Are Halogen Work Lights a Fire Hazard in Wood Shop?

taflin | Posted in Workshop on November 12, 2012 04:41am

Hi, I started Woodworking last February and so I’m experiencing for the first time the impact of how quickly it is getting dark in the evening here (I’m in Texas) and so I wanted to get a Work Light Stand for the garage so I could see at night. The most common light I’ve come across are Halogen lights but I’ve also read that these lights burn very hot and so I was wondering if this might be a fire hazard with sawdust falling on them while I’m working. Has anyone had any experience with lighting their garage with a Halogen Work Light stand and any concerns with fire? Thanks.

Replies

Westchester | Nov 12, 2012 06:21pm | #1
Work Light

I would not think you need to worry about a fire hazard with those lights. I'm sure you will keep them clean like all other equipment in the shop. However those lights are very glaring and blinding. Why not consider overhead spots or fluorescent -

SA
hammer1 | Nov 13, 2012 08:57am | #2
I doubt that a dusting of sawdust would cause a fire but you don't want to make the mistake of touching a halogen light housing, they get extremely hot. The inexpensive stands on many are junk, the light is harsh and blinding and the bulbs don't last very long. You don't want to touch a new bulb with bare fingers, your fingerprints will cause early failure. I wouldn't recommend them from my experience.
RalphBarker | Nov 14, 2012 08:11pm | #3
Halogen safety

Although a Halogen work light might not pose a fire hazard from a bit of sawdust, imagine one falling over onto a bunch of finishing rags. Can we say ka-POOF?

Like the others, I'd suggest different lighting, such as hanging two-tube florescents.
IdahoDon | Nov 17, 2012 12:42am | #4
I've used halogens almost every day for over a dozen years and I have yet to see one ignite sawdust that has settled on the housing, although they will smoke a little. I've used them with the safty lens inplace and without, guard and no guard...

What did surprise me was when a bulb burned out and (without the safety lens) a glob of molten glass dropped down on a cabinet door and rolled around a bit burning an interesting track into the surface. Now I do keep the lens in place.

These are best up on a tall stand - I have photography light stands which work great. Earlier in the week a hand held light burned a hole in my shop vac hose when the hose rested on the light housing. Personally I'm amazed they are allowed to be sold or used indoors since they are so crazy hot.