What type of Lighting do you prefer?

[Glass Pyro]

I am finally setting up my own personal shop and have always worked under crappy lighting conditions in the past, so I want to know what you guys prefer for overhead / torch lighting?

Incandescent
Flourescents
HO flourescents
Halogens
Whatever else there is?

HID Lamp> Rather not run a HPS or MH :twitch: :shifty:

So what do you guys use / prefer for your station, and how many Watts of it?

Thanks

Pyro

[Glass Pyro]

Spelled Fluorescent, wrong! Sorry bout that > :smokin:

[WORLD FAMOUS]

I have a 3-light halogen track lighting system from Home Depot - $30 I think. I also have florescent overheads, but the halogens are really helpful for inspecting your work up close while it's still hot.

[Big Jay]

wish I knew the answer fer myself. We have a low ceiling so incadecents were way too hot. We switch to Compact flo. and its much cooler but even though they are rated higher then the incadecents its very difficult to see the work through shade 3's. Halogens are waaay too hot to be an option. Metal halides and HPS bulbs would be a little wierd.

[schmoinkel]

(4) 8' 100watt Fluorescent bulbs....its nice and bright in there now. I used to use a couple of el cheapo tract light dealys with the three swivleing sockets with 60w bulbs...felt like a dungon. The brightness deffinatly makes me more productive and happier.

oh yeah I think I got the full spectrum bulbs instead of the regular Fluorescent, there much whiter.
Also they did away with the old style bulbs with the two prongs on each end dont buy those or the fixture they go in , you want to get the T9 jobs, thats the new and improved model

Scott

[Firekist]

here's the summary: i think spot light incandescent with fluorescent/compact fluorescent combo is the way to go. good spectrum, low heat, low watts.


i've always used HO fluorescents for lighting the main part of the shop. they work under cold conditions better than the regular.

for the actual bench lighting i've used halogens and incandescents.. and i've just gotten a couple compact fluorescents that i'm still deciding on.

i love my track lighting.. i got some big old cans on there with 2 150 watt spot lights (not floods, those are too disperse) on my work, and 3 smaller cans lighting the area.
i used to have 60 watt bulbs in these cans, and they have burned out, and were fairly dim. i used some full spectrum "reveal" lights in them.. they were ok.. but still nothing great.
i just got a couple compact fluorescents in there.. and those things are weird. the one bulb that's a 100 watt equivalent is almost blue, but still pretty white. it looks ok.. but i wouldn't want a bench full of them.
i also put in a 150watt equivalent.. and that thing's nice and bright compared to the 60watt bulbs, but it's rather orange. it's funny cause when i put my shades on, the orange bulb turns green, and the blue bulb gets bluer.

anyway.. i think incandescent with fluorescent/compact fluorescent combo is the way to go.

z--seth

[DanBrooks]

i would say i prefer the SUN! :cool2: but i work in my basement so i settle for fluorescents, i put T8s up they are smaller diameter and lower wattage than the normal t12s you see but for some reason they are much brighter they put out a nice white light. i also use some incandescent spot lights on my bench.

[Glass Pyro]

Thanks for all of the input, and posts!!

[somberbear]

lots of sun light when i can get it,

i like the floro cause there cheap on hand easy to wire and set up and frankly give you a nice flat even brightness.....which is great for me atleast

[Emmett's Glass]

Hallogens on the bench, I have shoplightes in the rest of the shop and I hate the flickering that floresents always have.
E

[Blacksheep]

my floro's ar 6- 4' t5 HO in day light spectrum they dont flicker but arnt cheap either they do get it good and bright though

[Loïc]

i'll also have to vote for Halogen for the best lightin... the only problem beeing the added heat in summer, and also i had a 4' T8 fluorescent right in the hood, for extra light and a full spectrum.. better for the moral i think when there is no windows in da shop....

[menty666]

cfl's because they let me put a 100watt equiv bulb in a 60 watt fixture and have room to spare. though I have a halogen work light that shines from behind me for extra light and a little pool of warmth from above during the colder months.

[Swampy]

Halogen directly above/slightly forward of my head.

That way I can hold work up to it and see what's what.

[Conchis]

Man oh man, I wish I could solve the lighting problem...I feel like I'm working in a photo dark room. Is there anyone that's tried the LED systems?