Trouble / work lights

[Grdpa's 50 Dodge]

I have been using my 2' florescent tube light and it really sucks,,,doesnt fit where you want it and if you hang it with hook end it always flips around to shine in your eyes vs where you want.  its awful long and bulky and light isnt as bright as one would think

 

I do have an old tin shade with a cf bulb in it I can bring home tomorrow,,,least it fits where placed. And the bulb lasts better than a regular bulb thats broke more than working.

 

Whats the cats meow in light set ups so I can ask Santa for one.???

[Dan Hiebert]

I've a 1-foot version of the fluorescent work light you mention, a "traditional" work light with the hanging hook and half cage over the bulb, and a couple of those clamp-on work lights, the ones with the bowl shaped reflectors. Each have their perks, but I'd agree with your assessment of the fluorescent one, not very useful so I don't use it very much. So far, the most useful have been the clamp-on lights. Got them from my father-in-law when he quit doing his cabinetry gig. I mention that because I wouldn't have thought to get any on my own, but have since become rather fond of them. BUT, I've asked Santa for one of those multi use flashlights, the ones with the tiltable head and tripod legs as part of the handle. Set it on the tripod and point the light just where you want it to change that tire, then use it as a flashlight to find the lug-nuts you knocked out of Ralphies hands..."Oh, fuuuudge..."

[RobertKB]

Something with a magnet so you can place it how and where you want it. Plumber I had over recently had a stand up LED light that worked well but has limited application for a car. Trouble lights are just that, trouble. Necessary though for those darks spaces.

[TodFitch]

I find that the headlamp I use for camping is pretty useful while working on the car.

[JBNeal]

I had a Craftsman 12" fluorescent work light that lasted about 20yrs before my chronic clumsiness finally caught up to that thing as the last time I dropped it caused the hook end cap to split open, breaking the bulb and splitting open the lens in the process (the hook broke off almost right after I got it).  I had a traditional work light, but my clumsiness meant that I would break a bulb filament almost daily, and when I wasn't dropping the light on the floor, it would bounce off my face...so that got retired when the fluorescent light came out.  To replace that fluorescent, I went back to the well and found that Craftsman had two good candidates:  a 60 LED replacement, and a 35 LED rechargeable replacement.  The 60 LED has an equivalent light source to the 12" fluorescent light and weighs next to nothing.  The 35 LED rechargeable is slightly heavier, but can get into smaller spaces and no cords to get wrapped up in when in use.  I got the 60 LED and Dad got the 35 LED rechargeable, and the 35 LED rechargeable is a lot dirtier after a year's use as it has come in handy for many things outside the garage.

 

O'Reilly's & Advanced Auto have those $1 LED flashlights with the aluminum body, and they come in handy too.  Those lights can be stuck in many places in an engine compartment and are quite bright, and are easy to stick in yer pie-hole when ya need both hands in a tight space.  But ya get whut ya pay for, as I haven't had one yet that lasted more than one battery change.  The switches wear out first, and it's cheaper to get a new light than it is to fabricate a new switch.  In contrast, Batteries Plus has some pricier LED flashlights, I tried out a $10 and a $20 flashlight.  The $10 flashlight has a single LED and a heavier aluminum body than the $1 but was just as bright as the $1 flashlight.  The $20 flashlight has 7 LEDs, a magnetic base, and can toggle between LED, laser pointer, UV blacklight, and flashing lights.  Since that light went on sale, several more useful flashlights came available that only had the LEDs & the laser pointer with the magnetic base, and the light switch was much better at toggling between the two light sources.

 

As LEDs become cheaper and more widely available, they are a competitive alternative to the incandescent & fluorescent options that can illuminate your workspace...but with all things that aren't made in North America, ya get what ya pay for 

[JerseyHarold]

I'm planning to get a 27-LED light from Harbor Freight (free with coupon!) and then stick it on a refrigerator magnet so I can hang it anywhere. 

[Young Ed]

http://www.amazon.com/Snap--92161-75-Watt-Cordless-Heavy/dp/B000RTG012/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1387313190&sr=8-5&keywords=snap+on+light

 

I've been using that light and love it. I do have an LED rechargeable from Craftsman too and its ok when charged but I find it often dead when I need it or it goes dead part way through my task. Also make sure you are buying rough service bulbs. Using reg household bulbs greatly increases the breakage rate.

[Plymouthy Adams]

my wife bless her heart bought me one of the stick LED trouble lights...it is by far the worse design for any type of automotive work bar none...I applaud her efforts but give me a basic ole drop light any day of the week..however I do like the newer florescent bulb

[greg g]

I just bought some magnetic led thingies from Tractor supply they are Chinese and they were 5 buck each, 4 rows of 19 leds and one in the end for a pencil beam fash light.  Just got one of these for my daughter's boyfriend for his BBQ grille.  Got if on Amazon for less that 20 bucks.  Clamp on flex neck.  Might work real nice for around the car also.