differant look.

Re: Workbench lighting?

Bruce, a MN Galoot

>Ernie,

How well do those T-8's work in the cold? My shop is unheated and I've not had good luck with cheapie fluorescents.

Bruce

Re: I love track lights.

Mike Real from Pittsburgh

>I just replaced my fluorescent lights with 4 track lights and I love it also. I can get shadows where I need them or have none at all. At the same time I covered the white concrete wall behind the bench with tongue and groove pine covered with a BLO finish. The lighting is easy on the eyes. Interestingly, the yellow tone of the pine seems to work a bit like the blu blocker sunglasses you can get giving more yellow light on the bench.

Re: Workbench lighting?

Ernie Miller

>They don't I have them in my power tool shop it's an unheated garage and they flicker. you can get cold start bulbs that will work better but they cost more. if you liver closer I would give you all of the 4 bulb lights you want. I hit a dumpster a few weeks ago and walked with about a hundred or so lights. I have been selling the heck out of them and only 15-20 to go. nothing beats free money. You don't want to hear about all of the copper that came out of that dumpster.

I understand about the popularity of copper

Bruce, a MN Galoot

>I work for a municipal utility, and we've been hit by copper thieves a bunch, to the tune of big money, in recent years. Can't seem to catch the guys but the cops attribute the thefts to meth addicts. Our phone company, just down the street from my office, had 22,000 pounds of copper phone wire stolen just a month ago, all at one time.

Bruce

Re: I understand about the popularity of copper

Ernie Miller

>This was a building rehab and the company was trashing every thing instead of recycling it. I pulled about a 100 lights out of the dumpster and 35 copper radiatios and 100's of feet of tubbing. the building manager saw me pulling it out and told the workers to start putting it in his truck as I was probably making $50-100 on that stuff and he would put it in the coffee fund. His numbers were way short. I got T track and 2X4' celing tiles also. today it was oak solid core doors. I love it when people throw money in the trash. Another of my favorite dumpster is a camera store.

Dumpster diving - just plain fun and $$

vlparisian - Houston

>

Re: Dumpster diving - just plain fun and $$

Ernie Miller

>My wife won't let me buy a truck because of it. A store recently closed here in town and I loaded my van 5 times with new merchandise it all went straight to the auction house it will be sold two weeks from today. can't wait to see what it brings.

Track light followup?

Tony Sade (Charleston, WV)

>I know generically what track lights are, but I'm wondering if one (or more) of you folks who recommended those could amplify your preference. Is there a type of light-lens, bulb, housing-you prefer?

Thanks,

Tony

Re: Track light followup?

Mike Real from Pittsburgh

>I got 50 watt halogens, pick the fixture you like best but make sure they rotate 360 degrees. Also check head clearance. They get pretty warm, to the point that I am comfortable in the garage in the winter with just a sweater on. Best of luck Pard