Reloading Bench Lighting ?

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viking499

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So, last week I done some remodeling and moving around in my workshop. Added some cabinets, lights and did some rearranging.

Since I hung a bunch of wall cabinets, it has changed my lighting in the shop and created some dark areas and shadows. I have CFL bulbs in the ceiling which do a ral good job for general lighting. I added some 4' fluorescent lights above the bench where my wrenches, screwdrivers etc are. This really helped to get some "specific" lighting to that area.

But, now I want to do something better above my reloading bench. It is about 10 feet away from my bench with the 4' fluorescents. Seems like I remember reading somewhere that flours cents are not a good option around a reloading bench if using digital scales or some other reloading items, right or wrong?

Was going to get a LED strip light to go above the bench until I priced one.......ouch. That may still be the best option, but wants to see what you all recommended.

My options are wide open as far as lights and electric. I can run new plugs/switches/mounts for whatever I need to, if I have to. Just looking for plenty of light when working on the reloads.
 
Do you have a Costco nearby? They sell a nice two tube LED lamp that looks like a two tube florescent light. Good color and instant on. Economical to run too.
 
I just went through the same thing. Got a 2' led light rope and zip tied it to the press which helps at the press and i put a light fixture on the ceiling behind my seat to further illuminate the situation. It works pretty good with a 60 watt bulb just behind your shoulder overhead.

Sent from my LGLS740 using Tapatalk
 
GarySTL said:
Do you have a Costco nearby? They sell a nice two tube LED lamp that looks like a two tube florescent light. Good color and instant on. Economical to run too.
Click to expand...

These are nice lights. I've replace a few older florescent lights in my shop area and basement storage area with the LED fixtures from Costco.

I have three 4' florescent fixtures over my reloading bench and they do not cause any problems with my electronic scales. The lights are at the ceiling, a good distance from the reloading bench.

I think current scales handle the interference better than earlier models.

Early CFL bulbs could cause electronic interference problems with some electronics as well.
 
Get one of those high power (bright as the sun) head lamps (the kind you wear).
The LED rechargeable, run it on low. It's a multi-use item, so spend some money.
I got one for working in dark places (in the bowels of heavy equip., industrial motor control boxes, ect.). I use it at my reloading bench in the dungeon. Wish I would have got one when I started reloading.
 
Try the LEDs.

Try 1000bulbs.com. They have a 4' plain 2 lamp strip light for 120V LED Lamps for $13. I buy them by the dozen. The lamps can be had at Home Depot or Lowes or you can order them from EarthLED.com. There is a 2400 lumen lamp that is bright enough for surgery.
 
I agree, LED is the way to go. 4' overhead LED's can be found at reasonable prices at Sam's Club. They are very bright and they don't mess with your electronics. I bought 4 of them there since I don't shop Costco because of their anti-gun position.
 
I use LED replacements for flour's & incandescent fixtures that were already in the garage and a light strip mounted in the press.
 
Just to add... I use the little LED strips on the press itself. They eliminate the shadows and usually get the light inside the case. I use the Inlinefabrication stuff, great guy and no shipping, over a certain dollar amount. I've even got their handles!
All my presses have them and I since they have quick disconnects i just rotate them on their mounts.
 
Thanks for the replies so far all.

I just bought the inline fabrication light for my Dillon 550, but have not installed it yet.

Still going to need something for above the bench. Don't belong to SAMS or Costco, but might investigate the next time I go to the "big" city. Both are about an hour away.
 
Hardware stores sell the 4' fluorescent LED tube replacements. They require rewiring of the fixture to eliminate the ballast, which is a good thing since the ballast is what throws off electronics and often fail. Also, screw in CFL are stupid, and can also be replaced with 10w led screw in bulbs. Lighting these days is great! I have 100w led high bay lights in my shop and I've lit up 2000 sq/ft shop with 1000w of light and it's fast, pleasant, efficient and quiet.
 
I went with high output LED's in mine. Something like 3000 lumens for the whole strip. lights things up beautifully. glued the strip to an aluminum bar for a heat sink, have had it running for hours and it's barely warm to the touch. Spent about $60 for the works.

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I'll tell you what. Speaking as a retired electrical engineering type if 15, maybe even 10 years ago someone told me LED lighting would be where it is today I would have argued the point till I was blue in the face. Today, every lighting fixture I replace I use LED lighting. LED lighting is ideal for the reloading bench and as I am no longer young with sharp vision bright lighting has become my new best friend.

On the reloading bench I want plenty of light, at least 130 to 150 foot candles on the work surface. LED lighting gives nice bright and uniform lighting.

Was going to get a LED strip light to go above the bench until I priced one.......ouch. That may still be the best option, but wants to see what you all recommended.
Click to expand...

Good LED lighting like Flood Lamps for example are expensive but a few years ago I used LED floods in the refinished pantry. They see quite a bit of On time. They are still working great so yeah, the initial cost is an ouch but they last a long, long time.

Ron
 
I put up a 4 ft in my gun room above the loading bench boy what a different. look for them to go on sale
 
Gravedigger56 said:
Same here. I have them on all my presses, case trimmer and swager.

DSCN3129.jpg
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Need to get another one for a new RCBS 2000. Nice looking setup! Just got a chargemaster like i see on you bench. What is your purpose of the wood board it is setting on? Just to see spills since your bench is dark? Also i have a 4ft led above the bench and keep moving the small light from press to press.
 
Ordered a 4' LED light 4500 Lumens, wow what a difference it made. Not to mention much cooler in the summer.
 
Just looked at costco online and they only come in 2 packs for 59.00 and they are 3700 lumen, 42 w. I got mine in a single pack at my local store. Not sure if the local stores still carry them.
 
2011redrider said:
Need to get another one for a new RCBS 2000. Nice looking setup! Just got a chargemaster like i see on you bench. What is your purpose of the wood board it is setting on? Just to see spills since your bench is dark? Also i have a 4ft led above the bench and keep moving the small light from press to press.
Click to expand...
Like you said, it does make clean-up easy. The main reason was that that area was not very level and the cutting board made for a nice sturdy surface for the scale that was easy to level. After reading about accuracy of the scale if in close proximity to your press, I used soft rubber for support that absorbs most of the shaking and vibration when I use the press so it doesn't effect the accuracy of the scale.
 
Gravedigger56 said:
Like you said, it does make clean-up easy. The main reason was that that area was not very level and the cutting board made for a nice sturdy surface for the scale that was easy to level. After reading about accuracy of the scale if in close proximity to your press, I used soft rubber for support that absorbs most of the shaking and vibration when I use the press so it doesn't effect the accuracy of the scale.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the info, looking forward to setting up the chargemaster. Its been on my list for a while and at 235 I couldnt pass it up, plus just sent in all my papers and upc codes for the 75.00 rebate. So, guess it brings it to 160. Like that shade of green on your bench!:D
 
If you don't mind using a fixture designed to go over the sink in a bathroom, you can get a four bulb one and put four of the brightest LED bulbs of the Lowes brand and have you an extremely bright light for less than $40. There is also a six bulb one, but the neighbors would complain at night because how bright it would be.
 
My bench is in the unfinished part of the basement. I bought a dozen cans for recessed lighting. I placed four over each of my two work benches. And then some more over the other areas but didn't mount those as close together. I wired outlets above pointing downward from the floor joists. I have one outlet on the front and under the reloading bench so I can plug in my power dispenser which gets its own little table so I can work the press and it at the same time. I used all LED lights in the cans and not spot light type bulbs, but regular 60 watt equivalent ones. A contractor pack of recessed lights is fairly cheap.

My wife and I tried a single LED a couple years ago and we liked it. After that I would buy one or two a week. Eventually, I replaced every bulb in the entire house. Wasn't so costly doing one outlet at a time.
 
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