Throwing light on the workbench

[Dog Star]

I have a Daylight Coy. lamp model no. 22020 - 7 inch magnifying lens with a "daylight" tube in the shape of a ring. The light went out, the tube went bong and then there was darkness.

I have replaced the tube, replaced the fuse and used alternative mains sockets... nothing.

Removing the cover plate in the underside of the lamp head I found a circuit board (about 2.5: in diameter) with about a dozen discrete components.... and an interesting smell. I rang Daylight Coy. Customer Service to be told that my lamp is old and that there are no spares(!)... and that a replacement, similar, lamp is at least £200.00.

As this is the third Daylight Coy. product to expire in a non-repairable condition I am loathe to put more money in their coffers. What workbench lights do others use?

In passing, my Good Lady thinks that she spotted a rather tasty lamp in our travels recently, probably in the workshop of another modeller, maybe someone who is a WTer. Anyone any ideas?

thank you, Graham

 

[Steve Cook]

Hi Graham
I'm a Daylight Naturalight user too. I have one which had suffered a mechanical failure and has been rebuilt as a fixed lamp and a DN1020 5" version which according to Amazon can be had for a snifter over £50. However, I can find a 6 3/4" version with 28w lamp for £85 - it looks to be very similar to the 22020 from what I can see.
I'm no help in sourcing an alternative I'm afraid, but I don't think you need to spend £200 either.
Steve

 

[SteadyRed]

I am just about to order a Daylight 7" magnifying lamp & the above does not instil confidence.

Graham have you tried speaking to Daylight in the UK to see if they will help getting your lamp working?

Not a low cost product, I wonder if sale of goods act would cover this failure?

Dave

 

[Dikitriki]

Hi Graham,

Your good lady wife may have spotted the OTT-Lite lamps that both Lady D and I use in our hobbies. They are either floor mounted or desk mounted and I got mine from Hobby Holidays. http://www.hobbyholidays.co.uk/products.php?cat=44 I have only ever had a bulb go in 6 or so years of daily use.

I also use a normal bayonet cap 150 watt equivalent daylight bulb.

HTH

Richard

 

[Dog Star]

Steve, the 6 3/4" lens product has a similar specification to the D22020, cannot see any significant difference at the moment so I shall dig a bit.

Dave, I did speak to Daylight UK Customer Service and I was underwhelmed with the response, "your lamp" is very old and we have no spares. When I asked if the company had any offers for previous customers wishing to replace / upgrade the response was that the replacement would be £230.00. Only afterwards did I think about asking if a a current model lamp head would fit my stand/arm mechanism.... looking at the current comparable models I know the answer, design change and not applicable to earlier models.

One of our earlier "failures" was a lamp with two parallel daylight tubes - the tubes failed and I could not remove either tube from the lampholders, the tubes were in the holders so tightly that I could not get enough grip to twist the tubes to release the end connectors. This lamp / stand does sterling duty as a door stop.

thanks, Graham

 

[Dog Star]

http://www.hobbyholidays.co.uk/products.php?cat=44

Floor lamp is shown, nothing for a desk lamp.

Desk lamp desired so as to avoid lamps falling over from contact with Waggy Tails.

 

[Dikitriki]

Floor lamp is shown, nothing for a desk lamp.

Ring up Phil and ask. I know I've had 2 desk mounted from him. They came with 2 bases - a clamp and a weighted base for free-standing.

 

[flexible_coupling]

Mine is a relatively cheap (but very effective) Chinese-made model with a white LED ring. A lot of the time, I simply use it as a light source on the bench but it has been handy for small electronic assemblies, more than modelling (sadly!). There are a number of very good models in the local branch of Australia's big electronics chain, most seem to now be based on multiple LED's in a ring. Might be worth looking outside the modelling box?

 

[Tim V]

I use a couple of standard bayonet LED lamps 6000K in standard anglepoise type lamps. Low tech, and very cool running.

 

[Captain Kernow]

I'm horrified at the expense of some 'high-tec' lamps mentioned on here - I just use a standard anglepoise lamp wtih a 100w bulb in it - served me well for years...

 

[JimG]

I'm horrified at the expense of some 'high-tec' lamps mentioned on here - I just use a standard anglepoise lamp wtih a 100w bulb in it - served me well for years...

Have you seen the price of new Anglepoise lamps recently? But, like you I use one with a 100W bubble in it - it's an ancient one rescued from a skip in BBC Glasgow in the 1970s. It's got flat bar arms instead of square section tube, so probably well pre-war.

Jim.

 

[Dog Star]

The back up is an Anglepoise - one made from the bits of two and at least one of those goes back to circa 1968. I used to have a 100W bulb in the holder and then noticed that the bulb holder cracked... the effect of the heat on the plastic. The current bulb is an energy efficient item and so generates much less heat.

 

[Captain Kernow]

Have you seen the price of new Anglepoise lamps recently?

Well, it's almost as ancient as me...!

 

[Steve Cook]

I'm horrified at the expense of some 'high-tec' lamps mentioned on here - I just use a standard anglepoise lamp wtih a 100w bulb in it - served me well for years...

Just the one CK - I thought a debonair fellow like yourself would model in a veritable field of illumination Two fluorescent daylight lights for me and an anglepoise with a std bulb in it for all around illumination. Its the anglepoise which gets hottest and used least of all, plus the daylight bulbs are a better colour when painting for me.

 

[Captain Kernow]

Just the one CK - I thought a debonair fellow like yourself would model in a veritable field of illumination Two fluorescent daylight lights for me and an anglepoise with a std bulb in it for all around illumination. Its the anglepoise which gets hottest and used least of all, plus the daylight bulbs are a better colour when painting for me.

I like the (implied?) link between satorial elegance and modelling output, Steve, but it's never bothered me in the past. What I can't do without these days is my Optivisor...

 

[Ressaldar]

What I can't do without these days is my Optivisor...

I'm giving serious thought to keeping mine on 24/7

cheers

Mike

 

[SteadyRed]

Optivisor sounds like something I need, I was looking for a combined desk light & magnifier, but maybe I should go down the optivisor route. Are they OK for spec. wearers?

 

[oldravendale]

Optivisor sounds like something I need, I was looking for a combined desk light & magnifier, but maybe I should go down the optivisor route. Are they OK for spec. wearers?

They are fine for use with specs. I use mine all the time now and the magnifying lamp is purely for desk top illumination now. I also use a couple of miniature LED lamps which I can move around if needed for very close work. I'd like the illumination which goes on to the Optivisor but I've not found one yet.

Brian

 

[Ressaldar]

Are they OK for spec. wearers?

As Brian says, no problems. I wear varifocals and they are ok, but my reading glasses are even better with the Optivisor.

cheers

Mike

 

[Captain Kernow]

Yes, I have no problems with the Optivisor either and wearing glasses.