Help me pick out a work light

[larryforce]

I am in the market for a new trouble light, I am a mechanic and I use a headlamp most of the time, but there are times when a static light works better.
I want some thing that works really well, i dont want to have to buy a second one.
I have been looking at some models from snap on, but I am still open to other ideas.

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...roup_ID=675910&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog
this is the first light i am looking at, a mechanic at work has one. it has a magnetic base and articulates, which seems like it would be the more usefull then just the hooks to hang from. it is also the cheapest.

the second one i am looking at is http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...roup_ID=675910&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog
i was playing with one on the truck and it is very bright and i like the "tone" of the light, its also not really any more expensive then the bluepoint one, if it had a magnetic base, i probably would have bought it.

the last one was http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...roup_ID=675910&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog
the bulb seemed similar to the other snap on light and i liked the handle and charging cradle better then the previous lights, but i dont understand why its seems to be twice as expensive as the other lights. If it is that much better i might consider.

some of the key featues i need.
- must be very bright i like to be able to see very well
- the more versatile the better
-would prefer a charging cradle instead of a cord

Oh i have not seen the light pattern of the bluepoint light, my fellow mechanic has an older version with different leds in it

thanks

 

[larryforce]

Oh I am also thinking of getting the M12 stick light instead, as i have alot of Milwaukee tools, but am concerned that it wont work as well as a dedicated shop light.

 

[Jake79]

I thought this looked cool. Never tried it though. http://www.streamlight.com/en-us/product/product.html?pid=205

 

[sac02]

I'm a flashlight nerd and it really bugs me that tool manufacturers don't say what type of LED emitter they use in their lights, or how it is driven, or how many lumens (some do say lumens occasionally, but it's not ANSI standard, so it's just marketing and doesn't mean much), or really give any specs whatsoever about the lights.

If they actually gave you specs like flashlight manufacturers do, you could make an informed decision (or someone like me could help you). Since they don't, you either have to get your hands on the lights, or gamble and trust their marketing ("This is the brightest light evar!"), or find a friend/forum member who can give an informed review of the light.

Very frustrating.

 

[larryforce]

I'm a flashlight nerd and it really bugs me that tool manufacturers don't say what type of LED emitter they use in their lights, or how it is driven, or how many lumens (some do say lumens occasionally, but it's not ANSI standard, so it's just marketing and doesn't mean much), or really give any specs whatsoever about the lights.

If they actually gave you specs light flashlight manufacturers do, you could make an informed decision (or someone like me could help you). Since they don't, you either have to get your hands on the lights, or gamble and trust their marketing ("This is the brightest light evar!"), or find a friend/forum member who can give an informed review of the light.

Very frustrating.

exactly this. even across the same brand every light is marketed/rated differently, if there is any marketing at all

 

[efb16acrx]

I like the matco utl10. About a foot long but about the same size around as your standard bic lighter. Plenty bright.

 

[rtole]

I had an atd sabre 2 ? I think it was......I left it in a car. It was red......now they have a black one that o
Also has a light in the end.....the red one did not. I will be getting the black one. They have a magnetic base with a hook on the end. My snap on driver talked me into a blue point for a hundred bucks. I hate it. The atd one is about 75 bucks. I have not used any of the snap on lights though, I liked the atd one.....it was indexable as well. I would really like to have the top light as well as the longer light, with a magnetic base and indexable. The red atd had a great magnet, I would think the black one would as well.

 

[JonnyMac]

http://www.narva.com.au/products/browse/led-2

these are awesome. Very bright and can get into tight spots..
in fact im not sure the address is correct but the range is al good..
dont know if you can et them in the US but I think they are of german origin..

 

[Rosso]

Don't buy the ECFSP200A ever.

I owned three, here in the UK they cost about £140 each - many many times more expensive than other good brands.

They have a massive design fault in that if they take a knock the battery connection is lost and it switches off. For some reason the only way to get it working again is take the light apart and push the battery back in.

This gets old VERY fast.

Secondly Snap on only warranty them for a year, so when at just over a year old the batteries started to die (Nicad) Snap on didn't want to know and wanted £35 per light for a battery. I was pretty damn angry at this which is why i ditched them.

 

[larryforce]

I had an atd sabre 2 ? I think it was......I left it in a car. It was red......now they have a black one that o
Also has a light in the end.....the red one did not. I will be getting the black one. They have a magnetic base with a hook on the end. My snap on driver talked me into a blue point for a hundred bucks. I hate it. The atd one is about 75 bucks. I have not used any of the snap on lights though, I liked the atd one.....it was indexable as well. I would really like to have the top light as well as the longer light, with a magnetic base and indexable. The red atd had a great magnet, I would think the black one would as well.

What didn't you like about the blue point one. i was looking at the atd sabre online and i really like the design, but not sure if i want buy a light with out seeing the quality of the light it out puts

 

[larryforce]

Don't buy the ECFSP200A ever.

I owned three, here in the UK they cost about £140 each - many many times more expensive than other good brands.

They have a massive design fault in that if they take a knock the battery connection is lost and it switches off. For some reason the only way to get it working again is take the light apart and push the battery back in.

This gets old VERY fast.

Secondly Snap on only warranty them for a year, so when at just over a year old the batteries started to die (Nicad) Snap on didn't want to know and wanted £35 per light for a battery. I was pretty damn angry at this which is why i ditched them.

Thanks for the advice, I was considering this light, figured if it was the most expensive one it must be better right. guess not

 

[Tarheelgarage]

I've tried many work lights until I discovered the Streamlight Knucklehead.

Best daym light out there; I will never use anything else.....

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004MOLJI2/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[joedodge]

Tarheel is right! I use mine in the shop everyday he's what convinced me to get one! Knucklehead is amazing

 

[Shadowdog500]

I have 3 drop lights in my garage. None of them are chord less and I like it that way. Chord less tools always seem to run out of juice at the worst possible time.

The first Is a 25+ year old craftman light flourescent tube droplight on a reel that is very similar to the bounce droplight. It is bright enough and it takes a lot to break a bulb. I found the bayco 13w safety bulbs at wallmart make great replacement bulbs. Crafstman hasn't sold my light in years, but if it ever dies, I will get the bounce light to replace it.

The second is a Craftsman old fashioned droplight (on a reel) that I had for years but got tired of getting burnt so I put a "tough-kote" cfl bulb in it(lowes sell the bulbs for $4 or $5. It is super bright and stays cool. The only drawback is that the bulb will break if you drop it hard enough just like any other old fashioned drop light. This is the first drop light I reach for!

Here is the bulb.

The third is a 2foot long Crafstman florescent tube droplight on a reel that I bought from sears 20+ years ago. I never really liked the thing because it is so big that you really can't get it in anywhere and it always seems to be in the way. It is the last one I reach for.


I bought some indestructible drop light that you used to see at car shows an the bulb and bulb shield were way over engineered and would probably never break. It screwed into a regular droplight handle. The only problem was that the shock of any drop impact would be taken out on the socket and switch in the handle, which would be broken in half. I got tired of replacing switches in my droplight and just put tough kote bulbs in it.

I haven't shopped for droplights in a while, but I bet LED technology has to be a real contender now.
Chris

 

[Adam.C]

Those bar LEDs are really cool. Bright, wide pattern, excellent. The Snap on models are just too expensive for me. Always wanted a streamlight knucklehead. What I would like is 2 bar led work lights and a knucklehead.

 

[kball]

I just retrofitted my drop light with this and it works great so far. No more burning hot light next to me!

http://www.sears.com/pro-lite-30-le...3473955000P?prdNo=29&blockNo=29&blockType=G29

 

[rsanter]

While I am all for you getting one of those really cool drop lights. I think you also need to go get one of the little blue free ones from HF. I thought they were a bit of a gimmick at first but thay have been really useful for tight areas where I can stick them on with the magnet on the back and they are not in the way like some of the larger lights.

Bob

 

[kmg108]

+1 for the knucklehead. A bit pricey...but incredibly useful.

 

[larryforce]

I've tried many work lights until I discovered the Streamlight Knucklehead.

Best daym light out there; I will never use anything else.....

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004MOLJI2/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Tarheel is right! I use mine in the shop everyday he's what convinced me to get one! Knucklehead is amazing

Those bar LEDs are really cool. Bright, wide pattern, excellent. The Snap on models are just too expensive for me. Always wanted a streamlight knucklehead. What I would like is 2 bar led work lights and a knucklehead.

I hear so many good things about the knucklehead, when i look at it though the head reminds me of a flashlight and kind of throws me off.
I wish there were more side by side comparisons.

Mabey I am over thinking this as i use my head lamp most of the time, i just ran in to one or two situations last week that would have been better served by a static lamp, and i bet most of the lights mentioned would have worked great.

 

[Adam.C]

I hear so many good things about the knucklehead, when i look at it though the head reminds me of a flashlight and kind of throws me off.
I wish there were more side by side comparisons.
.

I'm with you - I'd like to see more analysis. I can say this; everybody needs a tactical flashlight. And there are good ones, cheap ones that are pretty good, and really expensive great ones. Pick one or two. But in my opinion, these are must haves, but nothing to shout about. There's a certain place for $1 disposables.

After that, I'm looking for a FLOOD light that bathes my work in pure white light from a source that doesn't get hot, isn't prone to damage from drops, is easy to clean, and mounts to any surface I need it to.

The streamlight knucklehead ticks many of those boxes. It's not a flashlight. It was designed as a portable flood light for search and rescue.

But I am really interested in some wheel well, under hood, sized cordless LED sticks. Looking for a wall of light if I can get it.

The challenges we face are the LED technology is still developing, the measures (candle power, lumens, etc) are poorly standardized, poorly understood by consumers, and sometimes do little help us understand what to expect.

For these reasons I think I'm going to sit on the sidelines for a while. I'm still using a 2' corded fluorescent tube from Sears and a mini maglite. I can aye vid seen a couple of the bar LED lights and they are nice. Like to see them coupled with a strong magnet and some sort of articulation (well...like a knucklehead).

 

[AP514]

how about that Milwaukee lite ? i hear the are great
http://www.cpomilwaukee.com/milwauk...-/miln2361-20,default,pd.html?start=2&q=light

 

[AP514]

here you go the link




http://www.cpomilwaukee.com/milwauk...-/miln2361-20,default,pd.html?start=2&q=light

 

[WhiffySpark]

I have a matco fluorescent drop light. I hate those little led bars they are like a toy to me

 

[skruft]

I have a couple of fluorescents but I think the best and easiest with a cord is the CFL in the old-time drop light.

 

[larryforce]

how about that Milwaukee lite ? i hear the are great
http://www.cpomilwaukee.com/milwauk...-/miln2361-20,default,pd.html?start=2&q=light

I was thinking of one. i have plenty of batteries, but without seeing one in use, I am not sure if it will work as well as some of the other designs.

 

[larryforce]

I was thinking of one. i have plenty of batteries, but without seeing one in use, I am not sure if it will work as well as some of the other designs.

I might buy one any way and if its not what i need i can always use it at home/ camping

 

[Mystic_Cobra]

Looking to replace my Craftsman fluro tube light that finally died.

I'd like to get one on a cord reel and like the idea of getting something made in the US. Mid State doesn't appear to sell online. Does anyone know where to buy these? I sent them an email through their web form several days ago and never heard back. I guess I'll give them a call on Monday.

In the meantime, I'm going to order a Streamlight Knucklehead as I can use both. I also have a couple of the blue handheld LEDs lights from HF (free w/coupon) and they work pretty well in tight places. Good amount of light.

 

[Fedwrench]

The first blue light you linked is a rebadged otc unit. The second link didn't open for me.

If you're using the M12 series tools, I would get the M12 stick light. it is incredibly bright, compact, durable and stays cool in use.

They also make an LED flashlight. I really like having one battery for several platforms.

 

[Mystic_Cobra]

Just unpacked my Knucklehead light. Holy ****, This thing is bright! AND, I didn't even charge it yet. Seems very sturdy and well made so far.

 

[6thgencivic]

Im a technician. I bought a Stinger Lite Pipe just about a year ago. It has been the best light I have bought. I have gone through many other cordless led worklights. (bluepoint, atd, bayco) The best thing about the Lite Pipe they have the awesome streamlight warranty. One really nice design feature of the light is that the light part can be replaced if you break it instead of replacing the whole light. Its kind of expensive but very worth it.

 

[xjfish]

I'm also a tech. Told the snap-on guy to sell me good light a couple months ago. This is what he had on his truck that apparently he sold a lot of: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00J6C22TK/?tag=atomicindus08-20 Its been a good light, I think I paid about $87.

 

[supersteve]

I have this thing and I love it to death, don't know if it's a good fit for OP.
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...roup_ID=675910&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog
Bright enough for my aging eyes, slim enough to slide in behind the back bank to look at a transmission, lasts a good long time.

The good thing is that it's cordless.
The bad thing is that it's cordless.
I cried like a little girl when I thought I left it in a customer's car the other week, but it was just left sitting on the back of the forklift. Whew.

eta: I got it on sale, I think something like $70-75, $100 is a little steep imho.

 

[Jaralaccs]

been using this for 2 years now, I'm happy
http://uview.com/index.cfm?dsp=productdetail&id=45701&productid=6272

hard to find a LED worklight that isn't made in china

 

[RedRabbit]

Try the 2nd led pro maglite. 274 ANSI lumens and it is my favorite light I own.

 

[Tarheelgarage]

Just unpacked my Knucklehead light. Holy ****, This thing is bright! AND, I didn't even charge it yet. Seems very sturdy and well made so far.

See now, you listened to Tarheel Garage's recommendation and now you are happy happy happy....

That light is daym bullet proof....

 

[Badger 13]

I have the Streamlight Knucklehead and VERY happy with it. I also had a CFL bulb in my old drop cord reel light and was not impressed with that. I found a LED bulb at HD and tried that in it. That works great with good light and no more "burns"..

 

[NUTTSGT]

If you're still looking and own some Dewalt stuff, I'll recommend this Dewalt 18V fluorescent light.

The loop at the top pulls out as a hanger. Like other lights, being fluorescent, it doesn't get hot enough to melt stuff like the older incadescent lights.

http://www.dewalt.com/tools/cordless-lighting-flashlights-dc527.aspx

 

[Snap_cap]

Those bar LEDs are really cool. Bright, wide pattern, excellent. The Snap on models are just too expensive for me. Always wanted a streamlight knucklehead. What I would like is 2 bar led work lights and a knucklehead.

The Snap-On ECFBARLED seems expensive until I really thought about it.

My DeWalt DC527 fluorescent cost $60 + another $50 for the battery (using a charger I already had).

That $110 compares poorly against the $135 slimmer, lighter and much brighter (250/500 lumens) Snap-On that also has lower cost replacement batteries ($34 on their site versus $50 for another DeWalt 18v XRP).

Also, the Snap-On has a listed continuous run time of 3.5 hours, my DeWalt light runs about an hour.

So of course, my SO guy doesn't have any more on the truck after selling half a dozen of us on this stupid light two weeks ago.

 

[Mystic_Cobra]

If you're still looking and own some Dewalt stuff, I'll recommend this Dewalt 18V fluorescent light.

The loop at the top pulls out as a hanger. Like other lights, being fluorescent, it doesn't get hot enough to melt stuff like the older incadescent lights.

http://www.dewalt.com/tools/cordless-lighting-flashlights-dc527.aspx

I actually have this dewalt rechargeable light. I used it two or three times and then it died. I got it basically free in a kit I bought. I haven't had time to take it to a repair center. I liked it while it was working. It shares batteries with my drill and impact.

 

[stikman56]

I don't think Snap-On sells it anymore,but I've been using the CTLED4918HO light for a couple years or more and it's great. I have their cordless stuff though, and it uses the CTB4145, CTB4147, CTB4185 and CTB4187 batteries, that my cordless impacts and drill use.