DIY LED Work Light (much better than halogen!)
- Thread starter zmcgovern45
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Dr_Pain
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- Nov 28, 2012
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Well....... I was going to wait till I got better pictures and one additional piece I've been waiting for, but I am so excited that I will share, and will do a follow up when the last piece comes in.
I've been chatting back and forth with Zach about the pros/cons of his lighting system and with his input I set off to find something that would resolve some of the limitations he experienced. One of the expressed cons was that the light would not go low enough to do the rockers without setting the user on the ground to have the proper reflective angle. Well with that in mind I found this little gem
This light stand has a toe stud on which a dual AC bulb flash light can be set up. For $13 shipped (since I have Amazon prime) could I go wrong?? It is definitely not meant to have a heavy load on it and its footprint is definitely not the most stable but does it do the work? Absolutely......
Now I am going to share some ugly iPhone pics. Bare in mind that I was in the process of polishing this Mercedes S550 (in preparation for coating) and wanted to share my input (and set up) with Zach, so I snapped a couple of unprofessional pics and sent him those pics in the "raw". Before someone mentions it, I KNOW that I still have a lot of greasy polishing residue on the panel, so no flaming necessary!!! I also have to point out that Lowes only had two LED floods, so I could not show the full set up with 4 lights.
ALL the pictures were taken from sitting on my little HF work stool. As you can see, the lights cover the whole door including the rockers without having to lay on the ground. To get the lowest portion of the rocker I have to sit on the floor and the light was just right (angled a little up and close to the panel)
At its maximum height the center of the light is at 44", at the lowest level of the telescopic arm the center of the bulb is at 21.5", and on the foot stud the center of the bulb is at 8". Being that the lights are LED, you can have the light right next to your head and right close to the panel without fears of drying the product or overheating the panel.
One thing to note, the closer your lights are to the panel the more effective lumens you have (basic light engineering). I did find that the lights were a little lacking in power (being used to 1000w work lights <---- affectionately called my "Hell lights") but the LEDs definitely cast a better light, and shows a LOT of defects which I would have to rely on bringing the car in the sun to inspect. I am kinda glad I only bought 2 LEDs at this time (since Lowes only had 2) because I have another light source coming in (kept secret for the time being)
Anyway, you don't have to take my word for it but if you were to ask me if I like my set up....... well my answer would have to be "Seriously, if Zach lived any closer I would have to kiss him for helping me with my lighting set up".
Now I chose to improve on his original idea (based on his feedback) but my research expanded to different light sources and other lighting set up. As a sneak peak into my next update I will leave you with this picture
This is the best and most versatile boom light set up I have found (and if you know me, you know I am ridiculously analytical I am about research), and although I spent upwards of $75 for it, I would have spent double that if I knew what I know now. If the light source I have coming in is as good as I am predicting it will be, we may have a serious lighting project for amateur and professional.
Stay tuned!!!
Here is the link to the background light stand: 2 Studs back light stand
I've been chatting back and forth with Zach about the pros/cons of his lighting system and with his input I set off to find something that would resolve some of the limitations he experienced. One of the expressed cons was that the light would not go low enough to do the rockers without setting the user on the ground to have the proper reflective angle. Well with that in mind I found this little gem
This light stand has a toe stud on which a dual AC bulb flash light can be set up. For $13 shipped (since I have Amazon prime) could I go wrong?? It is definitely not meant to have a heavy load on it and its footprint is definitely not the most stable but does it do the work? Absolutely......
Now I am going to share some ugly iPhone pics. Bare in mind that I was in the process of polishing this Mercedes S550 (in preparation for coating) and wanted to share my input (and set up) with Zach, so I snapped a couple of unprofessional pics and sent him those pics in the "raw". Before someone mentions it, I KNOW that I still have a lot of greasy polishing residue on the panel, so no flaming necessary!!! I also have to point out that Lowes only had two LED floods, so I could not show the full set up with 4 lights.
ALL the pictures were taken from sitting on my little HF work stool. As you can see, the lights cover the whole door including the rockers without having to lay on the ground. To get the lowest portion of the rocker I have to sit on the floor and the light was just right (angled a little up and close to the panel)
At its maximum height the center of the light is at 44", at the lowest level of the telescopic arm the center of the bulb is at 21.5", and on the foot stud the center of the bulb is at 8". Being that the lights are LED, you can have the light right next to your head and right close to the panel without fears of drying the product or overheating the panel.
One thing to note, the closer your lights are to the panel the more effective lumens you have (basic light engineering). I did find that the lights were a little lacking in power (being used to 1000w work lights <---- affectionately called my "Hell lights") but the LEDs definitely cast a better light, and shows a LOT of defects which I would have to rely on bringing the car in the sun to inspect. I am kinda glad I only bought 2 LEDs at this time (since Lowes only had 2) because I have another light source coming in (kept secret for the time being)
Anyway, you don't have to take my word for it but if you were to ask me if I like my set up....... well my answer would have to be "Seriously, if Zach lived any closer I would have to kiss him for helping me with my lighting set up".
Now I chose to improve on his original idea (based on his feedback) but my research expanded to different light sources and other lighting set up. As a sneak peak into my next update I will leave you with this picture
This is the best and most versatile boom light set up I have found (and if you know me, you know I am ridiculously analytical I am about research), and although I spent upwards of $75 for it, I would have spent double that if I knew what I know now. If the light source I have coming in is as good as I am predicting it will be, we may have a serious lighting project for amateur and professional.
Stay tuned!!!
Here is the link to the background light stand: 2 Studs back light stand
zmcgovern45
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- Sep 5, 2012
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- #87
Thank you for posting the update, Claude!!
Dr_Pain
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- Nov 28, 2012
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Not a problem brother! I do have to admit that I feel somewhat "exposed" with the crappy pics.... although the one with the boom does show the kind of reflection/work I am known for :buffing:
I just got my UPS tracking on the new light source. I may be able to update next week (from the looks of it)
Dr_Pain
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- Nov 28, 2012
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I was planning on buying 4 bulb. Lowes only had 2. I had some other plans for the boom light, but having played with the 2 bulb, I am thinking the lighting idea I had for the boom would work better. I will update next week when it comes in
I will definitely be using the 2 bulb on the bottom peg
zmcgovern45
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It is the same simple stud that is found at the top of the stand... they just added one on the bottom leg as well for lighting backdrops for photography...
Setec Astronomy
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- Aug 31, 2010
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There is a counterweight bag on the end of the boom opposite the bulbs.
Dr_Pain
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I REALLY like the boom setup. It is sturdy, stable and the counterweight does what it is intended to do which is to counterbalance the weight of the light. I will have a more in depth first hand account next week when my new light source comes in. Stay tuned!
DetailedByPrecision
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- Sep 15, 2009
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Great post from Zach and Claude. I am going to implement these 2 lighting stands into my lighting design for my garage. Thank you both. I am staying tuned for Claude's boom setup's part list.
281
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- May 18, 2013
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So I found this cool attachment to for the stand at the beginning of the thread:
Amazon.com : CowboyStudio Photography Gorilla Clamp Studio Mount : Photographic Light Mounting Hardware : Camera & Photo
All on one stand...
Amazon.com : CowboyStudio Photography Gorilla Clamp Studio Mount : Photographic Light Mounting Hardware : Camera & Photo
All on one stand...
zmcgovern45
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- Sep 5, 2012
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