Cheap And Effective Tool Lights

Franko said:
I've tried about a half dozen different lamps to light my mill. I have a couple of those Lowes desk lamps and they are pretty good, making a good broad light pattern with very soft shadows. The disadvantage I've found is their size can get in the way. I found a very nice LED lamp at Frys that I think is the perfect machine light. It is about $20 and comes with a very good clip and is much smaller than the other desk lamp.

I modified mine by removing the clip (which is a good clip if you have something to clip it to) and making an adapter from a section of 1-inch aluminum square tube to attach it to a round magnet base I found at Harbor Freight (cheap). The gooseneck is very good, holding any position you place, and the light is a good soft shadowed and bright light source that doesn't get hot. The lamp head is small enough to hang down in the front of my mill and not obscure my vision or get in the way. After much trial, this is the best machine light I been able to find.

I'm new to the forum, so I can't post pictures yet, but here is a link to the lamp sold on Amazon.


Newhouse Lighting NHCLP-LED-BLK 3-watt Energy-efficient Clamp LED Lamp
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FIYJXAQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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This work light just arrived. Looks good & awesome light.
I'll probably order 2 more
ed
 
I know this is an old thread, but the subject is near and dear to my aging eyes. I've tried a number of different lamps on my 12" Atlas lathe and Enco mill/drill. It seems like I can get either a good light that is bulky and the mounting is in the way, or one that is unobtrusive, but doesn't give me the light I need. That Newhouse light that Franko shows looks like it might be just the thing. Since this thread is over a year old, I'm wondering how well those lamps are holding up?

For my lathe I've used weighted and clamped to the bench bases, but they always seem to be in the way. I'd like to make a mount that bolts it to the head/countershaft/motor bracket area to get it off the bench. But I wonder if vibration would be an issue. Has anyone done this?
 
I ordered a set of 80mm angel eyes for my mill, but they are about a milometer too small. A set of 90mm angle eyes are currently on the boat from China.
 
That would be good for the mill, but i'm curious to know how those newhouse lamps are holding up. One of those might be just right for my lathe. Thanks Steve
 
I have to say in follow up that I have given up on the lights from Lowe's I originally posted. They do not last and may start to flicker. I have taken to making my own lights out of martini shakers that use replaceable bulbs with GU10 bases.
Those sewing machine lights look good also.
81MtsbLz64L._SL1500_.jpg
Has anyone had one for a long time? Like more than a year? How do they last?
R
 
george wilson said:
I bought one of those stainless steel Lowes lights,but my wife commandeered it for a sewing light. So,I'm out of luck.:) But,it has kept working for several months.

Not all their lights work as well,though. I have bought 3 of their floor lamps,that you touch to get on-off and 3 stages of brightness. Trouble is,when the 3 way bulb burns out,the lamp stops working. I still have one left,but it could blow out at any time. I enjoyed just touching them to control them,as I didn't have to get up from my recliner to reach a switch. But,I don't enjoy losing $45.00 every time a lightbulb blows out.
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George
The following will only make sense for incandescent bulbs. Many years ago when the world was young and people still believed in magic, a Phillips lamp salesman told me that 3-way lights have to be installed upright - as in bulb up, in any other orientation the life of the bulb is severely shortened. In my experience I found this to be true.
Pierre
 
rwm said:
I have to say in follow up that I have given up on the lights from Lowe's I originally posted. They do not last and may start to flicker. I have taken to making my own lights out of martini shakers that use replaceable bulbs with GU10 bases.
Those sewing machine lights look good also.
Has anyone had one for a long time? Like more than a year? How do they last?
R
Click to expand...
I believe I have that same light. I've had it a few months. It works very well, feels very solid, goose neck stays where you put it...and VERY strong magnets too.
They won't light a room but give good light the table and vise area well.
Here's a link for the lights I have https://amzn.com/B01ACIFPYA
 
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