Task Lighting

Posted by 141drew Aug 30, 2011 at 1:51 PM and filed under Reviews & Features

I prefer to light all of my work areas individually rather than flood an entire space with light. I’ve got no idea if this is the appropriate way to do things, but it certainly works for me. In any case, for years I’ve used different kinds of vintage (of course) lighting with differing results. I rewire just about all of these vintage fixtures I get, but many are either incredibly inefficient and go through bulbs like crazy or are just flat out unreliable.

I have, however, found a light fixture that is reliable, efficient, and looks damn good. Flexo lights were born in the 1940’s and were made for decades afterwards. I’ve got three of their drafting lights and they have been consistently used for over 5 years now without a bulb change. They just flat out work.

Anyway, it got me to wondering… What do you guys use for creative task lighting?

See Comments on the forum.

View thread (42 replies)

4t64rd

Well-known member

Aug 30, 2011

I have a few of those Flexos... They seem to find me.

I use the cheapo Home Depot warehouse lights too, I got a deal on clearance about 10 years ago, $2.99, and they have a (thin but painted) metal shade and 15ft. of cord, and you can hang them off a bent nail if you have to. I work in a barn, so they hold up well, and look good when they start to rust a little.

nickleone

Well-known member

Aug 30, 2011

I buy these at the Goodwill stores. $4 at the most. Drill a hole in the workbench to take the end(I never find them with clamps) put in a flourescent bulb and plug in.

Nick

widerberg

Well-known member

Aug 30, 2011

That Flexo is awesome looking. Very, very nice. I like the deco base.

krupanut

Member

Aug 30, 2011

I use Flexo lights too. I find them at second hand office supply places all the time.
They work great!
I through up some pics later when I get home.

Mike14k

Well-known member

Aug 30, 2011

I have the same fixtures from the 40's. and a couple of the ones that have magnifyers.

Inky Ford

Well-known member

Aug 30, 2011

A couple other US made task lights that have been around for decades are Dazor and Fostoria.

Dazor makes all sorts of lamps, but their drafting table fluorescent lamps are nice. Fostoria makes great machine lamps with super heavy duty arms that can be locked in place.

I prefer the pre-1960 models but even the modern versions are nice. Here is a Fostoria machine lamp:

http://www.drillspot.com/products/52162/fostoria_industries_66-vcx-701b_machine_tool_light

Here are some nice Dazors on ebarf:

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=dazor

Ryan

Administrator

Staff member

Aug 30, 2011

Inky Ford said:
A couple other US made task lights that have been around for decades are Dazor and Fostoria.

Dazor makes all sorts of lamps, but their drafting table fluorescent lamps are nice. Fostoria makes great machine lamps with super heavy duty arms that can be locked in place.

I prefer the pre-1960 models but even the modern versions are nice. Here is a Fostoria machine lamp:

http://www.drillspot.com/products/52162/fostoria_industries_66-vcx-701b_machine_tool_light

Here are some nice Dazors on ebarf:

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=dazor

Nice!

Inky Ford

Well-known member

Aug 31, 2011

Here is my Fostoria lamp mounted on my Hazet tool cart. It is a modern lamp.

Drew_flux

Well-known member

Aug 31, 2011

Inky Ford said:
Here is my Fostoria lamp mounted on my Hazet tool cart. It is a modern lamp.

i like that idea,might have to steal that,might have to tweek it for 12 volts though.

Ryan

Administrator

Staff member

Aug 31, 2011

That's the coolest tool cart I've ever seen. I need details on that thing.

slickgt1

Well-known member

Aug 31, 2011

My father is a watch maker, and he has tons of those lights in the garage. I was planning on stealing a bunch when I finish my garage.

That tool cart is friggen awesome. Can we get more pics. Damn, with rubber bumpers and all.

harrisor

Well-known member

Aug 31, 2011

One I use to see being use in my Dad's workshop was the Magnifying lamps that clamp on to a workbench.

GarageDog

Well-known member

Aug 31, 2011

Ryan said:
That's the coolest tool cart I've ever seen. I need details on that thing.

Ryan,
Have seen the cart along with other Hazet tools at this shop. Believe they are also a distributor.
Bill

Last edited: Aug 31, 2011

Inky Ford

Well-known member

Aug 31, 2011

Ryan said:
That's the coolest tool cart I've ever seen. I need details on that thing.

Hey Ryan, The tool cart is made by Hazet, as you can see by the logo on the bottom container. They call this model the "Assistent" (German spelling). The one in the photo is from the 70's.

They were first introduced in the mid-50's and were popular with mechanics in VW & Porsche shops since they could take their tools to the business-end of the car and then lock the tools up at night.

Hazet makes a newer version of the cart now with the bottom container much bigger, and shaped like an oil pan of a Buick. It also has lots of plastic on it.

The carts are set up to take all sorts of accessories, like the task lamp, a glass holder, a three-leg-stool that slides into a hole in the bottom container, etc. These old carts are super practical for older cars were you don't need a giant chest of tools to do the work.

The glass holder accessory in action:

Here is an old catalog image showing the stool stowed away:

Here is a thread all about the carts:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=156061

taumac

Well-known member

Aug 31, 2011

Thats a bad a@@ cart. Love it

Sammgb

Well-known member

Aug 31, 2011

Inky Ford said:
Here is my Fostoria lamp mounted on my Hazet tool cart. It is a modern lamp.

Okay. That's cool. I'm pirating that one. :thumbup:

rickairmedic

Well-known member

Aug 31, 2011

I pick them up at yard sales for $1.00-$5.00 depending on condition . You can see one of them behind the lathe on my bench . I drill a hole in the benchtop and slip the base into the hole ( I have extra base clamps due to this

) .

Rick

7echo

Well-known member

Aug 31, 2011

Those mid century / atomic age lamps are sweet.

The Hazet cart is nice, I have wanted the similar cart from Stahlwille, the Rollmaster, for years.

7echo

Well-known member

Aug 31, 2011

This one...

http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?VISuperSize&item=170652085209

To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

cafyrman

Well-known member

Sep 2, 2011

Oddly, as I read this thread at work yesterday I glanced at the old light on my desk. Yep, a Dazor 1000.

krupanut

Member

Sep 7, 2011

Here's two on duty in the garage.
The long armed one is a Danzor I have bolted to the end of my main bench so I can swing it over to my side bench and use it at both benches.

rickairmedic

Well-known member

Sep 9, 2011

Ryan I picked these up today with some other Craftsman shop tools of 50's vintage . They are from 58-60 and are CRaftsman made by Levitron. I havent cleaned them up yet but I have tested them and both work .

Rick

D Force

Well-known member

Sep 9, 2011

rickairmedic said:
Ryan I picked these up today with some other Craftsman shop tools of 50's vintage . They are from 58-60 and are CRaftsman made by Levitron. I havent cleaned them up yet but I have tested them and both work .

Rick

What did you do to that vise handle?

rickairmedic

Well-known member

Sep 9, 2011

LOL Dforce that vise was a gift from a freind which came in the condition you see it in which is currently non functioning

.

Rick

D Force

Well-known member

Sep 9, 2011

I got a gift of a vise just like that too. A little Phosphoric acid and that stuff will buff right out.

Dman

Member

Sep 11, 2011

I have an old dentist light that I put on my bench but it did not work out for me. There is too much space needed for it to swivel around and I just don't have the space for it to work properly. It would be a great light if I had the room for it to swivel.

K'ledgeBldr

Well-known member

Sep 18, 2011

Need a bunch-

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/for/2598805271.html

wald1

New member

Oct 24, 2011

Hi, We've got this one in France , the brand is JIELDE , they're still made today
but date back from early 50's.
The cool feature is there's no wire , current run thru the rod , so if you want a taller lamp just had a rod.

wald1

New member

Oct 24, 2011

Better with the pic:

Last edited: Oct 24, 2011

thdewey

Well-known member

Oct 25, 2011

I found a couple of High-Bay lights in the recycle bin at work.
I replaced the transformer and lights with standard fixtures and flood lights.

slickgt1

Well-known member

Oct 25, 2011

wald1 said:
Better with the pic:

Wow really cool. Might get me a couple. thanks.

A**holes Garage

Banned

Oct 25, 2011

I have a small halogen workshop light mounted directly over my workbench, bright and warm.

I fabricated a bracket that attaches to the Gorilla rack the bench is butted up against.

Richard D

Well-known member

Oct 27, 2011

wald1 said:
The cool feature is there's no wire , current run thru the rod , so if you want a taller lamp just had a rod.

Wouldn't it shock you if you touched it?

Falcon67

Well-known member

Oct 27, 2011

K'ledgeBldr said:
Need a bunch-

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/for/2598805271.html

The one on my lathe bench is like Pic #1 in that ad

Richard D

Well-known member

Oct 28, 2011

Inky Ford said:
Hey Ryan, The tool cart is made by Hazet, as you can see by the logo on the bottom container. They call this model the "Assistent" (German spelling). The one in the photo is from the 70's.

They were first introduced in the mid-50's and were popular with mechanics in VW & Porsche shops since they could take their tools to the business-end of the car and then lock the tools up at night.

Hazet makes a newer version of the cart now with the bottom container much bigger, and shaped like an oil pan of a Buick. It also has lots of plastic on it.

The carts are set up to take all sorts of accessories, like the task lamp, a glass holder, a three-leg-stool that slides into a hole in the bottom container, etc. These old carts are super practical for older cars were you don't need a giant chest of tools to do the work.

Here is a thread all about the carts:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=156061

I wish I hadn't see that, now I want one! They ain't cheap.

wald1

New member

Oct 31, 2011

Richard D said:
Wouldn't it shock you if you touched it?

No,everything is insulated.

gauder the goof

Well-known member

Nov 9, 2011

Anybody ever take a dazor gooseneck apart before? Wondering how to get the on and off switches off without breaking?

Zeke

Well-known member

Nov 9, 2011

I have one of these from the '50's.

I have the clamping base. These are collectible nowadays.

jipps

Well-known member

Dec 2, 2015

I know this is an old thread, but I wanted to add my Anglepoise 1431 magnifying lamp, which dates from around the 60s and has just replaced my classic Anglepoise 1227 on my workbench.

I wear glasses for reading and close work only, and prefer not to have them in the garage if I can help it. Having seen Jack Olsen's setup with a vintage magnifying Dazor, I thought it would be worth while getting a magnifying lamp.

I'm glad I did - this thing is absolutely sweet.

It has a much heavier base than a regular Anglepoise, coming in at approx 25kgs!

Silver-grey hammered finish, over what I believe are outer steel arms and brass box section.

Enjoy...