Notices
Garage & Workshop Tips & Ideas for the garage or workshop. No Truck Tech Discussion   

Drop/Work light

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 11, 2004 | 10:29 AM
  #1  
newfordy's Avatar
newfordy
Thread Starter
|
Tuned
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 466
Likes: 25
From: Central Callifornia
Drop/Work light

don't know if this has been said before but... Someone told me that for under the dash lighting use "ropelight". With all the after Christmas sales going on, I bought an "ornament" ropelilght, about 2ft long for $2. took it to work and it works. It doesn't get hot(warm but not hot), fits in the nooks and crannies, unlike the flourescent lites. When working around the chassis, just wrap it around the driveline or harnesses. Downside: its not a bright light. Snap-on sells one but for the price i'll stick with my $2 special. You can slso buy ropelite by the foot at Home Depot. Just a case of it-worked-for-me.
 
Reply
Old Jan 11, 2004 | 10:56 AM
  #2  
FSC's Avatar
FSC
Senior User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 455
Likes: 0
From: Alaska
I have replaced all of my worklites with flourescent twisty bulbs and they seem to work well, no more burns and melted plastic.
I haven't used them long enough to make a long term report but in the short term, I haven't lost one due to rough handling other than breakage
The glass bulb is more fragile than the regular bulb and needs to be protected, the good news is, you can use a 100w bulb and it won't melt the plastic bulb guard.
 
Reply
Old Jan 12, 2004 | 10:58 AM
  #3  
Andysutt's Avatar
Andysutt
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,775
Likes: 2
From: Conway Arkansas
I may check something out like that
Ive went through a ton of light bulbs and plastic shields in my life
I still have my old metal drop light, but the cord is shot on it, I will be replacing the cord and getting a new light soon
 
Reply
Old Jan 12, 2004 | 01:42 PM
  #4  
Mike W's Avatar
Mike W
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,157
Likes: 1
From: Central Kali
I like the old style for the light they put out. Just get some rough service bulbs. I sometimes use a small mag base spotlight under the truck to really get some light.
 
Reply
Old Jan 14, 2004 | 07:57 PM
  #5  
PDawson's Avatar
PDawson
Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
From: Alabama
Ive always liked wearin this miners hat with the little light on top of it.....or if that wasnt around....i made my wife hold the light, which would free up one of my hands for my sandwich.......


 
Reply
Old Jan 14, 2004 | 08:06 PM
  #6  
Andysutt's Avatar
Andysutt
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,775
Likes: 2
From: Conway Arkansas
Originally posted by PDawson
Ive always liked wearin this miners hat with the little light on top of it.....or if that wasnt around....i made my wife hold the light, which would free up one of my hands for my sandwich.......



You talk about askin for an butt kicking haha

Why is that 99% of the time when u work on a vehicle for more than an hour, u have to have a sandwich
 
Reply
Old Jan 15, 2004 | 10:24 AM
  #7  
MisterCMK's Avatar
MisterCMK
Fleet Owner
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Liked
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 24,724
Likes: 74
From: Blue Hill Township
I am so sick of breaking bulbs from setting the light down. Even if I gently set it down, the filament breaks. I tried a rough service, but that lasted for 2 days. Rope lights look to be the way to go.
 
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2004 | 12:09 AM
  #8  
White_Knight's Avatar
White_Knight
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 320
Likes: 0
From: the edge of reality
Talking I'm lucky if she brings me a sandwich!

Originally posted by Andysutt
You talk about askin for an butt kicking haha

Why is that 99% of the time when u work on a vehicle for more than an hour, u have to have a sandwich
I stick to the old "Rough Service" bulbs. The wife sometimes
helps, complains a lot about smells. And if I beg nicely she
feeds me. She will not hold anything but she does real good
at pumping the brake pedal for brake bleeding, and "bump"
cranking the engine. So I'm grateful for what is.

W/K
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

 Brett Foote
story-2

Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

 Brett Foote
story-6

2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

 Brett Foote
story-9

5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

 Joe Kucinski
Old Jan 16, 2004 | 07:35 AM
  #9  
newfordy's Avatar
newfordy
Thread Starter
|
Tuned
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 466
Likes: 25
From: Central Callifornia
Oh so that is what those are good for. I thought of gettin' me one of them but, they are soooo expensive. Although I hear they last a really long time, if you get a good one. Wife that is
 
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2004 | 08:07 AM
  #10  
DailyDriver's Avatar
DailyDriver
Laughing Gas
20 Year Member
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 845
Likes: 2
From: Bakersfield Ca.
Shop/garage lighting.

I have four, dual 8ft. fluorsecent light fixtures on the ceiling plus two dual 4ft. fixtures over my work bench.

I have a 25ft. light reel mounted in the center of my garage. I just reach up and pull it down, turn in on and take it to where I need it. For under the hood I also have a short drop light about 2ft. long that I plug into the overhead light for a total of 200W's of lighting right there where I want it. Hang one at each side and it eliminates any shadows caused by using just one light. My halogen lamp comes in real handy at times too. I sit in on a crate when working on the brakes or on the floor when working underneath.

But I'm not afraid of the dark or anything!
 

Last edited by DailyDriver; Jan 18, 2004 at 08:10 AM.
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2004 | 11:54 AM
  #11  
MisterCMK's Avatar
MisterCMK
Fleet Owner
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Liked
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 24,724
Likes: 74
From: Blue Hill Township
I bet your electric meter just about spins away when you got that runnin. I have almost as much, but when it gets really cold, the flourescent lights don't work so hot. hehe, pun intended
 
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2004 | 02:58 PM
  #12  
FSC's Avatar
FSC
Senior User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 455
Likes: 0
From: Alaska
It's true, in the cold, a flourescent lamp does come on dim, it takes 2 or 3 minutes to warm up to full brightness
Leave it on, the meter still will not spin wildly.
 
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:27 AM.

story-0
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE
story-1
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

And it might be even better than that.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-18 19:26:42


VIEW MORE
story-2
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

Slideshow: Does lowering an F-150 Lobo RUIN the ride quality?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-18 19:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-3
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Slideshow: Ford's bizarre fishing-themed Explorer concept has resurfaced after spending decades largely forgotten.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:07:46


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: The 10 best Ford truck engines we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 13:09:47


VIEW MORE
story-5
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

Slideshow: first look at the 810 hp 2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road!

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-12 12:50:07


VIEW MORE
story-6
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Everything You Need to Know about the 2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-07 17:51:06


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

Slideshow: 10 most surprising Ford truck options/features in 2026.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:17:22


VIEW MORE
story-8
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

Slideshow: Here are the top 10 Fords coming to Mecum Indy 2026.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:49:49


VIEW MORE
story-9
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 worst Ford truck wheels of all time

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 16:49:01


VIEW MORE