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Post by Bluesky78987 on Nov 29, 2012 20:15:24 GMT -5
I had an old desk lamp (clamp on swing-arm style) that just bit the dust. It was nice because you could move it into almost any position and was pretty bright. But, it got really hot.
So I'm trying to figure out what to replace it with. It will be used at the flat lap for evaluating scratches, and also for general bench work like silverwork, gluing, etc. Indoors.
My main criteria are (a) lots of light (b) clamp on style and goes in any position easily and (c) cheap.
There seem to be these LED gooseneck lights now. Are they any good? If anybody has an opinion about what the best lamp is, care to share?
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Post by jakesrocks on Nov 29, 2012 20:20:58 GMT -5
I'm using LED's in my display cabinet and love them. They give off a true white light. I'm still using the gooseneck that came with my Genie, but may soon replace the bulb with a LED.
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jspencer
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2011
Posts: 929
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Post by jspencer on Nov 29, 2012 23:07:47 GMT -5
I have one like yours that bit the dust on one bench and a small desk lamp from Home Depot on the other. The small one has the same features but on a base instead of clamp on. It is only 40W but a small halogen flood lamp gives off plenty of light and it`s very portable too. I think it was $14 for the lamp.
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Post by Rockoonz on Nov 29, 2012 23:13:20 GMT -5
Halogens and incandescent lights seem to do a good job of showing details, fluorescent not so much. At least that's the way my middle aged eyes see it. We have tube fluorescent lights in our work stations, but also a halogen track light behind us on the ceiling
Lee
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Mattatya
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2012
Posts: 452
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Post by Mattatya on Nov 30, 2012 0:25:56 GMT -5
If you near an Ikea I purchased the one you mentioned broke for around $10. I believe the metal shade part detaches as well. I was able to fit the latest lumen daylight spiral CFL bulbs and seems to do well for me. They may have shipping available in your area too.
Matt
Sent from my SPH-D710 using proboards
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Post by Pat on Nov 30, 2012 1:19:19 GMT -5
I use a lamp with a daylight bulb. Looks like an Ott light, but is much cheaper. I think under $20. I have one for stringing and one for metalsmithing.
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Nov 30, 2012 1:22:44 GMT -5
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Mattatya
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2012
Posts: 452
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Post by Mattatya on Nov 30, 2012 3:37:57 GMT -5
That one is basically like the one I use. The link you posted also does up to 60 watt. I have found that when shopping for mine some only go up to 40 watt. With a spiral bulb though you can run it with less heat or drill holes in the top to help vent. Looks like a good deal and has some good reviews, few but good.
Matt
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Charles
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2012
Posts: 161 
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Post by Charles on Nov 30, 2012 7:48:52 GMT -5
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Post by beefjello on Nov 30, 2012 8:04:09 GMT -5
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Tousled Owl
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2011
Posts: 130
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Post by Tousled Owl on Nov 30, 2012 18:02:31 GMT -5
This doesn't match up with a couple of your criteria (cheap, clamps to desk), but I have vastly improved my results once I started using this as opposed to some of the other types discussed above: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003DRBOJ8/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_2?ie=UTF8&smid=A2D8JQWPPKDGTTI'll be buying a second one to add to the illumination above the cab machine soon. There's a floor version (with the light on a flexible neck) of it as well if that works better for you. Best regards, Jack |
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Mattatya
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2012
Posts: 452
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Post by Mattatya on Jan 9, 2013 15:58:57 GMT -5
Hey Bluesky, What did you end up buying  Sent from my SPH-D710 using proboards |
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herchenx
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on Jan 10, 2013 4:31:26 GMT -5
I missed this thread initially, but I've gone through a lot of lighting this year. I tried the gooseneck lamps with the magnifier. The main issues I had were that the clamps were plastic and one broke and the other never really held well. The second issue is the ones with the cfl on the arm end of the lamp head are dim. What worked really well were these from harbor freight. I have 4 now and they give me all the light I need: www.harborfreight.com/fluorescent-magnifying-lamp-66384.html They have the larger ring bulb that runs equivalent brightness to a 100-watt incandescent. They have a nice metal clamp that holds on really well. The head is heavy but the arm allows me to extend it to wherever I like and it doesn't droop. I just leave them overhead for lots of light, and if I want the big magnifier or closer light it's right there. |
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milto
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2010
Posts: 162
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Post by milto on Jan 10, 2013 9:04:24 GMT -5
The secret in my opinion is the DAYLIGHT bulb I buy 100 watt at Walmart. Daylight are a little more expensive but their Kevin degrees are about the same as OTT lights.Sun light still the best to examine cabs MHO.
milto
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Post by Roller on Jan 10, 2013 11:41:23 GMT -5
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mjflinty
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2011
Posts: 358
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Post by mjflinty on Jan 10, 2013 14:19:13 GMT -5
I'm cheap, I'll admit it... I use a LED with a flex shaft and clip that is intended to light up a book for reading. Spent all of two dollars on it. So far it's, the best light I've found!
Michael
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Post by bobby1 on Jan 13, 2013 22:00:25 GMT -5
I get the goosneck lights sold at IKEA. They are about $10 and they take 100 watt bulbs. I took a block of wood cut from a 2 X 4 that is 2-1/2" square, drill a hole in the center to hold the lamp's post, drill small holes in opposite corners and screw it to my workbench. Much stronger than the factory clamps. I use 100 watt clear bulbs because it gives me a point light source. It really helps with spotting scratches during the final sanding and polishing. Its getting really hard to find the 100 watts now. The choice now is a 71 watt bulb that supposedly put out the same light.
Bob
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Jan 14, 2013 10:37:41 GMT -5
Thanks all! Agreed on the point light source -- I was using a little clip on reading light (I think fro Ikea) with gooseneck - flimsy clip, hard to keep in the right spot, but I had a bright full spectrum CFL in it, and that was pretty good for spotting scratches, even if it didn't light the place up very much. Then I got a black desk lamp (the kind with the clamp and the pin), but don't know where I got it. The clamp broke almost right away, but the lamp works good. However, the black gets way too hot to touch. Then I ended up getting this one (sorry I don't know how to make the picture from another website show up), which is basically a white version of the same thing: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002ZEN13M/ref=oh_details_o06_s00_i01but it comes with another crappy clip, but thanks to an Amazon reviewer comment, I found out they also sell a sturdier metal clamp: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007AQXSFQ/ref=oh_details_o06_s00_i00(They're having backorder problems though). The metal clamp has so far been the ticket. I've ordered another one so I can use the black lamp too. (In the mean time, I was using the crappy clamp that came with the white lamp on my old black lamp, but that only lasted a couple months). I also got this lamp to use in the jewelry class studio because it runs on batteries (I like lots of light!), but haven't tried it yet, we'll see tonight. I am a little afraid it's not going to be bright enough, but maybe it is enough for supplemental light: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005NIBRH4/ref=oh_details_o03_s01_i00 |
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The Dad_Ohs
fully equipped rock polisher
Take me to your Labradorite!!
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,860
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Post by The Dad_Ohs on Jan 14, 2013 11:38:57 GMT -5
I had an old desk lamp (clamp on swing-arm style) that just bit the dust. It was nice because you could move it into almost any position and was pretty bright. But, it got really hot. So I'm trying to figure out what to replace it with. It will be used at the flat lap for evaluating scratches, and also for general bench work like silverwork, gluing, etc. Indoors. My main criteria are (a) lots of light (b) clamp on style and goes in any position easily and (c) cheap. There seem to be these LED gooseneck lights now. Are they any good? If anybody has an opinion about what the best lamp is, care to share? Staples sells that style of lamp still, they also carry the variations of the old clamp on desk lamp such as... LED, Bulb w/magnifying glass, LED w/magnifying glass. I have the old bulb style at this desk and a bulb w/magnifyer at my other desk... I used it for PC repairs and when working with motherboards... now it helps me see small wore wraps easier... yes, it gets hot and when they die they will be replaced with LEDs, here & and in my shop. |
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The Dad_Ohs
fully equipped rock polisher
Take me to your Labradorite!!
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,860
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Post by The Dad_Ohs on Jan 14, 2013 11:46:10 GMT -5
I missed this thread initially, but I've gone through a lot of lighting this year. I tried the gooseneck lamps with the magnifier. The main issues I had were that the clamps were plastic and one broke and the other never really held well. The second issue is the ones with the cfl on the arm end of the lamp head are dim. Hey John, I find that when the little plastic block breaks the light works better for me because I just drill a hole in the back corners of my desk and stick the lamp into the hole... still swivels and moes, just o block to clamp down and I recently drill 2 holes near the front corners of my desk so I can easily move the lamp anywhere I need it to be for more precise lighting... when I have some extra$$ I'm buying 2nd lamps for my desk too so I will have 1 magnifier and 1 regular lamp on each one. |
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