I have about a half dozen different trouble/work lights. There is not a one that is any danged good. Too bright, hot exterior, hard to position. Anyone have a favorite? Dan T
Look for one of the ones with like 50 LEDS I have a corded one and my brother has a cordless rechargable and both work great nice and cool with a removeable magnetic base
i know what you mean, i have just the old time metal cased, wire gard, it never fails that the hook is the wrong way around, the cord is so stiff when its cold i think i could balance it on end, i do use a compact florescent bulb which dosent blow every time it drops, and i have a cord from a free powerwasher thats softer, as for the hook i'm still thinking, also i did buy a nice led flashlight at the dollor store the other day that i was thinking of attaching a magnet to.
Work outside when the sun is shining brightly in the sky.... Yeah, work lights ****. Getting old makes it worse, I can't see anything unless it's lit up real bright.
I bought one of those 50 led jobs, it's OK but really directional. I prefer the light the old lights put out but even with 'extreme service' bulbs seems like the bulbs blow out when you're in a tight spot and need them the most.
CFL bulbs seem to be more durable than the " extreme service " type. They are available in flourescent and incandescent style depending on what you like. They are not welding spark proof however. For quite a while I've been usuing the hardware store clamp-on lights with the circular alluminum reflector available in a couple of diameters. I usually glue the reflector to the socket and with a CFL bulb it makes a pretty good and durable light.
I usually set up my pair of 500 watt Halogens on the strand and aim that into the engine compartment. Works great when it's cold too. I used the old standard trouble lights for years and have burns to show for it but prefer my cordless Led light with the magnet base that I picked up a few years ago. No burned neck and no chance of setting the interior of a car on fire if you are using it under the dash and walk away and leave it on for a while.
I use one of these: http://www.shiningbeam.com/servlet/the-169/Romisen-RC-dsh-M4-II-Q5/Detail To compare this to a mini-maglite or the $1 to $5 ones all the parts and hardware stores sell is like comparing Homer Simpson to Albert Einstein. It is easily 20 times brighter, if not more than any "regular" flash light. It is significantly brighter than using a 60 or 100 watt light bulb. It does not get hot in use. I'm young, but have vision problems in dark situations, and my gl***es are a heavy prescription. I carry one in my jeans pocket everywhere, and so it's natural to grab it under the car. Being cordless and small, it stays out of the way. Some people may laugh, but when I need two hands, I hold it in my mouth. It is easy to aim where needed while trying to use both hands. The one thing to remember is that it uses a battery type called "CR123" which is a lithium based battery. They last many, many hours, and can be bought online for very reasonable prices (couple bucks or so for a pair) or at sporting goods and gun shops for decent prices. To buy them at Walmart or similar, this battery is considered a "camera" battery, and the high prices reflect their view of this as "special". I bought a dozen batteries over two years ago, and still have 4 left plus the ones in the light.
Dad likes the rechargable led ones from sears, Craftsman brand. I buy the rechargable led ones from the O'Reilly auto parts stores. They're bright orange and I misplace them less often. craftsman ones are $35 O'Reilly's ones are $50. Batteries last a long time between charges, they have magnets (can be turned to change light direction) and both have a super bright flashlight in the end. Cords **** (and air hoses too), pretty sure they're an invention of the devil Adam
Many a garage has burned to the ground using those old drop lights with a incandescent bulb. Gas dripping on the bulb is all she wrote. Throw that old **** in the trash before its too late.
yep, work lights are always a problem-especially when you are too close or too far away. when under a car I have always used a corded fluorescent tube style till the cheapo plastic hook to hang it broke off. I stopped using the old light bulb style type under a car in part because of the bulbs blowing out. But, mainly because a guy I know was trying to track down a origin of problem with bad running car. Went to drain oil that had a smell of gas on dip stick. Well, the oil just gushed out and splashed off the frame then hit the hanging drop light-fire!! big time. Lucky that a buddy walked into the garage at that same moment and dragged him out from under car. Car and garage had serious damage, but he was OK.
Yup..lost my garage in Detroit to an incandescent type drop light. wont ever see one of those in my shop, at home or at work. battery / rechargeable type , or plug in florecent is all i will ever use. hard lesson
Wife got me one of these a few months ago. Very pleased with it so far. http://www.might-d-light.com/ Can only find them on Amazon click here
Mac tool man sells a LED drop light w/cord, a little pricey .It will be the last one you need .I have had mine 4 years.
I always likes the old ones with then incandescent buld and the metal cover. but It gets damned cold in my driveway. You can one of the old fasioned ones and put one of those new flourescent bulbs in it. It'll stay cool and won't be too bright, also won't pop the filiment when you drop it. I use the flurescent ones all the time any more, not an old retrofit but the newer ones with the tubes in it from the factory. I like them real well.
I saw a fire started by a metal caged incandescent bulb light that was left laying on a carpeted car floor. The best light depends on what you are doing. Where possible I like fluorescent. The down side, with no reflector/shield the light dazzles your eyes. With a reflector/shield, the light often wants to rotate in the wrong direction. Another option, it's not unusual for me to have a flashlight in my mouth.
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