Workshop lighting around lathes.

[Sturdee]

G`day I use flouros and a spotty no strobe problems but have never really been happy with lighting for lathe. For a spot light what is the best you have used?
Mick

Mick, as well as fluros overhead I have two spots (one on either side) switchable from the front of the lathe.

They are fixed to homemade wooden banjos so they can be moved along or switched around as needed.


Peter.

[mick61]

That`s a nice set up you have there Peter. Personally I am not a fan of those particular lights I have had one of those fall onto the piece while working It went straight in the bin.
Mick

[Sturdee]

Thanks Mick, there have been a few more improvements in my turning area since then, as usage shows up inadequacies.

I suppose I should do an update but I haven't had much time, to busy turning.

Peter.

[Rifleman1776]

I use flouros with no problem. No strobing. I am in a basement-like environment, no outside light helping. Nothing wrong with flouros in my experience. I have been using with my lathe for over seven years.

[NeilS]

When will we see chiselcam Neil?

Now that's an idea...

.....

[Cliff Rogers]

I use flouros for my general lighting & a mixture High Bays & side spots for brighter light over/around my lathe.
I also have one of the adjustable desk lamps mounted at the end of the lathe that can be moved around & aimed where I want it.
I have one of those 100W pale blue Craft bulbs that you can get from Spotlight on my big lathe but I use one of the 23W low energy bulbs on my little lathe & I have never noticed any strobe effect from it.

[issatree]

Hi All,
My reason for Saying " Don't use Fluoro's for Lathe work " comes from My Optician.
Only for Him, I would never have been able to Turn & I don't need Magnification on my Small Work.

My Left Lens is 3/8in. thick. I'm told I should have had Glasses when I was 5-6 yrs. old, but nobody picked up that I had bad Eyesight.
I given Glasses when I was 19.

I would suggest, that those of you who use this kind of Lighting, go ask YOUR Optician, & see what they say.

Most of you, like me, wear Glasses these days, so when you go back, ASK them.

I am only trying to help not hinder.

Regards,
issatree.
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[Ed Reiss]

back in the 60's we experienced strobing and didn't even use fluros. Whoops...wrong subject

[hughie]

back in the 60's we experienced strobing and didn't even use fluros. Whoops...wrong subject

lucy in the sky with diamonds.............. nuf sed

[wheelinround]

Picked up a couple of these in a garage sale, glued some rare earth magnets to the bottom, sits on the headstock of my wood lathe. Very stable, telescopic so you cab position it where you need the most light.

Also have one for the metal lathe, but don't use it as often as I have a 4ft fluoro hanging 3ft above it.

I was at a demo recently Fred where a fellow had a Jet Mini sitting on top of the head stock was a 10oz speaker magnet I asked why he had it there, he used similar to your lamp it was left there as he was out doors so no lamp. I said without turning the lathe off remove the magnet but listen and watch. He did it increased RPM he put it back it slowed down. Magnet was put into tool box.

[Sawdust Maker]

Interesting

I don't use any magnets near the headstock as I don't know how they might upset the DVR

[Big Shed]

I probably would be a bit reluctant to use a 10oz magnet on my headstock, but 3 10mm rare earth magnets I don't see any problem with.

In fact I did a bit of experimenting earlier tonight and watched the digital display with and without the lamp/magnet combo. Didn't even vary 1RPM at any speed setting.

Mind you the headstock is a very thick cast iron affair, the electronics are mounted outside at the rear of the headstock and the motor is to the left of the headstock.

Last year I bought a digital indicator and mounted it on quite a strong magnet (from CDCO), the supplier almost had pups but after nearly a year it is working as advertised. Rather handy to have an indicator on a magnet, you can mount it anywhere where there is metal eg on the tailstock or on the bed of the metal lathe. Don't use it much now that I have a fully fledged DRO setup.

[powderpost]

In theory strobing is "possible". I have used a single flouro tube over my lathe for probably 30 years. For the past 20 years I have used the same old flouro (with changes in the tube and starter) on a variable speed lathe that ranges from 0 to about 2500 rpm. I can get a slight effect similar to cart wheels going backwards and forwards on TV, but I can not get the job to "stand still". I think this is one of those urban myths that come up from time to time.
Jim

[Harry72]

Cant say I've had any problems never used incandescent lighting on the lathe, just a couple bed lamps with 23w cfl's and 1 set of the main shed lights.

[johngi]

In theory strobing is "possible". I have used a single flouro tube over my lathe for probably 30 years. For the past 20 years I have used the same old flouro (with changes in the tube and starter) on a variable speed lathe that ranges from 0 to about 2500 rpm. I can get a slight effect similar to cart wheels going backwards and forwards on TV, but I can not get the job to "stand still". I think this is one of those urban myths that come up from time to time.
Jim

The strobe effect is strongest at the fundamentanl frequency of rotation. With Australian power this is 50 Htz or in the case of a cutting tool 50 rpm, the floro is flashing and the tool is rotating at the same velocity, the rotation will appear to stop.

As the two speeds change the stobe effect will reduce, ie the tool will appear to run backwards as the two functions, flash/rpm, move appart. A further change of the flash/rpm configuration will bring the function to the second harmonic of 50 Hzt, 100 Htz. and the tool will seem to stop because the flash/rotation are in phase again. Generaly to see the strobe effect at multiples of 50 Htz. eg 2,500 RPM is a fairly sensative setting because 2,500/50= 50:1 ratio of Phase alignment.

There is one area that bothers me with the use of floros and that is on switch off. As the cutting tool slows down always mental check not to go anywhwere near the tool cutter, even poke it with a stick first not a finger.

John Giles