what is your preferred flashlight and drop light type? LED, incandescent, florescent?

[outdoorsman310]

What light do you prefer for working on cars? brands and power sources aside, what light do you prefer just on the light type?

 

[Zeke]

CFL's in old drop lights work for me. Best damn thing that ever came about with regard to rough service. Really, all types work fine for me. I still use a clear incandescent to find problems in drywall and bodywork. At night.

 

[Subyroo651]

My orange CFL drop light from HF(Corded). Best $8 ever, their cordless stuff is **** though. I use a Coast G20 for up close or spot inspecting.
I m looking into Underhood lights next.

 

[3xpendable]

20v DeWalt light or 18v DeWalt snake light. That thing is awesome


Sent from under an open range fifth wheel 8p

 

[Agentwho]

I like led flashlights for how bright n focused they are, I use my rechargable led drop light when I'm not near the bay. The charge last forever and its small so I can get it into some tight areas. If I'm close to a plug I still like my florescent drop light. I like the way it floods the whole area with light so I dont have to worry about the light having to be pointed directly at what I'm working on to see it.

 

[ol'Red]

LED. Streamlight micro stream in my pocket, LED lenser on my roll cart, and an EZ Red extreme work light hanging from roll cart.

 

[bobcatdan]

Now a day my work light of choice is my SO 18v work light. Still my all time favorite light is my makita 12v cordless florescence style light. Bought it in 2000 and still works great.

 

[tjmonsen5]

Streamlight stylus pro and protac 2aa in my pocket. Central tools fluorescent bounce light with 25 foot cord always on while doing work. And sometimes are large standup shop light if I'm working at night in my poorly lit garage. Helps keep me warm too!

 

[Danglerb]

My orange CFL drop light from HF(Corded). Best $8 ever, their cordless stuff is **** though. I use a Coast G20 for up close or spot inspecting.
I m looking into Underhood lights next.

I've got 3x of the HF $9 on sale CFL, one double tube like 18 watt Bayco, brightest by far is a cheap 8" aluminum reflector clamp light with a 30 watt CFL. I'm thinking hard about a Mountain UL39 39 watt tube underhood light about $90. There are lights in the style of the Bayco, but with 36watt or 52watt 4 tube CFL around $60 that work well too.

LOTS of flashlights, check out;
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/forum.php
http://budgetlightforum.com/forum

My EDC is a SK68 clone (I have 3 so far), about $5 from China, 1xAA and nice and bright, swap in a 14500 (same size as AA, but 3.7v lithium) and its about as bright as that size will support due to heat. Dozens of vendors sell them with variations on the original, on/off, 3 to 5 modes, different types and efficiency of emitters, all are spot to wide zoom with a clicker tail switch.

In the mail I have a Olight i3S, about $20 tiny, 1xAAA, still has serious 80 lumen output, 3 modes, and you don't even notice it on keyring or in pocket.

Want list, Zebralight SC52, smaller than SK68 types, absolute max light output from a 1xAA or 14500, quality light, about $65.

Headlight
I bought a cheapy headband light, found out how incredibly useful it is to have both hands free and light always where your head is pointed, bought another better cheapy, like it a lot ($6 or so shipped) 3xAAA, hi lo, and a very handy lo red so you don't disturb others or lose night vision in the dark. Someday I will buy a better quality headlight, but this one isn't bad.

Toolbag lights are mostly HF freebies, but I use quality batteries, Sanyo Eneloop rechargeables which are more than $2 each, so a free 3xAAA light ends up more expensive than $5 SK68 clone 1xAA. OTOH there are free after rebate Duracell alkalines at Staples from time to time, may do that. Batteries the HF free lights come with are junk and leak once any of the 3 cells goes dead.

Toolbag, big light, I've got a $12 big brother to the SK68 clone that is 3xAAA and throws some serious light out the end, but too big for a pocket, almost too big for toolbag.

Puck and Larry lights. I have a Nebo Larry, looks like a fat pen in pocket, with 8 LED on the side opposite the clip (which has a powerful magnet in it) its a single mode on/off flood, and very handy. Puck are the 27 LED puck shaped HF $3 on sale lights, both are 3xAAA btw. Puck is more focused fat spot, Larry more flood. Several of both works well.

 

[Outlander]

I use halogens on workstands, and since it gets cold up here I have the benefit of warmth

Recently grabbed one of these on sale for some ridiculous price. I am beginning to like it more and more. My wife makes me bring it in when we have guests since power fluctuates frequently here at the cottage.

I have an incandescent work light, like everyone. It does double duty in the winter. I slide it under my ATV overnight (like our parents did - throw a bare 100w light bulb under the hood) to keep it warm before a ride.

Also use a collection of smaller LED flashlight. All the other flashlights with regular batteries seem to just pile up in a closet.

 

[richfinn]

I've got a streamlight Knucklehead, it's the best mechanics light I have ever had the magnet is super strong and you can aim at the job perfectly.

It's very well made and virtually un breakable

 

[TJJP77]

I like my incan Surefires. The color temperature of incandescent looks more natural to my eyes and lets me see more detail. The only downside is battery life if you leave the light on for a long time.

 

[Ed ke6bnl]

well my new best ever flash light is the new Mini Mag that goes for about $22 it works great and fits in the same holder as the old useless mini mag and uses easy to get AA batteries. the one complaint I herd from reviews was that it was to bight and I laughed and that is some one true.

 

[Davefr]

All of the above. There is no "one size fits all" solution when it comes to lighting.

I like this one too when working on small parts like connectors:

 

[Jack Olsen]

Biggest surprise to me: the amount I use my Zebralight LED headlamp. A world of difference from the inexpensive ones, unfortunately -- it's often the first thing I reach for now.

 

[Ed ke6bnl]

that is a nice set up a bid on the expensive side.

 

[Danglerb]

that is a nice set up a bid on the expensive side.

As cheap as about $55 shipped with "forum" discounts, but you only pay once. If you regularly need to use a good light, nothing under $100 should have price as a factor.

Don't fall into the trap of wow this $5 light from China is really good, why pay $65 for a premium light? Why, because $65 is still CHEAP for what you get, these lights could not have existed at any price 5 years ago, and now you can get one. Its a tool, buy the one that will make you the most money.

 

[Dust]

I love my Terralux high CRI pocket flashlight. Runs on AAs, not too expensive, and gives off a neutral white instead of that washed out ultra bright white.

 

[nicksnothereman]

What light do you prefer for working on cars? brands and power sources aside, what light do you prefer just on the light type?

Of the things I have I prefer "incandescent" (if you mean a light bulb). I use leds mostly though because I have a bunch of them and my bulb lights don't have a lot of "lumens" besides the floor lights. My leds are more mobile but I don't like the light output honestly; just use them because I have them.

I prefer pipe lights (l shaped) if that was also what you're asking. The bigger the better.

 

[Tarheelgarage]

Streamlight Knucklehead

 

[JBradley500]

I think the stream light stinger led is about perfect for working on cars. I just got a surefire fury and it's bad *** as hell but its too bright to work with. I don't like drop lights personally.

 

[ambenz]

For drop lights...ANYTHING that doesn't get hot!
I have one incandescent and one LED droplight...the LED one is bright.
No batteries either except if a cord isn't a option then superbright LED's.

 

[RedneckWelder]

My preferred flashlight is a Surefire G2X LED. This is the light I carry/use everyday at work (work at night outdoors a lot) and I love the surefires, even though they cost a good bit more than a cheapie, the quality and reliability is second to none. Streamlight also makes excellent lights, too.

I don't have a droplight at the moment. Currently using a headlamp and a cheap Energizer $10 lantern. Generally I'm working during the daytime, as at night where I live the bugs are especially horrific at night (and of course attracted to light)...hard to get anything done when the gnats are swarming your face and trying to reduce you to a skeleton.

 

[skruft]

What I actually use the most is an old-time drop light with a CFL in it. Also I use long fluorescents. I have many other lighting gadgets, but the only one very handy is a mirror with a built in LED. It is quicker to use, when there is space, than an inspection camera or any other fancier device.

Now I am going to try an LED headlamp.

 

[MN4x4]

Streamlight Micro in my pocket always, and a SureFire E2D Defender Ultra Dual Output LED Flashlight in my Service cart if I REALLY want to see something!

I also have various trouble lights, but I only tend to use them when I'm gonna be under a vehicle for a while and need both hands free.