[Shop-talk] LED Headlamps

[Bob Spidell]

That is a good point(s). A lot of the descriptions seemed slanted 
towards running in the dark--I don't do that, unless someone's chasing 
me--and doing realistic things in a shop is kind of an afterthought.

I tried using what appears to be a decent-quality headset--brand 
unknown--but there just wasn't enough illumination when I was in the 
grease pit looking for a socket and extension I'd dropped into the 
engine bay. I had to resort to using a small (2AA) LED flashlight, which 
was the right amount of light but, obviously, wasn't convenient to use 
when I found the socket and needed two hands to retrieve it. Glare isn't 
a huge issue looking into an engine bay; at least, on my mostly stock 
cars without chrome everything.


On 3/16/2021 9:19 AM, David Scheidt wrote:
>
>
>> On Mar 15, 2021, at 23:30, Bob Spidell <bspidell at comcast.net> wrote:
>>
>>  Listers,
>>
>> After realizing that holding a small flashlight with my teeth was 
>> probably a bad idea (and painful), I decided I needed a /good/ 
>> headband flashlight. I have a couple cheap ones, but they never seem 
>> to put out enough light for working on cars in a dark shop or in the 
>> grease pit. I see people using them on the tube, and they seem to 
>> work, but the two I have--both powered by a couple AAAs--aren't even 
>> as powerful as the cheap flashlights Harbor Freight gives away (which 
>> work a couple times then quit).
>>
>
> I have a couple cheap ones I bought at Home Depot, from the Father’s 
> Day special stuff at the front oy the store.  They have lasted several 
> years, but of course, have never been available since.
>
> My opinion about headlamps in the shop and for home improvement stuff 
> is that about 150 lumens is enough, more than that, you blind yourself 
> with reflection and glare.  You also want a pretty floody béam spread, 
> because it makes it easier t w on stuff you can’t quite see straight 
> on. I also o strongly prefer lights that split the battery from the 
> light. They are more comfortable, stay on better, and don’t stick out 
> as far, so you don’t hit them on stuff.  I also prefer regular 
> batteries, because you can carry spares, and don’t need a special 
> charger. (I use NiMh cells, not throwaway ones).
>
> This is a different use case than what campers or divers or trail 
> runners want, which is something to watch out for.

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