Fluke markets its LVD1 as a non-contact voltage detector (”volt sniffer”), but I’ve found that the bright LED at the end makes a perfectly competent flashlight, too. The LVD1’s voltage-sensor indicator light glows when the unit is close to an AC field, as you’ll see after the jump.
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Sometimes a Mini-Maglite provides all the light you need, but when you‘re itching for a little more oomph, try the 20 million candlepower Vector VEC192. With the power of the Vector’s badass double halogen bulb in your hands, you’ll probably be tempted to set up your own SETI program or communicate with airline pilots.
A member of Candlepower Forums (at www.candlepowerforums.com) who calls himself sizzlechest has an awesome collection of Mini-Mag Maglites, which he shared online. His collection contains everything from run-of-the-mill units to custom-milled and wooden versions made by other forum members. Wow!
My newest flashlight, the eLED, comes from Underwater Kinetics, a company that makes high performance diving accessories. UK’s 2-AAA pocket light projects a soft, wide beam, is extremely compact, is waterproof down to 10m, and will burn for about 15 hours on a single set of batteries. It also features a removable clip — perfect for attaching the light to safety glasses or the brim of a hat — and a robust keyring.
LED lights have infected the general market like pod people, and every time you turn around in stores there’s another one waiting to snare you. But in the shop lighting arena LEDs still seem to be missing traction.
Though they come in all sorts of form factors — just like bulb lighting — the front-loaded buy in scares some new adopters — especially cheap-asses like me. Twice as much up front? I’m not sure I can swing that.
The question is: do the new LED shop lights have what it takes to light up your work area better than traditional halogen and incandescent bulbs? Let us know in comments.
Street Pricing [Google Product Search]
Ingersoll Rand is well known for their line of pro-level pneumatic tools. But they’ve made a name for themselves with impact drivers of all types. So when these guys come out with a line of cordless tools that includes high-powered wrenches and ratchets as well as drills and grinders – we noticed.
While we’ve seen (and owned) dozens of dome-style tap lights , Sylvania’s DOT-its are among the best. Featuring a repositionable adhesive backing, three bright LEDs, long battery life, and a reliable tap switch, the DOT-it leaves generic copycat products in the shadows.
Nebo’s latest light operates in a hands-free mode by clipping onto your ear, just like one of those why-are-you-wearing-that-in-the-grocery-store Bluetooth headsets. Nebo touts the light’s “dual mode” functionality because besides the expected ultra-bright white LED light, it also features a green LED which they claim helps you to maintain your night vision. (Though I suspect maybe it just helps them to see more green.)
Often the simplest designs are the best, and the Pak-Lite is about as simple as lights get: it’s a tiny package of circuitry and two LED lights that snaps to the top of a standard 9V battery to form an extremely useful little flashlight — perfect for when your giant sewer-pipe of a light won’t fit.
What’s better than a telescoping magnet for picking up dropped (ferrous) stuff? One with an integrated LED light, of course — like this one Meritline’s currently offering for a measly $5. It extends to 2-feet in length, and Meritline claims the magnet can hold 2 pounds. It even ships (for free, no less) with a battery.
Search Light with Magnet [Meritline]
With all the talk about rechargable shoplights and LED flashlights, I almost forgot what most of us really need around the shop: a good ‘ole cheap-ass flashlight with a little shock resistance and an old-fashioned bulb. Thanks to the people in annoying-pink-bunny-land, I didn’t have to look very far to find one.
TM reader John writes: “I’m a stagehand, so I like to always have a small, bright flashlight on me tucked in my hip pocket. But I was tired of losing my preferred (and expensive) Surefire Executive. I took a chance on the Cree on eBay and it ROCKS. Smaller, brighter than the Surefire, LED, and CHEAP — $23 instead of $80! Construction is excellent - already dropped it a few times, no problem.”
I’ll admit that I’m skeptical — you gotta love when eBay sellers keep their IDs private. Maybe it’s coated in lead-based black paint. Anyway, while I’ve been happy with numerous cheap LED flashlights, I’ve yet to find a really bright one under the $40 mark. But I’m a sucker for stuff like this. Do any of you have experience with it?
Here’s a deal from the Northern Tools lighting section: a 500-watt halogen worklight for just $6. Features include tempered glass, a safety-wire grill, a 3′ extension cord, a spare bulb, and, well, light. Hey, what do you expect? It’s $6.
500 Watt Portable Halogen Worklight [Northern Tools]
Street Pricing [Google Products]
Pelican is famous for their line of nearly indestructible transport cases. But did you know they also make an impressive line of flashlights and headlamps, too? Their HeadsUp headlamps (like the ones pictured) include numerous thoughtful features such as an interchangeable head strap – cloth strap for bare-head comfort and rubber to keeps it in place on a hard-hat — and back-up bulbs on some incandescent models to keep you working when most other lights would go down for the count. (more…)
When we first laid hands on Stanley’s MaxLife Mini-TriPod, we thought that it was more show than go. Common shop wisdom (read: old stereotypical views) state that if flashlights aren’t big enough to bludgeon a live cougar to death or aren’t forged from unobtainium, they aren’t going to last very long in the shop.
The “dollar store” vibe exuded by the Mini-Tripod’s clear plastic box doesn’t help, either. But once we freed it from the packaging and actually beat the living crap out of it in the shop, we’re telling a different story altogether. Read on past the jump to find out why.
Practically synonymous with keychain LED lights, the Photon series (and all of LRI’s other products) are made in Oregon. The Micro-Light II improves on the original by offering a small switch that locks it on for hands-free lighting. It’s not as bright as a full-size flashlight, but as with any “every-day carry” item: the best tool is the one you have with you.
And for convenience, the Photon can’t be beat, especially since it’ll set you back less than $20.
Photon Micro-Light II [Laughing Rabbit Inc]
Street Pricing [Google Products]
Via Amazon
We’ve often advised you to stay away from black Mag-Lites because a) they’re easy to lose in the dark, and b) everyone else has one, so they can easily steal yours. Here’s a Mag-Lite that you probably won’t find elsewhere at work: silver with a waving flag.
Note: In competition with our friends at The Hardware Aisle, we’re posting lots of patriotic tools today and tomorrow. Look for a post on Wednesday (the 4th) where you can vote for your favorite. And don’t forget to submit your favorite patriotic tools! If your suggestion is the reader favorite, we’ll send you a tool from the test pile — something nice.
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