MFT Workarea Lighting

[Mark Katz]

My MFT is in an area of my workshop where the overhead lights are almost 10' above the floor and can't go lower without being in the path of the garage door when it's open. Actually, even worse, if I'm working with the garage door open, the door blocks the overhead lights completely. I've tried various methods to attache work lights to various points around the shop but always end up with light in all the wrong places.

What I think would work for me is a light mounted on a post which I could quickly attach to the extrusions of the MFT with a gooseneck or scissor mechanism to allow me to move the light around over the work surface to where it's needed.

Has anyone done something like this that can share the makes/models of the lights and mounting mechanisms they used? I'm sure I could make a post which attaches to the MFT but I'm hoping to just buy the rest.

Thanks, Mark

 

[Rutabagared]

I use this dog/plate set-up from Lee Valley.  I purchased as one unit a while back.  I see they're now sold separately.  I couple these with Dr. Prepare LED work lights with magnetic bases.

 

[rst]

I hung barn door tracks under and across my 9' overhead door to hang my Yakima box and canoe from and used boat winches to be able to drop onto my 4 Runner.  You could do the same to hang lights.

 

[afish]

I have a bigger diy MFT bench but I converted it to a small spay booth by bending up some EMT into some frames and attached visqueen to the EMT with those greenhouse clamps.  I had some brackets on the ends made from those saddle clamps made to secure EMT to a wall, I shimmed the saddle out a little with some pieces of edge banding so that the EMT frame would slip into the saddle when needed and could still pull out easily.  I ended up wanting more light for spraying so I just laid some 4' LED lights on the top frame.  Depends on how complicated you want it but I use the 4' LED lights from costco they are light weight and have a few different mounting options.  I would think a piece of 3/4 emt bent into and "L" shape one leg vertical "post" clamped to the corner of the bench and the other leg overhanging the bench with the light attached to it.  It would pivot if needed and if you have a larger MFT you could put one at each rear corner.  The lights weigh practically nothing so even 1/2" EMT would probably work but 3/4" would be more than enough. If you use 1/2 maybe a 80°-85° bend to allow for some slight sag. 

 

[Mark Katz]

I use this dog/plate set-up from Lee Valley.  I purchased as one unit a while back.  I see they're now sold separately.  I couple these with Dr. Prepare LED work lights with magnetic bases.

That Lee Valley plate and post combo looks really useful so ordered them. I'll try it with my current light which included a magnetic base but I've been using the clamp instead. If that turns out to not be high enough to get light in the right places, I'll look into that Dr. Prepare light. Thanks for the lead!

 

[Rutabagared]

You're welcome.  Good luck!

 

[guybo]

coming soon [big grin][attachimg=1]

 

[gwendal]

I 3d-printed a connector between the lamp post and the table.

 

[Mark Katz]

I 3d-printed a connector between the lamp post and the table.

Good idea! That's a pretty fancy lamp for a workshop!

 

[bertv]

For local illumination I have an IKEA articulated desk lamp. Lives in a hole I drilled just outside the area occupied by the stop profile. BTW that hole is not a 20 mm one...

 

[elfick]

I knew I had seen these before but it took me way too long to find them...

Lamp Bushing

 

[elfick]

Ooops, that was the Canada store, here's the one for the US:https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/sho...s/metal-parts/70534-lamp-bushing?item=05G4803

 

[dwillis]

I built my own light that clamps to the MFT. The design for this light was stolen (with pride) from Adam Savage's Tested YouTube channel (Adam Savage's One Day Builds: New Workbench Lights!). All the parts were sourced from Amazon and are listed on the Tested YouTube site. These lights have a battery backup and have adjustable color balance.

[attachimg=1][attachimg=2]

 

[Mark Katz]

Ooops, that was the Canada store, here's the one for the US:https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/sho...s/metal-parts/70534-lamp-bushing?item=05G4803

Oooh, I wish I had known about that while ordering the plate and post mentioned above by sawdustinmyshoes (which have already arrived). Just added to my Lee Valley cart for the next time I order. Thanks.

 

[Mark Katz]

I built my own light that clamps to the MFT. The design for this light was stolen (with pride) from Adam Savage's Tested YouTube channel (Adam Savage's One Day Builds: New Workbench Lights!).
All the parts were sourced from Amazon and are listed on the Tested YouTube site. These lights have a battery backup and have adjustable color balance.

Another good idea! Thanks

 

[mino]

How about getting a boom arm for your CT vac and attaching a light on it ?

Just a thougth ... will probably try that when getting my new worktable build (with integrated boom arm).

 

[huntdupl]

This light kit mounts to interior side of garage door.
https://garagedoorlighting.com/photo-gallery/

 

[afish]

I put LED tape on each of my garage door braces similar to whats pictured.  It works good when door is up and blocking the ceiling lights but I have a 7 foot door. Also comes in handy when the door is down to add some low angle light for finishing.  Still think a boom arm made from EMT is cheap and effective and doesnt use up any real estate on the surface of the MFT.  Those loc-line style lights are cool too.

 

[sancho57]

I put 4 of these in the ceiling of my 829 sq ft shop w 10' walls lights it up like dayiight
https://www.amazon.com/Sunco-Lighti...87cea&pd_rd_wg=XtT4l&pd_rd_i=B0849RDZ4S&psc=1

 

[Mark Katz]

I put 4 of these in the ceiling of my 829 sq ft shop w 10' walls lights it up like dayiight
https://www.amazon.com/Sunco-Lighti...87cea&pd_rd_wg=XtT4l&pd_rd_i=B0849RDZ4S&psc=1

Yikes, that's a lot of light!