Don't overlook track lighting!
KEW said:
I am putting my lathe in an essentially unlit area of my garage.
If you could start from scratch, how would you set up your lighting?
Flourescent? Directional? Locations?
Thanks,
Kurt
Kurt:
I have found that mounting a 4 foot light track above my lathe area allows me to use several inexpensive track-lights, which then enables me to focus lots of light near the headstock where most of the activity goes on (...at least this is the main work area for
my turning activities; I have general lighting for doing spindles and longer pieces - most of my work is on bowls, hollow forms, and other vessels). I have done a fair amount of reviewing of possible lighting options, and in my opinion, you should consider this area of the lathe as the primary target area for light arriving from different angles, similar to that used in a surgical suite. Not only do I have at least four individual track lights flooding the area of interest (with incandescent flood lights), I also have one of the long-necked Moffat Lights attached to the headstock for direct "custom" positioning while hollowing, doing final cuts/shear scraping, etc..
One talk I offered to give at the AAW Symposium in Portland this year was on turning station ergonomics, and lighting was included among the topics to be presented. Not only is light intensity and direction important, but spectral composition also should be considered, as others have mentioned. One fact of human biology is that as we age, there is a requirement to have more light on the subject, as well as to change glasses, etc. to insure good acuity along with color and depth perception. Having a fairly well-lit "surgical field" enables easier observation, regardless of what age the turner is.
Another lighting consideration: My prototype "inspection" light is a 3 foot fluorescent tube housed in a wooden box mounted a few feet above the lathe, with a ca. 1 inch slit to allow the light to come out in a long narrow "strip". I only use this light when examining the finished surfaces of the turned piece, usually toward the end of the sanding operations. This light works especially well when I turn down the track lights (these are on a 1000 Watt dimmer) and use the single "light line" to reflect off of the turned piece for close surface inspection to detect irregularities in shape, tear-out, sanding scars, over-sanded areas that need blending, etc. The harsh linear reflection (and any "shadows") off of the surfaces of the turned piece accentuates problem areas, much in the same way linear inspection lights are used by automotive body shops to look for surface/shape problems in repaired sheet metal or for various paint and restoration jobs. This is an inexpensive way to check the finish preparation on your work before removing it from the lathe.
Lighting is an important aspect of having an efficient and comfortable turning station, so don't skimp on this part of your new lathe's home. You will enjoy the lathe more if you actually can see what you're doing without much effort or eye strain!
Good luck & turn safely!
Rob Wallace
