Incandescent vs. Flourescent lighting?

[tsumner]

Hi all,

Under the gallery you can see my post regarding my new workshop under construction. It's 2-story with the ground level for cars and the second floor is to be my woodworking shop.

The woodshop will have wide plank oak flooring and wide plank pine boards mounted horizontally for the walls. There are 11 windows around the perimeter plus a couple of doors. The ceiling is 9'.

What I'm going for here is a nice, warm, cozy feeling for the woodshop. While I am definitely installing good flourescents for the garage, I think I'm leaning towards installing incandescent lighting in the woodshop.

During the day I'm under flourescents all day long and my thinking is that the regular light bulbs might be a little easier on my head during the evenings when I'm trying to relax and have some fun. And the ambiance should be better too!

Whattaya all think? Anyone else have incandescents in their woodshop?

Terry Sumner

 

[Danglerb]

Incandescent lighting is an expensive way to heat a room. I would go for a mix of fluorescent general lighting, and incandescent spots easily switched on and off for each workspace.

 

[JCByrd24]

CFLs and flourescent tubes are both available in quite a range of colors, and I think you'll be surprised how yellow a wood paneled/floored shop will look with regular incandescent or "warm" flourescents. I put daylight (blueish white) lights in my unfinished garage to get rid of the yellow caused by "warm" CFLs, which are marketed to replace incandescents for interior use.

 

[carguy123]

I prefer the "bright white" color. It is amazing how hard it is to read a label or anything under soft white bulbs and how much less light the daylight bulbs put out.

I have never had an issue with fluorescents as far as head aches or anything like that so I use them everywhere I can. They give me sooo much more light, they cost sooo much less to operate and as someone said, they don't heat the work area.

I really like the new electronic ballasts. Or at least I think I do. I have not knowingly worked under them for long periods of time and I haven't had them in my new home long enough to see if they have any downsides like the old magnetic ballasts. I am hoping they increase bulb life.

 

[Bruce T]

I went with the regular screw in base with 40watt flouresants (200 watt equivalint) they work great. I have 13 in my 34x48x14 shop and its very bright. I didnt want to deal with the 4 or 8 foot fixtures and all the bulbs. Plus in michigan they take forever to warm up (my little ones take about a minute) and they do not flutter at all. They are 8 bucks each and the base is a buck, way cheaper than the 2x4 fixtures. You can find the bulbs online up to 400watt equilvents but I got mine at Lowes, depot only has 150 wat equil. But running 13 40watters will be much better than any incadescents and last much, much longer.

 

[kbs2244]

I have a mix.
One of my fears is the "strob light effect" from tube style flouresants.
It can make thing like table saw blades look link they are still when they are realy spinning.
I have seen it in other guys shops, but I don't have it. I am guessing the incandescent bulbs cancel it out.
I have heard that CF's work at a different freq and don't have the problem, but I haven't burned out any bulbs so I haven't tried them yet.

 

[Poltax]

I have T-8 with the daylight bulbs installed. They are the best. In fact I like them so much I have them in my newly finished office. You will have no problem with seeing or colors.

 

[PAToyota]

I also did a mix in my woodshop - fluorescent fixtures to give the "brightness" and then incandescent fixtures and downlights for when I want the "warmth."

Downstairs, in the metal/auto shop it is all fluorescent HO lights.

 

[6768rogues]

I would use T-8 fluorescents in a color satisfying to you. They are much more efficient than incandescents, and can have similar color ranges. I could not relax if I were trying to work in a poorly lit workspace, so I do not worry about too much light.

 

[Powerband]

I prefer the "bright white" color.... more light, they cost sooo much less to operate and ... increase bulb life.

Bottom line - a little hum, a little warm up but less expensive and more efficient ...

I use daylight 5400 K lites in the shop to match natural light as much as I can...

PB

 

[tsumner]

Thanks for all the replies guys. Loks like mebbe these T-8's might be the ticket!

Terry

 

[LakeBum1245]

Flourescents come in colors rated in degrees of kelvin, The greater the number the whiter the light. 5000's are real white, 3500's are more yellow. Lumens per foot are the same but the brighter lamps are much easier to see with.