My Shop Light Situation Sucks - Looking for Recommendations

[Jesse6869]

I bought one of those headband lights with rechargeable battery. It angles and has high and low beam. Which ever way you look and turn your head you SEE. Elastic band. I got it at an outdoor camping store for hikers $45 bright as hell on the top notch.

I use the head light as well, clean up, grinding, mechanics , attic electrical everything that thing comes in so handy there’s many styles

 

[Hey-O]

I bought one of those headband lights with rechargeable battery. It angles and has high and low beam. Which ever way you look and turn your head you SEE. Elastic band. I got it at an outdoor camping store for hikers $45 bright as hell on the top notch.

Nothing is better than the light following where your eyes are looking. It's never in your eyes when you turn your head and look at the fixed location it's mounted at. I have used one of those for years and I have tried and bought everything out there, head mounted is best by far.

 

[themechanic]

Head worn lights elastic band stretches out over time. So, don't buy an expensive one.

I use a magnetic light that angles and a corded 2 bulb fluorescent drop light for working under the car on the garage floor. I replaced all the overhead shop lights with LEDs. I have one LED single row fixture with a pull cord that casts light on the engine bay and my grinder/wire wheel and buffer.

https://www.harborfreight.com/390-lumen-magnetic-slim-bar-folding-work-light-56329.html



https://www.harborfreight.com/5500-lumen-4-ft-linkable-led-hanging-shop-light-56781.html



OTYTY COB 30W 1500LM LED Work Light 2 Pack, Rechargeable Portable Waterproof LED Flood Lights for Outdoor Camping Hiking Emergency Car Repairing and Job Site Lighting (W840 Yellow) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HQFB4Y...abc_509S04YNTRVZQ8T4KBET?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1


Bayco SL-918 18-watt Fluorescent Work Light with Single Outlet and Double Hook https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B7PIR1Q/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_F5BS7W047MQ0CFZBQB4V

 

[440+6]

I have a "curly fry" bulb in mine. Takes a couple seconds to warm up to full brightness but I like it.

Agree, had the same one for a while then went to led now I love it, no problems at all, dont understand what some are saying..??.
Never had a drop light self animate and turn on me, wtf these are intimate objects.......
Its up to you how you place the bitch!

 

[themechanic]

wtf these are intimate objects.......
Its up to you how you place the bitch!

You're placing the "bitch" somewhere you shouldn't if yours is intimate.

 

[Fran Blacker]

This I bought at Costco. It lean back and end lights fold front to back and rotate. Like anything at Costco it won't be around next time.

 

[Xp29h]

As the title says, I've about had it with the collection of el cheapo little battery-eating
lights I've been gifted over the years - and I'm for SURE done with the old standby
drop light and all the skin-searing, get-in-the-way-always lack of functionality those
bring to the party.
I'm not a big fan of the Chinesium LED fad, either - that sort of light is hard on my old
eyes, frankly.

I'm not concerned about stand-mounted lighting, still have a bunch of that stuff from
old work site days if/when the rare occasion presents itself for the hassle of dragging
those out.

So...what do YOU all recommend for a decent under-the-car on your back sort of work
light? How about an underhood one?
YES, I want to hear if there's any you'd specifically recommend AGAINST as well!
Pics are helpful as always, along with source/price info if known.
Thanks!!

I’ve used these in several locations. All over the place. Rugged and very bright and can hook together. Very good..

https://barrina-led.com/products/pa...der-cabinet-light-with-built-in-on-off-switch

 

[Offender]

General note to all who read/respond here:
I'm not talking about overhead lighting in the garage here - I have several 2x4 commercial fixtures full of
what I call "office lighting" (because that's where they came from - drop ceiling renovation gigs).
As their ballasts fail, I've been replacing them whole hog with $20 LED fixtures they sell at WallyWorld.

@QOTHL - Can you link to the work lights your refer to here? Provide pics or something to go by?

No need to replace the fixture when the ballast goes, just get the LED "tubes" that are made for line voltage and rewire the fixture ends accordingly. The lamps are available in different lumens and spectrums and can range in price from $5 each to $25 each. I just bought 30 of them for $140 w/ free shipping. And yes, they are made in China, but just about everything is nowadays...LED 4 ft. Foot 18w T8 Tube Light G13 Fluorescent Replacement Lamp 4000K 6000K | eBay

 

[Fran Blacker]

I’ve used these in several locations. All over the place. Rugged and very bright and can hook together. Very good..

https://barrina-led.com/products/pa...der-cabinet-light-with-built-in-on-off-switch

They work great. You can butt them together with coupler they are in package or available they need to be aligned well. I have 8- 8' fluorescent lights as they burnout I replace them with these lights. I use 60mm x 10mm rare earth magnets 2 per light super glued to the lights. Remove the bulbs and stick the lights to metal on fixture. There are short 12"double plugs to connect lights together I find these easier than butt connectors. Now plug in your done.

 

[Triplegreen500]

I can't remember where I got it, but I have an LED "stick" light that's about 3' long that plugs in. Has one of those inline rotary-wheel on/off switches in the cord. Not super bright, but gets the job done. I put an old magnet with velcro on it to hold it to the underside of the hood, or I just slide it on the ground when I crawl under. Not sexy, not expensive (I'm cheap when it comes to things I purposely and repeatedly put in harms way, like drop lights)...but the damned thing refuses to die.

Similar to this but not as nice:

 

[Moms68]

General note to all who read/respond here:
I'm not talking about overhead lighting in the garage here - I have several 2x4 commercial fixtures full of
what I call "office lighting" (because that's where they came from - drop ceiling renovation gigs).
As their ballasts fail, I've been replacing them whole hog with $20 LED fixtures they sell at WallyWorld.

@QOTHL - Can you link to the work lights your refer to here? Provide pics or something to go by?

There are LED T-8 replacement lamps that have in integral driver, so all that you need to do is gut the fixture (ballast included) and run 110v to the pin sockets.

 

[DeltaV]

I grew up with corded drop lights, and still have 3 in my garage. I can always guarantee ONE thing... Whenever I hang it, or try to use it under a dash, the darn things always turn and shine the light right into my eyes!

Can't agree enough. Has something to do with Murphy's Law.

 

[Moms68]

Also consider mounting some 4' LED fixtures vertically on the side walls of you garage. lighting from the side really helps eliminating shadows in walkways and to find small parts that always seem to fall on the floor.

 

[moparedtn]

I have a "curly fry" bulb in mine. Takes a couple seconds to warm up to full brightness but I like it.

 

[moparedtn]

Head worn lights elastic band stretches out over time. So, don't buy an expensive one.
I use a magnetic light that angles and a corded 2 bulb fluorescent drop light for working under the car on the garage floor. I replaced all the overhead shop lights with LEDs. I have one LED single row fixture with a pull cord that casts light on the engine bay and my grinder/wire wheel and buffer.
https://www.harborfreight.com/390-lumen-magnetic-slim-bar-folding-work-light-56329.html

https://www.harborfreight.com/5500-lumen-4-ft-linkable-led-hanging-shop-light-56781.html

OTYTY COB 30W 1500LM LED Work Light 2 Pack, Rechargeable Portable Waterproof LED Flood Lights for Outdoor Camping Hiking Emergency Car Repairing and Job Site Lighting (W840 Yellow) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HQFB4Y...abc_509S04YNTRVZQ8T4KBET?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Bayco SL-918 18-watt Fluorescent Work Light with Single Outlet and Double Hook https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B7PIR1Q/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_F5BS7W047MQ0CFZBQB4V

Thank you for all the links and ideas!

 

[DeltaV]

Only old guys will recognize this headlight. Ed probably still has one.

 

[DeltaV]

Is this one yours?

I sold mine to Ed along with a couple of these:

 

[Richard Cranium]

Just one of these will do the trick....

 

[DeltaV]

This will brighten your shop @moparedtn

 

[DeltaV]

Just one of these will do the trick....

Rascal!