Drill press lighting?

wkearney99

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Joined
Jun 6, 2014
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Anyone have a magnetic drill press light they don't hate?  I'm looking to find something with a gooseneck and a decently strong magnet that'll hold on the side of the belt assembly up top. 
 
I have this one from Lee Valley - Magnetic-Mount LED Work Light

There are similar, cheaper units like this, but this one has a longer gooseneck than any other I've found. The magnetic base is plenty strong enough. The only thing that I find I wish was better is the switch -- nothing really wrong with it, just wish the switch was easier to find and operate.
 
I get more use out of the Syslite in my workshop than I ever thought I would (with magnetic mount) - I tried clamping various lights with much frustration about position etc - now I can put the light wherever I want.

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Lou

 
I installed a Delta magnetic unit many, many moons ago. I do not have a single complaint. I swapped the incandescent bulb out for a LED 75/100 watt equivalent bulb and no longer do I have to worry about burning my arms or forehead.

I should add, that unlike some cheaper magnetic lights that fall of the equipment just because of vibration, this light can only be removed with two hands. It's also 120 volts so changing batteries and recharging also are'nt issues.
 

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wkearney99 said:
Anyone have a magnetic drill press light they don't hate?  I'm looking to find something with a gooseneck and a decently strong magnet that'll hold on the side of the belt assembly up top. 

I tried a magnetic based light around my two drill presses and I frequently hit them with metal swarf from drilling and that tended to pull them off their fixing point.  I ended up going for a more robust permanent solution.  I fitted a Delta FL820 off to the side, rewired to have an inline on/off switch and have never looked back

These modern Deta slimline LED flood lights feature durable aluminum housing, with adjustable head to direct the light precisely.  Supplied with 60cm cord and plug, >1500lm output, 5000K colour temprature 36,000 hour life 100 degree beam angle

 

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clark_fork said:
polarsea1 said:
I bought two of these: Magnetic LED lights

I was prepared to be underwhelmed but it turns out I'm quite pleased. I have one on my drill press and another on the bandsaw.

How do you secure the metal plate?

Thanks

No metal plate, just a strong magnet in the base. It sticks fast to the sheet metal housing of the drill press and the door to the bandsaw. They are quite small and the cords are shorter than I'd like but like I said I like them.
 
If you can find a way to use this the light it  6000 kelvin for pure white light. I have some of the floor and table top, this one clamps on a table. I have the smaller sewing machine magnetic type too, but these throw a wider whiter light and outshine the smaller magnetic unit by nearly 2000 lux on my meter.

Get these before they go back to 29.99, only 9.99 right now. I have one on my table top band saw and disc sander, they are plastic, but they work and have a 3 year warranty:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HP3CXUY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
 
Dovetail65 said:
Get these before they go back to 29.99, only 9.99 right now. I have one on my table top band saw and disc sander, they are plastic, but they work and have a 3 year warranty
I picked up one of those.  They're beastly large compared to the sewing machine one listed previously.  They do put out a good bit of light.  I have yet to compare them to the sewing machine light.  But for use on the drill press I have to think these are just going to be too large to be workable. 
 
wkearney99 said:
Dovetail65 said:
Get these before they go back to 29.99, only 9.99 right now. I have one on my table top band saw and disc sander, they are plastic, but they work and have a 3 year warranty
I picked up one of those.  They're beastly large compared to the sewing machine one listed previously.  They do put out a good bit of light.  I have yet to compare them to the sewing machine light.  But for use on the drill press I have to think these are just going to be too large to be workable. 

I picked up two of them after reading about them here, then reading the reviews on Amazon. Rarely do products receive that good of reviews. (The same light head is available for desktop use and a floor model.) Gave the wife one for a reading light in bed and attached a shelf mount to the wall for it. She likes how it is dimable. The other one I have been using on my sewing machine and loving it! Eventually one may wind up on my drill press, but I will have to build/weld a mount for it, which is easy enough.
 
The larger one I linked to are perfect for a drill press size wise and even bench top stuff, FOR ME. They seem big, but dont get in the way at all and are very movable.. And they include a mount, not sure why that doesn't work, maybe you bought the table top?.. And they are at least 5 times brighter than those little lights. The light covers the entire table, not just a little 3" spot, white and bright. I have both on every machine in the shop right now for testing.

The only thing I don't like about them is I have to manually click them on, they don't work with my dead man switches(on every tool in my shop) because of the dimmer function.  I have been playing with them to bypass, that so far no luck. Still, for the way they light up the tool, the convenience and the price, for me anyhow, they work great. The size is not an issue, I in i a benefit. The LED quality is amazingly good on these. I have seen ceiling lights with far worse. I will post some pics.

If you look close you will see the small er LED actually gets in the way far more because it need to be right in my path of vision to work because of its rightness and length(it is the longest sewing machine unit I could find), The larger one is off to the side where is isn't in the way and is still about 5 times brighter over the whole table top surface. If it's in the way I just move the quick mount. Both work, the larger on for me just has so much more light I think I will use them more at least until all my good equipment and lighting is put in this new shop. can wait to break out all the new tools.

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My drill press and bandsaw have built in lights.  While OK in some cuts, it's not great.  After reviewing Corwin's link, I like that one the best because it looks like it can be placed precisely where its needed.  I'm ordering one with accessories.

Regards,

Dan.
 
If you look close, I have the magnetic sewing machine type LED, the larger LED and the saw also has a built in LED, yeah I need light!
 
[member=48620]Lou in DE[/member] Don't you find the Festool magnetic base limiting because it is so short? I've thought of getting one and using it like you show using it on my bandsaw and/or drill press, but thought the base might not allow enough flexibility to get it adjusted to work on those tools without getting in the way of my work.
 
Dovetail, thanks for the tip.  I bought two of the Brightechs from Amazon, liked them so much i bought two more.
 
Dovetail65 said:
If you look close, I have the magnetic sewing machine type LED, the larger LED and the saw also has a built in LED, yeah I need light!
For the work you do I'd totally agree for the need for plenty of good light !
 
Dovetail65 said:
Get these before they go back to 29.99, only 9.99 right now. I have one on my table top band saw and disc sander, they are plastic, but they work and have a 3 year warranty
I picked up one of those.  They're beastly large compared to the sewing machine one listed previously.  They do put out a good bit of light.  I have yet to compare them to the sewing machine light.  But for use on the drill press I have to think these are just going to be too large to be workable. 
 
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