In my new work shop I am trying to decide what I am going to do for lighting.
my shop is 20’x22′
I have 12 fixtures of double 4′ flourecent tubes planed for general wash.
I am not sure what to do for work stations. I am considering running a track around the perimeter for adjustable track lighting. I like the idea of the flexability of being able to move the lights, But I don’t like the idea of things sticking down from the ceiling (I only have 8’4″ of head room)
What did you do in your shop that you like/don’t like?
Replies
I think you'd want something a little closer to the work than track lighting. I have a stick-on lamp for the drill press and a simple desk lamp (that I can move around) at the bench. I'm thinking of upgrading the desk lamp to a Verilux--my father has a Verilux reading lamp that works nicely.
-Steve
halogens.
small cans 50w to 90w, for workstations.
Expert since 10 am.
Getting adjustable lighting is like getting adjustable shelves: you set them once and never ever move them again. Stick with fluorescent lights because they are the greenest, and woodworkers should worry about the amount of carbon emissions we spew into where we get our raw materials. You can get them in almost any temperature, meaning warm white, daylight, or whatever. Just make sure you get an even blanket of light, and that the lights come with covers, so wood splinters don't shatter the lamps.
If you have a high ceiling, then make them ambient, bouncing the light up the ceiling and back down. If not, that's fine too (my ceiling is too low). Don't get the lights at a Home Depot or big box store. They are not made as well, simply aren't worth the price when you have to replace them in 5 years. Plus some good task lighting: a magnetic one for a drill press and bandsaw, for example (they can be moved), one for your bench, that has a clamp or a dowel for a dog hole.
Daryl, what source do you recommend for the fixtures?? I've been underwhelmed by the quality from HD.
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Edited 11/29/2007 11:09 am by forestgirl
Actually, HD here carries a pretty good 4' fixture that is dust and impact resistant and has electronic ballast. I put in a few with daylight bulbs and have good flicker-free lighting. Since I have low ceilings, I appreciate the impact resistance. These are not the $20 specials that most people reach for and you may have to search the shelves. HD is not all bad. Andybtw, you want these on a switch near the door, on a separate circuit ;)
I disagree with Andy. I got my replacements (damn HD and my stupid money saving--the ballasts starting going within a few years) at a local lighting store. Just told him what I needed and how many. I think HD was $19 a fixture, or so. I spent 65 each. Of course, that doesn't include the cost of my installing the lights TWICE.A friend, who fixes tools for a living, gave a great talk at my woodworking club ( http://www.liwoodworkers.org shameless plug)and told us the difference between getting your tools from either Amazon or the Borg, any big box. Plastic gears, rejects--they all have slightly different serial numbers than those you get from a more expensive local distributor--but they aren't as good either. Cheap trick: he said most of his job is cleaning not fixing. Turn the motor on and blow the (large amount) of dust out--fixes lots of issues.
> I disagree with Andy. I got my replacements (damn HD and my stupid money saving--the ballasts starting going within a few years) at a local lighting store. Just told him what I needed and how many. I think HD was $19 a fixture, or so. I spent 65 each. Of course, that doesn't include the cost of my installing the lights TWICE.Um, Daryl, I actually said most people reach for the $19 fixtures (open frame, reactive ballast) and you instead need to find the *real* ones (electronic, enclosed, impact resistant). You cheaped out and they didn't last. I paid three times that for each fixture and I expect them to last. Very different fixtures from the same store. Don't blame HD. Andy
Hey Talma,
I just want to double check your numbers.
You said a 20 x 22' shop which is equivalent to a double garage. You also said you have 12 double 4' bulb fluoro fixtures, for a total of 24 bulbs in the shop, right?
I've got 12 4' bulbs (T8 daylight style) in the same size shop. I can't imagine having twice the amount of light that I've got now and needing task lighting. Generally speaking, I've got enough right now to where I generally forgo any task lights.
Am I missing something? I'll note that you didn't mention the type (T12, T8, T5, etc..) or age of your fixtures.
One consideration I would have for task lighting is to match the color output of the task light to the general lighting. The daylight bulbs I use have a very white / bluish-white color to them. Using an incandescent or halogen task light would add a lot of yellow to whatever I was working on.
Glen
You don't say if your shop is in a garage, outdoors or generally subject to cold conditions, which fluorescent fixtures don't like. If so, you might want to try an 8 foot cold-start fixture. It costs a little more, but starts instantly, the ballast doesn't make a racket, and it accepts higher-wattage fluorescent tubes. Some big-box stores carry them.
Jim
My shop is roughly the same size as yours. I have 2 large (4' 4 t-8 bulb) pillow flouesents for a start, but added lots of track. My ceilings are 8 feet and have never had the track get in the way , but I don't work with sheet goods much - and when I do, it's ussully 5 x 5 pieces of baltic types. I love the tracks. I bought a ton of used fixtures CHEAP on eBay. The main cost then is the track, connectors, and bulbs. I like the wide angle spots and love the ability to stand on a stool and move them or direct them on a task or machine etc. YMMV
I like the Lithonia T-8 fixtures from HD (~$50.00 for a two tube I think) well constructed and the ballast is absolutely silent.
I have 6 double 4' flourecents in my 18'X30" shop. I don't think I'd like any more. The only other light I use is a drop light I use up close to the project when looking for sanding scratches.
Don't get the stick on with magnets light. Mine is forever getting knocked off. "Task lites" ..... that is lites for stations such as drill presses can be clamp ons with the old fashioned bulb types. The screw on goose neck lites are great. Where you sand you will need a small contrasty lite for bringing out marks, not the wide flourescents. Florescents have a green tint. The old fashioned have a yellow tint. A true white lite source is good for checking the outcome of painting and staining.
I recently replaced a dead two tube fluorescent with a new lamp that OSH carries. It looks like a fluorescent fixture, but has two halogen bulbs. The amount of light is really impressive compared to fluorescents. It cost about $24 - comparable to a decent fluorescent fixture. I have it over the wall mounted bench and plan to replace the fixtures over the main bench with halogens when the fluorescents fail.
Also, I've used the inexpensive clip-on flexible lamps with compact fluorescents for task lighting. I've even dismantled a couple removing the clip and permanently mounted them on machines. I like the CFLs for light because they conserve energy and don't get hot.
Does the halogen fixture provide even light or spotty? Curious what kind of flourescent you compared with? People seem to think old cool or white bulbs on reactive circuits when dismissing flourescents but they come in more colours and tints than any other light because they are based on ultraviolet light with suitable phosphor coating. I use daylight bulbs in electronic fixtures that provide lots of white, flickerless light. Halogens actually look yellow and sickly in the same room (so I find). Halogens, in contrast, seem to be spotty, cost more in electricity and replacement bulbs, and are a fire hazzard in this type of shop (they burn much hotter -- its their method of operation). As an aside, I actually use a combo of flourescent and LED lighting out front for christmas: both come in red and green now. :) Andy
I have a low ceilinged 20" x 11" basement shop and I have 5 two bulb 48" fluorescent fixtures, so your ambient lighting should be good. One thing I did before I installed the fixtures was to paint the walls and the floor joists that serve as the ceiling white. That really increases the amount of light in the room. If you haven't done that already, I would try to do so. It doesn't have to be fancy -- I used leftover primer paint for the ceiling and Drylok for the walls.
For the record, my fixtures were T-8 "commercial" quality, fully enclosed with electronic ballasts from Lowes, and were about $45 each. Lowes also had the $19 specials, but I could hear the buzzing in the display, so I passed on those. Mine are really bright and quiet.
I do plan on adding task lighting, but first I'm using the shop with the lighting as is to see what parts of the room annoy me the most before adding anything.
Thanks for all the tips. I was given 7 4' dual bulb light fixtures this weekend so I think 6 of those are definetly going in.
Fortunatly since I am building the wood shop there is no drywall (or even electric) yet. So I will be able to hang them and move them around to try for an even wash.
Unfortunatly it is freezing here so I might not be able to get them to start, half of the fixtures are good ones the other half are cheapies.
Does anyone see any problem with boxing these in and placing a plexiglass cover over the opening. essentially making a flush mount light fixture?
I'm still not set on what to do around the edge. The local lighting store showed me some options for task/equiptment lighting. They were either cans or track. both have advantages and disadvantages, and the cost is pretty equal.
I think I am going to wire one of each up next to each other over where the bench will go and then decide from that.
I also plan on making a pedistal that I can move around and place a flexible desk lamp in. I saw this in a old issue of FWW and like the idea. I'll probably end up making 2. I make 18th cent reproductions and do alot of carving for them so I prefer natural light, and my bench will be behind a 5' window, but I'll probably end up doing alot of work at night so lighting is important.
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