MTFCA Forum

Folks I just thought I would share something that may help some of you regarding shop lights.
When I had my shop wired, I used 18 recessed lights because the man had them for free that did my electrical and I could just screw in a bulb. I was afraid of florescent because the flashing might cause a seizure since i had some the night of my head injury.
and led was not common yet.
Well fast forward to a couple weeks ago,in wally world I spotted a folding 4 foot led light that screws into a bulb socket.
I can't climb ladders and have to have someone change bulbs and such for me.Naturally being a tight wad I didn't buy the light at Wally world as it was 35 bucks for 1 light if I read the price right.
I found these on Amazon and just got them installed this evening.
Let me tell you, BIG difference. I Just ordered 4 more .
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BD4 ... UTF8&psc=1
Took longer to drag the ladder around than it did to upgrade the 4 lights.
You can't take a good pic,I tried.
They don't blind you when you look up at them. but the flipphone pic gives the impression they would
When we screwed in this first 1, we took out a led bulb and this thing lit up we were like WOW ,5 times the light at least.

I need some of those. I used to have a 1947 Pontiac Torpedo. I gave $15.00 for it and drove it for years.

I have kinda neglected that project for a while and that is going to change this winter. I have had issues with different things and stuff has kinda leveled off and I am ready to FIX some stuff. and 1 thing I am fixing is the lack of decent lights!
I have upgraded to better media blasting cabinet and it has a vacuum system with it, and found my "new" used tool box,can't wait to get it, a Cornwell, big scutter about 62 inchs wide ,30 inches deep, it will replace some flimsy home owner grade stuff I have been dealing with far to long.500 bucks and it looks good, just a older 80's unit that these modern mechanics would think is "to old".

Here is a pic with them off

Here's another way that I did here.... light socket extension with 2 side plugs and two home depot led lights. The lights plug into a conventional electrical plug in the light socket extension. Lights are hung by two hooks each to provided chains.
It all works nicely off the wall switch. And it won't spin the light bill up.

Since I built my own place, I did not inherit old wiring and fixtures to
adapt to. I pulled my own wire and placed outlet boxes all over the
place to plug lights and neon signs in to. They began as 4' fluorescent
shop lights, but were replaced a few years ago when I found a screamin'
deal on some same-size LED's. Strung through the entire area are strings
of cafe lights. These have the old incandescent-looking bulbs that are
actually LED as well. The former really light the place up for work, where
the latter provide a softer, warm light that is nice for ambiance. I can turn
on one or the other, depending on my need.

Mack,
My shop is very similar in design and the current lighting is poor. After reading your post I went out and ordered a set of the lights and am looking forward to installing them. With winter not that far off I'll hopefully be able to see what I'm doing when I take take refuge during the dark times.
Thanks!

You can't get too much light. More light and less shadows really help.

In my case the included extensions were not enough to get the new light below the ceiling but if your sockets are surface mounted, you should be good not using anything .
I wish a 100 times over I had known just 3 things before I built my shop. 1, 2 cement blocks higher and i could have installed a car lift, 2, had i known about the truss's with the fake bracing in the middle, I coulda had a storage or work area in the attic area of the shop 3, put outlets in the ceiling to plug in any old kind of light that does the job.

Bare in mind when you get the box and you handle each light ,you may think,Wow this thing is light and cheapy how is it going to work? well, just screw it in, it works!

About 10 years ago I visited two LED light manufacturers in Canada. I was designing a lighting system for in-shelf retail displays. That's when I became convinced that LED was the future. My shop is 20' x 30' and I replaced 10 incandescent bulbs with big-box-store led lamps. The lighting is amazing and energy efficient. I also installed six salvaged warehouse lights that I got for $5 each. Those are 400watt metal halide lights. If I turn on all 6, I need to wear a bill cap to prevent blindness and earmuffs. Those warehouse lights are LOUD!

Mack,
Got my lights today and installed them.... my shop has never been so well lit. Thanks!

glad to help!

i got the other 4 in this evening,I had to move a bunch of stuff to be able to get a ladder to the bulbs.

really made a difference.
i also put 1 of these little things in the socket above the wood stove.and all though it is tiny,it does move a good bit of air,I think it will help distribute heat this winter. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CBSTTQDS?re ... tails&th=1
I made arrangements with the neighbor that does the ladder climbing to put a regular full size ceiling fan in at some point,using his scaffolding to get himself up high enough to mount it.and run the plug in wire to the garage door outlet.