Drill Press Task Light

[Robert Tutsky]

My drill press resides in a corner of my shop which unfortunately is dimly lit. I don't have the option of adding overhead lighting since my small shop is situated in a spare bedroom in my apartment. I thought I would add a task light to the DP like I did to my 10" band saw. For the band saw light I purchased a goose neck light from ebay and made a magnetic base to attach it to the saw. But for the DP I finally realize that the DP didn't have the available real estate to attach a magnetic base to any metal surface on the DP.

Here is the light attached on the band saw. It worked out perfectly:

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Like I said before, this kind of set up wouldn't work with the DP. So here is what I came up with...
Rummaging through a box of electrical stuff I have I found that I had a ceramic light fixture including the chord and switch. Remembering back I realize I cannibalized this from a lamp someone threw out. (Yep, I'm a dumpster diver!). I save everything even tin cans, so I figured a tomato juice can would be perfect for the shroud. I trimmed the can, sanded the edge smooth and here is my start of the DP task light project:

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I made templates for the task light using Illustrator and drilled and counter sinked the holes for the light switch and heat dissipation.

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I cut all of the parts out of 1/2" plywood using templates including all of the knobs. Here is what all of the parts look like all cut out and sanded ready to be painted:

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Here it is all put together, painted and ready to install on the DP:

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Installed on the DP column and in use. This light works very well for me. It's easily adjustable for any application:

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[Bill Geibe]

Creative work! My only suggestion would be to consider replacing the incandescent bulb with a ~24 watt fluorescent to keep your can/shroud from getting hot.

Bill

[Robert Tutsky]

Creative work! My only suggestion would be to consider replacing the incandescent bulb with a ~24 watt fluorescent to keep your can/shroud from getting hot.

Bill
Hi Bill. The 60 watt incandescent really doesn't produce the heat that I thought it would. The holes drilled in the top of the can really helps dissipate the heat. The other thing is I'm not fond of the fluorescents as they pose a hazard. No?

[John Coloccia]

OMG, what a lot of work for a light, but it looks great! You know, lighting is the biggest frustration in my shop. I wish I had the patience and time to build stuff like this.

[Mark Godlesky]

Tha is excellent! Very nicely done.

[Robert Tutsky]

Think about it guys... sure it requires some work to produce something like this but realize this, it will last a long time and if it works for you application why not? Every time you use it will bring a smile to your face.

[Mike Cozad]

That's pretty neat. Great job!

[Joe Kieve]

Good job and very professional looking.

[Bill Holland]

Awesome idea, I am a lot like you I will spend hours making something from my accumulated hoard of useless items. I have a box in my shop with no less than 40 cord from various appliances that died. I cut the cord on everyone of them. I think I have used 1 since I started the collection. I don't even want to try to explain how many misc. nut, bolt & washer bins that are not sorted I have.....

Great job on your lamp, how much time do you think you actually invested in it?

Bill

[Jim Andrew]

My Grizzly DP has a built in light, but could use extra light on my bandsaw.

[Bill Geibe]

<<The other thing is I'm not fond of the fluorescents as they pose a hazard. No?>>

No. Unless you break one and then collect and eat the tiny amount of mercury that's in them. But in that case the 40w shop ceiling lights are much more of a 'hazard' if you would call it that. Not to mention the amount of mercury the coal fired plants put into the air to power all the incandescent lights. But I digress.

Anyway, I have the curly fluorescents in all my shop lamps and haven't broken one yet and they don't put off hardly any heat, even though I use 100W equivalents.

But regardless - a nice job on the lamp!

Bill

[Robert Tutsky]

Bill, I still have some incandescent bulbs yet and will continue to use them until I deplete them. I do have a few CFLs installed in lights I use for photography as they are all the same. Thanks for the info.

[Robert Tutsky]

Bill, it most part of a day to complete the light. I really helps that I have Illustrator to digitally draw out the templates, easy stuff. I spent more time painting it than I did preparing all the parts!