A shop light makes all the difference in the world.

[freakshow10mm]

Just got a shop light today and installed it over my bench. It's a Cheap $10.99 Ace Hardware dual light. I got two cheap 25W bulbs in it ($4.19 for the pair).

Old light source:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/freakshow10mm/Handloading/DSC03187.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/freakshow10mm/Handloading/DSC03186.jpg

New light source. Much better.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/freakshow10mm/Handloading/DSC03193.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/freakshow10mm/Handloading/DSC03196.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/freakshow10mm/Handloading/DSC03194.jpg

[layusn1]

Light is a very good thing. I have one of those hanging fluorescent light fixtures too, great addition.

[freakshow10mm]

The cord hanging looks gawdy but there isn't much I can do. I could staple it to the wall and use a small extension cord, but that would look worse. Function over forum I guess.

[soundwave]

I need to get a better light. My current light looks like your old one.

I have that bench kit too , that thing is rock solid.

[freakshow10mm]

Hell yeah it is. I got 2x4s making up the frame and the top is one plank of 2x10 and the rest 2x6s. The top is braced with 3" collar ties with 2x4s set at 24" from each end plus a center brace at 3.5 feet. My bench is 7 feet long, 30" deep, and stands 35" tall at the benchtop. The two lower shelves are getting the same bracing treatment as the top shelf but are getting ¾" plywood as the top. I'm making drawers that will pull out to store components and such. Going to be nice when it's finally all done. Been dragging my feet getting the plywood and the two 2x4s I need.

I'm getting a kit for my bench in the garage. Northern Tool has one for a lot cheaper than Cabela's where I got this one.

[bfox]

Anymore I need all the light I can get .
Getting Older SUX .
Better than the alternative though .

I go to the range used to hear
" What's up " or " How's it going Dude "
Somewhere along those lines .

Now I am in old Fartdom its :yikes:
" Hello Sir "
" YES Sir "

Its nice having the respect from younger people but
I think I"d like to be Dude again . :seeya:

Bill

[Crazy4nitro]

Besides being Brighter I noticed that there was Less Shadows when I changed to that setup.

'Nitro

[copdills]

Looks great and Amen your right its helps a bunch

[Steve Koski]

T-8 or T-12?

[Frost]

I so need a new bench.
I have to get a shed before a new bench otherwise there won't be room for it in the garage.
I just don't have enough room.

The light seems to work pretty well there Freak, it seems to be more light than I would have expected from 50w of light. I have a 250 W halogen over mine. Warm the garage and get a suntan while reloading...:yesnod:

[Warhorse]

Anymore I need all the light I can get .
Getting Older SUX .
Better than the alternative though .

I go to the range used to hear
" What's up " or " How's it going Dude "
Somewhere along those lines .

Now I am in old Fartdom its :yikes:
" Hello Sir "
" YES Sir "

Its nice having the respect from younger people but
I think I"d like to be Dude again . :seeya:

Bill
:iagree:

[freakshow10mm]

Steve, they are the T12s.

[Pitmaster]

Nice setup Freakshow. Light sure does help out. Especially the older you get. I have trouble with blurring sights when aiming. Last night I was dry firing without my glasses and I could see the sights better. I may have to get some safety glasses that aren't prescription for the range.

I'm in need of a small snake/flexible light so I can see that the case is powdered. I've got the florescent light set-up. I was lucky. When we bought this house it had an excellent workshop area. I've used it for various hobbies over the years. Now its the "Gun Vault". I just have to buy a lock for the door. A great bench and setup for reloading and shelves.

I'm going to cut a piece of 3/4" plywood to add to the bench top. Any suggestions on how to finish the top? Or just leave it as is? Sand smooth?

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c400/bdcbbq/ReloadingRoom006.jpg

[Pitmaster]

Double Post

[freakshow10mm]

I'd leave it as is. If you want a smooth top, add a sheet of formica on top of that.

[MakeMineaP99]

I have a $9.99 shop light above my bench, T12. Works for me.

[Brass Nazi]

I bought a t-8 light fixture at Home Depot a couple weeks ago. They had it for sale at a CRB friendly price. I think I paid around $25 with bulbs. I may have paid more up front but the t-8 lights use less energy.

I have yet to install it as I am fixing to add a few circuits in the garage before I cover the wall studs with OSB.

[Clark]

http://store.officeworld.com/ProductImages/united/standard/ELE7121BK_1_1.JPG



The electronics industry is always throwing these out.
I have brought home 4 of them and two running again.
One is over the reloading bench, the other over the gunsmithing lathe.

The magnification and illumination are good for most things, but do not line up for guns barrels.
For that I need Nite Ize.

[Clark]

http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/optic_flashlight_adapter1sm.jpg
http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/optic_flashlight_adapter2sm.jpg

Nite Ize Fiber Optic Flashlight Adapter

This is the poor man's bore scope.
To tell if the Copper fouling is gone from muzzle.

[Mickstix]

Good thread!! Also, for guys with light fixtures already in place, that have been used for a couple years, a new set of tubes will also help brighten up a room!! Those flourescent tubes loose quite a bit of their punch over time and its hard to even notice until ya replace them..

Pitmaster, when I post a pic of my bench/reloading area, your gonna get a kick out of it.. It's amazing how similar they look! Right down to the placement of the press, grinder and vise, as well as quite a few of the pegboard items,etc.. We may be long lost bruddas!:animlol:

[bhawkeye]

I like the 8' (4x4') T8 fluorescent fixtures from Home Depot. In CA, they're about $43. Lots of good light - screw the asthetics. :slick:

[Pitmaster]

Good thread!! Also, for guys with light fixtures already in place, that have been used for a couple years, a new set of tubes will also help brighten up a room!! Those flourescent tubes loose quite a bit of their punch over time and its hard to even notice until ya replace them..

Pitmaster, when I post a pic of my bench/reloading area, your gonna get a kick out of it.. It's amazing how similar they look! Right down to the placement of the press, grinder and vise, as well as quite a few of the pegboard items,etc.. We may be long lost bruddas!:animlol:

That's an older picture. I've got more stuff in the same area now.

[HotGuns]

I had a guy tell me that the older you get, the eye loses the ability to absorb light so you need more of it to see. I think he may be on to something.
I've got 13 4 build flourscent lights in my shop but needed something to help me see better on the milling machine.

I bought a tent light for 7 bucks at Wallyworld and made this to attach to the ram of my mill. It works great.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b130/HotGuns/March4thSnowfall007.jpg

One of the best things I ever did to compensate for old age.

[Shadowdog500]

Working in shadows from inadequate lighting has always been a problem for me, and it is not any easier now that I’m in my mid mid 40s my eyes have shifted. I just bought the jewelers lenses that clip onto your glasses to keep in my tool box and I’m looking for one of those light lens combinations that you showed.

Last week my wife had to go to an ear, nose, throught doctor to get a bad nosebleed stopped. The doctor was really old and really knew his stuff. For some reason I don’t like going to doctors who are younger than me. He had one of those parabolic mirrors on a headband with the hole in the middle that you look through. I’ve always seen them in the old movies but I never saw a doctor actually use one before. He had a spotlight shining at his face, and when he flipped the lens down it really focused a ton of light right into my wife’s nose and there were no shadows. I was looking over his shoulder in amazement on how well that reflector worked. It is better than any flashlight I ever saw because it directs the light exactly where you are looking, from the direction that you are looking. I’m looking for one for my workbench, after seeing one being used, it is a must have item for me.

Chris

[BoltNut]

Dang, y'all are really puttin' the pressure on me now to make a nice bench!!! Great ideas though... thanks for the pics. :yesnod:

[freakshow10mm]

Good light is a good thing to have. I'm getting a spindle light for the mini mill I have coming in.

[Anvil]

Its nice having the respect from younger people but
I think I"d like to be Dude again . :seeya:

Bill

Yeah, but would you give up your wisdom and take up your old mantle of juvenile stupidity and self destructive behaviors, not listening to good advice and living a train wreck till you acquired the wisdom of experience?


Age may be a march toward death but I'll tell ya what. I'll take my age and wisdom over the intractable stupidity of my youth any day.

[Steve Koski]

I got a couple T-8 fixtures in the basement for growing plant for the kids science fair (no, not weed). I should hang one above my work bench, and the other above my reloading bench. Thanks for inspiring me!

[myg30]

Lighting is good fer us old folk too !

Just remember if your ELECTRONIC SCALE starts acting funny, the rf from your "New" flouresent light might be the cause !!

Just my .02 worth.

Mike

[RugerFan58]

Lighting is good fer us old folk too !

Just remember if your ELECTRONIC SCALE starts acting funny, the rf from your "New" flouresent light might be the cause !!

Just my .02 worth.

MikeI'm glad I read your post Mike before saying/asking the same thing. I bought a NIB shop light at a yard sale and was worried about putting it on my reloading bench for just this reason. I do need more light though.

[Timberwolf]

I have 5 flourescent light plus 2 incandescent in my loading area and I'm going to istall another.

This is what I did for my press.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v104/RePete/HPIM1433.jpg

and this it what it looks like on.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v104/RePete/HPIM1440.jpg

$20 at Home Depot.

[BoltNut]

Dang, that looks like a mack-daddy set-up, right there, dude! :)

[craig110]

This thread has been good lesson for me. We're fixing up our house to prep it for selling (the way the real estate game is played is really bizarre since we're deciding for the potential new owners what their rooms will now look like, but that is a different story) and I've taken down some track lighting and replaced it with canister lights. I wouldn't want to reuse the tracks due to the bending they underwent during removal, but I've saved all the little lights so that when I make my new reloading bench I'll put a few tracks in and reuse these lights for a nice bright reloading area.