lights

[timinny420]

what are the best lights to have in a shop - when i have my clip-ons on it is almost impossible to see the bench to get what i need color or the right size rod/tube - thanks

[4everinmotion]

I bought 3 or 4 4ft florescent light bars at Home Depot. About 10 bucks each. They make up a 3'x4' square of lights directly over my bench. Provides plenty of light. I wear Auralens 286 with a shade 5 and I can see fine.

[Julian]

I like to have 2-3 large spotlights.
The $5 'Clamp Lamps' will do.
A couple of those with 100 watt lightbulbs, pointing at the working area is adequate. I like to have one to the side at head level or so for inspecting pieces while working as well.
The halogen bulbs that are made for a standard light bulb base are very nice in 100 watt. Watch out, though, they will burn your head or hand off if they are less than a foot or so away. Compact flourescents are alright with the clamp lamps, and last forever, but I prefer the non-flickery light of the normal lightbulb.

[medicatedMELTDOWN]

i remember reading, i think on glass alchemys site that halogen are the 2nd best after the sun for looking at colors in glass

soooooo thats what i use and they do get pretty hot

[IrieGuy05]

With a halogen you can see through real dark colors that would appear black up to a florescent or incandesnt bulb. So you can identify those dark colors without pulling a stringer or stirking the tip.

[mer]

excellent advice guys!

[menty666]

I have a single halogen work light (one of those caged square ones) on one side, and one of those cheapo aluminum clip lights with a 100 watt equivalent CFL in it on the other. Works well with my shade 5's.

http://munkinarts.com/images/cleanbench2.jpg

That wall fan only sees limited use these days, btw. I have a fan and hood over the bench.

[Mac Maestro]

With a halogen you can see through real dark colors that would appear black up to a florescent or incandesnt bulb. So you can identify those dark colors without pulling a stringer or stirking the tip.

Or when you're looking for a crack in black tubing....

This thread is really OLD. Way to bring it back, Mer!

[mer]

bwahahaha!

[Mac Maestro]

OK I kept reading. Looks like you really had some fun tonight bringing back a bunch of 2005 stuff. Crazy mofo.... ;)

[menty666]

bwa....and I fell for it.

[Icarus]

Even thought this thread is old as shit, I'ma chime in here. I have some tube flourescents, and I find them really convenient for checking my marble to make sure there are no chill marks or flat spots. When I'm just about finished with the marble, I'll look at the reflection of the lights on it as I rotate it. If I see the light bar bend differently at any point as I rotate the marble, I know that I have as issue there, and I need to flame polish the marble a bit more.

I didn't think this up. I'm pretty sure I read it in Drew Fritts book, but even if you don't normally use flourescents, it's worth having a set (they're super cheap) that you can turn on for that alone. Saved me a lot of looking at a marble after it's done and finding a flat spot that I didn't see when it was hot.

[Swampy]

I use one of them 250watt halogen (tungsten?) yard lights too. The brightness and colour temperature work good for me.

Icarus, what I do is turn the oxy all the way down so you have a really bright flame. You can spin the marble next to it and see the imperfections you describe. Just another way to do it, right. (A man from the desert showed me that. Thanks dood.)

[The Lorax]

i need some better lighting for sure. i have a shitty light thats 5 feet behind me in the garage and always casts a shadow over my table since its behind me.

[themoch]

compact florecent simulated 250 watt bulbs... in the metal brackets from home depot.

total cost is ~$7 light and they get very bright with no heat.

i have two about 10 inches from the top of my head.

[Conchis]

I keep adding lights, I have a couple of those LED clip ons, a couple of those 150 Watt Equivalent new dealies, a couple of goose neck lamps..sheesh... pretty soon it's going to look like a movie set

[filthy god brother]

Full spectrum flourescent tubes work great for all around brightness.
Mini halogen on the side of your bench facing inside and away from you works good for identification purposes

[p.j.]

i use the compacts from the depot too. they come in daylight and are cheap....


what this isn't 2005?