Movable light for workbench

[sledneck32!]

Looking 4 a light that swings around side to side, up and down, in and out on an arm so to speak.

Kind of like a "draftsmans" light. Want to mount it right over the window above my workbench. Most the ones I'm finding are ones that are made to clamp do a desk. Looking for a wall mount. Would prefer led and dimmable or different brightness levels.

Even though my shop is generally well lit, I find myself holding a trouble light a lot when working on the bench. Typically working on small engines or misc home repairs etc. Drives me nuts!

I had a cheapo led with a magnetic base that I would stick to the cabinet. Worked good when it worked. After 2-3 of them Menards stopped giving me replacements.

I'll post a pic of my setup when I get home. In the meantime here's a couple along the lines of what I'm thinking.

Kinda like what a dentist uses I guess.

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[sledneck32!]

Here's the bench etc. Would like to mount the light either above the cabinets or above the window. Then swing it down to the angle I want when I need it.

Sorry for the mess (not typical for me) I'm in the middle of another construction project (outdoor woodfired timber frame sauna).

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[Stuart in MN]

Adam Savage just posted an interesting workbench light build project on his Tested Youtube site:

 

[Lelandwelds]

I can't watch another youtube video but youtube is the place to go. Try searching "LED light ring" ," led tape light", or " studio video lighting".

I didn't watch the above video or Adam's video linked above. C a n ' t w a t c h another Youtube!

I would forget the arm and just mount an LED flat panel or some LED conversion tubes over your bench. If you follow Platonic Solid and Cyber ****'s recommendations for general lighting, you will not need task lighting.

 

[sledneck32!]

Thanks! And while I agree for the most part, general lighting just doesn't cut it when your trying to see inside an object from the side angle. Say looking in engine exhaust ports or doing some porting and polishing.

Fairly fine detail work so to speak.

Like I say, holding the trouble light works to an extent, but I often find myself wishing I had another hand.

Say you want to shine a light in the exhaust pipe and use the other two hands to run a bore scope.

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[Brian_WK]

I have found that even with a good overhead work light I still find myself using a headlamp. I use one that the battery pack (4xAA) is on the back and had 6 brightnesses and either focused or diffused light. The light is always where I am looking minimal shadows and nothing to re-position.

Brian

 

[matt_i]

Strange as it sounds I'd figure out how to mount the Milwaukee M18 flashlight to the parallelogram-linkage arm. (#2735-20) The battery lasts for ~4 hours and its very bright. Even better if you are already invested into their battery platform.

I changed a FWD transmission using one (from the ground) but the focused light was indispensable. No need for a cord anymore except to recharge the batteries.

 

[sledneck32!]

Strange as it sounds I'd figure out how to mount the Milwaukee M18 flashlight to the parallelogram-linkage arm. (#2735-20) The battery lasts for ~4 hours and its very bright. Even better if you are already invested into their battery platform.

I changed a FWD transmission using one (from the ground) but the focused light was indispensable. No need for a cord anymore except to recharge the batteries.

I have that light already but not much adjustability for brightess/warmth. I'm really liking the first video above ^^^^ but would ideally find one that's plug n play.

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[Cahark]

I use one of these. Light is very bright and where I need it, and it doubles as a magnifier.


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[jaycoflyer]

I use one of these. Light is very bright and where I need it, and it doubles as a magnifier.


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2nd this recommendation. LED is daylight (5000K?), extremely bright and magnifier is quite useful for aging vision. [emoji6].

Brightech Light View PRO LED Magnifying Lamp - Full Spectrum Daylight Bright Magnifier Glass Lighted Lens - Adjustable Swivel Arm Utility Clamp Light for Desk Table Task Craft or Work Bench - Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016LTTS8S/?tag=atomicindus08-20


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[DC73]

I mounted a clamp-on light onto the wall. My light had a post on the bottom that snapped into the clamp (kinda like some of the chair casters). It was easy to separate the light from the clamp.

I made a bracket out of a 2x4, drilled a hole for the post, mounted the bracket on the wall into a stud and then stuck the post into the hole. It worked very well. If the light you choose doesn't have a post, you could just mount some kind of bracket on the wall that would allow you to clamp the light to the bracket.

DC

 

[NUTTSGT]

I also have a lighted magnifying and it does wonders when trying to look at something.


OP, do you have any lights directly above your bench or are they behind you ?

 

[sledneck32!]

I also have a lighted magnifying and it does wonders when trying to look at something.


OP, do you have any lights directly above your bench or are they behind you ?

Behind me right now. Like I said I had one with a magnetic base that would stick to the cabinet. Had about a 12" flexible neck. Did the job but kept burning out for some reason.

Would like to upgrade to about a 48" neck, brighter and adjustable.

Another option would be ceiling mounted? I should ask my dentist where he gets his lights. They have a LONG boom arm. That would also allow me to swing it out a ways, say when working on the snowmobile right in front of the bench.

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[Lelandwelds]

Behind me right now. Like I said I had one with a magnetic base that would stick to the cabinet. Had about a 12" flexible neck. Did the job but kept burning out for some reason.

Would like to upgrade to about a 48" neck, brighter and adjustable.

Another option would be ceiling mounted? I should ask my dentist where he gets his lights. They have a LONG boom arm. That would also allow me to swing it out a ways, say when working on the snowmobile right in front of the bench.

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Build a parallelogram. Steel square tubing. UHMWPE or steel sheet. Springs. Lamp parts. Nuts and bolts. Drill press. Rattle can. Wood works too.

Easy project.

If you don't like balancing springs with screw tension, try a mini articulating jib with a vertical sliding rod and a set screw for a column. I would build it from the ceiling.

If you keep the head weight down, a stiff copper or steel wire could be bent into shape. Sort of. Mostly. Ish.

If you can stomach you tube, try camera boom, overhead camera mount, Mike jib, or studio camera like the FOBA. (You can build one complete with internal counterweight for much less than the OEM $12K and up.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I thought of this thread when I was in the "what did you do in your garage thread" and thought it might be an idea.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=7117506&postcount=27916

 

[sledneck32!]

Now we're talking!

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[Beags86]

I thought of this thread when I was in the "what did you do in your garage thread" and thought it might be an idea.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=7117506&postcount=27916

Beat me to it.


Interesting video from Adam Savage. I always liked him. Mine is kinda for a different purpose then close up lighting. But I might have to try some like that for under my cabinets for my work bench. Funny, I had actually thought about loc line, people have been putting lights on loc lines on industrial machines for years. But only small bulbs, never a flood like I wanted, so that wouldn't work for me.

 

[rharman]

I use one of these. Light is very bright and where I need it, and it doubles as a magnifier.


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I really should start using mine. Picked it up years ago dirt cheap on an open box sale at Staples and it's been mounted to my bench forever.

The idea of getting a 5000k lamp for it intrigues the heck out of me - that might motivate me to use it more. The garage has 6500k T-12's that I love!

 

[driftpin]

I have a couple of mounted task lights. One has a base pin in a bronze bushing set into a 2 x 8 I have the vise mounted-to (the 2 x 8 is c-clamped to the workbench top), the light is a round magnifying style, the bulb is a halo fluorescent circumferential to the magnifying glass (like posts 9 & 10). It's mounted in close-proximity to my Columbian vise. It's able to be positioned easily, it holds it's placement, and as 'nuttsgt' said, the magnifying lens is good for aging boomer eyes. It also has a loupe-looking swing-away for higher-power to one side of the magnifying lens.

I have another which is actually a medical lamp/magnifier, on a castered multi-leg base. It also looks like posts 9 & 10 for the business end. Being on wheels, I can place it wherever I need.

 

[Lelandwelds]

I use one of these. Light is very bright and where I need it, and it doubles as a magnifier.

Funny. Small world. I forgot about those. I wanted a light like that since I was a kid. In the movies, some guy always used one to rig some critical doodad. That's how you knew he had serious skills.

I need to find room for one.

 

[southalabama]

Stuart beat me to it.

I've added building a pair of Adam Savage lights to my list of things to do.

I have a pair of IKEA lights on arms but the ability to change brightness of the lights is nice on the ones Adam Savage built.

I love his one day builds.

 

[Dragster Racer]

It seems like no matter how much or how many lights you have, you are in the way of it. Under the hood of a car or bent over something. It's always in a shadow. I have never liked wearing something on my head all the time, but have to when in the plant at work anyhow. I bought my guys helmet lights that strap over the helmets. I would have to pry them out of their dead hands to take them away. I should probably break down and start using one myself. As years add up, I really like a little extra light on everything it seems.

 

[Dragster Racer]

I gotta say I love Adam's light. Would be better wireless and with a strong, non maring clamp so it could go anywhere. It is like what is on the market on steroids.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Funny. Small world. I forgot about those. I wanted a light like that since I was a kid. In the movies, some guy always used one to rig some critical doodad. That's how you knew he had serious skills.

I need to find room for one.

I bought a similar one from Hobby Lobby. It came with a base rather than a clamp down base. The base is a big round weight, similar to those old school plastic exercise weight.

I made a different mount for mine. Nothing more than a piece of round tube welded to a piece of flat bar and a cotter pin to retain the lamp. I have it screwed to the end of my work bench but could easily be screwed to the wall behind the work bench.


https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=5351682&postcount=1959

 

[FJ 432]

Although this is temporarily out of stock this is another option to consider. Not cheap however I'm leaning in this direction from Foredom.

https://www.foredom.net/malb-1.aspx

 

[Motorman55]

HF has a fluorescent magnifying one in white you might want to check out. Its item #60643 @ $39.99

 

[driftpin]

The Horror! Buying something from Harbor Freight would never happen for some, even if it's a decent product.

This is the medical equipment model I have. It's all-metal, die-cast pieces, no exposed springs (too-difficult to keep clean when blood and pieces of flesh are spraying-about), and it has a powerful magnifying lens. Not sure about the manufacturer, but I suspect it might be a Castle product. They made a lot of medical appliances, and there was a time that if you went to the dentist, you sat in a Castle chair, they owned the market. You know the one, it came with a white glass bowl you'd spit into, and the stream of water was always running around the bowl. Light green porcelain on steel, and the drill ran on small diameter double pulleys. "I see we've got a few 'brownies' in-there! Open wide. Wider!"

I checked a bit and found out this may be a Dazor product, here's another lamp by them. The lamp upper-half appears to be identical.

https://img1.etsystatic.com/068/0/9167778/il_570xN.752958495_omay.jpg

HF has a fluorescent magnifying one in white you might want to check out. Its item #60643 @ $39.99

 

[lis2323]

Here’s mine.
Magnifying lens and two operating room/dentist fixtures.

 

[dscheidt]

I gotta say I love Adam's light. Would be better wireless and with a strong, non maring clamp so it could go anywhere. It is like what is on the market on steroids.

The panel he is using takes a Sony camera battery. Easy enough to make it wireless!

 

[Lelandwelds]

Although this is temporarily out of stock this is another option to consider. Not cheap however I'm leaning in this direction from Foredom.

https://www.foredom.net/malb-1.aspx

This is cool! Flip it up and it is off. I always wondered how good their polishers were.

The operating style has got to be the ultimate. I still want the mag lense.

 

[sledneck32!]

Here’s mine.
Magnifying lens and two operating room/dentist fixtures.

Where'd you get them from?

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[lis2323]

Where'd you get them from?

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Craigslist. $100. It was a double head unit and I ended up splitting it and fabbing up two individual mounts.