trouble light

[SGKent]

Hey folks, I have a question looking for some suggestions. For so many years I have owned a plethora of trouble lights. Battery, corded, metal housing, caged, plastic, fluorescent, led - the list is endless. They are always getting in the way, rolling over and shining the wrong direction, too dim, too bright, too hot, bulb unscrews itself, cord gets tangled on things, or under my back / around my neck or shoulders when I am under the car, hook snags things when I don't want it to, and faces the wrong way when I want to hang it, magnet mount keeps not working and the light falls down etc.. Some people use forehead lights but I am looking for something that won't get in my way or that I have to twist my head to get the light to go where I want it to go. Anyone have a "wonderful, could not live without this trouble light" kind of solution? Something that takes rechargeable batteries is Ok. Most of what I have battery powered is Milwaukee. It didn't used to be as bad when the cords were American made but now they are all that stiff Chinese crap and it makes it even harder to work with corded ones. I got so tired of fighting with mine tonight I just said I am done with this crap they peddle. Need a good trouble light that won't cause trouble or burn me, that stays on and where I put it.

I am thinking of the Milwaukee Rover light with a M12 XC 5.0 battery but at about $225 including taxes, that is a lot of money for a trouble light - although I do use them when working on many things.

Thanks
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"Most people don't know what they're doing, and a lot of them are really good at it." - George Carlin

[jlrftype7]

At the low end of price, the Braun and other so named Harbor Freight LED Mechanics lights are pretty good, and pretty rugged for actual day to day shop use. I started using a couple of them some years ago, but moved onto some Snap-On lights over time. I still keep one at home however.
Originally the HF lights did not fold in half, so they were a bit long for some situations. They now have foldable models. Most of these type lights have an END bulb for Spot lighting, a main face for more illumination, and often two different levels of power for that main light.
I don't feel there is a perfect light, you need different ones for different repair areas based on space and required lumens .
So, I'll post the few I own and why and where I use them. It will take a minute or two to edit the post with the lights and links for them.

Other than my sliding hood light system, which clamps over the sides of a hood, or roof of a vehicle if I'm doing interior work, all the lights are small as expected.
All have built-in rechargeable batteries. Most use USB C connector cords to connect to the light for recharging.

Harbor Freight Flip/Foldable Mechanics Light- This is the newer version of what used to be the moveable, but not totally foldable Braun light. For the price, tough little light, that fits inside doors, down through wheel spokes to view brake pad thickness, etc.
The more you used them, the looser they got. Some came apart at the battery connection as well, but often after months of usage daily, so for $30 generally, a good buy with plenty of light. Strong magnetic base too.
https://www.harborfreight.com/500-lumen-led-rechar...=braun+fla

Snap-On Version- They have several now in various lighting levels. Strong magnet for standing upright, brighter Spot End bulb than my HF models. Double faced folding light end, I tend to just use one side powered on daily. Fits in your pocket folded up, smooth sides with nothing to get hung up on like the newer HF model. Rugged, nothing has broken on it after months and months of using it 5 days a week. $90 versus HF $30, but it's worth it to me.

https://shop.snapon.com/product/Articulating-(Ligh.../ECARL032R

The little guy from Snap-On- Totally invaluable for tight spaces , pivots 180 degrees, strong magnet. I've dropped mine, had it fall off the underside of the vehicle, multiple times- doesn't fail. My first one is still going strong years after ownership.
https://shop.snapon.com/product/Project-(Lighting)/700-Lumen-Project-Light-(Red)/ECPRA072

Neck/Head band type lights- This version from Snap-on is TECHNICALLY a Neck light, where you can pivot the lights upward if you want, but WILL fit and stay on your head pretty decently unless you're sweating. Not a tight fit like an actual strap/band light , but quickly removeable, lightweight.
And, you can pull the lights off individually to use like a pen light if needed, they then are magnetically attached to the main band with a quick motion of your hand. Version 1 from Snap-On is still going strong for the most part, I now have these, version 2. I can wear these around my neck for hours for the most part, as I'm not keen on having a fabric band clamped to my head, esp in the Summer.
https://shop.snapon.com/product/Headlamps-(Lightin.../ECHDD012A

And just for FUN, for Aluminum Bodied vehicles, where a Magnet is not going to work very well....
There are now Vacuum Based work lights, with tiny vacuum pumps on the base to suck the light down tight if the surface will work with a vacuum holding. I'm holding off buying one of those....
_________________
'68 Westy- my first VW and vehicle/Bus- long gone.- sold it to a traveling Swiss couple....
'67 Type 3 Fastback, my 2nd car- gone
'69 Semi-Auto Stick Shift Beetle-gone
2017 MINI Coopers, our current DDs
‘84 Tin Top - Hilga....Auto

[busdaddy]

Magnetic sewing machine light from Amazon, really bright, stays where you put it, easy to aim and dirt cheap.

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[jlrftype7]

Here's the lineup as a picture for you. If I had to have just one light, it would be the foldable Snap-on light.

_________________
'68 Westy- my first VW and vehicle/Bus- long gone.- sold it to a traveling Swiss couple....
'67 Type 3 Fastback, my 2nd car- gone
'69 Semi-Auto Stick Shift Beetle-gone
2017 MINI Coopers, our current DDs
‘84 Tin Top - Hilga....Auto

[SGKent]

those are good choices, better than what my present ones are. I was thinking about it last night and researching it. Some people when I Googled it were liking the Icon, sort of like the Braun, but I was thinking about like when I bump the light and it falls. So I noticed quite a few people who liked it were saying that theirs gets dropped a half dozen times a day - sort of confirming that it needs a perfect spot to sit. And I sort of wonder if the Braun one is prone to falling. The snapon one looks well made too - I had to sign into my account to pull up the page, but it did look well made. And Mark, yours looks good too. Maybe one of each.
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"Most people don't know what they're doing, and a lot of them are really good at it." - George Carlin

[MGBBob80]

I use a craftsman version that's readily available at places like Lowes or Ace Hardware. Fits nicely in your pocket, strong magnet and good illumination. It charges via USB-C

https://www.craftsman.com/products/cmmt25165
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Cheers,
Bob

1978 Type 2 Transporter. 2L engine (engine code GE), Fuel Injection, 4-speed manual transmission.His name is Buddy.

"I reserve the right to be better tomorrow than I am today."

[ALLWAGONS]

Temu has tons of lights for under $10. I got two LED rechargeable headlights, YES you wear it on your head $6.99 each and two rechargeable flash lights, they both have a strong magnet opposite the bulb and a dimmable side light opposite the switch. Same price.
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I'd be UNSTOPPABLE if not for Law Enforcement and PHYSICS.

I recycle old cars and parts, other than when I rot, that's as Green as I am going to get.

Thanks to my Tesla driving neighbors, I feel more relaxed driving my SUBURBAN and old VW's.

Everything sounds good on paper!

[jlrftype7]

[SGKent]

thank you all. Picked up the Icon this morning at HF, it is 300 lumens more than the Braun. Bad side of it, is it does not come with a charging adapter and it is picky as to what it will charge from. I have it charging on a 1amp 5V usb right now. I will probably pick up one or more of the other ones mentioned, because sometimes one light will work for a spot and another will not. I realized that I can take an old gear or piece of metal plate, sit it on the floor and stand one of the magnet ones up on it. My corded ones are going goodbye today. I am so tired of fighting with the cords, and the cords rolling the lights over etc.. I think part of that issue is the cheap cords that come on many things now have a cheap vinyl or PVC jacket, and it is too stiff so it tries to control the light. The older lights from 20 - 25 years ago had rubberized jackets that were flexible, and that allowed the cords to be bumped without the light rolling over etc..

It is amazing how much lights have changed - I had no idea but like all the ones shown. Maybe get one of each and start a collection.
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"Most people don't know what they're doing, and a lot of them are really good at it." - George Carlin

[Wildthings]

I used a real miner's cap lamp for decades. Not necessaarity on my head, but just positioned to light up what I wanted lit up well. The light was very tough and was extremely dependable. Not cheap as it was $100 when I bought it 50 years ago. If I was young I think I would still have a more modern equivalent as part of my kit.

[W1K1]

i had numerous different trouble lights over the years, but i find myself using a headlamp almost all the time now.
my go-to is the Black Diamond Storm 500-R Headlamp, it looks like hell from 2 years of working in, under, and around the bus, but still works great for me
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http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/jim_martin_engine_build.php

1973 super
1965 squareback 1500E
1971 bay window westy- subi swap

[jlrftype7]

[SGKent]

as I read the replies and look up each light, we all share the same issue. Seems that with a VW bus there are many things done under it that just are not needed on water cooled cars. I guess many new cars have aluminum frames and bodies, Fords especially so something like the forehead lights are needed on those because magnets don't work on aluminum.

I had forgotten about shop fires with those incandescent lights, and burns on the cheek or arm, back of the hands from brushing the steel. Yes it was a hazard. I had some fluorescent ones too but those ended up inside my glass bead machine until they died.
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"Most people don't know what they're doing, and a lot of them are really good at it." - George Carlin

[jtauxe]

[SGKent]

[SGKent]

[Wildthings]

[VDubTech]

This is by far the best there is out there. I own 4 of them and use them daily. The magnets are strong as hell, I've left one on a customer's car and had it come back weeks or months later still there. I wouldn't hesitate to buy this again and again. The hook folds down and snaps into the back and stays there. I've never used the hook end.

https://shop.snapon.com/product/Shop-Lights-(Light...nt)/ECFBP6
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First Trip in the RustyBus:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=279077&highlight=

[SGKent]

thank you
_________________
"Most people don't know what they're doing, and a lot of them are really good at it." - George Carlin

[jlrftype7]