Best light bulbs for vibrating bench power tools?

[balane]

I've tried light bulbs labeled as Shop and also bulbs labeled as Rough Use. But both have very short lifespans and aren't cheap.

What do you guys put in your bench grinders, drill presses, band-saws, etc?

 

[Tdbo]

I put ceiling fan bulbs in mine. No problems.

 

[balane]

My primary issue is the bulb in my Craftsman block grinder on a flexible stalk. That bulb seems to get smoked far too frequently. I'll be using my grinder, it will flash really brightly for a split second and then it's gone. Do fluorescent screw in bulbs handle vibration and banging around well?

 

[hifi_hokie]

My primary issue is the bulb in my Craftsman block grinder on a flexible stalk. That bulb seems to get smoked far too frequently. I'll be using my grinder, it will flash really brightly for a split second and then it's gone. Do fluorescent screw in bulbs handle vibration and banging around well?

I wouldn't want to put a CFL in a place where it might get broken, that's for sure.

LEDs would seem to be invulnerable unless you crack the solder traces, but not exactly cheap

 

[balane]

Good point on the CFL bulbs and I will avoid them because of it so thanks.

I was looking at LED's and I'm glad to hear they can take the hard life, the price was a consideration but if they will last a really long time then I imagine the price will be better in the long run. If I put one of those in my grinder then I think it will all be OK because that is the major culprit.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Are the wheels on your grinder imbalanced? They really shouldn't vibrate all that much.

 

[StaggeringGoat]

I put a 7w LED in my bench grinder, I love it. I had the same problem with bulbs buring out, just used it without a bulb for years...

 

[balane]

Are the wheels on your grinder imbalanced? They really shouldn't vibrate all that much.

One is a soft buffing wheel, 8" and the other is a 8" wire wheel I got from Grainger. (And overpaid for.) It's pretty smooth feeling I think but there's definitely vibrations, they just don't seem extraordinary to me. The bench it's mounted on could probably be a little more firm, it's built from 4x4's with a 3/4" plywood top and the back half is bolted to the wall. But it is what it is. I'm not ruling out that making vibrations even better would help with the problem but it would be much easier to find some rugged light bulbs. The bulb on the flex arm for the grinder is the biggest problem, the rest are probably average on reliability.

 

[theoldwizard1]

GE 60-Watt Rough Service light bulb

 

[balane]

GE 60-Watt Rough Service light bulb

That's the exact bulb I put in there last night. First time I've tried one of these specifically and so far, so good. I'll see how it lasts and if it burns out soon I'll pony up for an LED bulb.

 

[eljefino]

Walmart has some nice-ish LED bulbs for $7; they are night light small but have the full edison base. 2 watts but 25 watt output; I use one as a "night light" in the bathroom and it'd be perfect, if it doesn't vibrate to death.

 

[Cryptic1911]

I would give LED's a try