Easily adjustable work light stand?
I’m fed up with fighting cheap worklight stands that are are cheap quality and fall apart, or look like a plumber’s wet dream, or are heavier than my big pry bar and don’t fold compactly.
I’d spend over $100 each to buy or put together a decent light stand ~6′ tall and easily adjustable. I’m ok with the durability and light output of the standard cheap 500 watt worklights, at least once a decent bulb is used. It’s just the stand and light swivel.
What have you used that looks professional and works well? These will be used on both finished homes and during various finish operations with the client close by so it seems that it should look more finished than galvanized plumbing pipe.
For the swivel I’d love to get a ball mount of some kind. While at Cabela’s yesterday the RAM mounts caught my eye and are durable enough to stand up to use on open boats and come in various strengths/sizes so that’s the direction I’m heading for the swivel.
The first product could attach to a verticle aluminum support and the second would make the connection to the light.
It seems the base is the hardest part. I’d like to stick to a simple folding tripod design that’s also durable enough to be placed in a pile of tools in a jobbox without damage. Normal camera tripods don’t seem to be up to that kind of treatment.
There is the following type of steel stand offered on amazon, but without seeing it, this might be a $30 stand on a $70 light and not much better than cheaper stands, not that the $100 light is very good.
There’s a camera light design that’s steel, extends to 72″ and at $125 it’s close to what i’ve had in mind, but a little low and around 18lbs.
This model is almost $200, but goes to 8′ and is heavy.
The design below is tall, relatively light $125 and supports crazy amounts of weight. Unfortunately it also hasa 4′ diameter base, plastic knobs and fairly thin aluminum leg supports that would be the first to get damaged. The steel version is better, but over 15 lbs.
Would the ideal light stand please stand up!
Good lighting.
Beer was created so carpenters wouldn’t rule the world.
Replies
Anyone ever use the standard camera lighting stands that are pretty light aluminum? Do they hold up better than a similar camera tripod?
Beer was created so carpenters wouldn't rule the world.
Ever looked into these?
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http://www.wobblelight.com/products.html
I have had one for years and love it. Far more durable than anything else I have used.
I'd suggest looking into modifying the light head and using a Zip-pole with some sort of quick release - possibly a photo style clamp of some sort.You'd have the best of all worlds - a <5" footprint, heights upto the ceiling, and you'd be able to use the zip pole for plastic when not using them for the lights.JT
Wow, I hadn't thought of that. Interesting idea.
Beer was created so carpenters wouldn't rule the world.
Here's a pic showing the idea using actual photo lights and poles, but I'm going to try and hook something up with the 2 zip poles I just bought - they are much smaller and lighter than the photo poles.JT
Very cool idea.
Beer was created so carpenters wouldn't rule the world.
Do Zip poles have a standard tripod type screw in an adjustable mount? I'm looking for something I can attach my laser level to, in order to set it at heights higher than my tripod reaches. The poles designed for that seem to be $200, which is more than I want to spend for a single purpose pole that I have to find a place to store.
Have you looked at the Fast Cap products.
They have a laser clamp that attaches to their multipurpose poles.
http://www.fastcap.com/prod2.asp?page=lasermount
I don't have the laser mount (have a different system) but I do have a few of their poles - pretty handy.
Cool, thanks! By "different system" do you mean you have a different pole for your laser level, or that the fast cap 3rd hand laser mount only works with some laser levels? I have a David White, and I know it has a standard tripod mount, so I think it will work with this system. And only about $212 for a set of 4 poles and the mount from Amazon.
By different system, I meant that I have a different laser pole set up. Something similar to this http://www.amazon.com/Porter-Cable-RoboToolz-TR02001-Interior-Laser/dp/B00005JRKQ but mine was an earlier version and made by CST/berger
I was going to reply before this but held off because mine don't look good, are made of of a combination of galv. pipe and plastic conduitand are 20 yrs. old.
But ...
all they are is a 16" x 4" x 12" chunk of a beam, used a pipe stanchion to hold the galv. pipe verticle. Tied the pipe into a 4 gang box , one side for the light switch , one side for a duplex outlet. 8' cord and I am good to go. Mine are not 6' tall , I just aim the light at the ceiling or set them up on a ladder if I need down light. Lights themselves are outdoor 500 w. quarts floods.
Another system I use is 3-4' flourescent shop lights . Triangular shape base, pyramid when done. One light each side, the lights lean back at the top. Looks like a christmas tree. Cheap, great light and lots of it, easily damaged but not with a small amount of care.
Hi Don, I own the first one you pictured...never seen another. Square tube, simple jamb screws, light head not so flimsy. I bought it after having similar experience to yours. Got it at Western Tool, but I'm thinking it's the only one they ever had. You're welcome to have a look if you like...just shoot me an email.
PJ
Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end.
It would appear you have already see the offerings in photographic light stands from Matthews (first photo posted looks like a Matthews "C" stand), try also Bogen and Lowel-Light. Bogen/Avenger has been making licensed "imitation" Matthews products for years, although there is much more selection in the Matthews product line (read as - Bogen/Avenger is cheaper). Keep in mind that a lighter wieght stand can be stabilized with either sand or water filled bags, and that a short stand can be made taller with an extension (Lowel-Light), although your 6' tall requirement is child's play - the "C" stand design goes at least 10'.
Also check out the Bogen Super Clamp - will mount a light quickly and securely to a stud / rafter / door.
The C stand design is basically bullet proof and has been an industry standard for years.
Good luck,
Jim
Never underestimate the value of a sharp pencil or good light.
Edited 2/14/2007 8:10 am ET by JTC1
Lest you give the impression that the Bogen/avenger lineup is of a lower quality - that is most definately not the case.Mattews may have invented the C stands, but the Bogen/avenger versions are every bit as high quality and durable.They both cost about the same as well. Lat time we looked - the Avenger stands had some nice features that the Matthews did not.Kind of like the difference between the Incra fences and the Jointech system of fences.JT
Did not mean to leave the impression that Bogen/Avenger = lower quality.
I have 4 of the Avenger C stands that are about 15 years old. When I bought them they were about 30% cheaper than the comparable Matthews stand.
I trust you also caught the use of the Manfrotto AutoPole in another post (have 2 of those also).
Seems there is a lot of photographic equipment pressed into use in the construction trades. I know I have never found a better support for my laser than a Bogen tripod with a geared column - "lets see - we need to be about 1/8" higher with the laser......OK, that's the top of the base cabinets"
Jim
Never underestimate the value of a sharp pencil or good light.
I would just toss into the mix: clamp lights. There seems to be two kinds: those with heavy duty clamps and those without. Home Depo [I spell it the way they pronounce it] has a poultry lamp that has the heavy duty clamp.
The trick is to use a high wattage compact florescent lamp. These are not ideal. You should have about 15' of cord and a switch.
~Peter
Thanks for the input. I've tried the poultry lamps since many good friends swear by 'em with various bulbs. There just such good white light with the halogens that it's too hard to give up.
Thanks again to everyone. :-)
Good lighting.
Beer was created so carpenters wouldn't rule the world.
After using these for a week, they are even more useful than I had hoped.
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Beer was created so carpenters wouldn't rule the world.
Edited 4/13/2007 1:38 am ET by IdahoDon
Edited 4/13/2007 1:38 am ET by IdahoDon