The importance of shop lighting

fast14riot

fast14riot

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Oct 27, 2010
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Today as I was working on several straight razors I have been doing a bunch of hand sanding. While looking for hidden scratches I remember there have been some recent threads asking about it. Now I'm not going to discuss techniques, or materials, or secret lubes that make the paper last for ever, but one thing is very rarely mentioned, the light source.

Many shops are stuck with just the traditional overhead floresent tube lighting, which is fine, but unless the roll up door is open it is often the only source of light. I took some pictures of the same blade in different lights that really highlights the difference.

First up is incandesant light, 100W buld in my drafting light. I use this to spotlight my drill press and also where I do lots of hand sanding. The factory grind marks on this blade are clearly viable, looks like tons of sanding to do...

2012-08-30131457.jpg


Next is a flouresent light. My camera died so I moved inside and put it on the charger to take these pics. The factory grind marks disappear, but what's that? Yep, some nasty scratch/scuff marks showed up plain as day...

2012-08-30131714.jpg


Lastly is natural difussed light. This is the most forgiving, hiding most all defects very well. This is why photographers spend so much money on good studio lights to replicate the color temperature of daylight. The blade don't look too shabby now, does it!

2012-08-30131907.jpg


I hope this thread encourages new makers to get some more and different lighting into their shop, and also highlights the phenomenon of magically appearing scratches the next day.


-Xander
 
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good thread. Thank you for putting that up! I've noticed seeing things differently in my shop than outside, but never considered doing a side by side on it. very cool.
 
Great thread, the photos really show the difference.

I like tons of lighting and moving from source to source.
 
Great thread. Somebody had accidentally left a pair of diffuse 500w lights by my drill press and I think that my precision went up 100% that day.
 
Lighting cannot be emphasized too much. I used to say you can't have too much light, which actually isn't true. Take a blade sanded to 2500 grit outside on a bright sunny day... ;) LOL

And like is being point out here, it's not just amount of light, but quality and variety.

I didn't have ANY windows in my last shop. The new shop has several and I'll be adding more. Natural light is hard to beat when it comes to seeing your work. My fluorescent ceiling fixtures are high output, and I have many task lights, most of which are a high-output, daylight fluorescent--- these are great for looking at blade and handle finishes! :)
 
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I once had a Journeyman Smith tell me that if you thought you had the scratch thing mastered, just bring a couple to the Blade Show in Atlanta. He said the lights in that place would show a scratch on a gnat's behind, especially in the JS/MS test/review room.

Robert
 
Great point. Lighting seems to always be last on my spend money on knife making. Like buying a diamond ring, always take it outside or to different lighting than just what the seller wants. Learned that 23 years ago before buying my wife's engagement ring.
 
I learned my lesson at the OKCA show. I had a nicely finished persian with a 13 inch blade. I had spent many hours getting that blade perfect. I pulled it out at the show and the metal halide lights showed all the scratches I had missed. I even had fluorescent and Halogen lights in the shop. Guess what I went out and bought when I got home? Yup a low bay metal halide. Some think it is overkill but I can see most all of the scratches. Now I just need to get better glasses..:eek:
 
I thought I should comment on one other point with lighting I learned long ago doing boat repairs, low angle light. That means take a light and put it on the wall shining across your bench. This will highlight any ripples, dips, bumps and scratches will show up like a comet in the night sky. I routinely have my drafting light bent around and shining sideways across my work. The more directions you can have low angle lighting the better.


-Xander
 
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