dentist lights?

[Piper]

so today I had my son at the orthodontist. (read that as .. tool budget completely shot for the next 2 years...

Anyway, I watch the guy use this fantastic light that he can position in any way he wants and it doesn't move at all and it's super bright and it got me to thinking... I wonder if there's anything like that in the garage "world". I'm sure they're super expensive and would require all sorts of inconvenient mounting but I just wondered... anybody done something similar?

I'm forever trying to get a work light "just right" and it never is...

thoughts?

 

[bluebolt]

Machine Punk is your man!
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=122188

 

[G1K]

I've been using this light:

Sorry for the crappy photos. It's bright, hold position and came from a dental office...

The base probably weighs 30-40 lbs, no chance of tipping it or making it unsteady.

I'll see if it has any manufacturers info on it.

Ryan

 

[Jack Olsen]

I put a circline magnifier/lamp on my main bench. I use it for the light probably more than I use it for the magnification. Got it used.

 

[PCO6]

^^^ I have a similar light and it's been a great addition to my bench.

 

[machine_punk]

Actually, Shopnut (at the Asylun) already has his dental light installed...
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3148

I do have two of them, hanging on the wall, out of the way, waiting for me to build the base for my portable bandsaw, so I can finish building the brackets for these two lights. I was very careful to buy my two, BEFORE writing about them, so I wouldn't be competing with all of GJ to bid on them.

Pelton & Crane is one of the largest companies in the business. Older models are out there on eBay, for anywhere from $150 to whatever they think they can get out of you. Shipping is really right at $50 for these things, (they are heavy and don't fold up into a tiny box very well), so factor that into your bidding.

These use a parabolic mirror, to focus the lift from a point light source. The lights are built to focus light in a rectangle of about 4 inches by 8 inches, approximately 28 inches away from the light (i.e. illuminate a mouth).

Bulbs and other consumables are still readily available online.

View media item 12622
View media item 12624
And, the intersecting-parabolas light brackets, which I am still working on for these...
View media item 12715
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If I haven't answered all of your questions, please feel free to ask.

M_P

 

[steel 35]

This one is mounted near a corner and covers my two lathes or under a cars hood if its convenient draw back; the bulbs are unobtainium! glad I have spares and another light. Yes these are a U **** Free! Please note the tray as well.......

Well Guess I didn't look Online just hearsay from where I got them! Thanks Punk

 

[machine_punk]

That tool tray is cool.

Yep...just type 'Pelton & Crane' in eBay and sort to the lowest dollar amount first. You should find the bulbs there. Make sure you note which way the little vent faces on the light, when you remove them. There is a correct way, I just don't remember it off the top of my head (I believe it is 'away from the patient.')

I was considering eventually switching mine over to LED's. They make cylindrical LED units in 24 volts (this light uses a transformer to drop the voltage to whatever lightbulb it uses.)

 

[EdT]

I have a couple of dental lights in my shop and I have become increasingly dependent on them as my eyes age age there is no such thing as too much light. As pointed out above, they are designed to light up a small area and, at least the ones I have, do that very well, but they have "sharp edges " on the light pattern so you have to move the light to illuminate what you are working on. Not a big problem, but it takes a while to get used to it. The downer is that the bulbs are around $20 a piece and they don't last a long time. I got them locally off E-bay and paid $60 for the pair.
I also have a big OR light with a 24" reflector and a track mounted on the ceiling. It is amazing in that it is "shadowless". The reflector is so big that your hands and tools cast little or no noticeable shadow on your work. Feels like you're a vampire. Also very expensive bulbs. About $25 each and they don't last long.
All of the incandescent dental and OR lights are being replaced with multi bulb LED lights so, if they don't just go into the dumpster, there should be lots of old lights around as they are phased out. The redundancy of the illuminator and the lack of any significant heat generation makes LEDs a far superior technology. If I was a surgeon, LEDs would be my choice by a mile.
I have been sneaking up on making a high power LED light source to replace the expensive and vanishing bulbs. The problem is that the optics require the source of the light to be at a specific point and it's hard to pack enough LEDs into the space. The optics are largely the driver of the "specialness" of the bulbs and there cost.

 

[drb007]

My light wasn't used to look at teeth...though the patient might still have to open up and say ahh....

 

[RPH]

Also search under American Sterilizer (Amsco) look for exam lights and surgical lights.
Amsco is the number one supplier of medical equipment. Though they did move most of the production from Erie, Pa to Mexico.

 

[toymn6366]

^^^ I have a similar light and it's been a great addition to my bench.

i was at flea market sat and the guy sit up next to me had one of these new in the box and my dad come by to see me and bought it from the guy for 5.00 i wish i had seen it before my dad it had a price tag of 99.00 on it

 

[BWS]

Our main vise/station has been lit up with a lite from a gynecologist for a long time.

25 or so years ago,did his office and patient rms......he got new lites,I snagged an old one.His office was in the "fancy" part of town,we always kid about what that lite had shone on....back in the day.

 

[Piper]

that gave me the best laugh of the day!! thanks )