could i get by with just 1 fixture on one side? or do i need 2 fixtures on each side? could i get by with the 4’ or should i get an 8’? sorry for the dumb questions, but my son and i are ready to start a 6’8" funboard for him. it’ll be our first board. and we pretty much have everything but the lighting. we only have 4’ overhead lighting. thanks and this site has inspired us to go for it!!
Isaac, You need to have lighting a little beyond the length of the board, otherwise you’ll get incomplete shadowing. Go with two 4ft. or one 8ft., and kill the overhead light. I did one additional thing that has proven very helpful: I installed the side lights so they can be switched on and off individually. It’s amazing how much more you can see when the board is only lit from only one side, especially on concaves. Have a great time on your new endeavor. Proceed carefully, and remember, even Da Vinci used tools to measure things. Doug
You can shape a board in the dark if you’re a real Zen shaper like a lot of the guys on this forum.
Much to my wife’s chagrin, I tore out my “garage” and put in a “shaping room” a couple years ago. I too found myself in Home Depot staring at the not-so cheap light’s, looking in my wallet and trying to find a better way.
On my first board I probably would have done just as well with only a couple four foot lights above. On the second I needed all the lights. If you’re just building a couple boards don’t sweat it – use what you’ve got. If you’re planning on appreciating or maybe even at some point learning the art of shaping you are going to need a bulb (or set of bulbs) roughly as long as the board you are shaping. Most rooms I’ve seen use two of the four-foot lights (arranged end to end) above and on each side. So your Home Depot shopping list looks like this:
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6 Lighting Fixtures Total, Two 4-Foot Lights/Fixture
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Orchid for wife (show of good will)
Get whatever is cheapest as far as 4’ vs. 8’. The idea with the lights is that when you have a low spot or a high spot the lights from the side will cast a shadow on the spot that you easily identify and fix. Your shape can only be as good as your lighting unless you’ve got Zen.
Good luck!
jer
The long bulb thing is definately the way to go, but…I still do all of mine using a $3.99 spot (the kind with a clamp to hook on to a step ladder for height) with a 100 watt bulb. Works just fine for short boards, maybe by two for longboards. Pick up the board and spin it around to light the other side. Absolutely a must to see the dips and wiggles in your rail line and bands.
I’ve shaped quite a few with gooseneck exam lights I got from a hospital yard sale. The goosenecks can be positioned to show decent shadows. They aren’t as nice as the 8’ side lights I picked up at a thrift store for 3.99 a piece. Of course, they had been yanked from the ceiling in a store and needed new bulbs and plugs but they work fine. I do 90% of my shaping outdoors and bring the blank in for fine tuning under side lights.
I found what Doug said is true, if you light just one side at a time you can see things that don’t appear when both sides are lighted. Good luck and have fun. Frank
Howzit Isaac, I buy my lights a wal-mart for $8.00 a fixture and they also sell 4ft florecent bulbs 2 for About $4.00. I get the 40 watt bulbs not the 25 watt ones. They’re cheap and work just fine, most of mine have been in use for 8 years now. You can even use UV lights in these fixtures. Aloha, Kokua
To everyone, thanks for the responses. We’re going to get our side lights and go for it! Thanks again.