LED light with magnetic base for milling machine

[Adam HarrisParticipant @adamharris13683]

An old subject I know but with the increase in availability of LED lights in recent years, does anyone today have a recommendation for a magnetic based LED light with bendy neck for use on milling machine and/or pillar drill, 240v plug, preferably with rubber boot over switch and preferably with switch mounted on lamp head ?

Edited By Adam Harris on 02/02/2023 15:04:40

[Adam HarrisParticipant @adamharris13683]

[Pete.Participant @pete-2]

Chronos and Warco both sell what you're looking for.

[Adam HarrisParticipant @adamharris13683]

Yes thanks Pete, there are some on Amazon too. Just wondered if anyone had personal experience of one that is particularly worthy of recommendation

[Martin 100Participant @martin100]

The one chronos supply with a halogen lamp is fine, I’ve got several around my workshop and as they use a proper wound transformer rather than an electronic one it can be upgraded to led (far better IMHO than getting one supplied WITH an LED) You just need a 12v led that conforms to the dimensions of the original halogen lamp, with no forward protrusion as it sits behind a piece of glass. I’ve a stash of Philips 12v gu5.3 8w 621 lumen LEDs (equivalent to a 50W halogen without the heat) that fit just perfect.

But the magnetic base is sold separately and not available at the moment so you’d need to bolt it down.

https://www.chronos.ltd.uk/product/dustproof-halogen-gooseneck-lamp/

https://www.chronos.ltd.uk/product/magnetic-base-for-halogen-led-lamps/

Edited By Martin 100 on 02/02/2023 16:26:55

[Adam HarrisParticipant @adamharris13683]

Thanks Martin – does the neck droop at all if you mount base onto a vertical surface and extend the neck out horizontally?

[Adam HarrisParticipant @adamharris13683]

I see B&Q are having a clearance on those bulbs you mention at £1 each

[Martin 100Participant @martin100]

No droop that I’ve noticed. They always hold position.

[PackmuleParticipant @packmule]

Hi Adam,

I wanted a light for the mill and on a trip to IKEA I noticed a clip on led light with bendy arm for £15 it had to be worth a try and it works really well.

Navllinge

prod no 104.498.91

Regards,

Bob

[Robert Atkinson 2Participant @robertatkinson2]

" Equipped with built in transformer for high speed transmission. "

Things that make you go Hmmm

Robert

[Pete.Participant @pete-2]

Posted by Adam Harris on 02/02/2023 15:41:11:

Yes thanks Pete, there are some on Amazon too. Just wondered if anyone had personal experience of one that is particularly worthy of recommendation

I bought one with permanent fixed base from chronos or warco, I can't honestly remember which without checking, they were virtually the same, it's what you'd expect from a good quality machine light, the neck is stiff enough to need it firmly mounting to bend with one hand, it'll never droop.

Do the ones on Amazon have low DC at the business end? I've seen a lot that look like they do not.

Do the the IKEA lights people mention have 24v dc at the business end? Are they made to resist water spray? They don't strike me as being suitable to attach to a machine tool.

[Adam HarrisParticipant @adamharris13683]

Thanks Pete and Martin – I think I will go for the Chronos one then, albeit there does not seem to be a rubber boot covering the switch.

[OldironParticipant @oldiron]

Posted by Packmule on 02/02/2023 17:28:26:

Hi Adam,

I wanted a light for the mill and on a trip to IKEA I noticed a clip on led light with bendy arm for £15 it had to be worth a try and it works really well.

Navllinge

prod no 104.498.91

Regards,

Bob

Agreed Bob. I have one of those. Works well. Also have a Chinese one from Ebay on the lathe has worked ok for the last 18 months or so.

regards

[Clive HartlandParticipant @clivehartland94829]

My Ikea magnetic light reacts to the machine vibrations and slowly reclines downards.

[Anonymous]

I found that lights attached to the mill inevitably got in the way at some point. I now have two small ceiling-mounted spotlights aimed at the machining point and I'm much happier with those. I also have them over the lathe and benches.

[Ronald MorrisonParticipant @ronaldmorrison29248]

Look for sewing machine lights. Nice little magnetic mount with a switch, multiple LED's in a fairly narrow head. I have one on my mini lathe and may put one on my mill too. Cheap as they are, if one goes bad you just replace it, no crying over the cost.

[David George 1Participant @davidgeorge1]

I made a lamp from a strong magnetic base, a goosneck microphone flexible stem and made my own lamp from some aly tube and bits from scrap bin. I fitted an LED lamp and holder from local supplier.

The only problem is the swarf sticks to the magnet and in turn some damage to the paint on the mill head where I move it about.

David

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

A good starting point for mag lights( DIY) is the magnet out of a big speaker ! Same magnet in a plastic bag makes a good swarf collector. Noel.

[SakuraParticipant @sakura]

I use the ones from Lidl with a clamp or a flat base that I put magnets in. About a tenner and are brilliant.

[Adam HarrisParticipant @adamharris13683]

Any ideas where to get a suitably strong magnetic base which one can tap 4 screw holes into since Chronos don't know when they will be back in stock? Eclipse in Sheffield have a 60mm diameter disc which is the largest i can find (E1106) for £15 + vat special clearance price very cheap but min order £100 and somewhat overkill with 105 kg pull force (how would one move it!) and not really big enough anyway – would prefer a 70+mm square plate or 100 mm diameter disk to fit 4 screws with 60mm pcd…

Edited By Adam Harris on 04/02/2023 00:55:52

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Adam Harris on 04/02/2023 00:54:54:
.

Any ideas where to get a suitably strong magnetic base which one can tap 4 screw holes into […]

.

Probably cheaper and easier to add suitable magnets to a convenient base

The ones I bought from Zoro were £1.75 each, and have a holding force of 10kg

MichaelG.

.

Ref. __ https://www.model-engineer.co.uk/forums/postings.asp?th=184286

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 04/02/2023 08:16:00

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

Find a large speaker magnet, round or square – local dump ? It will have 2 plates maybe 4-6mm thick or more, these can be drilled and tapped.Remove the cone and supporting structure. GENTLY heat the 2 plates and remove from the magnet in the middle. One plate will have the voice coil core and the other just a hole. Remove any protrusions by grinding or filing from plate with hole. Reassemble and see that the coil core does not stand proud, if it does then cut back so as to be flush. ALL surfaces MUST fit close, so deburr any holes made. Remove the magnet and wind insulating tape round the core to make a tight fit in the hole then reassemble as follows OR Assemble using glue ( epoxy ) and allow to set, making absolutely certain the core is in the centre of the hole. Now pour resin through the gap to fill the void COMPLETELY and let set. WHY fill the hole ? Ferrous swarf or particles it will bridge the gap and reduce the magnetic circuit !

WARNINGS. The magnet will be very brittle DO NOT hammer or pry on to dismantle. Magnets of this size and power will crush your finger tips, so be careful. Noel

Edited By noel shelley on 04/02/2023 11:32:21

[VicParticipant @vic]

I fitted a spare mag base I had with a £9.99 IKEA LED lamp on a flexible shaft. The head itself is only about an inch diameter so it can be placed virtually anywhere near the work. I think IKEA have stopped selling the particular one I used but I’m sure they have others?

[Adam HarrisParticipant @adamharris13683]

If one stacks 2 magnetic trays (the type 6" Hilka type that hold screws and bolts etc) would that double the pull approximately? If so, they are only about £5 each at Screwfix and I could weld them together and weld a flat mounting plate to the top..

Edited By Adam Harris on 04/02/2023 14:59:39

[Roger BestParticipant @rogerbest89007]

I have two of the IKEA clip-on lamps. I like them a lot.

They have a plug-in transformer and are therefore low voltage. The head looks to be waterproof. They are very bright so ideal for localised work lamps.

Its also worth looking at annular selfie lamps, they give an even spread of light and also have a high output. They are often USB so 5V.

[Author]

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