Robert Tutsky
04-07-2013, 12:17 AM
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:
259256
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:
259257
I made templates for the task light using Illustrator and drilled and counter sinked the holes for the light switch and heat dissipation.
259258
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:
259259
Here it is all put together, painted and ready to install on the DP:
259260
Installed on the DP column and in use. This light works very well for me. It's easily adjustable for any application:
259261
Here is the light attached on the band saw. It worked out perfectly:
259256
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:
259257
I made templates for the task light using Illustrator and drilled and counter sinked the holes for the light switch and heat dissipation.
259258
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:
259259
Here it is all put together, painted and ready to install on the DP:
259260
Installed on the DP column and in use. This light works very well for me. It's easily adjustable for any application:
259261