Tripod work light from trash

[aluminum13]

Made this from a heavy duty tripod out of the trash, $5 lamp from estate sale, and $6 in electrical doodads.

I really like the lit switch, but I think it could use a dimmer. I considered an outlet in the switch box (combination with switch) but decided against it cause more cords create more pull over hazard.

Really bright is an understatement and this seems better built then the $100 light at home depot.

Make your own, I'm always struggling to find a way to mount lights and this works nice. Tripods are cheap/thrown away.

 

[e30bradley]

nice job

 

[andywander]

Note that dimming a tungsten-halogen(quartz) lamp will lead to lower life, and blackening of the envelope(bulb), as the lower temperature will disrupt the tungsten-halogen cycle.

 

[aluminum13]

nice job

Thanks.

Note that dimming a tungsten-halogen(quartz) lamp will lead to lower life, and blackening of the envelope(bulb), as the lower temperature will disrupt the tungsten-halogen cycle.

Yeah, I was wondering about that, I noticed that blackening with my junky 2 setting light. That said bulbs aren't *that* expensive. Also a safety factor with less heat, but I've used it a today for hours and while yes it does get hot I don't forsee issues.

I wonder if I could build in some sort of heat/overload fuse.

 

[Jim_No_Garage]

Nice! I have the same tripod - picked it up for $2.00 at a garage sale.

I need to save that idea for future reference.

Thanks

Jim

 

[aluminum13]

Nice! I have the same tripod - picked it up for $2.00 at a garage sale.

I need to save that idea for future reference.

Thanks

Jim

Mine was made by Vivitar in Japan.

You could do it without modifying the tripod, but I opted to drill holes in the top plate. It's fairly heavy, so I don't think it's tilting anywhere. I like that the leg clips are metal. I'm going to give it a touch of graphite lube or something like it on the legs.

 

[Dale1962]

cool. I made one similar about 20 years ago, still use it

 

[Brad54]

Damn that's a good idea.

I wonder what makes it so much brighter than the same wattage bulb in the floor lights from the big box stores? I wonder if it would be the aluminum "box" around the perimeter/face?

-Brad

 

[aluminum13]

cool. I made one similar about 20 years ago, still use it

nice, i hope mine lasts that long. assuming I don't smash in the glass...

Damn that's a good idea.

I wonder what makes it so much brighter than the same wattage bulb in the floor lights from the big box stores? I wonder if it would be the aluminum "box" around the perimeter/face?

-Brad

I don't know if it's so much brighter than the other lamps, I'd imagine 500 watts is 500 watts. But somehow I'm imagining some guy from candlepower forums is yelling at the computer screen about how wrong I am. But the reflector could make a difference.

The lamp component is an outdoor fixture. You actually can buy them at home depot if you wanted.

The thing I think is better is that it can get relatively compact and then 6+ feet tall quickly and all the lamps I seem to buy the mounts are just...cheap. The ones in the store seem wobbly, ones reviewed on amazon same deal.

The next trick would be to get a basic smaller lamp and find a way to quickly attach and remove it from a lighter duty tripod. A clamp light might do it...

 

[betcd]

Just mount some wire on the front Just like the ones you buy at the big box stores