good hobby desk lamps?

Not sure it's a right or wrong thing Don, personal preference really. I find I am a detail junky, probably carry-over from my N scale days and certainly why it takes me some time to complete a build!

More about the journey than the destination for me, and my eyes respond better at higher k, I can work longer with far less strain than I could under "regular" lighting. Optivisor is a close intimate friend as well, never could get used to magnifier lamps 

I recently went to Michael's and found an ott lamp in the clearance section for 19.99 down from 84.99 .what a great lamp 

I am not sure I understand the concern about building with sunlight-corrected lamps, since we very seldom display our models outside in sunlight.  Usually my models are inside at home, under fluorescents, or at a show with some mix of incandescent or fluorescent lighting.

Recently picked up a Varilux at Walmart for $40, use a 5000k led as a filler, the varilux is a natural light type, bulb matches my research on the ott lights - worth a look if you are shopping. Great light, which my old eyes seem to need more of these days..

Same here, got mine at JoAnn Fabrics, with a 60% off cuopon.

Another vote for Ott lamps; you cant get anything better. Sometimes you can get them at Michaels, and use your 50-60% off coupon. Worth the money, if your Mk I eyeballs are on *this* side of 50. I am seeting up my new workshop in the basement. Got couple of commercial-grade LED bay lights (Lithonia Lightning), at 50% off at COSTCO (usually $200 each, so got 2 for the price of one). Anything I say to describe them will be an understatement. Pure cool bright white light flooding a large area. Again, pricey but really worth the price. Finally, I have an old arm LED lamp with a magnifier that I use once in awhile. 

Oh to be young again and have perfect vision...

I have to use an Optivisor when modeling, and the Quasar Lighting System has been wonderful at putting plenty of light where it's needed:

http://www.micromark.com/quasar-lighting-system-for-optivisor,8608.html

I got an OTT Lite, model 641 because of this thread. I couldn't be happier. It doesn't 'swing around' but it is very sturdy, adjustable for height, and puts out great lighting.

I'm using a little fluorescent desk lamp I simply found in the apartment dumpster years ago.

i just go to ARC or Good will and see what they have. each of my bunker workstations has a dual flourescent 6 foot light plus 2 gooseneck lamps. i alos have 3 pole lamps i can move around.

i like Incansescent space heaters in the winter. working at a station with 3 100w bulbs gets nice and toast on a cold day.

LOL! Halogen bulbs tend to be hot lights. That's why I like LEDs.

Rob- I see you have a ring light/magnifier also.  Do you prefer the new lights to that?

I tried a c-clamp type lamp, but it always seemed to get in the way. Here's my solution.

At Lowe's they have PLUG-IN (not hard-wired) Track Lights that hang on the wall with 2 screws, and have a 6' power cord. each unit is $35.00 and has 3 lights. I bought 2, for a total of $70.00--the problem is, the halogen bulbs in them get SO hot I was sweating buckets sitting under those things.

So I bought 6 LED replacement bulbs. They're cool, energy efficient, and long lasting. They were pricey at $18.00 each (x6) but it was well worth it!

You can loosen and swivel (articulate) each individual light, so if I need more light for my spray booth, I aim a couple over that way.

SUPER BRIGHT, WHITE LIGHT!

(This pic was taken with halogen bulbs before I upgraded to the LEDs)

mitsdude

I've not had much luck with the lamps that have a large round magnifying glass and attach to the edge of your desktop. The clamp they include simply doesn't work. They have to be screwed down. The last one I had was screwed down but after about 3 weeks it broke at the point where the pin goes into the base. Absolutely no way to repair it. I've gone to using regular old shop lights that use the long tubes.

Indeed, I have had such poor luck with those clamps I now discard them.  I modified my bench surface by securely fastening a piece of  2 x 4 under surface at corner and drilled a hole in it to match the pin diameter of the lamp.  That mounting pin now sits in the hole through the bench surface and the 2 x 4.

I've not had much luck with the lamps that have a large round magnifying glass and attach to the edge of your desktop. The clamp they include simply doesn't work. They have to be screwed down. The last one I had was screwed down but after about 3 weeks it broke at the point where the pin goes into the base. Absolutely no way to repair it. I've gone to using regular old shop lights that use the long tubes.

I use an OttLight lamp with a natural spectrum bulb.

I went to Home Depot and grabbed one of those aluminum work lights with a clamp on the end and clamped it to top of my spray booth.  I replaced the incandescent bulb with an LED one it works very well.  I then got two of those swing arm ones that you clamp to the table and also replaced the bulbs with LEDs, so I have an overhead fixed source and one source on each side that I can maneuver a bit.  A little unorthodox, but three lights for less than $100.00.

John

I never worry about solar spectrum. I very seldom display my models under sunlight, so I don't worry about matching colors to sunlight.  Most places I display my models (shows and stuff) use fluorescent lights, which is what my shop and bench lighting is.  Most of my lights around the house in places I have my models are fluorescent also.

Only time I have my models in sunlight is when I am doing my realistic photography.  I love sunlight for the photography because of the harsh realistic shadows.  But, my camera has light balance ability and my photo editing software will correct if camera does not get it right.

Yep - I think that's gonna work great for me. Thanks.

Here's the machine tool light in use. It doesn't get in the way cause it's mounted to the shelf above the bench. I like that.

EJ

Never heard  of ott light before. Did a google iwill check them out

Found 1 that is just right. Actually  I've learned I don't need/se the magnifier on the lamp I currently have. I use other types of magnification. So this type of lamp - with 100 watts will be perfect! Thanks for all the help!

Nathan T

Ott light. Highest quality light source u can get

+1 for the Ott light.  I love mine.

Ordered it from Rockler Woodworking and Hardware, stock #20174, called a 24" snake arm lamp.

i715.photobucket.com/.../IMG_1257_zpsc86016e8.jpg

I really like it.

EJ

Ott light. Highest quality light source u can get

I've tried several lights. I installed two 4 tube ceiling lights when I did the man cave, switched 2 tubes in each fixture separately. I can turn on 4 tubes with standard cool white bulbs or 4 tubes with daylight white bulbs, or all 8 together for overall room lighting. Then I have 2 under counter flourescents over the bench, a halogen desk lamp with a magnifier ( I find I don't use it much), and a machine lamp, like used for drill presses and other shop equipment, with a gooseneck, clamped to the shelf over the bench with a 100 watt GE "natural" light bulb in it. I use that one a lot. Finally, I built a 36" W X 22" D X 20" H spray booth that has a 18" two tube fluorescent in it. I think I finally got it, after buying and returning several desk style lights. I like the machine lamp because it doesn't take up any bench real estate and I can direct the light exactly where I want it

EJ

I got a 2 bulb fluorescent fixture at Menards and hung it over my bench. I use the daylight bulbs in it.

I also have a two clamp style lamps I swing out when taking pictures.

Then I have my old magnifying clamp light behind me and an desk light with an organizer built in on my right.

You can never have too much light in the basement corner.