Decent work lights?

[thedudeabides86]

I've just burned myself on the incandescent work light for the last time. I can't stand not having enough light in my garage to see deep into the engine bay and have tried headlamps and reflective shield work lights. Does anyone have anything they use that's better that burning yourself if you happen to touch the lights after they've been on for a while?

[truckster]

I just barely bought my first LED bulb for my drop lights at Lowes. I haven't had a chance to test them yet, but at less than 9 watts I'm hoping they don't get very hot.

[Graybrute]

I.ve had good luck with Harbor Freight's slim line fluorescent work light for $22.

[custom10nut]

Trickster is on the right track. LEDs are the way to go. They don't get hot and seem to last forever.

[BigMike]

Best work light I have ever owned. LED, Alert Stamping KTH1215G! It is like handheld daylight. Bright as H3LL and won't burn up if you drop it. I think it is 500 lumens bright. Has a magnet, swivel hook, on/off button and a electrical outlet on the end so you can use it for an extension cord as well. I also bought a 75ft retractable reel so I can go darn near anywhere with it.

LOVE it!



Here's an eBay listing for one

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SMD-LED-Work...380551&vxp=mtr

[Bigdav160]

I like the alert stamping light above. I have one of their LED lamps in a reel.

By far, my favorite is this one. Bright, magnetic, fold-able and holds a charge for hours.



ATD Pocket LED

[swamp rat]

Being as i'm sick and tired of bumping my retractable trouble light and breaking the bulbs i bought one of these last week, haven't had time to install it yet tho.

http://www.sears.com/pro-lite-30-led...3&blockType=G3

[Overdriven]

I've had mixed results using CFL bulbs in a traditional drop light. Some aren't all that low temp and their toughness varies greatly. Better off just going LED like the others have said, just be sure to get a light with surface mount LED's like the Saber. The older style LED's with the dome shaped lense don't have the same focused light output and it's gets too dispersed if the light itself is more than 2 feet from what you're working on. At least that's how it is with my father's Craftsman led light. The battery is good and it's great for lighting up under the dash, but hang it on the hood and it doesn't do much good at all, needs to be held closer to what you're working on. Below is the one my father has.
http://m.sears.com/craftsman-cordles...160903102847:s

[BugzC10]

Bought this drop light over 3 years ago. Still going strong. I too got tired of getting burned or popping the bulb when I dropped it out of frustration or accident. . Central Tools 12006 Bounce Lite 13 Watt Fluorescent Work Light with 25' Cord. https://www.amazon.com/Central-Tools...keywords=12006

[midniteblues]

My kid got me this lite a few yrs. Ago for my b.day.
it has been the best drop lite i ever had. It needs a good cleaning but thats it.
bulbs last forever and cheap keep a few on hand just in case but never needed one.

Cheap lite not the britest but very durable and works well.

I wont buy rechargable nothing any more. And still not completely sold on leds yet.

[mongocanfly]

I've had lights like the one in midniteblues pic...hate to say it but that's one of the worst lights I've ever owned..every time I bumped/dropped that thing the bulb would bust.. (not cheap to replace all the time)...and the plastic lenses get so dirty (grease stains)so quick that it cut down on the light to the point you could see better without it...I broke down and bought and installed all led drop lights in my shop and am very impressed with them..they ain't cheap but I wouldn't take nothing for em so far..

[68c10airstream]

Every garage I worked at as an ASE mechanic I was the only one with a fluorescent light. From a safety standpoint a screw in incandescent light bulb is a guaranteed explosion with gas hitting it. remember, firemen can always save the foundation ( not a slam on fireman, just trying to get your attention)
I get a slide in led panel that's very bright made by "steelman" for about $25.00, in place of the dual tube fluorescent assembly. The trouble light body is the same as BugzC10 posted above.

[midniteblues]

Pretty sure bugzc10's and mine take the same bulbs.
I've had mine apart for cleaning and i did put a new bulb in it but i did just it because i could.

My lite has taken some very brutal beatings by me the kid my fil and a few others.
Somebody melted a good part of the handle looks like a hot header tube..... dropped stepped on yanked and shoved into tite spots and never broke or had a bulb go out yet...

I can clean the thing and a month later its filthy as all he!! again. As you can see it has black paint on it now.

i like too get one of those lights that span across under the hood.

[franken]

I put 4, 4 tube, 4 foot fluorescents in the ceiling to replace the single 4' tube that was there. Its a bit brighter now. Still have a pair of old time drop lights though.

[Domer]

I hung the 4ft Costco Led shop lights. I have 6 of them, and rarely need a drop light..anything Led is the way to go.

[aknovaman]

Go to lowes and buy an $8 100 watt led light with a plastic globe. They look like frosted light bulbs.
I cut off the plastic globe and screwedit right into my shop light socket after removing the metal bird gage portion. You can drop it, spill on it and it wont break. You can see it hanging in the yellow retractable cord hanging from the ceiling in this video.

https://youtu.be/5c5PPFlq9Hg