Lighting at the lathe....

[Odie]

I keep adding lamps, and better lighting sure does help. Since getting my new Vicmarc VL240 lathe last year, I now have 10 lamps at the lathe....and keep adding more as I go! I've never had this good of lighting before, and now seeing the quality of my cuts is easier than ever before!

=o=

 

[Alan Weinberg]

And lighting becomes even more important as the eyes age! 10 lights is sure a lot of lighting.

 

[Odie]

One of the most difficult places to get good lighting is outside of the rim at about the 9 o'clock position.....right where I'm cutting on the outermost portion of the rim.

I bought another lamp specifically for this location but was having a very hard time putting the lamp anywhere where it wasn't a problem during other phases of the bowl evolution.

This lamp was installed in several places where it became a problem, because it was always in the way and had to be moved.

The solution came when I stacked a bunch of magnets together to increase the hold. This allows me to place the lamp in a spot where it's never in the way, but the lamp easily swings into place when it's needed.....

When the lamp is needed, it swings into place where it's between myself and my work piece. This gives me the best lighting I've ever had for this particular need. Like so:

When the lamp isn't needed, it simply swings out of the way........problem solved!


=o=

 

[Odie]

10 lights is sure a lot of lighting.

That includes the two incandescent lamps that I used when I had the old Woodfast lathe. I use them, because I have them, and even though anything helps....these two aren't absolutely necessary.

The new LED lamps aren't used for all applications. Two are facing the back side of a mounted bowl, and three are pointing towards the interior of the bowl.....then there is the new "swing away" lamp that I just explained in the previous post....

The lamps are used as they are needed, but there isn't really any condition where all of them are needed at the same time.

All of the lamps are strategically placed in positions that require the least amount of adjustment during the course of making an average sized bowl.

=o=

 

[Ric Taylor]

Do the streetlights dim when you turn them all on?

I'm curious about what you said about stacking magnets to increase the hold. Can you give more details on that?

 

[John Torchick]

I just used an old desk lamp, adapted to a wall mount. Easily moved for best lighting.

 

[Curt Vogt]

More light at the lathe is just like more cowbell... give me more!

The downside to more lighting on your woodturning is that you can more easily see your mistakes.
The upside to more lighting on your woodturning is that you can more easily see your mistakes.

 

[Phil Hamel]

I stuck 2 four foot LED lights on the ceiling and have 2 magnet swivel lights for spots.

 

[David Wyke]

I have five lights and need more! Currently looking at options available and placement.

 

[John K Jordan]

I'm a big fan of numerous small-diameter lights - "point source" sized lights reveal scratches and things far better then broad, diffuse lights, such as rows of long lights mounted high on a ceiling - these tend to provide more diffuse lighting and will hide scratches rather then highlight them. For me, small dia lights positioned at a glancing angle to the work are the best.

My usual lighting. The four in the cluster are all easily movable on swing arms or flexible shafts. All are constructed or shielded to keep light out of my eyes.

The two near the ceiling and the one far past then end of the lathe provide wide, general lighting, but not as bright as what appears here. All of these come on with a single wall switch (the switch activates multiple 110v receptacles)

Most of the receptacles and wires are hidden behind a thin plywood "skirt" on the front of a narrow shelf to eliminate a lot of wire and plug clutter. Wires are guided and secured by short lengths of soft, flexible iron wire fastened up inside the space behind the small shelf skirt with small screws.

A second switch turns on the ceiling-mounted 8' T5 if I'm working in that area but not turning.

When turning the main room lights on the ceiling are all off.



I have a similar arrangement at the bandsaw with three lights activated by a single wall switch.



This lighting design was planned at the beginning but evolved a little over time. Works for me.

BTW, for a WTW SuperNova I found a good mounting place on one of the included brackets behind the lathe. I removed bulky magnet and drilled and tapped a hole in the cast iron to fit the threaded end of the flexible shaft. (Cast iron is very easy to drill and tap.)



JKJ

 

[Odie]

I'm curious about what you said about stacking magnets to increase the hold. Can you give more details on that?

I only this past year became aware of "stacking" magnets in order to strengthen their pull. I believe it may have been a question I asked AI, and this is the answer I got.

Anyway, that was for another application that worked quite well on a much smaller scale than what you're seeing in my photo here. For this application, I initially tried without any extra magnets. I wasn't satisfied with how well it was holding and began adding magnets. Seems to have increased the magnetic grip well enough for now.....we'll see about that in the long run! I'm feeling fairly confident this magnet configuration will hold....

=o=

 

[Dean Center]

Odie, one idea on lighting that you might want to consider is a little light that sticks to the tool rest by magnets. I bought one from Cindy Drozda several years ago to use making boxes and it works quite well, even though it's not something you can really aim. The intensity of the light isn't blinding, but it's so close to the work that it doesn't need to be. Pix below. (You'll have to imagine it stuck to the wood side of the tool rest, just under the edge) I think it was $15 when I bought it, but the price is higher today. Other people may sell them as well--I really like and appreciate Cindy.

 

[Odie]

Odie, one idea on lighting that you might want to consider is a little light that sticks to the tool rest by magnets. I bought one from Cindy Drozda several years ago to use making boxes and it works quite well, even though it's not something you can really aim. The intensity of the light isn't blinding, but it's so close to the work that it doesn't need to be. Pix below. (You'll have to imagine it stuck to the wood side of the tool rest, just under the edge) I think it was $15 when I bought it, but the price is higher today. Other people may sell them as well--I really like and appreciate Cindy.
View attachment 86784View attachment 86785

That looks like a pretty good idea Dean.

Off hand, it does seem like the light would be better if it's above the tool, rather than below it.

The light I'm using right now seems to be working as planned.....but, this gadget of yours is definitely something to keep in mind!

Thanks

=o=

 

[John K Jordan]

Odie, one idea on lighting that you might want to consider is a little light that sticks to the tool rest by magnets.

For years I've thought of making a "belly light", something I wear to light what the overhead lights don't. Maybe I'll try making a toolrest light instead. Would have to be very thing (tiny length of tape strip LEDs) since I keep the toolrest close to the work.