Drill Press Lighting

I like it..
A lot..

Very clever. I can never get enough light on my workpieces.

A picture of how it is mounted on the Drill Press would be nice. I like the results of the light, though.
Herb

Amen to 'never enough light'!

Like Herb said I like the light but how did you mount it.

A great solution. The older I get, the more light I need.

+2 on all the above.

I agree with others you made a nice light. I had to look up a "Wall wart" I have not heard of that before.

That would be why they call you 'Hawk Eye"?

I've had this light https://www.amazon.com/WoodRiver-14-LED-Drill-Press-Light/dp/B005SC62ZW for a couple of years, really helps get the bit lined up with the intended spot and provides plenty of light right at the drill bit.. It has the radial clamp bolts to attach to the quill which is OK, but I've had them loosen up a couple of times when I was drilling some larger holes. I think I bought mine from Peachtree when they had it on sale for a good bit less than the price shown - although I'd probably pay that to replace it if I had to. Thought I had a photo showing it mounted to the DP but can't find it.

Since I figured out and aligned the twin laser module on two of my drill presses, I don't need nearly as much light to see the alignment of the drill bit that I once did. Both of my laser units came with two of my Delta Drill Presses, and now that they are working the way that they should be, I'll likely be buying one for my third drill press, but this time it will be the one from Wixey. For white lighting on tools I frequently use the $19.95 LED gooseneck lamps from Lowes and clamp them on wherever convenient. These lights never get more than just slightly warm, draw almost no power, and produce a nice white and nearly shadow free light. They have proven ideal on my scroll saw, where I use two, one on each side aimed at the blade and cut point. I think I now have 8 of these in my shop.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Style-Sele...1d0A5uGlqP5VjQELHzKjqbhQuE-X5MOoaAhUcEALw_wcB


To align the lasers it was necessary to dis-assemble the units so that I could rotate each laser module to get the laser line perfectly straight up and down. They provided a 1/2" steel pin with a point on the bottom that you can install in the drill chuck and see the laser lines on the back side of this to verify the vertical properties of each laser line. I found it easier to see these lines using a mirror placed on the table and tipped to 45 degrees so I could see the lines. You could use the point on this pin to make the needed dimple in the piece of wood on the table to verify that the laser lines cross at the correct point.

I then re-assembled the module and re-installed it back at the top of the drill press post, just under the drill press head. Then it was fairly easy to rotate the knob on each laser until the laser lines crossed over the dimple in a piece of wood that I made by pressing a non rotating a drill bit mounted in the chuck into the piece of wood. These positioning knobs are hard to adjust accurately, so I used a pair of channel locking pliers to grip and rotate the knob more smoothly and accurately to get each laser positioned correctly. I like these lasers, now that they work correctly. When they weren't adjusted, each time the table of the drill press was raised or lowered, the laser line cross point would move. If this happens with your laser head, the lasers need adjusting so the lines are perfectly vertical. Once adjusted correctly, they hold alignment for any table height. The link is for the brest price that I've found the Wixey Drill Press Laser Unit, although it is available from many sources.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Wixey-Mo...6045&wl11=online&wl12=331819713&wl13=&veh=sem


Charley

I took the overall approach and put seven 4-tube T8 fixtures in our little 20x20 shop area. Tons of light with virtually no shadows. These older eyes need lots of light like Oliver said.

That is a good solution for the drill press, though.

David

That is a really cool idea!! That will have to go on my list of todo projects. Thanks for sharing.

tomp913 said:

I've had this light https://www.amazon.com/WoodRiver-14-LED-Drill-Press-Light/dp/B005SC62ZW for a couple of years, really helps get the bit lined up with the intended spot and provides plenty of light right at the drill bit.. It has the radial clamp bolts to attach to the quill which is OK, but I've had them loosen up a couple of times when I was drilling some larger holes. I think I bought mine from Peachtree when they had it on sale for a good bit less than the price shown - although I'd probably pay that to replace it if I had to. Thought I had a photo showing it mounted to the DP but can't find it.

Click to expand...

Same here and Im very pleasant. :wink:

'LED there be light!'

https://www.essilorusa.com/newsroom/eye-doctor-q-a-how-to-protect-eyes-from-led-light
https://advancedvisioncare.co.uk/do-leds-cause-eye-damage/

Just sayin'...
I'm having the cataract surgery in July.

DaninVan said:

'LED there be light!'

I'm having the cataract surgery in July.

Click to expand...

That is one of the most often eye surgeries and compared to the methods in use just 50 years ago is practically miraculous. Complications are rare, but you'll be unable to focus your eyes after the surgery, and your glasses with be doing all of that for you. I suggest you invest in a pair of progressive lenses that have your full range of focus in them. Get the top of the line lenses with plenty of UV protection and anti reflective coating.

The new progressive lenses have far less peripheral blurring and are much easier to get used to. You might also find you want a couple of pairs set for the distance you most often work at in the shop. You'll probably be surprised at how good your vision will seem. BTW, many MDs are lousy at prescribing lenses, and ofter recommend the cheapest frames and lenses because they don't really understand what dependence on a crappy Rx really means.

You mentioned a resistor. Do you have a schematic of how to wire up LEDs? I've thought about doing something like this.

DaninVan said:

'LED there be light!'

https://www.essilorusa.com/newsroom/eye-doctor-q-a-how-to-protect-eyes-from-led-light
https://advancedvisioncare.co.uk/do-leds-cause-eye-damage/

Just sayin'...
I'm having the cataract surgery in July.

Click to expand...

I have both eyes done and don't have to wear glass except for the computer.
I told him to put a long distance lens in my right eye because of it being my shooting eye. It cost me a bit more, but he did it and now have a reading lens in the left and a distance lens in the right eye. he tested them and I have 20/20 vision again. I can do everything but the computer with out glasses.
Herb