Portable Work Lights

Any job worth doing, is worth doing right

Whether you are working in an industrial shop, an automotive garage, or doing a little home repair, portable work lights should be one of the most important tools you use. The advantage of these lights lies in their portability- as you move around, they can move with you.

There are a number of portable work lights to choose from, each with their own advantages:

Incandescent work lights usually come in a plastic or metal cage, where the bulb is held. Although these work lights are hands free, they often become excessively hot and have been known to cause burns. This is the least expensive type of light, but if safety is a concern to you, then other forms of light would probably work better.

Halogen work lights are 10-20% more energy efficient than incandescent bulbs. They are able to produce a focused, bright light, often making them effective in both large and small areas. Watch out, though. Halogen lamps can get pretty hot!

Fluorescent work lights can significantly save in energy costs. Fluorescent light produces little heat, unlike incandescent and halogen lamps, so they are great for small or enclosed areas. They also produce a bright, white light, rather than the yellow light associated with incandescent bulbs.

LED work lights use lead-emitting diodes, one of the best small, bright white lights available. LED's work well in small spaces, such as under a sink, or any other area where a focused amount of light is needed. LED's, like fluorescent lights, also don't get very hot.

Keep it moving

Portable lights have the ability to hang, stand, or be attached to a surface with a clip or magnet. For hands free lighting, consider what will best fit your needs. If you are working at a work bench, try a hanging work light over the area. Working on a car? Try a light that clamps onto the hood.

Not so pretty

Unlike other forms of lights that are in decorative fixtures or under pretty lamp shades, portable work lights simply serve the purpose of emitting light in those hard to reach places, wherever they may be. So don't get discouraged when you find that most lights are, well, quite unattractive.

But you can add accessories

If you know that you are going to use your portable work light in a number of places, it's wise to invest in a few other products, such as light hangers, clamps, extension cords, hooks, and magnetic bases.

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