best work light?

[xurusaibobx]

okay whats everyones favorite work light?

am in the market for a new shop/work light handheld cordless unit. i want something sturdy and has a hook.


price isnt a factor but lifetime warranty would be nice

 

[Danglerb]

I use several corded, Bayco, HF, combined with flashlight and those HF hockey puck lights.

 

[yuk]

i use the **** out of my craftsman rechargable LED work lights. they charge pretty quik and run forever. having my cart under the lift lets me stick their magnetic clip on mount to the cart and aim one really good and then i have another nearby if i need to shove it to a tighter area that needs light.
http://www.sears.com/craftsman-cordless-rechargeable-work-light-with-35-led/p-03473904000P
the ONLY downside i have found is the switch is really really really really hard to push when its cold in the garage.
oh yea, and the switch is hard to push when its cold in the garage.
and did i mention the switch.....

 

[volvo92906]

Matco M24LED (Part Number). Nice little light. Rechargeable with both 12v and 120v. Warrantied forever.

People in my shop started buying them and they just kept being bought cause theyre so useful. I always have my little pen light and figured I didnt need one. I eventually broke down and got it. I have the Crapsman LED rechargeable light too but its over a foot long and bulky.. Plus the magnet only lets you put it on one way..

EDIT: I clicked on yuks link.... Thats the light I have. Its bright, but extremely bulky and like I said, magnet.

 

[joedodge]

Ezred xl3000

 

[fdtrucks]

I have the Craftsman LED rechargeable light and love it. I have one at work and at the house. It is big, but if I cant get that in a spot where I need it, I have a LED light I wear on my head.

 

[mayday0017]

Bayco for sure, used them in a professional setting for years, have seen them dropped very hards and ran over by cars and nothing seems to phase them. Never even remember a bulb burning out though I'm sure they did from time to time. When it came time to buy a good quality drop light for my garage I got a bayco just like what we used in the shop and it has been great to me for the 4 years I've been using it so far.

Caution on LED lights, they are directional. That doesn't make them useless but depending on what you are doing can make them less useful then a quality CFL type light. My fav portable light is my Dewalt 12v Lithium light, I use it all the time and love it!

 

[dandan111]

I guess if you are wanting warranty you better get the craftsman so its easy to take in of you need to.
My wife gave me a black and decker that a freaking beast of a light.

 

[shoturtle]

depending on the application for the light. For lighting up a room, and spot light on a stand. For working on the car or motorcycle, a LED light stick with the goofy led light for my head. And for lighting up a small area, my bosch 18v light.

 

[xurusaibobx]

i have like 5 craftsmen led corded and corded ones at work..all them are broken dead led or dont hold charge... turns out there only warranty for 1 year! i bought them a while back so no warranty. i had a bayco led stick light that was nice but never held its charge for every long..


am looking at the ezred one temping since its cheaper now then when it first came out

 

[Haveblue]

Another vote for Bayco here. my favorite though, is my streamlight stylus pro 2 aaa light. It is my edc light. they will usually last about two years of hard use for me..when they break, no problem..lifetime warranty. Snappy or Napa will replace it. I also like that its two aaa and not three like some penlights. Ive used recharchable batteries in them, and that works well too. a coworker ran over the bezel on his, making it an oval shape..and the lens did not shatter, or pop out, it still worked! I was amazed!

 

[SC-AW11]

I've always liked maglites. I usually use or have a minimag. I just got their minimag pro a couple months ago and I really like it. Really bright. 1 thing tho, you only have a high setting. I want to try the minimag pro + soon, but I just purchased the Streamlight Stylus pro about 5 min ago. I think I will like it.

 

[firebox40dash5]

Ezred xl3000

Between me and the boss, we've got 3 or 4 of those. They're small, bright, hold a charge great, and between the hook, the magnet-clamp thingy, and just sticking it into a spot there's not many places you can't light up.

Just don't drop them too much... they really hate it. I'm on about my 4th one (2nd I paid for) in a little over a year. First one the hook just broke off right after I bought it. My last one was on its last legs anyway, and the boss backed a car over it, hence actually paying for a 2nd one. The Snap On guy has warrantied the rest.

If you can keep from beating it up, it's an awesome light. I just wish they'd beef up the guts some... having had mine apart, the wiring from the charge port and the switch is a major weak point, as well as the area that holds the charge port in place inside.

 

[greasemonkey44]

i bought a blue point that is very nice; its diffused so if something gets in the way; ie belts, wrenches, me you dont lose much light
has saved me a few times in tight dark areas where i need both hands

other than that i use a streamlight stylus pro or a coast g20 for normal inspections and daily use - durable cheap and reliable

 

[SC-AW11]

anyone have a E-Z Red PCLED6? looks interesting

Looks like Snap Ons got a version too
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Snap-On-Too...9852116?pt=US_Flashlights&hash=item2c6bf61bd4

 

[firebox40dash5]

anyone have a E-Z Red PCLED6? looks interesting

Looks like Snap Ons got a version too
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Snap-On-Too...9852116?pt=US_Flashlights&hash=item2c6bf61bd4

Seems like just about everyone has a version of it, I've seen copycats at Advance Auto and Ace, just off the op of my head.

I grabbed one off the Matco truck a while back. I really liked it for a $10 tiny light. Seriously shockingly bright for what it is. Until the end cap popped off under a hood, and the engine bay ate it. Maybe if I had a second one, I could've found that end cap.

 

[Fastbird]

Another vote for the Matco M24LED. Hands down the best I've used. Just so dang versatile.

 

[ambenz]

All these cordless light suggestions are nice but when ya have to have 120vac power outlet with the light, nothing beats a retractable corded light.

http://sphotos-b.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/485273_529596667061051_1322065052_n.jpg

Nothing fancy, except what is mounted in the socket, a florescent lamp that's cool to the touch, I love mine and have a corded light I can use whenever I need power too!

 

[Bears Fan]

Sears Craftsman

Good light, good battery life...

Also doubles as a flashlight.

 

[SC-AW11]

Seems like just about everyone has a version of it, I've seen copycats at Advance Auto and Ace, just off the op of my head.

I grabbed one off the Matco truck a while back. I really liked it for a $10 tiny light. Seriously shockingly bright for what it is. Until the end cap popped off under a hood, and the engine bay ate it. Maybe if I had a second one, I could've found that end cap.

If you were to buy a second one which would you get?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002Z36V6M/?tag=atomicindus08-20

or

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Snap-On-Too...9852116?pt=US_Flashlights&hash=item2c6bf61bd4


And then I found these. I think ones just a newer model but Im not sure
http://www.ebay.com/itm/E-Z-RED-Poc...0334269?pt=US_Flashlights&hash=item3f21d1c13d

http://www.ebay.com/itm/E-Z-RED-Poc...0336286?pt=US_Flashlights&hash=item3f21d1c91e

 

[LG63]

I like my Streamlight Knucklehead, very strong magnet and hook.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004MOEJWK/ref=noref?ie=UTF8&psc=1&s=hi
I use Eneloop AA rechargeable batteries.

 

[mnster]

I've been stuck with this Bayco.
http://www.baycoproducts.com/index.php/productsbayco/led-lights/BAR-2392-detail

Been wanting to try other lights however many rarely seem to match the light output and versatility of this light having two lights in one. Can point the light right where I need it or flood the area. Two years in a diesel shop with near everyday use its case is cracked from 7ft drops off the lift to concrete but still holding together and steady. I can't do lights with replaceable batteries. They always end up fluttering or shutting off do to poor cell connections. I like the smaller lights however they never have enough run time. Beam angle is another one its wonderful not working with a little pencil beam but just have wide spread light. Hook sure could be better on this light but seems to work ok and better then other drop lights I have had. If there was a aluminum cases model with lithium and maybe a few more lumen I'd buy it instantly.

 

[firebox40dash5]

If you were to buy a second one which would you get?

I've never seen the Snappy in person... if it's their "rebranded Chinese junk" line like they sell at Tractor Supply and such, I'd pass.

I actually bought one of the cheap knockoffs at Advance, hoping the battery cap would fit the EZ Red. Looks identical, but they don't interchange, and I'm not impressed with that one's quality or output.

If there was a Prime seller for the 6-pack of EZ Reds, I'd buy that in a heartbeat. Give a couple as gifts, and keep the rest for myself, cuz they are handy.

 

[Coach James]

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200497063_200497063

I have several of the rectangular lights and they work great. They have a hook and magnets.

I also have a cap with three LEDs on it. I changed the struts on my Grand Caravan hatch long after dark and the cap gave me plenty of light.

Coach

 

[domain]

I literally just picked up a gyros retrax 2 led worklight off cl. Check it out. http://m.youtube.com/results?q=gyros retrax#/watch?v=21ivwFdSClY

 

[Dberglind]

Sears Craftsman

Good light, good battery life...

Also doubles as a flashlight.

I have this same light, and can't say that I have had the same luck as you. Had it for 1 1/2 or 2 years now, used little, and the battery won't hold a charge anymore. Pretty much worthless even if I leave it plugged in.

 

[Bolster]

For me, it's a light attached to my head...light's always pointed where I'm looking. This is a Zebralight with a 120 degree flood (ie, NOT directional. Not all LEDs are directional, as one poster said earlier.)

Big advantage: it provides natural looking colors, not the typical harsh cold blue-tint of most LEDs. This is a High CRI light...the future of LEDs ("Color Rendering Index," meaning it doesn't drop out in the orange/red spectrum and the blue-green spectrum, like most LEDs.) It's the lack of full spectrum color that makes most LEDs give a flat, ugly light and are generally "hard to see with" even though they're bright.

It's hard to explain, but once you experience the difference, no more needs be said. A high-CRI LED looks a lot like an incandescent, which is widely acknowledged as superior for "seeing" but they're dim and inefficient and hot by LED standards.

I will bet nobody makes a High-CRI LED hanging-style worklight--if you prove me wrong, I'll thank you for it. Someday, they will. For now, if you want High-CRI, best bet is an upscale headlamp or a high quality floody flashlight that advertises itself as high-CRI.

 

[Danglerb]

I stopped in a lightbulbs etc store this week looking for something else and took a tour of all the new LED fixtures being offered for homes. $$$$$ but some amazing lights, bright and they understand color and offer good CRI stuff.

I am not to the point of spending bucks on a light as both the LED and Lion battery tech are far from mature. Get something good and cheap now, something amazingly good in two or three years.

Hard to complain about these at $3 a pop in HF.

 

[LG63]

Big advantage: it provides natural looking colors, not the typical harsh cold blue-tint of most LEDs. This is a High CRI light...the future of LEDs ("Color Rendering Index," meaning it doesn't drop out in the orange/red spectrum and the blue-green spectrum, like most LEDs.) It's the lack of full spectrum color that makes most LEDs give a flat, ugly light and are generally "hard to see with" even though they're bright.

It's hard to explain, but once you experience the difference, no more needs be said. A high-CRI LED looks a lot like an incandescent, which is widely acknowledged as superior for "seeing" but they're dim and inefficient and hot by LED standards.

Great info, wish I would have known this before buying the Streamlight. It’s well built and will probably last me forever but it’s a harsh blue light. As my eyes age I find myself seeking out natural light near a window whenever I can move the work to the light.

 

[Rezeppa]

I stopped in a lightbulbs etc store this week looking for something else and took a tour of all the new LED fixtures being offered for homes. $$$$$ but some amazing lights, bright and they understand color and offer good CRI stuff.

I am not to the point of spending bucks on a light as both the LED and Lion battery tech are far from mature. Get something good and cheap now, something amazingly good in two or three years.

Hard to complain about these at $3 a pop in HF.

I have a few of these. My ex girlfriends late grandfather used to own the molds and made these lights for all the tool manufacturers. I also know from experience they are all the same the Mac Tools version is the SAME light as at the Gad stations and harbor freight. They work well for small things but just don't have the spread needed to light up larger areas.

 

[UBLUZIN]

Just got a streamlight light pipe. http://www.streamlight.com/en-us/product/product.html?pid=269. So far I like it. Kinda long though.

 

[LEDPros]

All these cordless light suggestions are nice but when ya have to have 120vac power outlet with the light, nothing beats a retractable corded light.

http://sphotos-b.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/485273_529596667061051_1322065052_n.jpg

Nothing fancy, except what is mounted in the socket, a florescent lamp that's cool to the touch, I love mine and have a corded light I can use whenever I need power too!

You are correct imo. The pros need a corded light. Nothing beats the output, and you don't have to stop your work to change a battery.