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  • Shop Technology: Utility Lights and Flashlights
  • From "DIY Tools & Techniques"
    episode DIT-303


    PHOTO
    Host David Thiel explores flashlight and shop light technology.

    The flashlight on the far right uses three, six or nine batteries. Use nine batteries for the longest amount of life. The nice feature here is that if one battery dies, the light will continue to function. This LED light has also three different power settings: low, medium, and high.

    The second from the right is a Craftsman LED flashlight that also has three settings. It's compact, durable and also waterproof -- and it works in extreme temperatures.

    The two flashlights on the left are Nightstar flashlights. They don't use batteries. Instead, a rare earth magnet is used in conjunction with a metal coil. When you shake the flashlights, the magnet passing the coil creates a magnetic field which transfers energy to the unique LED. Shake them for three minutes to give them a 20 minute charge. When they run down, shake them again for another 20 minutes of light. These lights are also waterproof.
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  • Another example is much smaller than most flashlights and has a hook and loop tape so you can attach it to an object, such as a hat (figure A). This allows you to have a hands-free light wherever you go.

  • Work lights have cages around the bulb (figure B) to protect the bulbs if the light should fall. Some lights are coated to make it shatter resistant, and may also have a heavy duty filament to withstand rough handling.

  • Some halogen work lights have adjustable heads so you can aim the lights in any direction. The lights can be placed on a stand (figure C) so you can move the unit around the shop. They also may have high and low beam settings.
    Photo

    Figure A

    Photo

    Figure B

    Photo

    Figure C



    RESOURCES :

    Noden Adjust-a-Bench
    Geoffrey Noden Furniture Design
    Website: www.adjustabench.com

    Stanley MaxLife Illumination Tools
    Stanley Tools Group
    480 Myrtle St.
    New Britain, CT 06053
    Customer Service -- United States:
    Toll-free: 800-262-2161
    Fax: 800-643-3756
    Customer Service -- Canada:
    Toll-free: 800-263-6292
    Website: www.stanleytools.com

    Craftsman Endurable Tool Light / Craftsman Halogen Worklight with Tripod
    Makita
    14930 Northam St.
    La Mirada, CA 90638-5753
    Toll-free: 800-462-5482
    Fax: 714-522-8133
    Website: www.makitatools.com

    NightStar Magnetic Force Flashlights
    Applied Innovative Technologies, Inc.
    1310 Fort Lupton, CO 80621
    Phone: 303-857-1405
    Toll-free: 888-828-1405
    Website: www.appliedinnotech.com

  • ALSO IN THIS EPISODE: