Dental Light Question

[Bill Grumbine]

Greetings all

After many years of lusting after a dental light for the lathe, I have finally acquired one, courtesy of a very kind dentist who is also a woodturner. I installed it temporarily over the Vega bowl lathe to ascertain the range of motion, and it looks real good where it is at, with one small caveat. The post depending from the beam in my roof is just a bit too long. I have been corresponding with my dentist friend, and he does not think it would be a problem to cut some of the post off, but I was wondering if anyone else here had encountered a similar problem - those of you with dental lights, assuming there is anyone else here with one.

Any other tips or experiences would be appreciated as well.

Thanks!

Bill

[W.C. Turner]

Bill,

Dave Peeples used to have a Dental light, you might want to contact him.

[Karl Laustrup]

Don't know about the fix your asking about, but I like the idea of a dental light to brighten up the work. :)

Karl

[Don Baer]

Bill,
Maybe you can post a picture. I might be able to tell from that. I would expect that the wiring goes through it but it wouldn't be a big deal to cut it down.

[Lee DeRaud]

Bill,

Dave Peeples used to have a Dental light, you might want to contact him.I seem to recall seeing one on David Marks' show also.

[Joe Fisher]

Funny, I was just thinking yesterday about trying to find one of these lights for my lathe station.

...while I was staring into one.

...for 2 hours.

...from the dentist's chair.

...during part 2 of my root canal work.

Where'd you find yours, Bill, through your dentist friend?

-Joe

[Kyle Stiefel]

Bill,

It sounds like there are few people running the same thing that are probably able to help. Maybe you can attach a picture. I work the dental lights, drill, and do hickies all day, would be happy to help if I can.

If you really wanted to go crazy you get a fiber optic headlight which you wear so your light will always follow your line of sight but this might be a bit overkill.

[Steven Wilson]

Bill, can you post a picture of the light so we can see what the problem is? I use the http://www.turningwood.com/light_stand.htm on my oneway with two Moffat lamps and it works real well

[Bill Grumbine]

If I had spent a little more time studying the light, I probably would not have even posted the question. Problem probably was not the best word to use. It was more a question of judgement. I spent about as much time modifying it as I did typing my post - well, maybe a little more time, but not above 15 minutes. I cut 7" off the post, and had to redrill the top for a roll pin that sits crosswise in a little bracket for security, but it was fast and easy, two things that hardly ever seem to happen around here anymore. Here are some pictures of the almost finished work I need to plumb the thing up and put a plug on the end of the wires and I am in business!

<img src="http://www.wonderfulwood.com/forumpictures/dentallight01.jpg">


Here is the light in its entirety. It sort of looks like something out of War of the Worlds, at least the original movie. The vertical post coming out of the large bracket screwed to the beam is the part I had been asking about. The whole light hangs from it.

<img src="http://www.wonderfulwood.com/forumpictures/dentallight02.jpg">

Here is a shot with the light extended out of the way and into its working position. The metal plate is bolted to the beam and then the large bracket with the bolts is used for making it plumb. The light itself has a fairly large range of motion, but it does have some restrictions, so I am going to have to fiddle with it and the position of the lathe for optimum lighting.

<img src="http://www.wonderfulwood.com/forumpictures/dentallight03.jpg">

Finally, here it is in its position over the lathe. I want to be able to illuminate both the headstock and tailstock sides of a piece, so there is where the fiddling around is going to come in. I can tell you right now, it is going to be easier to move the lathe, and maybe even the dust collection tube than it will be that light. Not only is it ungainly when it is flopping around loose, it is held into a 63 year old red oak beam with 3 1/2" lag bolts (all I had on hand).

Thanks to everyone who responded. I have two Moffat lights which will stay with the Poolewood, but this addition should make working on the Vega even nicer.

Bill

[Jim Becker]

Oh, that's very kewel, Bill! What a great idea...hmm...probably the ONLY reason to get "friendly" with a dentist!

[Don Baer]

Very nice Bill. Glad you "got er done"

[Wes Bischel]

Looks good Bill - it should make seeing what you're doing much easier - though I can't seem to get that high pitched whine out of my head!:eek: ;)

Wes

[Corey Hallagan]

Nice set up Bill! Man, how many lathes are in that shop? I remember you saying that you have a Jet mini as well. Sweet looking bandsaw back there as well!

Corey

[Earl Eyre]

Last time I was at my dentist, I mentioned using a dental light to the assistant cleaning my teeth. She said, "Ask the dentist. He has several old ones in the basement." I did just that and he said to take any of them. If the bulb didn't work, just let him know...he has a box full!. I haven't set it up yet, but maybe just ask your own dentist. They evidently replace them regularly.

Nice set up, there. Guess I better get mine installed.

Earl

[Bill Grumbine]

Looks good Bill - it should make seeing what you're doing much easier - though I can't seem to get that high pitched whine out of my head!:eek: ;)

Wes

Wes, if I wanted to make things really bad, I could get one of those high speed air powered carvers. Then I WOULD have that whine with the light!




Nice set up Bill! Man, how many lathes are in that shop? I remember you saying that you have a Jet mini as well. Sweet looking bandsaw back there as well!

Corey

Corey, there are three lathes in the shop right now, the Vega, the Poolewood, and the Vicmarc mini. With the number of students coming, it helps to have all three there, and who knows but maybe someday there will be a fourth? :cool:

To everyone else, thanks for writing in, and you can come to the Five Barns picnic to get some turning done and have your teeth checked all at the same time. :p

All this talk about teeth and lights, I get to go to the dentist tomorrow to have my crown installed. I can hardly wait, and I really mean that. This tooth broke off just before Memorial Day, but between my traveling and the insurance company procrastination, it has taken this long for the process to run its course.

Bill