Kitebuilder Online

[Kitesquid]

I ues GE Chroma 50 floursent lights in the KITE CAVE. I based my selection on lots of reseacrh from many sources but if you want to learn a lot about light in a little time I sujest that you start here:

There is a wealth of information on the use of florescent lamps in Fine Woodworking Magazine in the JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2002 issue also called issue #154. Most public libraries have it on the shelf.

The article is called:
LIGHTING FOR THE WORKSHOP
by Jack L. Lindsey
Tips for figuring how many and what types of fluorescent lights you need to create a comfortable working environment.

It starts on page 56.

It is written for wood workers, but the concepts are sound and transfer over one for one. I set my multipurpose workshop using his tips and did not spend a ton of $. The bulbs cost about 5 times the cost of normal fluorescent bulbs, but they are worth every penny I spent. My wife noticed the how much whiter the light is compared to standard incandescent bulbs used at the other end of my basement. I might even change them over too if I can scare up the $ for them. If I sell my home I can always put in cheep bulbs and take my expensive bulbs with me, I’ll just have to install new fixtures in my new residence.

I used Chroma 50 bulbs from GE (they come in a cardboard sleve that says "Sunshine" on it and is a eye catching red and yellow) and Industrial fixtures due to lamp color, CRI, availability and price. I found it all at my local home improvement center, Home Depot, but they recently switched over to Phillips bulbs so I will buy my bubls at Wall-Mart but make sure the bulb in the sleeve says "chroma 50" on it.

According to my copy of GE’s bulb catalog the 40 Inch T12 Chroma 50 lamps have initial lumens of 2250, Mean Lumens of 1870, Average life span of 20,000 hours, a color temperature of 5,000 degrees Kelvin and a CRI of 90. All this for about $5 per bulb.

The only OTT-Light specs I can find online say the following:

Average lumens of 2200, Average life span of 30,000 hours, a color temperature of 5,900 degrees Kelvin and a CRI of 90. All this for about $20 per bulb.

I chose the Chroma 50 Bulbs because of color temperature and cost.

If you do purchase Ott Lights make sure what line of bulbs you are buying. They make “True Color”, “Vision Saver”, and “Natural Light Supplements” lines of bulbs. Be sure to do your homework before buying the most heavily marketed products.

I would like to install T-8 bubls and electronic ballasts as the are quieter and more energy effencent, but the $$ arnt there right now.

Caveat Emptor,
KiteSquid

[Progcraft]

Gee, I just use candles I make from fat,

[Steve D]

Harold, what is color temperature?

[stevef]

jeesh... it's like having little Squid character in the corner of the screen for help!
_________________
Steve Ferrel
Go Build a Kite!
Star Facet #54 project by Scott Spencer is now accepting registrations - click on 'user groups' to join!
Last day to register is June 15.

[Steve D]

Hehehehehe........

[Kitesquid]

Technically, color temperature refers to the temperature to which one would have to heat a theoretical "black body" source to produce light of the same visual color.



From GE's catalog:

Color Temperature Kelvins (K):

A measure of the visual “warmth” or “coolness” of the light from the
lamp. The higher the value, the whiter or “cooler” the light appears.

From Merriam Webster dictonary:

Main Entry: color temperature
Function: noun
Date: 1916
: the temperature at which a blackbody emits radiant energy competent to evoke a color the same as that evoked by radiant energy from a given source (as a lamp)


Go here for more detailed info:

http://en2.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color+temperature


I chose 5000 K bulbs as that is the printing industry's standard for tesing printed materials.

Here is the prining industry's main choice in light bulbs:

http://www.just-normlicht.de/us/shop/shop.asp?wag=Leuchtstoffr%F6hren

but at about $25 per bulb I can live with GE's Chroma 50 bulbs...
_________________
VR/
KiteSquid
AKA TakoIka
AKA Harold
King George VA


P.S. Yet another long winded post by the Squid.....

P.P.S. The wind is like the air, only pushier.

[Stan]

I go outside on thr patio and use that big light in the sky. Sometimes indoors by the big window. Same light. Out in the workshop I have a row of skylights over where I do my cutting.
At night, a cheap halogen floor lamp... sometimes two.

Backward Stan

[Steve D]

OK, wasn't sure why it was expressed in degrees K - now I understand a little better.....

Now back to the original question - how is my work area lit?

My sewing area is lit with multiple 40 or 60 watt incandescent bulbs in our dining room light fixture.\

My cutting table is lit with a single 100 watt bulb in the middle of a dark basement room. I also use a small fluorescent desk lamp for a little more light.....

[Kitesquid]

Yeah, but the sun does not help me when I am in the KITE CAVE sewing my next project, or trying do apply some dye to fabric.

for an expermenet, the next time you are at the mall take a photograph of someone you love out of you pocket and look at it in the parking lot, then in the hall of the mall, then in a jewlery store, then.... well you get the idea.

also do this at the home improvemnet store, and be sure to take a look while under the lights at the paint chip display.

you will see the effects of light on what you see.

Now work in a large room wiht ony one 60 watt bulb in it and then work in a paint booth at a auto body shop.

I like to work under LOTS of QUALITY light....

I can work longer and better in those conditions.
_________________
VR/
KiteSquid
AKA TakoIka
AKA Harold
King George VA


P.S. Yet another long winded post by the Squid.....

P.P.S. The wind is like the air, only pushier.

[Kitesquid]