Worklights - A RANT!!!

[BikerDad]

Does ANYBODY make a decent f'ing worklight? I've at least a half-dozen over the years, maybe as many as a dozen, by different manufacturers, and EVERY single one of them is a piece of ****!

My latest, which I got several years ago, is very, very similar to this:

The color is identical. Everything is identical except the grab handle on the lights themselves is different.

So, what's my problem with these things? They CANNOT hold a setting. I just finished attacking mine with a god damned grinder in order to get the blasted crossbar off so I can store it away. Right now I'm more likely to throw the thing away!!! The lights themselves won't even hold an angle because the nuts inside the knobs float, and then the damned crossbar couldn't be tightened down enough on the post to keep IT from flopping around. Not only could it not be tightened down, but the knob wouldn't come off either, hence the grinder. I've had similar problems in the past with the "cheap" units, so I thought maybe if I step it up some I can get one that's not ****. Thought wrong on that...

I'm going to put the damn thing in a box, and take it to ReStore. It's either that or take it outside, clamp in on a pair of sawhorses, and let the neighbors make sparks with the grinder for the heckuva it.

 

[RalphInCA]

Problem solved: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0034CIZF8/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Strouty]

I don't think it is the quality of the lights, it is the lack of hard storage. I bought some commercial electric units 10 plus years ago and they had hard cases. They are just as good as the day I bought them, thanks to the cases.

 

[stage20]

I hate halogens with. Passion. Ive got a few different fluorescents I use. While not as bright they work flawless and little heat. One is. Dewalt. I've got a wobble light and one on a tripod. Equivalent to 175w incandescent

 

[Kyle.B]

Have you ever looked at stage lighting or photography kits? We have some photo lights that seem like they would work well in theory. They hold position, pack up tight in cases, and put out a lot of light, and some kits are highly adjustable. Probably wouldn't hold up to a lot of banging around though.

 

[GortonsFisherman]

Quartz work lights are like so 1995. LED is where it's at - they don't get blisteringly hot, no filaments to break and pennies to run.

 

[gml1998]

I have a few LED work lights. They fit my needs well.

 

[Strouty]

I also have a wobble light. It works fairly well. It is fluorescent. I would love to upgrade to led but not yet. They will be cheaper and my other lights are fine for now.

* I am conveying my true thoughts telepathically *

 

[honcho]

Halogens are bright, cheap and HOT! I love them for working in unheated spaces in the wintertime because I get light and heat at the same time.

I have some old colortran video lights that put out a ton of light but I've melted too many things with them over the years and am always afraid of setting something on fire if I turn my back with them turned on.

My middle-aged eyes have issues with the color of LED lighting and LED light arrays capable of lighting large areas are very expensive compared to halogens. Florescent fixtures can put out a lot of light but they tend to be much bigger physically.

So halogens win for low purchase cost, high light output. They lose for heat output and risk of heat damage / fire and high cost of operation in terms of kilowatts consumed for the light and the extra cooling load required if you don't need the heat in the space you are working in.

 

[CJM8515]

Halogens are rather cheap these days, I bought a set of 500w (or maybe its 100w I forget) HDX (home cheapo chinese brand) and they work fine. The tilt knobs seem ok and so far i have no complaints other than they are of course cheap and being cheap the metal work is decent but not great. I like them for the same reason Honcho does-work in an enclosed space in the winter and they heat it up well!

I think they cost me like 30 bucks.

 

[stage20]

when i need a halogen i buy either lowes or hd brand cheapest thing. one store is 15 bucks, the other has some for 5.98. i use those and dont even bother to change the bulb. by then they are falling apart like you mention.

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

The heads of these units are heavy and tend to cause balance issues at the horizontal pivot points. The halogen units are the heaviest, with the LED heads being the lightest. I expect as LED's start showing up more and more in this case design that we'll see high impact plastic instead of diecast metal that we have now. That will make it a lot more resilient and easier to work with.

In the mean time, a few star lock washers in the pivot points can be your friend.

 

[rickhigginshtbr]

Depending on what your using it for, I got something similar to this:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Designer...amp-FL3038-ORB/203066759?N=5yc1vZc7pdZ1z1153m
and a desk top version too, both take 250w bulbs. I'm in the same boat, can't get a decent work light, think I have two and 1/2 to toss right now... the one, no matter what I do, the one side refuses to light up. not the bulb, not the switch, no burnt wires, just doesn't work.

 

[ADSR]

 

[85FourEyedGT]

if you use 18v milwaukee tools they have this gorgeous portable led light that runs on those batteries

 

[softailgarage]

Here ya go, best damn work light I have ever had

http://www.zetaled.co.uk/led-lighting-products/zs-led-flood-light/
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GQNSKC0/?tag=atomicindus08-20

The one on amazon is made by Zeta, not jacko (its part # is Zeta)
I paid $65.00 at a local shop here. This thing kicks ***! This is the smaller version, it has a big brother too. Mine has a lense thats 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" and produces the same amount of light without the heat output of a halogen work light. It last's about 3 hours on a full charge (10watt output) or it can be plugged into a 110v outlet to use or charge up. By far one of the best tools i've invested in. IIRC, it's brother was about $125.00.

 

[7echo]

Have you ever looked at stage lighting or photography kits? We have some photo lights that seem like they would work well in theory. They hold position, pack up tight in cases, and put out a lot of light, and some kits are highly adjustable. Probably wouldn't hold up to a lot of banging around though.

Much better kit, for sure. But the cost of quality photo/video/stage lighting gear will be way more.