In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.

Shop Light Question

slumlord44slumlord44 Member Posts: 3,702 ✭✭✭
edited April 2016 in General Discussion
Been tinkering with Florescent lights in my garage/workshop. Have had soft white bulbs for years. Tried daylight bulbs in an 8 footer. Trying to decide which is better. Do auto work, gun work, antique stuff out there. Sort of like the daylight but looking for other opinions. What's everyone else using? Don't say LED's. Don't think I want to go there just yet based partially on a conversation with my Home Depot guy recently.

Comments

  • 1911a1-fan1911a1-fan Member Posts: 51,193 ✭✭
    edited November -1
  • BeeramidBeeramid Member, Moderator Posts: 7,264 ******
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by slumlord44
    Been tinkering with Florescent lights in my garage/workshop. Have had soft white bulbs for years. Tried daylight bulbs in an 8 footer. Trying to decide which is better. Do auto work, gun work, antique stuff out there. Sort of like the daylight but looking for other opinions. What's everyone else using? Don't say LED's. Don't think I want to go there just yet based partially on a conversation with my Home Depot guy recently.


    What does he know, I was at samedepot last spring looking at a nice Echo weedeater, and the guy said to buy a ryobi, or John Deere instead.[:0][:o)]
  • 4627046270 Member Posts: 12,627
    edited November -1
    I just put 3 bad * lights, I won't use that wotd your not wanting to hear.
    But the bad * lights are great,
  • slumlord44slumlord44 Member Posts: 3,702 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Just looking for opinions on daylight versus soft white florescent.
  • Cornflk1Cornflk1 Member Posts: 3,715 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    If you turn off metal halide's and then try to make a quick return trip into the shop, they take forever to come make on.
  • Smitty500magSmitty500mag Member Posts: 13,603 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Didn't the Home Depot expert know anything about fluorescent lights or does he just specialize in LED interior illumination? [:D]
  • bpostbpost Member Posts: 32,664 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    You want the Kelvin to be as close to sunlight as possibl for accurate color and ease to see. LED lights are the way to go, PERIOD. Energy consumption is nill, bulb life is forever and a day. What is NOT to like about LED?

    THe Home Depot guy makes 8 bucks an hour, what the hell does he know.
  • gearheaddadgearheaddad Member Posts: 15,096 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by bpost
    You want the Kelvin to be as close to sunlight as possibl for accurate color and ease to see. LED lights are the way to go, PERIOD. Energy consumption is nill, bulb life is forever and a day. What is NOT to like about LED?

    THe Home Depot guy makes 8 bucks an hour, what the hell does he know.

    +1
    Com Ed paid to have our whole office and warehouse converted to LED. cost me -0-.
    Lights are great!!
    Of course Com Ed just raised their rate so I don't see too much of a savings!!
    Going to start changing all my bulbs at home to LED.
  • MobuckMobuck Member Posts: 13,733 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I'm a little more basic: sun's out=lights on
    don't have to worry about replacing bulbs.
  • TANK78ZTANK78Z Member Posts: 1,320 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Just two weeks ago I bought a 4' LED shop light, 40 watts-4500 lumens, 240 LEDS enclosed in two polycarbonate "tubes", instant on/off unbelievable white illumination , and for under $40.00 at my local BJ's club store.
    I am using it on my reloading/gun bench, best light I have ever had for this work area.
    I will get more for replacing current lighting in other work areas.
    They are made by LightsofAmerica
  • slumlord44slumlord44 Member Posts: 3,702 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I know all about LED's. Anyone care to answer my original question???
  • gearheaddadgearheaddad Member Posts: 15,096 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by slumlord44
    I know all about LED's. Anyone care to answer my original question???

    Just go ahead and buy what you already had in mind prior to asking your question![;)][:D][:D]
  • MBKMBK Member Posts: 2,919 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    We converted most house lights to LED a year ago. The electric company pays half. But this week we completed the kitchen and dining room.

    It took that long because the first GU10 two pin bulb LED's from about 3 years ago were not bright enough. But they are now, and we tossed out an above sink halogen fixture with the 4 inch pencil tube. What a difference! The air conditioner won't be running to overcome those 300 watts, and instead of replacing the bulbs every 10 months, it will run 35,000 hours.

    The light we got is made up of many small LED's in an array. It would also work well in a shop.

    596922 from Lowe's.
  • spasmcreekspasmcreek Member Posts: 37,724 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    wife's youngest son became a direct importer from china for all kinds of LED lighting...has set up many farm equipment..like running hay balers at night..and we changed over 4' bulbs in shop to led...more light using about 1/6 the juice and instant on in any temp...been changing out house now...get second opinion
  • TerantTerant Member Posts: 80
    edited November -1
    I installed 8'ers in my garage. Right now, I have Sylvania "Cool White". They are a very natural light and bright. They show colors very well. But, I got mine at Lowes, so YMMV.[:)]
    A country with uncontrolled borders is not a country, but an uncontrolled region.
  • 1911a1-fan1911a1-fan Member Posts: 51,193 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by slumlord44
    I know all about LED's. Anyone care to answer my original question???








    i did



    go into a car dealers shop, home depot, wal-mart and look up at the ceiling at what type of lighting they are using
  • Smitty500magSmitty500mag Member Posts: 13,603 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I find that a mixture of florescent and neon do very well except you will need to put grease fittings on your electric meter due to the high RPM's.

    304350bd-fb82-4471-8e97-6bd4a1de30b3_zps5zdwkkiq.jpg
  • Ricci WrightRicci Wright Member Posts: 8,260 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Forget the original post,let's talk LED. Last year I was all ready to install LED lights on the range. Had talked to the power company and they sent out their experts and everybody said LED was the only way to go. Cool, that's what we will do. Had a customer who I didn't know ask me if I had considered putting new lighting in the range and I told him about the LED. He says I should consider the florescent and I told him I had talked to "experts" and they all say LED. Customer glances at his buddy smiles and says ok. A few days later same customer is back shooting and after he is done I say hello and we talk. Turns out he owns a lighting company and does large commercial projects. He explains why he thinks florescent would work better for us. I do some more research armed with his info and he is right. I call and ask him for a price. He has some material left over from a job and gives me the fixtures and bulbs and wiring. I just pay his guys to hang and wire it up. Great guy and now a friend. He took care of me and I take care of him. He gets guns at cost and range pass for life. He didn't ask for any of this mind you and always wants to pay full price. Like I said, GREAT GUY!!
  • grumpygygrumpygy Member Posts: 53,466
    edited November -1
    For the Home shop I have went to these in Daylight. Works great.

    led-strip-lights-1458901.jpg
  • armilitearmilite Member Posts: 35,478 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have the daylight florescents everywhere. Four footers eight footers and cases of spare bulbs for both.
  • Ricci WrightRicci Wright Member Posts: 8,260 ✭✭
    edited November -1
  • TangoSierraTangoSierra Member Posts: 1,248 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by slumlord44
    I know all about LED's. Anyone care to answer my original question???


    I prefer the daylight over the soft white. I have cataracts and I can see better in that light. Everyone has their own opinion but that seems to work best for me.
  • JohnnyBGoodJohnnyBGood Member Posts: 1,443 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by slumlord44
    What's everyone else using?


    It's personal preference, but my wife and I love the daylight bulbs (5000 Kelvin or more, although 6500 Kelvin is the most I've seen in retail stores).

    We don't like the yellowish or "gloomy" tint of other bulbs such as soft white, etc.

    Johnny
  • bpostbpost Member Posts: 32,664 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by slumlord44
    I know all about LED's. Anyone care to answer my original question???


    If you don't like LED get 5500 kelvin 850 series fluorescent bulbs.
    If you don't like that idea get halogen and watch the meter spin like a 78 RPM record and be careful not to burn yourself or things with the hot bulbs.
  • nutfinnnutfinn Member Posts: 12,804 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by bpost
    You want the Kelvin to be as close to sunlight as possibl for accurate color and ease to see. LED lights are the way to go, PERIOD. Energy consumption is nill, bulb life is forever and a day. What is NOT to like about LED?

    THe Home Depot guy makes 8 bucks an hour, what the hell does he know.
    Yep LEDs! They make $10, I think [:)]
  • asopasop Member Posts: 8,898 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have for many years been using 8' T-12 COOL WHITE, 75 Watt in both shop in basement and garage. The newer technology are the T-8 flouresents. Mox-Nix, other than they have been threatening to stop production of the T-12's.
  • Ricci WrightRicci Wright Member Posts: 8,260 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Smitty500mag
    I find that a mixture of florescent and neon do very well except you will need to put grease fittings on your electric meter due to the high RPM's.

    304350bd-fb82-4471-8e97-6bd4a1de30b3_zps5zdwkkiq.jpg

    Dude that looks like one hell of a shooting gallery!![:)][:)]
  • jetmekjetmek Member Posts: 250
    edited November -1
    I just redid my whole shop with t-8 6 bulb hi bay fixtures. I think bulbs were cool white. What a difference! no shadows anywhere. I looked into LED's and t-5's but they were considerably more $
  • slumlord44slumlord44 Member Posts: 3,702 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thanks for all the input. Will probably go with daylight T8's based on one or two comments and the fact that they seem brighter to me. Not sure about color rendition but being able to see better is more important. It amazes me how many people here totally ignored the original question and kept trying to sell me LED's, which I plainly stated twice. Like talking to my wife sometimes. Guess you guys got stock in LED's.
  • grumpygygrumpygy Member Posts: 53,466
    edited November -1
    Well better get used to LED cause I can almost bet the next light that are Banned will be florescent.



    quote: Mercury is a toxic heavy metal that can cause severe damage to the brain, nervous system, kidneys, lungs, and other vital organs. Pregnant women, infants, and young children are especially at risk.
  • AlpineAlpine Member Posts: 15,041 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I switched out some 8' tubes in the shop for the daylight version and really liked it.

    Can't afford the LEDs tubes at this point. But I have changed out the regular bulbs with LEDs as they burnt out.
    ?The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.?
    Margaret Thatcher

    "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics."
    Mark Twain
  • reload999reload999 Member Posts: 3,079 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Geez, so much discussion about shop lights. When I needed them I bought 2 generic florescent shop lights (2 tubes each) at Lowes or WM, or wherever it was, and hung them over my benches. I think they cost $10 - $12 each (it was some years ago & still using the original tubes). Turn 'em on and it's light...turn 'em off and it's dark. What else does one need over a work bench?
  • Smitty500magSmitty500mag Member Posts: 13,603 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by slumlord44
    Thanks for all the input. Will probably go with daylight T8's based on one or two comments and the fact that they seem brighter to me. Not sure about color rendition but being able to see better is more important. It amazes me how many people here totally ignored the original question and kept trying to sell me LED's, which I plainly stated twice. Like talking to my wife sometimes. Guess you guys got stock in LED's.


    Well I see that you're still not sure what you really need. I suggest you go with LED's.
Sign In or Register to comment.