In search of a good light for lathe

foxtrapper · Post by **foxtrapper** » Thu Dec 08, 2011 7:16 am

Consider as well the bulb.

I accidentally got hold of a 200 watt bulb and put it in a magnetic base shop light. I was in love. It lit up the world, and I could see so much more than I normally could. It was a huge difference over a 100 watt bulb.

Downside was the lamp housing wasn't able to handle the heat of that bulb, so it kinda melted.

mbcabinetmaker · Post by **mbcabinetmaker** » Thu Dec 08, 2011 7:44 am

cincinnati wrote:The Shopsmith lamp is good. I like the little brackets that can be attached to things a magnet won't stick to like aluminum or MDF etc...
The Delta lamp shown here takes a full size bulb and can be had at Lowe's (Tool department) for around $20 to $25 each.

The light that I have on the lathe came with two other type bases. It is probably very similar to the Shopsmith one but I need it in a hurry so when I saw it at Woodcraft I bought it.

mbcabinetmaker · Post by **mbcabinetmaker** » Thu Dec 08, 2011 7:47 am

cincinnati wrote:The Shopsmith lamp is good. I like the little brackets that can be attached to things a magnet won't stick to like aluminum or MDF etc...
The Delta lamp shown here takes a full size bulb and can be had at Lowe's (Tool department) for around $20 to $25 each.

I actually looked all over the lighting and electrical isles at Lowes for a light but did not even think about the tool department. I they have these at my local Lowes I think I will buy a couple just in case.

curiousgeorge · Post by **curiousgeorge** » Thu Dec 08, 2011 1:29 pm

I bought a couple of these (G2540-B) at amazon.com ...

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_ ... in+G2540-B

chipmaster · Post by **chipmaster** » Sun Dec 11, 2011 11:47 pm

Here's a really solid-looking piece on eBay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/9-SOUTHBEND-LAT ... 0973911630

billmayo · Post by **billmayo** » Mon Dec 12, 2011 2:54 am

I had an outdoor flood light 2 bulb fixture where the sensor quit. This uses the very small T3 halogen light bulb which come in various wattages such as 100, 150 and 200 watt. I installed over my lathe a round electrical ceiling box. I attached one of the bulb swivel fixtures to a cover plate that accepts this fixture and connected to my lighting circuit. I am using a 150 watt bulb which is really bright and focused compared to my lower wattage swing arm fixture. The swing arm fixture will not accept these higher wattage bulbs plus the metal bulb shield gets very hot. If touched, it burns me even with a 75 watt bulb.

fiatben · Post by **fiatben** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:12 am

I watch for swing-arm and goose-neck lamps at garage sales during the spring and summer, and adapt as needed in the shop. I won't pay over $5 for even a really good one. (I honestly cannot imagine paying $120 for 2 lights, but then as we say in the hills, "po folks has po ways."

wiredone · Post by **wiredone** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:32 pm

fiatben wrote:I watch for swing-arm and goose-neck lamps at garage sales during the spring and summer, and adapt as needed in the shop. I won't pay over $5 for even a really good one. (I honestly cannot imagine paying $120 for 2 lights, but then as we say in the hills, "po folks has po ways."

I'm with you. I'm Dutch by ancestry, which translates to "cheap bastardo".
I like to shop for that stuff at yard sales and thrift stores.
That way I usually end up with something that's actually made in America,which is becoming more important to me as I get older. I found a really cool one at a yard sale the other day for my metal lathe (3 bucks), it has a nice long gooseneck on it.
$120.00 for two lights!?, Holy crapola, that's more than I just paid for the 2 10ERs that I just bought this weekend!

cincinnati · Post by **cincinnati** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 3:57 pm

mbcabinetmaker wrote:I actually looked all over the lighting and electrical isles at Lowes for a light but did not even think about the tool department. I they have these at my local Lowes I think I will buy a couple just in case.

The Lowes here has them in the section with Grinding wheels and polishing compound. I think Kreg stuff is also in that section. Kind hard to see. They are in a box on its side at about knee high.

oldc6 · Post by **oldc6** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 8:53 pm

today i was going to cut some walnut on the bandsaw.. shop lights on and bright but, hard to see pencil lines on walnut board.. Then, i remembered i had this halegon light up in the garage.... 250 watt.. spring clamp to knob on bandsaw for a trial run. my,,,,,,,,,,,, like night and day.. this thing is the perfect brightness but, they tend to get warm.. got the job done today though..........[ATTACH]15702[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]15703[/ATTACH]

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Shopsmith Forums

In search of a good light for lathe

150 Watt T3 Halogen Lathe Light

gotta go cheap

another light