Workbench lighting bargain?

[MartinH]

Toolstation new year sale has some 600mm batten lights for £1. You can never have enough lights in the workshop?

https://www.toolstation.com/v-tac-t8-nan...ube/p71819

[Reckless Rat]

seems to be a tubes only offer.

[MartinH]

Oops, my mistake. Not such a bargain then.

[Hugh Barnes]

I'm slowly replacing the flourescents in my workshop/garage with these from Toolstation. They really are very good. Bit more expensive than the ones Martin had found though...

;^)

https://www.toolstation.com/integral-led...ten/p88377

[Tony Griffiths]

As one ages, the need for extra light increases - and it really does make a big difference. In addition to a mass of ceiling-mounted lights, I have strip lights over the workbenches and an occasionally used halogen light of the portable kind rigged so that it points downwards over one of them - not this one, but one like it. It makes a big difference when working on small parts,

[John Cornforth]

I have slowly replaced flourescent tubes with toolstation LED substitute tubes. I preferred these over complete sealed LED assemblies, as firstly they were easier to fit (you get a plug in substitute for the redundant starter) and secondly if/when they wear out I don't have to bin the whole fitting but just fit another tube.

One of the big advantages is instant light, especially when I just pop into the workshop for a few moments. Previously the very last tube would still be coughing into life as I switched off and went back to the house.

[Chris KC]

Only vaguely on topic, I was faced last year with the question of how to illuminate my lock-up garage which has no power supply.

I've witnessed several attempts by other garage owners to install small solar lights - typically these last about a week before something breaks.

What I ended up with was a small rechargeable fluorescent strip light made by LETOUR (they're sold as "camping" lights). 
It is charged via a USB cable and has three brightness settings.
On the lowest they claim 80 hours of continuous lighting. 
Of course you tend to use the brightest setting, but even so I've only charged it once in 6 months. 
I wouldn't suggest it as a "work" light but for occasional rummaging on shelves etc. it's perfect.

The light has magnets built in to the base so it can simply be stuck on to the steel roof supports wherever suits; and can just as easily be lifted down temporarily and hand held as a "torch".

https://www.amazon.co.uk/LETOUR-Recharge...hdGY&psc=1

[Reckless Rat]

My garage is quite large (8m x 8m) and I have fitted a total of 11 overhead double tube 5 foot flourescents. They are arranged in three sections so I don't have to have them all on at the same time. They will eventually be replaced with LED tubes as & when they pack in, but even with all this overhead light, it's still not enough. Like Tony I have a big worklamp. Mine is on a tripod and it's a 1Kw mains halogen affair. I've also got a Heath-Robinson overhead lamp made up from a sheet of wood with 12 240v halogen ceiling spots mounted to it (I changed the ones in the kitchen over to LED and saved the mains ones). It's good when working under bonnets.

It's true, you've never ever got enough space or light. LEDs with less than 6000 lumens aren't really worth bothering with.

[Nick Salmon]

I bought one of these for £31 via Amazon. Needed to light an 8 car workshop, and mounted it on a tripod so I can use it as a worklight as well. First time I turned it on I thought a nuclear bomb had gone off. Awesome light levels!

Out of stock at the mo but I'd certainly recommend going for high wattage LEDs, if suitable.



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