Interior Lighting

If you are reading this, you have by now determined where you want to establish your workshop or area, purchased or built a workbench. It is now time for you to consider how to illuminate all the area in the workshop where you intend to do the actual work. Consider placing the workbench near a window, if there is one, which will aid in lighting the work area during the daylight hours. You might like to have a curtain or shade that can be drawn to block or direct sunlight.

Suggestions for artificial light include incandescent lights, fluorescent lights, high intensity lights, and flexible arm lamps. Incandescent lights of 100 to 150 watts can be placed in reflector sockets. The complete unit can then be hung by a half knot in the line cord to a pulley. The pulley can be attached to a cable so that it can be drawn across the work area. This enables you to place the light where you need it. If you want to vary the intensity of the light, install a dimmer switch or light dimmer control box.

Fluorescent lights may be purchased in either wall or overhead mounting fixtures. From one to four tube models are available. A fluorescent fixture may also be hung with pulleys from cables. The pulleys are attached to the fixtures with eye bolts. Turn buckles attached to one end of each cable enable the cables to be drawn tight. This method of suspending the fixture allows the light to be moved to a convenient location over any work area along the length of the cables. Fluorescent light fixtures that have light diffusers installed provide nearly shadow free light.

High intensity lamps can be mounted on the work surface or mounted to a wall behind or beside the workbench. These lamps are recommended where high intensity light is needed over a small work area. Flexible arm lamps are florescent lights that may be bench or wall mounted. These lamps provide more overall surface light than the high intensity light.

Take an adequate amount of time when choosing how you are going light your workspace. Working in dim or inadequate lighting is just courting trouble. If you are having a difficult time deciding between incandescent or fluorescent lighting then think about how light your home. Chances are you are going to go with what you already feel comfortable with. Just remember to make the work conditions right for you and above all else work safe.

By: Chuck Lunsford