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Lighting for working on a vehicle

md21722

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Nov 30, 2015
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Mt Juliet, TN
I have been using the old fashioned incandescent drop light for ages. I would like to entire the 20th century and get something newer, possibly cordless/rechargeable. Something that I can lay on a floor mat while working on a car interior, and possibly another one for on the garage floor or engine bay. I am leaning towards fluorescent because I don't like most LED lighting. It's "too white". If there's an LED work light that isn't too white I'd be interested. Thanks!
 
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one9gt

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Feb 15, 2014
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San Francisco
The Milwaukee true view lights are top notch and have great color


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

IUEC Medic

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Mar 29, 2014
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East Bay Area
Another vote for the Milwaukee. I have the 1,100 lumen and the 3,000 lumen m18 lights and they are really incredible. I'm sure the smaller versions m12 and m18 are equally impressive and useful.
 

firworks

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IL
Yep, the Milwaukee M12 and M18 LEDs are very good. Just don't buy the incandescent they are horrible. As long as it's "TRUEVIEW" it should have better color and not be as cold as normal LEDs.

I did a video that talks through some of niceties of the M12 stick here and shows it in action:

Also just released a video about the M18 TRUEVIEW Work Light here and talks about the color reproduction:

jerseykat1 also wrote up a good review of how he uses the M12 stick for automotive work:
http://autofixpal.com/milwaukee-m12-led-stick-light-review-with-magnetic-swivel-mount-2351-20/

If you do decide to go the Milwaukee route pop into the Milwaukee Addiction thread and we can help you find some deals on whatever you are gunning for.
 

lightning02

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Jul 29, 2013
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I always wanted to buy that snap-on light you show in your video and find a way to mount them on the underside of hoods when working. That amount of light flooding all over would be great.
 

bwringer

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Indianapolis
Whatever else you do, stick a 60 watt equivalent LED bulb into your old drop light. You can get them in "warm white" or "soft white" color now that doesn't have that blueish glare -- the light looks just like an incandescent bulb.

They're great -- so far I haven't managed to damage one by dropping it, and they don't get hot and burn holes in your arm.
 

firworks

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I'm looking for a worklight that hovers in the air and shines the light exactly where my thoughts tell it to.

I think the usual solution to that is to have a kid, and then give them a flashlight and yell at them the whole time. "No over here. RIGHT HERE. For fucks sake. No under here. Why would you think I need it there? Just give me the light..."
 

thickhead

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Connecticut
I think the usual solution to that is to have a kid, and then give them a flashlight and yell at them the whole time. "No over here. RIGHT HERE. For fucks sake. No under here. Why would you think I need it there? Just give me the light..."

Dad, is that you?
 

Jason280

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Mar 4, 2012
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3,164
I just picked up a Sun-Lite underhood light that looks promising, just haven't had a chance to actually use it yet. Looks pretty bright inside the shop, so I am sure it will work well.
 

robalmal

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Triabunna Tasmania Australia
Maybe you can make do with a coal miner's head lamp, in the meantime Wamsutta.

Not as silly as it sounds. Back in the day after I finished my apprenticeship, I worked underground as a diesel fitter. We wore a hard hat with a miners lamp and heavy battery pack. Always had good light just where I needed it. Esp good laying on my back fitting starter motors and such.
The small headlamps you can buy nowadays are pretty good but don't seem as good as the lights we had back in those days.
 

Clemson13

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May 30, 2015
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Not as silly as it sounds. Back in the day after I finished my apprenticeship, I worked underground as a diesel fitter. We wore a hard hat with a miners lamp and heavy battery pack. Always had good light just where I needed it. Esp good laying on my back fitting starter motors and such.
The small headlamps you can buy nowadays are pretty good but don't seem as good as the lights we had back in those days.
Most of the difference has to do with the size. Your miners headlamp was a matter worth a huge battery pack. New personal lightweight headlamps are 3 AAA batteries. They are tiny and cheap.

I have a 500 lumen headlamp for skiing and mtb at night. That thing is so bright I can't have it on if there is something less than 15ft away that will reflect the light back to me. It's also not very big but does have a heavier external battery pack. It also costs 10x the little lamps. Lighting has improved from your old light, you likely are not comparing apples to apples.

Sent from my imagination using sharks with friggin lazer beams
 

gdocktor3

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Apr 18, 2015
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Connecticut
I asked the question a few months back. I bought the big larry light by nebo. It's awesome. May be smaller then you're looking for but it works great and really bright with magnetic base. Runs on batteries which I wanted. Check it out and some of their other stuff. It's all good quality. https://www.nebotools.com/prod_details.php?id=363

I also saw this at Home Depot yesterday. It has magnetic base and swivels in all directions. I'm curious as to how well it works..
 

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johninct

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Dec 21, 2010
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I'm looking for a worklight that hovers in the air and shines the light exactly where my thoughts tell it to.

I got a Snap-On ECFHKY Mini Rechargeable light and so far, it is as close to being where you want it as I can find. Being small, very bright and with the magnetic holder, you can stick it practically anywhere. I am going to buy another.
 

Username already in use

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Sep 4, 2015
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Ohio
Recently, I've been using one of these NEBO workbrite 2 LED lights. It has a strip light, spot light, hook, as well as a magnet and it's bright as sh!t. Don't look into the light! :shocking:
Rechargeable and the charge seems to last a long while too.
Here is a LINK to the Nebo site. I think I got mine from Amazon for $20, shipped for free, of course.
8446304FL_ON600x600Web.jpg

-0lllll0-
 

firworks

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IL
I asked the question a few months back. I bought the big larry light by nebo. It's awesome. May be smaller then you're looking for but it works great and really bright with magnetic base. Runs on batteries which I wanted. Check it out and some of their other stuff. It's all good quality. https://www.nebotools.com/prod_details.php?id=363

I also saw this at Home Depot yesterday. It has magnetic base and swivels in all directions. I'm curious as to how well it works..

I got a Nebo Big Larry recently as well, but I have not been enamored with it. It is a little brighter than the CAT COBs I keep everywhere but it feels flimsy to me. Even though it's a metal body I think the ABS plastic lights are more solid and I don't worry when they go bouncing away down the driveway or something.
 
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anndel

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Oct 28, 2015
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Hawaii, USA
I always wanted to buy that snap-on light you show in your video and find a way to mount them on the underside of hoods when working. That amount of light flooding all over would be great.

I bought mine from Costco. They're about $30 each.
 

Moose-LandTran

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The Brink of Insanity (England)
I use headlights most of the time. It's the best option for me.

I have an LED Lenser one and it's definitely the best light i've ever bought. Rechargeable, but takes AA batteries too, very bright, focusable, different output settings.

I have two different Snap-on magnetic lights that can be angled, and a large Snap-on floodlight with a little floor stand. No one light covers all needs, and i still often find myself holding a light in my teeth.
 

bwringer

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Jan 1, 2013
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Indianapolis
Overall, I think it's important to have a variety of lighting tools to fit different situations.

I have a drop light on a cord with an LED bulb, because batteries **** and it's nice to have a power outlet right there sometimes.

I just got a Big Larry light from Nebo. Holy hell, that thing is ridiculously, painfully bright. I love it. Sometimes the magnet is extremely useful, sometimes it just collects shavings and scratches paint.

I also have a couple of headlamps -- sometimes a headlamp is about the only thing that will work. Headlamps are also great along with with magnifying glasses for working on teensy tiny things.

The cheapie/freebie blue puck LED lights from Horror Fright have a place in the arsenal as well. They put out tons of light, as long as you replace the batteries. These generally ride in the cars or toolbox when I'm fixing something somewhere else.

And generally, the more lighting I put in my garage, the more efficiently I can work and the more I can get done.
 

Smokenarrow

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Dec 29, 2013
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Location
Kittanning PA
ATD Saber Light 60 led are what we use in my shop. They are relatively cheap. They work amazingly well. They hold a charge and are good enough to be used for a whole shift. They take a beating and don't die. They are everything that I want in a light. I've went through about 10 of them over the years and just replaced 3 recently. The older ones had replaceable tubes so that when they were scuffed up, you could fix em'. The newer ones do not have that feature.

http://www.carid.com/atd/saber-ligh...n-80236.html?gclid=CM2x7_H8pcsCFdWPHwodArEPmA
 

scooby074

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Oct 26, 2008
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Nova Scotia
I got a Snap-On ECFHKY Mini Rechargeable light and so far, it is as close to being where you want it as I can find. Being small, very bright and with the magnetic holder, you can stick it practically anywhere. I am going to buy another.

+1 for the ECFHKY

A very good light for the price. Super bright. Just the right size so its not in the way when on a creeper or stuck inside a wheelwell when working on brakes. Magnet is plenty strong.

Big fear is leaving it stuck on a vehicle because its so compact.

Negatives are battery life is only 4hrs.. And its relatively slow to charge. Almost need 2 of them if you were wanting to use them all day continuous. The USB charger port isnt the most durable Ive seen. No problems so far, but something about these cheap chinese USB ports that make me wonder if they'll last 2 or more years without getting loose and losing connection. Id almost prefer the old style circular recharge plugs.
 
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designr

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Joined
Dec 26, 2011
Messages
6
Here is an alternate idea. I do a LOT of work on cars and I have completely abandoned using drop lights of any type. I saw a Top Gear show were the mechanics were wearing head lamps used for camping and thought "there's an interesting idea!" and tried it. Never going back. I got a Petzle light (it is LED and the OP said he does not like them) and it is magic. You can find them on any camping supply place like REI etc.

It is small and bright.

By default - every place you look it is lit up. It lasts for weeks of use on AAA batteries (that I keep a pack of in my shop), and when adjusted correctly on your head - I often forget that I have it on until I walk into the house and I'm talking to my wife and I notice she is squinting because of the light on my head!

Works great on interior of cars, underneath and in the engine bay. Often I use to fuss with getting a drop light to hang in the right spot to not have shadows on the place I'm trying to see, not anymore. If I can see it, there is light. Try it
 

Deej-79

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Feb 8, 2016
Messages
502
Location
Washington
+1 for the harbor freight puck lights.

Does anyone use the safety glasses with lights built in? Are they worth a damn? Do they make them to fit over prescription glasses?
 

Jeeper

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Dec 25, 2006
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2,124
Location
Round Rock, TX
+1 for the harbor freight puck lights.

Does anyone use the safety glasses with lights built in? Are they worth a damn? Do they make them to fit over prescription glasses?

I bought some 3m ones and they aren't very good. A good headlight is 1000x better.
 

Notorious BRT

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Jul 21, 2014
Messages
267
Location
Southern Ky/Middle TN
I have become fond of my headlight, I never have to go look for it, It is never shining in my eyes, most of the time it is right where I want it.

Streamlight.....$26.00, uses AAA's

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002UNOII/?tag=atomicindus08-20

And another addition to my Amazon list...

I think I'm going to order one of the Milwaukee stick lights. I just trashed my Craftsman rechargeable that only lasted a year before it wouldn't hold a charge.
 

bobcatdan

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Jan 4, 2011
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Kaukauna,WI
There is a whole crop of cheap COB lights for under $10. Depending on the style, some are very nice. I tried several but found they don't last more then a few weeks in a professional setting being on all the time. For home use I think they would last a long time. I got one as a gift from my realtor and I keep in the truck. In that setting its holding up very good for service calls. At work I ended up buying a $100 SO one and it works great. Lasted longer then $100 worth of the cheap ones so far.
 

Adam.C

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Jan 29, 2013
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1,490
If you are working in the dark, its good to have some sort of general lighting to find your stuff. The under hood lights or utility lights are good.

If you are working under the hood on a bright day, in a dimly lit garage, or working under the car, a head light should be your first purchase. These things are amazing. Make sure you get the models with the 3AAA batteries in the light, not the battery packs in the back. That way, you can rest your head on the creeper while you are working on your back.

Next, I would get the smallest brightest puck lights you can get like those shown above. Look for strong magnets and COB technology. You want at least 2 of these. One faces down, the other should shine from the opposite direction. Reason being, the brightest hood lights/drop lights don't do jack when your hand, arm, or head creates a shadow. You want light flooding in from multiple angles and that means the little lights are going to be more helpful. And the little units can be placed closest to the work.

I have 3 Blue Point ECFPTHP4 and 2 Snap on ECFHKY. They are excellent, but were expensive even at the sale prices I paid. There are many like this on the market now (like those above, EZ Red models etc).

When you choose a puck light, get one with a REALLY strong magnet. When people test these, they stick them to perfectly flat surfaces, like the side of a tool box. But none of my cars have any flat sheet metal. You need a strong magnet so it will stick to a curved surface. And strong magnets are expensive.

Cordless COB lights are definitely the way to go.
 
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