I bought a brand spankin' new trouble light, I don't remember where now. I was surprised at how inexpensive they have become. Sure it was all plastic, but it could handle a 75 watt bulb. Well, not quite. If you bumped it with the light on it burned out the bulb. So after two bulbs I switched to a 60 watt where...if you bumped it the bulb would burn out.

My new trouble light is in the garbage now. It gives a new meaning to trouble light. Why would there be something like that on the market? I know you're going to say that you get what you pay for, but I didn't even get that. Grr.

 

You have to get a special bulb for those things. You can't just use a normal bulb. My trouble light bulb has lasted so long, I can't remember where I bought it. Anyone?

 

Any "good" hardware store or a store for the DIY'er (like Home Depot, Fleet Farm, Menards, etc) should have what's called a "rough service bulb". These bulbs have either a larger diameter filament in them, or more support points for the filament, or both ... depending on the manufacturer. I've found them in 60, 75, and 100 watt ratings. They're readily available in many stores and only cost slightly more (about 10%) than a regular bulb but last much longer

With any bulb in a trouble light, try not to bang it around too much when it's on. The "rough service" bulb will definately last longer than a regular one, but you still can't "spike" it to the concrete floor like you've just made the winning Super Bowl touchdown! Do that, and "she's gonna blow"!

 

I'm digging through the gargage now. There she is, my plastic orange trouble light. If I wipe off the coffee grounds she may still look like new. So I'm on my way to the hardware store and am going to buy a rough service bulb. Thanks guys. Makes me feel better that I still may get my $5.99 out of her.

 

Billsco:

Remember that even with a "rough service bulb" you can still knock thd filament out of the bulb if you do bang or knock it hard enough when the light is on. The filament is white hot when it's on, that's what gives you the light. I've seen buddies drag the light across the concrete floor while it's on, and a couple of days later it burns out on 'em. Avoid mechanical shock or impact as best you can, and the rough service bulb will last a long time. I usually get a year or so out of one, but it depends on how often you use it and how you bang it around.

One thing I've found. These new trouble lights usually have a a three-wire grounded cord that's pretty stiff and holds kinks. I don't like them, because when you're under y0our car/truck and have to move the light it seems the cord always snags on something or you can't position the light exactly where you want it because the cord is stiff. I have an old trouble light I've been using for over 30 years, and I replaced the cord with a 2-wire one off an old junk vacuum cleaner. That cord is long enough (about 20'), and stays flexible in the cold weather here in northern Wisconsin. Of course, I can't plug heavy-duty equipment into the light, because the cord won't take the current draw, but it'll sure run just the bulb. Occasionally I have plugged my pea-shootter drill into it, but I wouldn't run my air compressor from it.

Just someting to think about. Post back as to how the rough service bulb works for you. It sounds like you've not been getting very long life out of a standard buld, so you should see a difference.

 

My favorite trouble light is a flourescent unit, no burns, bulb has stayed lit thru rough handling too.

 

Yup. Fluorescent is definately the way to go, and they're not too expensive now, either. Not only are the tough, the best part is you don't burn when you touch them on a sensitive spot! A lot more money, but there's also a neat new "trouble" light out now... LED.
Pilgrim

 

I haven't used these trouble lights for a long time, the bulbs don't last that long, even rough service bulbs won't take a lot of abuse, then there is the melted insulation and plastic ductwork not to mention the frequent burns to deal with as well as the fire hazard.
After you have snuggled up under the dashboard with a 600 degree light bulb, you will apreciate your new flourescent worklight all the more.
Although they may be more expensive, they are worth it, get the one that has the magnet on it
After you factor in the cost of lightbulbs, in the long run, they may be cheaper.

 

Okay. So back in the garbage goes the trouble light. hehe

Fluorescence. My impression of fluorescent lighting is this...dimmer lighting along with that irritating flickering. Any improvements there?

Traderjoe, informative post. Of course, this morning I didn't even know about rough service bulbs. But don't you worry about leaving the light on some night and next thing you know the garage is on fire?

 

Tell ya what... I got a fluorescent one called "the bounce light". It has rubber ends and a soft clear plastic,360deg lens, with a sliding cover. Works great and has had more abuse than any light I've ever seen. Still has the same bulb in it. I got it from a old coworker, but I think I have seen them at Sears. It will be the last work light you'll ever buy...

 

I've read where guys have used the low watts coil type fluorescent light bulbs in those trouble lights and they last a long time. I haven't tried it myself because I have the fluorescent tube type but will need a new one soon.

 

I see no reason that the screw-in flourescent would not work quite well for use in a worklight, the only down side would be is that when you first turn it on, it will be not as bright as you might expect, it will reach full brightness in two or three minutes.
the colder it is the more noticable, it would be better to leave it on unless you are not going to use it for some time.

 

I picked up my flourescent at a Home Depot. The main thing I didn't like was that it had a 6 foot cord. So I traded it out for a 25' extension cord and used the 6' to replace the cord on a tool. I bought it because I had been burned by a std trouble light for the last time!

The unit had a "two claw" spring clamp around the clear plastic tube. I hated it because it cought on everything when I was moving it around inside an engine compartment. I finally cut off one of the "claws" and I am happy with it now. I used the plastic claw cover over the end of the cut off claw.

There was a reflector inside on one side of the clear tube and a lens in the end that allows it to cast a soft beam effect.

I have replaced the bulb in mine recently but I have had it for a few years.

 

I just put the GE 100 watt twisty bulb in my drop light they are garrenteed for 5 to 8 years depending on which one you buy just keep the reciept and return it to wal mart if it burns out havent had one burn out yet but did drop it from about 5 feet and shattered the bulb the biggest problem is the higher the wattage the more twist and the longer the bulb so it is a tight fit in some of the regular drop lights 60 watt equivelent bulbs seem to fit fine in most drop lights.

 

$trokin, these twisty bulbs are non-fluorescent? I'm still having problems getting past the fluorescence nuisance, the incessant flickering. My mom told me a long time ago those new-fangled things will make you go blind. I'm 50 now and rely heavily upon my glasses.

I rest my case.