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Great tool that will change the way you model

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  • Member since
    January 2009
Great tool that will change the way you model
Posted by MountainDew on Thursday, January 22, 2009 8:57 PM

Thought I'd post a review of the OTT-LITE I bought a week ago at Michael's with a 50% off coupon. It cost $70 with the discount and I would gladly have paid the full pop $140 retail or more for this light. It's a floor lamp with a special fluorescent bulb. In using it I'm able to model longer with no eye strain. It casts a bright light, yet it's diffused and not harsh. It doesn't radiate heat either, important for working with plastics. Construction is top notch and I wish I had bought one of these things years ago. If you model a lot and take it seriously the OTT-LITE is a tool you need.

The imitation with a generic fluorescent bulb hit the trash pile about 2 hours after I started using the OTT-LITE. There is just no comparison and it's hard to put into words just how phenomenal this light really is. It's like building cheap models and then springing for an expensive well engineered kit from Japan. The difference is just epic.

I don't work for OTT-LITE and stand to gain nothing for putting up this review.

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Where the coyote howl, NH
Posted by djrost_2000 on Friday, January 23, 2009 10:59 AM

Why not just buy a compact, flourescent, daylight, color-balanced bulb for a regular lamp?   I have one that is equivelent to 100 Watts for my overhead lamp and it gives a close approximation of the spectrum of daylight.  The bulb only cost me $10.00 with shipping.  I bought 2 Ott-Lites years ago and they are nice, but I see no appreciable difference between my Otts and my daylight bulb.  From now on I'll stick with a regular lamp and have a daylight bulb.  BIG savings.

~Dave

  • Member since
    June 2007
Posted by squeakie on Friday, January 23, 2009 11:15 AM
 djrost_2000 wrote:

Why not just buy a compact, flourescent, daylight, color-balanced bulb for a regular lamp?   I have one that is equivelent to 100 Watts for my overhead lamp and it gives a close approximation of the spectrum of daylight.  The bulb only cost me $10.00 with shipping.  I bought 2 Ott-Lites years ago and they are nice, but I see no appreciable difference between my Otts and my daylight bulb.  From now on I'll stick with a regular lamp and have a daylight bulb.  BIG savings.

~Dave

The Ott Light uses a different bulb in it, and is absolutly the best color correct bulb out there. Guys that tie flies have known this for many years now. They also make one that has a fold down magnifier built into it, and Hobby Lobby carries them. I couldn't live without one, and because of that I have two. Might add here that an Ott Lite is aloso a must for avid readers as they reduce eye strain drasticly.

gary

  • Member since
    February 2003
Posted by Jim Barton on Friday, January 23, 2009 11:28 AM
A few years ago, I found a portable folding Ott-Lite at a garage sale. It was my regular workbench light until I found a perfectly good fluorescent desk lamp in the dumpster. I fit the desk lamp with a daylight-spectrum tube and the Ott-Lite went into my road toolbox. That little Ott-Lite is great in those inadequately-lit motel rooms. One of the best three bucks I ever spent.

"Whaddya mean 'Who's flying the plane?!' Nobody's flying the plane!"

  • Member since
    January 2007
Posted by the doog on Friday, January 23, 2009 12:52 PM

Thanks for that tip! WIth a coupon, you could get it on the cheap!

Speaking of"eye strain", any chance you could change out that video signature you've got going there? Man, it makes it hard to read your posts; it's so distracting..?

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Where the coyote howl, NH
Posted by djrost_2000 on Friday, January 23, 2009 12:54 PM

Maybe the Ott is special, but I'm not forking over another $70 plus shipping when a daylight bulb can do it almost as well.

Dave

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Where the coyote howl, NH
Posted by djrost_2000 on Friday, January 23, 2009 4:47 PM

I've posted two photos.  The first is my workbench lighted by a 24W (100W equivalent) compact flourescent daylight color-balanced bulb.  The second is the same workbench lighted by a fold-out OttLite.  I'll let you guys decide which is better.

Color-balanced daylight bulb:

 

OttLite:

  • Member since
    January 2009
Posted by MountainDew on Saturday, January 24, 2009 3:01 PM
Some people buy a Mercedes because they know it's the finest car available. Others are content with a Lexus knock off. That's the wonderful thing about a free market economy. Choices.
  • Member since
    November 2008
Posted by deadhead on Saturday, January 24, 2009 3:23 PM

And others are happy with a reliable car.

I do see your original post/point MT, and if I coudl get a Mercedes at 50% off like you did the OTT I'd be willing to buy it. For now I'll keep my magnifier light with natural light bulb.

Will

  • Member since
    January 2007
Posted by the doog on Saturday, January 24, 2009 3:49 PM
MountainDew, You're the man--thanks! Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Where the coyote howl, NH
Posted by djrost_2000 on Saturday, January 24, 2009 4:49 PM

 MountainDew wrote:
Some people buy a Mercedes because they know it's the finest car available. Others are content with a Lexus knock off. That's the wonderful thing about a free market economy. Choices.

Very true indeed.  I'm just sticking up for the guys who don't want to spend a lot of money on lighting when you can get decent lighting for cheap from another source.   My foldout Otts are nice and I will keep them for doing miniatures but on the level of modeling I'm doing I'm more than happy with the color balanced daylight bulb.

Peace,

Dave

  • Member since
    January 2009
Posted by MountainDew on Saturday, January 24, 2009 5:06 PM

 the doog wrote:
MountainDew, You're the man--thanks! Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]

Yes ma'am, I am the man. You're welcome.

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Where the coyote howl, NH
Posted by djrost_2000 on Saturday, January 24, 2009 6:15 PM

If you MUST buy and Ott Lite, why not just buy the bulbs they offer that can go in your existing lamps for a LOT less!

http://www.ottlite.com/c-46-bulbs-and-tubes.aspx

I think I'm the man nowBig Smile [:D]

Dave

  • Member since
    March 2004
  • From: Spartanburg, SC
Posted by subfixer on Monday, January 26, 2009 12:21 PM
HI! BILLY MAYS HERE FOR OTT-LITE.......

I'm from the government and I'm here to help.

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