What's a good 'task light?'

[Jack Olsen]

I'm not even sure if that's what they're called. I'm thinking of the kind of electric light that attaches to a bench or a desk and has a round head at the end of an arm you can articulate. I think they come with an O-shaped fluorescent bulb and sometimes have a magnifying lens at the center.

Is there a good durable one out there that I can start looking for second hand? (I'm charging headlong through middle age and I know the eyes are only going to need more help on detail work as the years pass.)

 

[Keep]

Look for an "Magnifying Inspection Lamp" should point you in the right direction.

**edit** opps forgot a word there.

 

[lsupcar]

http://www.dazor.com/

This is what I use. I have a desk top flourescent straight tube and a floor stand circle magnifier. Both are older models and neither are pretty, but both do their job well. The magnifier was half way under water during Katrina and never missed a beat.
Bill

 

[W126C]

More than what you may want, the dental lab I use has them.

http://lightingspecialties.thomasne...omnivue?&bc=100|1239|1006|1185|1050&forward=1

http://lightingspecialties.thomasne...gnifier?&bc=100|1239|1006|1185|1015&forward=1

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Jack,
I bought one exactly as you describe from...yup, Harbor Freight for about $30 if I remember correctly. And you KNOW I'm deeply in middle age and heading out beyond it, eek!

 

[mrb]

ugh i cant remember the name of them. there is one where they havent changed the design since the 60s, it would look perfect in your garage

 

[mrb]

ah. The Luxo L1 http://www.luxous.com/product/l-1--443.aspx except the idiots redesigned it with a flourescent lamp

 

[Torque1st]

I picked up a nice illuminated magnifier lamp at a garage sale last year. It is very good for a shop. The 4" lens is covered with a sliding cover which keeps it dust free.

Plastic magnifier lenses scratch easily, glass is better.

 

[Arachnotron]

Jack,
I bought one exactly as you describe from...yup, Harbor Freight for about $30 if I remember correctly. And you KNOW I'm deeply in middle age and heading out beyond it, eek!

My Dad has this one:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=66384

 

[TheShrine]

These help my old eyes.......

 

[Jack90210]

How about a loading dock light?

 

[metal1313]

i love the idea of using a dock light mounted on the wall above certian work areas. move it where you want it, its strong, and stays were you put it.

but they start at around 100, and can be 300+. that said im thinking about making my own for fun, and welding practice

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

My Dad has this one:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=66384

Yeah, that's the exact one I have except I bought it abut a year ago and it didn't come with the nice fold down dust cover then.

So far it has worked fine every time I've wanted to use it. I should add it to the Harbor Freight PASS?FAIL thread!

I like that loading dock light but I'd never py $100-200 for it. It does have me thinking about how to make a cheapo $10 Halogen light into a light like that though!

 

[metal1313]

i firgure i could make one for 40 total, including buying everything needed for one. just gotta find some plastic/nylon washers to help hold things inplace

 

[jamesemery728]

Get an Optivisor instead. I have a couple of lights with magnifiers and use an Optivisor much more than the lights. Just get the real thing and not the junk sold at HF and other stores. Well worth the $30. Find them on ebay and Amazon.

 

[sammerdog]

I grabbed a version of the HF one from the local Target. Mounted it up on the side of a cabinet. Handier than all get out, folds up and out of the way when you don't need it:

 

[captain14]

Mount some hanging hooks and move your quartz light around to where you are working

 

[Garage Coffee Roaster]

I picked up one of these at Ikea and keep it around the drill press mostly.
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/80169636/


$14.99
They shine a small but very bright light that works wonders. Plus they are very durable being LED.

Next time I go, will pick up a few more to space around the shop.

 

[lilscorpion]

Like the dental surplus path. Would be neat to have one. eBay? We're else?

 

[CharlestonJoe]

Or maybe hospital surplus?
My wife gets bad migraines and we are at the emergency room about once a month it seems and I was checking out their task light.
I asked the Doc if I could take it and just bill it to the insurance as medical supplies or something.....
They would be perfect, you can point it where you want, all kinds of movement, then when your done, swing it out of the way.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Since this thread is 3 years old, I think Jack has already found what he was looking for.

My Dad has this one:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=66384

Apparently, HF has changed item numbers as that link goes to a drip irrigation system now.





Back to the question. A buddy has one of these, I told his wife about it and she bought it for his B-day, great for trying to reading small part numbers and looking at plugs.

http://shop.hobbylobby.com/products/15-watt-daylight-magnifier-convertible-lamp-319640/

It's a sweeter deal when you get one of their 49% off coupons.

 

[nolimits76]

I believe the technical name is "drafting lamp". Do a Google and it pops up tons of stuff. We used them in school when they still taught HAND drafting.

I absolutely love'm! It would be a great addition to any garage where you need specific "task lighting" as you mentioned.

Edited to add: For the magnifier....search "magnifying lamp".

 

[nolimits76]

Oh yeah, here are the new HF links if you want a newer style. Personally I might try to find a vintage style one, but that's just my preference. For the money, these can't be beat.

http://www.harborfreight.com/fluorescent-magnifying-lamp-66384.html
http://www.harborfreight.com/fluorescent-magnifying-lamp-60643.html
http://www.harborfreight.com/desktop-magnifying-lamp-97448.html
http://www.harborfreight.com/swing-arm-magnifying-lamp-69515.html

 

[Shadowdog500]

They also sell magnifier lights at Staples. I bought mine a couple years ago.

Chris

 

[Super Mech]

These help my old eyes.......

I have this excact one. I put a daylight cfl bulb in it and it works well. Also a magnifier you put around your head helps loads too.

 

[Jack Olsen]

Not sure why the thread got bumped after so many years. Maybe other guys will find a useful suggesiton (or two) in it.

I got a second-hand dazor a while back. I've been very happy with it. I mounted it right to the bench. That's my coffee mug warmer right next to it.

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions.