lighting for my lathe

Signed-In Members Don't See This Ad
triw51

triw51

Member
Joined
Feb 14, 2012
Messages
2,062
Location
407 East Cottonwood Drive, Cottonwood AZ
I would like to install an over head light over my lathe and would like one that moves so I can focus the light where I am working.
Do the make a tract light that you can move back and forth also pull down for close up inspection? Any recommendations would be appreciated.
Thanks William
PS I am looking for a variety of ball bearings (1/2" or smaller) for a forging experiment any ideas where I can find used ones that don't cost an arm and leg?
 
Signed-In Members Don't See This Ad
I use a light similar to this clamped to my work bench behind the lathe. Swings wherever I need it and out of the way when I don't.

8066D-1C.jpg


I also have one of the magnetic mount goose neck lights for detail work.
 
OK... So I may be OCD.. a little.

The pics are for my NOVA 1624-44. My Mini Jet is just to the left.

The racks are... Cloths Racks bought from ALDI's Grocery store - about $10 seasonally... Really cheap clothing racks. But cut up/ turned upside, mounted into the ceiling joists, voilla...a movable light rack. I added a Home Depot light bracket and as many lights as you want. Total deal... maybe 35-40 dollars.

And it was a project - what fun!

I can move it up/down 14" and the lights can be moved as needed, or added to.

I did almost the same for the dust extractor - Aldi's Clothing rack/a few modificatioins... done! $15! :biggrin:
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0343.jpg
    IMG_0343.jpg
    217 KB · Views: 431
  • IMG_0344.jpg
    IMG_0344.jpg
    239 KB · Views: 346
  • IMG_0345.jpg
    IMG_0345.jpg
    164.6 KB · Views: 462
  • IMG_0346.jpg
    IMG_0346.jpg
    200.9 KB · Views: 477
I can't locate an Aldi's in Arizona, so... You may have to IMPROVISE the clothing rack upside down! :cowboy:

Anyway, works for me and its an idea!

ENJOY and have FUN!
 
Dan Masshardt said:
Carl Fisher said:
I use a light similar to this clamped to my work bench behind the lathe. Swings wherever I need it and out of the way when I don't. I also have one of the magnetic mount goose neck lights for detail work.
Click to expand...

With the magnifier?
Click to expand...

Helps to see all the scratches!!!! :eek: So you can sand/polish some more..... :biggrin:
gordon

BTW, I have three lights on my lathe - one 24" goose neck and two LED goose neck from IKEA with magnetic bases.
 
Last edited:
The ideal situation is to have two light sources. The best arrangement is identical sources, but at different distances from the turning, and also adjustable so that you can modify their location based on the nature of the piece you are working on. Two sources means brighter light on the turning, but the difference in distance means a difference in intensity of light falling on the workpiece (light intensity is an inverse-square relationship - as the source is moved further away from the subject, the intensity diminishes with the square of the distance) - so that surface defects will throw shadows.

My new lathe has a built-in work light on a flexible stem mounted on the headstock. I have a second light in an aluminum reflector just to the right of the tailstock.

But my former lathe did not, and I used a couple of those aluminum clamp reflectors from Home Despot, one mounted on a shelf just above the headstock, and the other mounted on a shelf to the right of the tailstock. Both were adjustable so that I could position them as needed based on the nature of the turning. I used the same lamp in both fixtures (an 800 lumen, 5000K CFL - sold as a 60w equivalent daylight lamp), but because the lamp behind the tailstock was further away from the turning that the lamp over the headstock, I got good shadows. And so-called 'daylight' (5000K) lamps appear brighter to the eye than lamps with a warmer color temperature.
 
Last edited:
PenMan1 said:
Carl Fisher said:
I use a light similar to this clamped to my work bench behind the lathe. Swings wherever I need it and out of the way when I don't.

8066D-1C.jpg


I also have one of the magnetic mount goose neck lights for detail work.
Click to expand...

I use this exact light and a "gooseneck" halogen magnetic lamp too. Works great!
Click to expand...


I have the same light , too. I need to get a second light - dark in the one-car pen studio.:smile:
 
I use 2 industrial sewing machine lights. Mine have a gooseneck that is affected by the vibration, the light stays where I put it. I have seen them on eBay for about $25 shipped.
 
You could probably find the bearings at an industrial equipment salvage yard as scrap metal.

Some industrial equipment uses pretty large ball bearings and you could probably talk them into selling them to you cheap if you beat them out for yourself (just whack them out of the race with a hammer and chisel, no need to try to preserve the bearing itself).

FWIW, I think taper bearings use the same steel in their rollers if you're just wanting the steel itself and don't need the ball shape.
 
Last edited:
William, I get lots of bearings and steel shafting from salvage copy machines. I get them from Good Will and Salvage firms.

My lathe lighting is 2 clamp on lights mounted on my rafters.

Ray
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom