headlamp as light source for repair project

[Sjouke Burry]

TimR wrote in news: [e-mail]:

Underground explorers and miners use the headlamps daily. There must be a good reason for that.

[TimR]

Seems like when I'm under a sink, etc., I always need a small light and never have a free hand.

Holding a small LED flashlight in the mouth works, but isn't ideal.

Would a small headlamp be an improvement? Or would I never have my head facing quite the right direction? Have any of you tried it?

[Don Phillipson]

Home Hardware stores currently advertise here both: -- LED lamps on a headband (which I know at least one cousin finds convenient, walking home on unlit streets.) -- flashlights fitted with a spring clamp, to fasten it to any support, infinitely adjustable for direction, also LED.

[Tomsic]

LED headlamps are great. Small, bright, lightweight and easy to adjust. I like them the best when I'm solo on a project. When several people working in the same area have them, there's lots of annoying flash and glare. Then general lighting in the area is better.

Tomsic

[Jim Elbrecht]

have a free hand.

facing quite the right direction? Have any of you tried it?

Cool-- looks like it would be a winner for a job where you're sitting-- I like my headlamp for moving around and working. [especially overhead]

I've been tempted by the visor lights for baseball caps, but I rarely wear a hat.

Jim

[fred.flintstone]

have a free hand.

quite the right

Yes, they work and work quite well. The better ones can be adjusted for angle. They used to be costly, but today you can buy them for around $10 at Walmart and other places. They use LED lights so the batteries last a long time. They're definitely worth the price. They are handy when you have to do outdoor work at night too. For example, you cant carry in too much firewood when you have a flashlight in one hand, so USE YOUR HEAD (for the light).

[Tegger]

"Steve B" wrote in news:k0b8lh$r4u$ [e-mail]:

I second that. I have one, and it's extremely handy, especially in tight spots when you need both hands on the workpiece. The one I have swivels up and down on the band, which is a big reason why it works so well: you can point it exactly where your eyes need to see.

Under-counter work is an ideal application for a headband-headlight.

[DerbyDad03]

ever have a free hand.

d facing quite the right direction? =A0Have any of you tried it?

I have a couple of Harbor Freight headlamps that I find quite useful. For under $3, you can't go wrong.

Of course, for bigger jobs I also have one of these, but I changed the mounting pole so I can aim it down on the work area. It's way too bright to be used at the maximum 3.5' height the default stand allows for. It just about blinds everyone in the area. Using an old aluminum tent pole from my boy scout days (!) I can extend the height from 6' to over 10.

[HeyBub]

I've got a baseball cap with three LEDs built into the bill. Works swell.

[Stormin Mormon]

I've found several options. Strap on headlamp is good, in many cases. Tough when changing focuss, looking up and down with my bifocals. The light is seldom where I'm looking.

That said, I have several strap on head lamps, and I use them often.

You can also get area lights that are battery, or plug in. Small work light, or fluorescent camping lantern can help a lot.

Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus

.

Holding a small LED flashlight in the mouth works, but isn't ideal.

Would a small headlamp be an improvement? Or would I never have my head facing quite the right direction? Have any of you tried it?

[gregz]

I bought one headlamp, too big and heavy. Then I bought an ear led lamp. Works great. I bought one long ago and was not cheap. This looks good.

Greg

[Jim Elbrecht]

-snip-

This one

a carbide light that I hadn't used since my coon hunting days.

Never owned a battery on a belt light.

Jim

[Stormin Mormon]

Harbor Freight has one that's worth the three bucks on sale. Now, on sale $2.79. Comes with two AA carbon zinc cells that are likely to corrode and leak.

I use LED module designed to convert mini mags, to LED.

Works nicely, and reasonable price. The headband elastic stretches out, and then I put the module into another head light.

Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus

.

[Stormin Mormon]

How's it get 300 lumens out of three AAA cells? Pretty small lumens, maybe?

The reviews were not kind, for this light. I'll pass.

Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus

.

This one

a carbide light that I hadn't used since my coon hunting days.

Never owned a battery on a belt light.

Jim

[Larry Fishel]

By focusing all the light on a small area of course... More like narrow lumens. :)

[Larry Fishel]

I find them very handy for a log of things. I've also found that there are = at least some that are so cheaply made as to be almost useless (2 out of a = package of 3 wouldn't work without adding a spacer so the batteries made co= ntact and the caps that hold the batteries in pop off if you breathe on the= m too hard.)

[krw]

A very short time, perhaps?

Yeah, that works well. ;-)

[Larry Fishel]

I'm sure it won't take long for someone to point out that I was mixing up my lumens and my lux (sort of). Yeah, I'd be impressed if they really got 300 lumens out of a few LEDs and 3 AAAs. I bet whoever calculated that made the same mistake(?) I did...

[DerbyDad03]

never have a free hand.

ead facing quite the right direction? =A0Have any of you tried it?

Actually, the cheapest (I think it's the cheapest) ones are adjustable:

Alas, no zoom.

[Red]

ever have a free hand.

d facing quite the right direction? =A0Have any of you tried it?

Contrary to most everyone else's praises I find that the light is usually not where my head/neck/eyes are comfortable and I usually end up with sore neck muscles afterwards.

The best product I've found is the Joby light. Although it's a bit pricy, it's super bright and can be used most anywhere.