[CharleyL]

Not exactly a woodworking tool, but it will help you do woodworking and other things in the dark.

I recently purchased a KEKU headband LED flashlight unit from Amazon and then purchased five more to give as gifts, since I like them so much. I can't believe how bright these lights are, and how long they last on one charge. The light from it is super white and not a blue or off color tint like so many LED lights that I've owned before. I tested one of these sets to see how long the charge would last with all three of the lights lit. I gave up the test when at 9 hours later they were still at almost full brightness. The included Chinglish (poor translation to English) manual is terrible, but these lights are simple to operate and instructions aren't really needed. The next paragraph should tell you all you need to know.

I think they were originally designed for bicyclists because a red LED lights on the battery pack that's located on the rear of the head band. There are three LED lights on the front, a center spot and 2 smaller flood lights, one on each side of the spot light. A button on the top of the spot light steps through spot, flood, spot and flood, and all lights rapidly flashing. Not certain what the flashing mode is for, but it will sure get attention. The light comes with a pair of rechargeable batteries (both get used together), a 120 volt charger, cigarette lighter charger, and a USB re-charging cable, all for about $20.

I'm forever needing to do things in the dark that require 2 hands, so a head mounted bright light is almost a requirement for me. I have owned many versions of head band flashlights over the years, and more recently some LED versions. None has been anywhere near as as bright and good as these.

Charley

https://amazon.com/gp/product/B01AL3IUMK/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Stick486]

nice find...
I have a Black Diamond...
that one beats this one...

 

[DesertRatTom]

Looks a little heavy. I like these things, but had Shingles on my forehead and scalp and man are those areas irritated by headbands.

 

[CharleyL]

nice find...
I have a Black Diamond...
that one beats this one...

How so - The Black Diamond is 300 lumens and the KEKU that I posted is 5,000 lumens. The Black Diamond uses penlight cells, which are easy to find, and the KEKU uses two rechargeable batteries so you don't need to find replacements. If you are happy with your Black Diamond, great. I've never had enough light from my previous head band lights, until now. This KEKU light is brighter that the 5 cell flashlight that I have. I have to be careful not to shine it in anyone's eyes while using it.

Charley

 

[TwoSkies57]

Been using one for years (not this particular model). There are times when I wouldn't want to be without it now...After a few knots in the ole noggin',, you remember how far the light sticks out from your forehead LOL

 

[CharleyL]

Looks a little heavy. I like these things, but had Shingles on my forehead and scalp and man are those areas irritated by headbands.

Tom,

The heavy part of the KEKU light is the battery pack, and it's on the back of your head when wearing this light. The front head piece is very light, being made almost entirely of plastic. The head band piece at the front is made from curved plastic, so it fits well, and it is sort of triangle shaped, so the top band attaches above your forehead, about at a younger man's hair line (doesn't directly apply to us, but trying to point out the location). Attached to this piece, the three lamp light assembly is hinged with a detent design to make it adjustable up and down, but it will stay at any detent angle desired. I've worn mine for several hours at a time, and once had it on top of a baseball type cap with the cap turned backwards on my head. It's been very comfortable for me to wear. I bought the first one of these KEKU lights back in late August and have used it many times since. Although I don't have the Black Diamond model, I have about 5 others around that I've been using, and none of these have been used since I bought the KEKU.

I had shingles in both shoulders about 12 years ago. I know the pain, and I'm very glad that I didn't have it on my head.

Charley

 

[Stick486]

How so - The Black Diamond is 300 lumens and the KEKU that I posted is 5,000 lumens. The Black Diamond uses penlight cells, which are easy to find, and the KEKU uses two rechargeable batteries so you don't need to find replacements. If you are happy with your Black Diamond, great. I've never had enough light from my previous head band lights, until now.

Charley

yours beats out mine is what I meant...

 

[hawkeye10]

Charley, do you wear it while woodworking? I shop is lit up pretty good but there are shadows and I have been using a flashlight to see in the dark places.

 

[CharleyL]

My shop is plenty bright. I don't need it in there, but I am in the middle of a house remodeling project - my house. I'm having a lot of the work done by contractors, but doing what I can myself. Twenty years ago I would have done it all myself, but at 76 I'm realizing that I can't do it all any more. I gave one of these lights to the carpenter who, at the time, was restructuring the floor under a bathroom and was spending considerable time in my crawl space. He has been raving about it ever since.

I'm also helping my #2 son remodel his house. He and I have been in just about every nook and cranny in his house, and we both now have these KEKU head lights to use when doing this. In fact, he is the one who found and bought the first one of these lights. We have both been very grateful for the amount of light they put out.

I'm gifting these to my oldest son, wife, and grand daughter for use on their farm, because it's way out away from city lights and very dark there at night for them to go feeding the animals in the late evenings, etc.

I'm also considering buying one of these for each vehicle, because it would sure come in handy when changing a tire or doing some other late night repair out somewhere in the dark nowhere land. The the lights can be left plugged into the cigarette lighter circuit and always at full charge and ready for use. In fact, my Jeep Grand Cherokee has a cigarette lighter type socket in the back for powering a small fridge or other 12 volt appliance, and it's right next to where I keep my emergency tool kit. The trucks have cigarette lighter sockets in the dash, but I'm thinking about adding one back near the tool kits in the rear of the cabs so I can keep one of these lights there with the tool kits and fully charged too. Every time that I have ever had a flat tire or break down at night, adequate lighting has always been a problem that usually required holding a flashlight in one hand while trying to work with only the other hand. With one of these lights ready and fully charged, I would have plenty of light where I need it and two hands to do the work.

Charley

 

[woodworker47]

Charlie,

Convinced me to buy one. I just placed the order. Probably will gift my old one.

Frank

 

[Multiwood]

I bought one of these lights in October. I used it when I went down to North Carolina to help with the
disaster recovery program and was very happy to have it.

 

[bfblack]

Your post prompted me to reach in my desk drawer for my old headband light that I used for years when working on computer located under the desk. I obviously have not used it in a while. Your post prompted me to realize it is time to upgrade my technology. Thanks and I will order one today.