02-15-2010, 05:16 PM
Wayne:
I suspect I have 6 - 8" headroom under the duct. Your observation about access to the top shelf is right on; a hanging light would obstruct it, which is what led to the idea of mounting a light to the underside of the shelf itself (the lower shelves that aren't yet mounted are about 7.5" deep, the top one is about 13").
However, doing that leads to obstruction of the second shelf - sigh. The uninvented paper-thin lighting element would be perfect...
Your idea of using a spread aluminum duct for a reflector is is interesting.
Russ, the ambient light on the left side of the bench is pretty good, good call there. The current ambient lighting consists of two 4 foot two-tube shoplights mounted at right angles to the workbench. The one closest to the camera overhangs my workbench by about two feet (you can see the tail of one of the mounting chains hanging down at the top left) the second light is mounted further back - it has no overlap of the bench at all. So what looks slightly dark in the photo becomes moreso when working on that side and casting my own shadow. When it comes right down to it, it's the differential of the light spread that's bothering me.
Unfortunately, the furnace is just to the right of the photo, so I have a lot of ductwork that make it difficult to posistion the current lighting to the bench's best advantage. This wasn't an issue when I hung the lights as the area was freestanding IKEA shelving units at right angles to the bench (i.e. parallel to the lights.)
Sorry guys, rambling, and now dinner is ready!
I suspect I have 6 - 8" headroom under the duct. Your observation about access to the top shelf is right on; a hanging light would obstruct it, which is what led to the idea of mounting a light to the underside of the shelf itself (the lower shelves that aren't yet mounted are about 7.5" deep, the top one is about 13").
However, doing that leads to obstruction of the second shelf - sigh. The uninvented paper-thin lighting element would be perfect...
Your idea of using a spread aluminum duct for a reflector is is interesting.
Russ, the ambient light on the left side of the bench is pretty good, good call there. The current ambient lighting consists of two 4 foot two-tube shoplights mounted at right angles to the workbench. The one closest to the camera overhangs my workbench by about two feet (you can see the tail of one of the mounting chains hanging down at the top left) the second light is mounted further back - it has no overlap of the bench at all. So what looks slightly dark in the photo becomes moreso when working on that side and casting my own shadow. When it comes right down to it, it's the differential of the light spread that's bothering me.
Unfortunately, the furnace is just to the right of the photo, so I have a lot of ductwork that make it difficult to posistion the current lighting to the bench's best advantage. This wasn't an issue when I hung the lights as the area was freestanding IKEA shelving units at right angles to the bench (i.e. parallel to the lights.)
Sorry guys, rambling, and now dinner is ready!
Matt Goodman
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio