workbench lighting?

[murf]

How important is lighting at your workbench or lamp work table? Does anyone just sit in the dark and work with just the light of a torch? Reason I ask, I can’t see Na Da. I have an over head florescent light, some where up in the rafters, but the lighting is really poor. Is lighting focused on your work a need thing or does it cause problems? Just very curious; I plan installing better lighting tomorrow morning.
Thank Bayard

[Emily]

I think you need some, but I don't like extremely bright lighting at the torch. I like to be able to see what colors I'm picking up and where my tools are -- and if I need to find the fire extinguisher or to get out of there in a hurry, I want to be able to see to do it, even if the fire isn't lighting up that area of the room yet.

[Janine]

I found that my work improved once I added a direct light. I have it so it is angled where I would hold the bead generally. I was working with overhead plus lights in my hood and found I could not see well enough, especially when encasing or making hollows. It seems to have reduced eyestrain for me as well.

[RSimmons]

I got a shop light with a magnetic base on it and stuck it inside my exhaust hood above my torch. I also put a 100W coiled fluorescent bulb (daylight) in. I get good quality light with less power consumption and without the excess heat from an incandescent bulb. There's enough heat coming back from the torch. Good light to work by in important.

Robert

[kbinkster]

What eyewear are you using?

If you plan to work boro, keep this in mind... When you are wearing the lenses with the welders shade filter, it will be a lot darker than when you are just using the didymium/ACE filter.

[barbaracollins]

I have three halogen spotlights (on a track) inside my vent hood. Works well.