shop lights

[susieq]

A lot has been posted on here about lighting, especially the Ott lights. Some good, some not so good. For both carving and painting, you need a good light. I lucked out and found some lights at Home Depot in their lighting/lamp display that are perfect.....and cheap!! (at least compared to an Ott light)

They come either table top ($20) or floor model ($30) and have the same type of lighting that the Ott lamp provides. They are adjustable and require some assembly...I know, the 2 most dreaded works in retail...but I can do it so it's not that hard.

I liked the one I bought for my carving desk so well that I went back and bought another for in the house when I paint my work...and then my hubby, the yard sale king, found another at a yard sale....

My main complaint about them is not much different from most other so called adjustable lights.....you tighten the little key screw when you have it adjusted for the height you want and it gradually starts lowering itself .... but duct tape fixes that problem. For the difference in price between this lamp and an Ott lamp, I can live with a little duct tape...... and the grey duct tape blends right in. LOL. It took me less than 5 minutes to fix that problem and the light from them is great. They resemble an office desk lamp in design, 2 tone lt grey and dk grey. Made by "Lights of America" model 9024B 27W.

One of these sits on my work station in my studio. The general lighting is florecent tube lights on the ceiling and my work station is set up with a window at my back for good day light too. I prefer daylight over my shoulder to having it facing me.

[mikefromsundre]

Originally Posted by mark yundt

I don't really care if the lighting is natural or not when carving. Really ..what's the point? I'm only looking for shadows so why spend the money for natural lights? As far as finishing goes I've met many who insist on the natural lights there as well. They finish a piece and then put it in a home where it's lit by incandescent or flourescent lights. Sort of defeats the purpose unless you plan on leaving your carving outside in true "natural' light. But for just plain carving and working,,it serves no purpose at all.

Good point. Never thought of this with carving. With fly tying true colour is important when we are trying to imitate an insect in nature. I often put a fly in a glass of water outside to see what it looks like. But with carving true daylight colour is not as important. Most of my carvings are on the Xmas tree or displayed on a book shelf. My concern I guess should be adequate light to see and lighting that does not strain my old eyes. Thanks everyone.

[susieq]

My main reason for good lighting (and these lights do the trick) is to see the little marks, scratches, dents, etc...that I am trying to get rid of in the finishing process. Especially when using antiquing solution on your work to bring out the detail, care must be used to get rid of the marks you didn't mean to leave or they will be highlighted by the antiquing process also. I have started painting a piece many times when the paint shows a flaw I missed and I have to take it back out to my shop and fix it. Extra magnification and good lighting are an absolute must for me to finish a piece properly and ready it for painting.

[vacation212]

Desk fixture with 100W bulb that can be moved left right or up or down.Generasl shop lighting is flourecent fixtures.

[rales]

I prefer low adjustable light - doesn't matter what they are - I use both incandescent and fluorescent, either straight on or at 45 degrees left and right. My main carving window faces south I'd prefer north but with translucent shades I can get a low full light without using overhead fluorescents which, for me - doing relief, really washes out the shadows. I try to carve as much as possible in the light that the finished piece will be viewed.

One thing that won't change - you must use low light to finish a carving - turn it 90%, turn it another 90%, etc... until you are happy with it - then do it again just to make sure. I always surprise myself with the little things I catch on that last step.

For paint and finishing - I'm a little better off than most of you in that doing signage, I usually have some very definate constraints as to where the piece is going and in what kinds of light it will be viewed. Unless it's a heavy fluorescent atmosphere - I like daylight or incandescents for painting....

peace, rales

[Mark N. Akers]

I have 16 4' 4 bulb florescents got em for a great price,but I paint with a Blue Max Light,it is great.

[Kenny_S]

Folding OTT knock off. A third of the price and does as good of a job. But that is to take to seminars. I have 4 4' 4 light shop lights, 2 8' 2 bulb lights and 3 4' 1 bulb light. In the day time I open the doors.

[senior]

My work shop is 23 X 23 and lit with 4 Incandescent ceiling lights. Each machine has it's own set of lights. there are 3 work benches, they also have thier own set of lights. I do not work well under florescent lighting so there is only one florescent. I like sunlight, flood lights and plain incandescent. Carving bench (2' X 6' ) has one 75 watt flood and 3 60 watt incandescent. Total number of lights in the shop is 19.