Comments on: A Long-overdue Workbench Modification

By: Jonathan Szczepanski

Jonathan Szczepanski — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 15:33:12 +0000

Megan -
Lee Valley now has a dog hole bushing that “…accept the 1/2″ diameter post of common desk lamps and magnifiers.” ACK!

http://www.leevalley.com/us/wood/page.aspx?p=70534&cat=51&ap=1

By: Bill Rittner

Bill Rittner — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 21:10:46 +0000

I have a series of holes along the back of my workbench to allow the light to be moved anywhere I need it. Look here http://newbritainboy.wordpress.com/2012/01/06/good-lighting-is-important-to-good-work/

By: steveh

steveh — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 15:04:01 +0000

The Swedish furniture place usually has a good assortment of decent lights for the workbench. I paid about $4 for one a few months ago. It has a swivel head but no magnifier or flex nect. But it does the job … and it only cost $4 (do I repeat). The bulbs are more expensive.

By: lclement4

lclement4 — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 01:47:12 +0000

Hey, I had the idea first! You’ll love the additional light. I can’t wait to see what you made your mom this year.

Happy Holidays, Megan.

By: BoredCutter

BoredCutter — Tue, 25 Dec 2012 21:04:44 +0000

From the tiny corner, it’s within the realm of possibility that Ms. Fitzpatrick has installed a Benchcrafted (Moxxon) vise???

So… let’s see that would be a 21st century vise, lit by a 20th-century light on her 18th-century-style workbench in her 19th-century house.

(Sorry, being a blackjack aficionado, I didn’t like the number “21″ not being represented somewhere. )

Festina lente!

By: robertwf

robertwf — Tue, 25 Dec 2012 18:40:44 +0000

what kind of vise did you mount on your table?

Thanks

By: Darrell S 4001

Darrell S 4001 — Tue, 25 Dec 2012 17:24:12 +0000

There are various desk lamps available that have the adjustable arms, with and without the magnifier, that have a pin base mount. The plastic base that comes with these is fine for an office desk, but totally inadequate for the shop. I replaced my plastic part with a wood block for the house workbench (much stronger), and have a wood screw clamp – the kind with two opposing screws – with a vertical hole and a horizontal hole so that it can be clamped almost anywhere as a base for the lamp. No need to drill new holes in anything, and it works at the drill press, the band saw, wherever a little extra light is needed.

By: EricArey

EricArey — Tue, 25 Dec 2012 13:18:04 +0000

Megan,
What is the magnification of your Luxo Magnifier?
Eric

By: MikeC

MikeC — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 18:43:54 +0000

If it’s like my nearly identical light, that is actually a pin coming out of the light that fit a hole in its original clamp mount. The pin allows the lamp to pivot in the mount. My small auxiliary bench, which is pretty much dedicated to sharpening has a couple of holes for the light. It mostly lives next to the saw vise so I can use the light and magnifier when sharpening a saw.

I like you mount. I’ll have to make one for my new bench rather than drill dedicated holes for lights.

By: Jussi A

Jussi A — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 12:19:28 +0000

My guestion is: how on earth do you keep them from checking?