Choosing and Using Work Lights

By: John Kelsey, This Old House magazine (Page 1 of 2)

Photo: Nedjelko Matura

Standing Lamps: 1. 360-Degree Light-WobbleLight 120-watt fluorescent light; 2. Quartz-Halogen Spotlight-RAB quartz spotlight; 3. Area Light-WF Harris task/area light

Photo: Nedjelko Matura

Standing Lamps

1. 360-Degree Light
Best for: General job-site illumination that needs to withstand being knocked down.
Look for: Shatterproof protective cage or dome; cool-burning fluorescent light.
Shown: WobbleLight 120-watt fluorescent light, $79

2. Quartz-Halogen Spotlight
Best for: General bright job-site illumination that can be aimed wherever you need it.
Look for: Handle insulated against heat of halogen bulb; shatterproof safety shield. Some models offer a tripod accessory.
Shown: RAB quartz spotlight, $25

3. Area Light
Best for: Task lighting that needs to be cool and very portable; general illumination over a workbench.
Look for: Magnetic bracket for hanging on steel studs or pipes; shatterproof cover. Tilting cart accessory makes light mobile.
Shown: WF Harris task/area light, $196 with cart

4.Incandescent Craftsman Work Light; 5. Fluorescent 13-watt portable fluorescent work light from Jameson

Photo: Nedjelko Matura

Hanging Lamps

4. Incandescent
Best for: Inexpensive task lighting that can move easily from the garage to the bedroom.
Look for: Handle with on/off switch and outlet protected by circuit breaker. Cord reel on some models prevents tangles but adds bulk.
Shown: Craftsman Work Light, $25

5. Fluorescent
Best for: Hands-free and portable task lighting that will stay cool to the touch.
Look for: On/off switch; grounded outlet in handle.
Shown: 13-watt portable fluorescent work light from Jameson, $80

Cordless Task Lighting: 6. Flexible Light-DeWalt Flexible Floodlight; 7.Super-Bright Flashlight-LED/xenon flashlight; 8. Headlamp-Petzl Tikka Plus

Photo: Nedjelko Matura

Cordless Task Lighting

6. Flexible Light
Best for: Aiming a flood of light into hard-to-reach places, such as under a sink or in a closet; spotlighting a work piece.
Look for: Long-life battery and bright LED or xenon bulb; ability to stand or hang hands-free; long, easily manipulated neck.
Shown: DeWalt Flexible Floodlight, $38, plus $79 for 18-volt battery

7. Super-Bright Flashlight
Best for: Illuminating a large, dark area — as in an attic or basement — so you can go in to make repairs.
Look for: Shatterproof lens; multiple bright-white LED bulbs; shape designed to keep it from rolling away.
Shown: Craftsman LED/xenon flashlight, $20

8. Headlamp
Best for: Spotlighting tasks that take two hands, such as electrical and plumbing work.
Look for: Comfortable strap; tilting light mount so you can direct the light without contorting your neck; adjustable LED bulbs.
Shown: Petzl Tikka Plus, $33

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What You'll Learn:

It's no use getting under the sink to fix the pipes if you can't see what you're doing. You need a light — and it had better be bright, stay cool to the touch, leave your hands free, and be able to take a beating.

Work lights differ mainly in their size and the type of bulb they use. The best small lights have tiny, bright-white LEDs (light-emitting diodes), but to cover larger territory you need the power that comes with a hanging or standing light. The old standby — an incandescent bulb in a plastic cage — is the least expensive option in this category. If you need more light, halogen lamps are the brightest, though their intense heat is a risk near construction materials. Fluorescent lights burn cool; the downside is a greenish hue that may skew colors. For any work light, the most important feature is a sturdy case. "Be sure it can survive being thumped by a 2x4," says This Old House general contractor Tom Silva. "A job site is a rough place."

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