Comments on: Maxxeon Workstar 1200 Puts Light Where You Need It

By: Roger Bishop

Roger Bishop — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 14:54:49 +0000

Even better, the WorkStar 1200 is available from Unique-GiftsForMen for only $74.95. The price per lumen is improving!

There are pros and cons to any product. Incandescent bulbs create 90% heat and 10% light. In its beam area, the WorkStar 1200 is about as bright as a 60 watt bulb, but it only uses 2.5 watts. The efficiency of a compact fluorescent is in between, but every fluorescent tube contains a drop of mercury, which is a very toxic substance. The WorkStar 1200 isn’t going to save the world, but it is a step in the right direction.

The WorkStar 1200 is very versatile. It’s good for 5 hours of light during a power failure. It’s great for camping too. Recharge in your car with a 75 watt inverter, which are about $10 these days. It’s good for close-up hobby work too. Other products don’t measure up.

http://www.unique-giftsformen.com/product/MXN01200

To answer Eric’s question, yes both LED-WorkLight and Unique-GiftsForMen are related to Maxxeon.

By: Eric Dykstra

Eric Dykstra — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:17:34 +0000

John, Are you affiliated with Maxxeon?

By: John Armstrong

John Armstrong — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 21:44:16 +0000

Sorry Guys, I left out the store address that has more info:

http://www.led-worklight.com/product/MXN01200

By: John Armstrong

John Armstrong — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 12:03:10 +0000

The WorkStar 1200 work light is a little more money than an ordinary light because of the features and the reliabliity built into it (it is designed for daily use in a shop environment) but it is available at our store for $79.95.

By: Toolaremia

Toolaremia — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 14:41:28 +0000

Since the flourescent models came around, I no longer burn floor mats (or my arms) when working under dashboards.

I kept the metal cage drop light and put a CFL bulb in it. Cheap, cool, and bright! The CFL stands up to drops better than the filament of the indandescent too.

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 20:16:54 +0000

Surely you can get a rugged, rechargeable, hang-anywhere work light for a lot less than $110. That’s almost $2/lumen, which seems a bit ridiculous to me, even for high-output LEDs.

By: Dan

Dan — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 19:30:48 +0000

As an ASE Master Certified Automobile Technician, I can attest to the fact that the ‘drop light’ is usually the first tool that I reach for. I also do a fair amount of work from my home ’shop’ (garage).

In a practical sense, I do not see many positives to this design. A good shop light is one that can take a fair amount of abuse. This pivot-head design doesn’t look like it could take much rough handling, or the occasional drop.

I’m also not completely sold on the rechargable lights. If you’re working under a vehicle, the light will be on constantly. I need full lighting for a full shift of 8+ hours. A cord is a fair trade-off when the alternative is no light, because I forgot to plug it in to recharge the previous day.

Personally, I use a flourescent ‘bounce light’ on a retractable reel with a simple hook and rubberized ends. For many years I used the old-style ‘trouble light’ with the metal cage. Since the flourescent models came around, I no longer burn floor mats (or my arms) when working under dashboards.

I also shy away from models with magnets, as they may damage a painted finish.

I do look forward to a good corded LED drop-light that can take the daily abuse that these tools get. Also - if I’m buying one for home use - it’s got to be black (or another dark color); anything else is going to end up looking dirty really quickly. Yellow is an unfortunate color choice when the target market’s hands are always dirty.