Drop Light Recommendations

[Plombob]

I'm ready to replace the old "arm burner" drop light I use. Wanted to know what y'all recommend. Corded or cordless, doesn't matter. Looking for something below $50. Thanks!

 

[diesel research]

Bayco twin tube 26w florescent. ~$25, works most excellent in the shop. (I work graveyard shift)

 

[93sr20det]

http://www.khindustries.com/

American made

 

[Vvmvbb]

I want a bayco and will have one someday. But until then you know what has been working surprisingly well for me is an old-school 'arm burner' as you say, with an ordinary compact fluorescent screwed in - the kind that replaces light bulbs. Rugged, cool, bright, cheap.

 

[rlitman]

If you break bulbs in these like me, you may buy the safety bulbs that are coated in silicone. They're making these in CFL's now too, but they're expensive. You can squeeze a bunch of clear silicone into a gloved hand, and smear it all over the glass part of the bulbs, and get the same result for much less (if you coat a dozen bulbs at one time, or happen to be using clear silicone caulk on another project already).

 

[G1GRANDEUR]

http://www.khindustries.com/

American made

If I remember right, this is the company that make work lights for Snap-on right?

 

[diesel research]

I want a bayco and will have one someday. But until then you know what has been working surprisingly well for me is an old-school 'arm burner' as you say, with an ordinary compact fluorescent screwed in - the kind that replaces light bulbs. Rugged, cool, bright, cheap.

Doesn't take long to save up $25

 

[Plombob]

If you break bulbs in these like me, you may buy the safety bulbs that are coated in silicone. They're making these in CFL's now too, but they're expensive. You can squeeze a bunch of clear silicone into a gloved hand, and smear it all over the glass part of the bulbs, and get the same result for much less (if you coat a dozen bulbs at one time, or happen to be using clear silicone caulk on another project already).

Now that's a creative idea!

 

[pipsters]

I need another work light but am reluctant to buy a florescent bulbed one. Anytime I dropped my previous one the bulb just broke. Looking at LED.

Found this one, anyone know anything about this company?

http://www.nationalelectricmfg.com/tubelights.html

(scroll down @ bottom for LED)

Can't find any pricing info either.

 

[diesel research]

mine falls or gets tossed around most everyday, not much of an issue.

Yesterday was first day I have cleaned the exterior of it. Seems parts washing solvent doesn't phase the lens or body, and it cleaned up quite a bit.

Using it while torching, I expected it to have some burn/melt marks, but so far no such marks and lens not all scratched like I expected.

If I accidentally ran over it/lost it/or it was stolen, I wouldn't have any qualms about buying a replacement tomorrow.

 

[Danglerb]

I have three of the HF $8 on sale 7 or 9 watt CFLs, and use them a LOT. They have a wire double hook stand that is very handy, and no heat so put the light right on what you need, cheap and I have a three outlet extension cord I use them with.

Also have a HF 50 LED square thing, big surprise it isn't all that intense, buts uses 7 watts or so, so its a great cheap area light to leave on.

Arm burner with a 23 watt CFL, lots o light.

Clip on utility light with the big round aluminum reflector, amazing amount of light with a larger watt CFL and dirt cheap.

Bayco 26 watt, when the little HF 7 watts need serious help, like daylight use.

Home Depot twin 52 watt CFL ultility light, one of these days a Lowes percent off card will have me taking one home. Small stand alone or sits on a tripod stand, great low power to light up an area. Thinking of using this with an inverter at my storage unit.

 

[G Speed]

I have the bayco 26watt too... guy left it when he moved.. geuss he didn't want to unscrew 1 hook lol

Also have a no name rechargable led one... which I bought for $10.. and I love it... can bring it anywhere, and the battery last forever

 

[NUTTSGT]

I have one of those arm burner/carpet melters. I also have a 13W bayco and I love my Dewalt 18V flourescent light.

 

[shampoop]

I have this and overall really like it. http://www.tooltopia.com/central-tools-central-lighting-121cp.aspx

The good things are it's indestructable, fits in tight spots, and is reasonably bright.

The cable is super flexible even in low temps which is a good and a bad thing. I ran over it with my creeper one time and tore through the insulation. I guess it's not very tough. I fixed it with some heat shrink though. The box containing the ballast or whatever is really annoying too.

I don't regret buying it, but I really like the bayco twin design.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000256R2I/?tag=atomicindus08-20
If I were to do it over again i'd probably get this one, especially if it's mostly being used without a lift. Round drop lights **** when using under the car with a creeper because they just roll out of position, but a flatter one like this would stay in place and is probably a good amount brighter as well. Plus it costs less.

So for use with a lift, i'd recommend the super bounce light, and for home use, the bayco twin. I wouldn't really recommend cordless as the best thing about a drop light is you can keep it on forever and not worry about the batteries dying. Plus the corded ones are brighter.

I personally use my headlamp way more often than a drop light. I got mine on a whim not thinking too much about it. It's some off brand and works awesome. I bought it because it has 4 AA batteries held on the back. I figured it would be brighter with a nice long run time because of it. That was true, and it works fantastic, except having the batteries on the back ***** when you're on a creeper. If I could do it again, I'd probably get something like this http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0028014PK/?tag=atomicindus08-20

or this

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002S4U754/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[rlitman]

I've got a cordless Craftsman 35LED light. It's as bright as my small fluorescent drop light, but nowhere near as bright as my arm-burners or a good Bayco.

I agree that I reach for the corded lights when they're within reach. The don't get dimmer over time, etc., but I still use the cordless a lot. It's nice not to be tripping over cords, and as a second light, to get rid of shadows.
Anyway, for those times when I want two lights, I really don't want two cords tangled together. The drop light cord gets caught up enough on the air hose.

 

[ijroorda]

I have a twin-tube fluorescent work light; don't remember the brand offhand but I think it was $10-15 at Walmart and it works great. I also have several of the $5 clamp-on aluminum reflector lights; they put out a lot of light with a standard screw-in CFL light bulbs. I am actually using a couple of them with 100W-equivalent CFL's as ceiling lights in my rental garage.

I would also recommend a Streamlight headlamp; I have a Trident HP at work and it is awesome. I'm about ready to order one for home; the Streamlight MicroStream I always carry is a great pocket light, but I'm tired of holding it in my mouth when I need both hands to do something in the dark.

 

[diesel research]

Instead of streamlight, this will be on the shopping list:

* High: 96 Lumens (2.3 hours) or 7Hz strobe
* Medium: 18 Lumens (19 hours) or 2Hz flashing
* Low: 3.3 Lumens (3.5 days) or 0.4 Lumens (21 days) Moonmode
# 2.22 oz (63 gram) with a battery and headband
Battery: One AA size alkaline, 1.5v lithium primary, NiMH rechargeable
Beam Type: 80 degree flood, with no hotspot
#
Battery Shelf Life: Over 150 years under parasitic drain
#
Waterproof to IPX8
$60
(angle light so it can free stand, head mount, or clip to pocket)

 

[vssjim]

Central Tools the micrometer people started making lights a few years ago and I use them at work daily. Work good bulbs never break and you can order parts to keep it in shape. I have had them ten years and only replace them when the cord wears out after a long life.

 

[Greatbear]

I have several CFL and a couple LED drop lights. I also made my traditional incandescent drop lights more usable by installing a Sylvania 23 watt CFL bulb (75W equiv) in them. This particular bulb resembles a standard (A19) incandescent, the actual spiral tube is encased in a very tough plastic shell that resembles a rough service coated bulb. No more arm burning, the bulbs have taken quite a bit of abuse without breaking, and the sealed shell of the bulb prevents junk from spilling on or breaking the otherwise fragile tube. The bulbs are cheap and can be found at any WallyWorld. I have yet to break one or have one burn out in this line of duty. I recommend these bulbs when you have an open fixture where the lamp is visible and having a typical spiral CFL looks out of place. The light given off is a decent warm white comparable to to incandescent.

 

[Plombob]

You've convinced me! I'll ask Santa for this one with the long cord:

http://www.amazon.com/Bayco-SL-975-26-Watt-Double-Brite-Fluorescent/dp/B000256R2S/ref=pd_cp_hi_1

I've got lots of headlamps, and I use them, but not usually when I'm in the shop. It's just easier to use a drop lamp.

I like Greatbear's bulb suggestion.

 

[diesel research]

I shoulda bought a black one

 

[Jack Olsen]

I'm very happy with my Bayco.

Two 13 watt bulbs stay cool and provide plenty of light. I combined it with an old extension cord reel so now it functions as both an easy-to-extend light and also (because it comes with that tap in the handle) an extension cord.

 

[chappys4life]

Has anyone tried any of the led lights? Been looking at the Craftsman Work Light with 60 LED Lights

As a side note has anyone looked at the nothern tool work light? It looks like a copy of the Bayco or do you think it is a Bayco rebranded?

 

[Jim85IROC]

I almost never use drop lights since I got an LED headlight. Those are so much better. They never shine in my face, and are always aimed the right way. I've got a couple flourescant lights, and my biggest gripe about the cheap ones is the stiff cord, which makes them impossible to position correctly.

Overall though, my favorite setup is just what somebody else already mentioned... just stick a cfl bulb into an arm burner.

 

[Greatbear]

My bad. The lamps I recommended in my post above are made by GE, not Sylvania.

I have one of Craftsman's original cordreel LED worklights. It's been an absolute POS. I've replaced several individual LEDs, plus two capacitors in the power supply. Almost every time I turn it on, one more LED has gone dark. I use it for under-dash/clean work, and it does not get used too often. I am going to find a source for much better LED replacements and replace the whole lot.

 

[TireTracks]

We gave my grandpa one of the LED cordless craftsman 2 years ago. He is absolutely happy with it.still works great 2 years later, battery is still as strong as ever.

 

[jakeb]

rebranded bayco? This is at homedepot, $30

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...splay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

 

[2manytoyz]

The Harbor Freight LED version works pretty good. The downside is it is very directional. Has a magnetic base, and a hook on top.

But my go-to light is a Dewalt model DC527 18V Cordless Fluorescent Area Light. It'll run 3.5 hours per battery.

The protective cover can be removed if you need 360 degree illumination.