Hot Rods Help with a trouble light.

i'm with you. i have one on a reel that hangs from the middle of the garage ceiling. main complaint is that it always seems to cast a glare right in my eyes. also, tried a cfl in it, but if you drop it the bulb breaks. went back to an old-fashioned incandescent bulb, but i think they've quit making them. used to be, you could buy a "rough service" bulb, which had a heavier filament in it...

 

I bet some would agree...

 

Joe,
You aren't going to appreciate this but I keep a fluorescent trouble light for just general work and when I really need to see I use a flash light. its a pain in the ass but that is what it has come to at my house.

 

Here you go Jo!

Protection for that Mellon too.

 

Haven't you guys figured it out by now?? The whole HAMB is a primo mental health wellness site!!

 

Well all I been getting on here is Obama Care.

 

The thing I don't like about the LED stick-type I have is that the light is highly directional. If the beam is not exactly where you are working, might as well be in the dark. I don't know why they don't arrange the LEDs on a curved surface?? ($$$ no doubt)

 

take a look at the one I posted , it spreads the light out over a 24" area . alot of it has to do with how the lense on the led is made . most cheap LEds the light angle is less than 90* and tight so the light projects straight out of the led . the more expensive LEd units the light is at 135-180* almost like light bulb with a reflector behind . a good led drop light your going to spend around$ 35-40 for it . my wife bought one of them cheapie pro brand ones for 9 bucks at Pepdorks and its like a penlight with coverage .

 

Working on pickups during the construction of the Trans-Alaska pipeline in 76 and the boss came in and pulled me and another guy for a rush job engine change in a Dodge Ramcharger that one of the brass was driving. Wanted it back in service that afternoon, so we jumped on it. He took the top and I went underneath with a trouble light. Luckily, I was out from under grabbing a few more wrenches when the other guy took the fuel line from the tank off the fuel pump. Generally we'd just pull it off and stick a hood bolt in the hose to stop it off. He pulled it off, then discovered the hood bolts were out of reach, so he let go of the line for a second to reach farther over and get a bolt. The tank must have been full, cause a bunch got out and sprayed the trouble light I'd left hooked to the sway bar. POOF! Big fire, just that quick. He ran for an extinguisher and I saw that it wasn't burning at the hose yet or much up under the hood on that side, so I grabbed a bolt and jammed in it to stop the flow and jumped back. He got there right away with the extinguisher and put it out. We got calmed down in a few minutes, swept up the mess and still got the truck out that afternoon. Needless to say, fire was a big topic at the next safety meeting.

Anyway, what I wanted to show was the light I made last week. I found a cheap floor lamp at the dumpsters a while back and decided if I cut the pole way down it might work under a truck. It won't be good in every circumstance, but it's very handy when the vehicle is jacked up and on stands. It lights up about everything under there with a 75 watt bulb and it's not so bright in my face that I can't see when looking towards it.. I'm deciding about whether I want to spend the dough for an LED bulb to put in it. No heat to light the possible gas fire might be worth it.... specially since I'm working in my own shop now on my own stuff.

 

FabberMcgee i am stealing that idea. i just picked up a couple torchiere lights a friend was throwing out, i never thought of using them under the lift.

 

I also prefer the 4 bulb fluorescent, T5 bulbs of course,,I have a smaller 2 bulb fluorescent that throws just enough light to make any task annoying... I thought it was just me until I read that as we age not only do we get taller and better looking but we also require much more light see, in fact at age 50 you need twice the light you required at age 40

 

It's all part of Gods plan you know, you think you get better looking but its just that the details get fizzy & blended. can you imagine if you could actually see all the wrinkles. Works both ways, she can't see yours and you can't see hers.

 

OVER THE YEARS WORKING ON 40 FORDS IF I HAD THE DASH OUT I WOULD PAINT THE BACK SIDE WHITE AND LATER WHEN WORKING ON WIRING/WIPERS/ETC IT MAKES IT EASIER ON THE ELDERLY HOT RODDER!

CRAB LOUIE

 

I recently discovered the headband headlamps (I know behind the times).....i thought i died and gone to heaven. The light is everywhere you look...this coupled with an LED lamp of some kind is just perfect.

 

Seems like a lot of those style lamps used a small halogen bulb. They make a lot of light for their size but they put off a lot of heat too. Might not be the best thing to use if there's going to be fuel in the area.

 

the ones i have use a regular bulb, can't be any worse than my drop light.

 

I bought one of these last year and it works pretty well I have even used it in the house when the power was out.

120 LED Rechargeable Under Hood Work Light
Magnetic ends let you attach this bright under hood light instantly

 

“Your father’s lightsaber. This is the weapon of a Jedi Knight. Not as clumsy or random as a blaster; an elegant weapon for a more civilized age. For over a thousand generations, the Jedi Knights were the guardians of peace and justice in the Old Republic. Before the dark times… before the Empire.”
obi wan

 

I like the ones like turbo posted,
Got a few of them from harbor freight free, with purchases.
Lost one for about two weeks
Found it next time my son return with his jeep ,
Right where he left it under rear wheel well
The magnets are pretty strong!


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