Workbench Lighting

Hi All,
I'm looking for suggestions for good quality lighting for my workbench. What I have always used is an inexpensive so called drafting table lamp with a 60W incandescent bulb. It just doesn't cut it anymore.

I looked at Ott Lights yesterday. I like the light that it gives off. Adjustments are limited as far as bringing the light close to your work.

I don't have much extra space on the bench for a table top lamp. I can't mount anything to the ceiling or walls either.

Has anyone used a "cool white" light bulb in a simple light fixture? Are the results as good as spending money for some fancy setup?

 

Dave,
I use an inexpensive "bendy" light I found at Wal Mart. The neck can bend any which way, and it has a clamp at the base that allows me to move it around the edge of the workbench. I also put in one of those energy saver florescent bulbs (the ones that look like a twisty straw). I think it was around a 5000K bulb. Add this to the regular room lighting, and I have no troubles seeing what I'm doing.

Mike

 

I would not go with anything too fancy. Just try for something that gives a lot of light and is easy to replace. I had a high-class bulb in a special $200 lamp and the manufacturer quit making that lamp and bulb. The current equivalent model was a $350 lamp, so being retired, I declined. My current setup is a two-bulb, four foot shop fluorescent light. I have two extra 150 watt fluorescent clamp on lamps to add more lumens if I need them.

In any case, I would keep it simple.

 

Amazon.com sells many magnifying lamps for desks and benches that may fit your purpose. Go to the Amazon site and search for Magnifying Lamp.

 

My wife and I each have a couple of these for our respective hobby areas. Both types are easy to bring close to your work.

Flipbright Natural Daylight Artists Lamps.

Flexible Combo Lamp -- clamps to edge of workbench or desk.

For the lamp above, you can get a floor stand.

Also, here's a site with a bunch of magnifying lamps: eHobbyTools.com.

- Jeff

 

I just use a bunch of CFLs in cheap fixtures.

 

Thanks everyone for suggestions.
I ended up buying a couple of Ott 15w Edison Bulbs. I found them at Lowe's for $8.00 each. The light they give off is what I was looking for.

 

I agree with the small flexible neck type for up close work, and I use fluorescent for the room anyway which helps immensely. The CFL's take too long to warm up for short periods of time you might need to just 'look' at something better. Alas as we grow older those cataracts give us some grief and we need good shadows to see properly.

Jack

 

I have an old flourescent tube fixture above my workbench. It's been there for 25 years or more, and still keeps on working. I don't recall ever having to replace the tube.

I was at a local electronics store a few months back, and they had small tabletop magnifying lamps - the kind with a round flourescent circular fixture and a magnifying lens in the middle of it. It was about $16 on sale, so I picked one up. I guess I'd been in denial about how much harder it was getting to see details clearly. When I started using this lamp/magnifier, I discovered that it was much easier to assemble small parts, and I got better results when hand-painting details. I like to put together Jordan vehicle kits, and this cheapo lamp has made me a much better modeller.

 

I have a workbench-top light with an adjustable neck. Light is from a 60 watt bulb but I'm going to switch to those twisty-looking bulbs as soon as I get to the hardware store or supermarket. The lamp rests on a flat base which can be set anywhere on the top; it cannot be clamped to the side, which, to me, is a minor drawback.

I have two large wood box lights that belonged to my geologist-writer-railroader father, who died a year ago at 98. I have no idea how I'm going to use these for layout work but believe they'll be excellent to illuminate fine detailing, kit projects.

 

Whatever you get, I suggest it use a daylight type bulb. Otherwise, what might look right at the bench will appear differently when at the layout.

 

I use a bench mounted Ott light with natural light fluorescent tubes. It also has a magnifier attached for closeup work.