The best $40 I've spent recently.

[Cheese]

I stopped at Woodcraft to pick up some Festool items and stumbled upon the Rikon 12-201 LED light. I'm not necessarily a big fan of Rikon equipment, however I was very impressed with the construction of this light.
The highlights are:
1. It's machined from billet aluminum and nicely anodized. The overall fit & finish reminds me of MAGLITE products.
2. It operates on AA batteries, a rechargeable Lithium 18650 battery or it can be powered from a USB cord & converter.
3. It has a very strong magnet in the base that allows for vertical or horizontal placement.
4. It produces 500 lumens of light. That puts it in the same class as the original Gen 1 KAL 100 SysLite.
5. The gooseneck is flexible yet holds the position that it's placed in.
6. The beam is adjustable by sliding the hood of the light forward or backwards.
https://www.woodcraft.com/products/led-gooseneck-worklight

Rikon suggests a retail price of $80 however Woodcraft ran a special for only $40.
Recently, I've been using it with the 1010 & 1400 routers because they lack LED lighting.  [poke] 
I've also used it when I replaced the cutterhead of the Dewalt 635 planer with a Byrd Shelix unit. I have both Festool KAL SysLites (Gen 1 & Gen 2) along with 2 Milwaukee LED lights, but I find I'm using the Rikon more than the others combined. Here are some photos of the Rikon unit.

 

[live4ever]

Looks exactly like one that Lee Valley sells.  Must have the same source.  I agree it’s a great light.

 

[butzla]

Lee Valley sells one very similar although not a Rikon.  It looks identical to the one you have.  I have 2 of them that I rotate between my Kapex, bandsaw, lathe and MFT.  In fact, they have dogs available in both 3/4" and 20 mm.  Don't forget to order a mounting plate for each dog you buy.  Ask me how I know this?  Anyhoo, they work great and I keep remembering to order more at the next free shipping sale.

http://www.leevalley.com/us/wood/Page.aspx?p=71189&cat=1

 

[ChuckM]

I have been waiting for the corded version of the LV LED light. In the meantime, for bench work, I am using this:http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/products/20169658/

 

[Cheese]

In fact, they have dogs available in both 3/4" and 20 mm.  Don't forget to order a mounting plate for each dog you buy. 

I like the dog idea...didn't know that was an option. [thumbs up]

Here's a picture of the light when used with the MFS. Nice and narrow to fit between the rails. [big grin]

 

[bnaboatbuilder]

I've had the Lee Valley one for 4-5 years. It is a nice light but just doesn't last as long on batteries as I thought it would. It stays on the metal lathe at my father's shop.

I prefer the Bosch FL12 LEDs. Have 3 of them bought back when they were cheaper. I have so many 12V tools it was a good match. A rechargeable battery is perfect for a task light. The Bosch lights are much brighter, smaller, also magnetic and pivot.

 

[Mario Turcot]

Cheese, if you want to mount it directly to your MFT, get the bench dog from Lee Valley. Since Woodcraft is out of stock, they also sell a similar light  [smile]

Edit: Self note, read other peoples reply before posting

 

[Cheese]

Hey Mario, thanks to you and Jim I'll be ordering a couple of plates and a couple of 20mm dogs from Lee Valley. [big grin]

The only difference I can see between these two lights is that the Lee Valley variety doesn't appear to have the ability to run off a USB converter/charger.  [sad]  [sad]  However, it's also 20% cheaper than the Rikon.

 

[Mario Turcot]

Darn you, you made me bite on that one

It works very well and it have an adjustable angle.

Hey Mario, thanks to you and Jim I'll be ordering a couple of plates and a couple of 20mm dogs from Lee Valley. [big grin]

The only difference I can see between these two lights is that the Lee Valley variety doesn't appear to have the ability to run off a USB converter/charger.

You are right, works only using 3x AA

 

[rmwarren]

I have 2X of the LV flavor that I use constantly, one in the shed/shop and one in my upstairs workroom. As noted magnetic sticks great and light is awesome.

[attachimg=1]

I use 3X eneloop 2000mAh Ni-MH rechargable batteries and they seem to work forever. Granted I use them for relatively short periods but I don't think I have changed batteries in over a year. YMMV.

RMW

 

[Cheese]

I use 3X eneloop 2000mAh Ni-MH rechargable batteries and they seem to work forever. Granted I use them for relatively short periods but I don't think I have changed batteries in over a year. YMMV.

Thanks for that info...    I just remembered that I have 3ea 1900 mAh eneloop's in a charger in the office.  [big grin]

 

[ChuckM]

I use 3X eneloop 2000mAh Ni-MH rechargable batteries and they seem to work forever. Granted I use them for relatively short periods but I don't think I have changed batteries in over a year. YMMV.

RMW

The eneloop rechargeable batteries (mine from Costco) are the best rechargeable type I have used (mainly for my canon camera). Some rechargeable batteries are dead and hold little charges after a couple of or few years of intensive use, while the eneloops keep going.

 

[ben_r_]

I had read that people end up having problems with the gooseneck in the Lee Valley one saying that over time it stops holding its position. That was why I never picked on up.

 

[rustym]

Richard are you planning a trip to Dallas-FTW? I noticed the maps on your wall.

Rusty

 

[rmwarren]

Richard are you planning a trip to Dallas-FTW? I noticed the maps on your wall.

Rusty

Not soon, I was out there last fall. Looking for land to acquire in Fort Worth, Flower Mound and south Dallas/Hutchins. My day job.

RMW

 

[nclemmons]

+1 on the LV lights.  I have five of them around my shop.  Those with the Eneloop rechargeable batteries and optional 20mm bases are great.