Workshop Lighting Tips

Workshop Lighting Tips:

Proper lighting in your workshop is as important as any tool in your toolbox. Whether its to see what your doing, illuminate mill marks on wood surface or for photographing of your work having adequate and proper lighting is important! The challenges are that many of us have sub-teranian wordshops. the article below will outline a few workshop lighting tips for your basement workshop.

Lighting Location:

Design your workshop so you have light at every machine and work space. Make sure you have ample lighting positioned so that shadows do not occur and compromise productivity or safety.

If I were building a shop from scratch I would incorporate pleanty of windows, skylights and large sliding doors or sliding walls to maximize natural light. Unfortunatley many of us do not have that luxury.

To accomplish this, numerous types of lighting can be employed in several ways:

General and Overhead Lighting:

Most of the light in the workshop should come from overhead lighting. I’m a fan of fluorescent bulbs over incadescent bulbs but which ever you choose, the fixtures should be spread out to provide consistent overall lighting throughout the entire shop with out major shadows or dark spots.

Fluorescent lighting is the least expensive way to light a workshop. These fixtures can be installed with screws, and is no more difficult than installing a regular light fixture. The lights are bright and use very little electricity and are easily replaced.

Spot Lighting:

In some spaces, in addition to the overall lighting, it may be advantageous to place recessed flood or spot lights directly over some of your tools and workbenches. I have two 500 watt hallogens on an adjustable, directional swivel and in two key locations of my shop to flood light over my table saw and assembly table in my shop. I also added white reflective boards on the ceiling and can rotate therse lights to bounce [diffuse] light off the white board for photography purposes.

Tool or Task Lights:

Many tools now come with on-tool lighting. My drill press is one of them. You can purchase after market lighting with heavy duty magnets or just install a simple clamp light. These task lights are a great suppliment to your overhead lighting and should not be a replacement for poor shop lighting.

If you have cabinets over a workbench then under cabinet lighting is a perfect solution and location for task lighting the bench.

Optimizing the Lighting in your Workshop:

A real simple and cost effective way to optimize lighting in your shop is to paint the ceiling, floor and walls white. The color of the walls and the ceiling in a workshop can make a huge difference. the reflection of light off the white color makes the room brighter. While not practical for many shop floor it does work. I choose a different route in my shop and added a combination of general, spot and task lighting to find the right balance of light.

Stay bright!

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Concord Carpenter

Who is Concord Carpenter? ~ Robert Robillard is editor of A Concord Carpenter and principal of a carpentry and renovation business located in Concord, Massachusetts. Rob is a recognized leader in tool and how-to information for building professionals, he also hosts the Concord Carpenter Cable TV Show, offering the do-it-yourself audience in Boston's Meto West region expert advice on home repairs and maintenance. On his website, Rob covers all aspects of home improvement and remodeling, specializing in problem solving for home maintenance. Rob enjoys evaluating and reviewing tools and products and restoring vintage tools. The Concord Carpenter's motto: "Well done is better than well said!":

Comments

Mike Malley says:

January 25, 2013 at 2:13 pm

Thank you Concord, As a perpetual beginner, I never seem to have time to get seriouly involed. Thei there are no woodworker clubs here in the Syracuse area to my knowledge. If you no of any clubs, I would be greatful to know about them. Thank you, Senior-Chief

- Concord Carpenter says:
  
  January 28, 2013 at 8:03 am
  
  Senior-Chief,
  
  Thank you sir for your service!
  Check online at the wood wisperer and wokshopaddict.com – they may have a good referral for you.

Lighting Tips For Your Basement Workshop