I want to tweak the lighting in my shaping area. I just checked the archive and did not find what I was looking for. My question, how high above the top of the racks should the lighting be (I use (2) 4’ balast on either side of my area). I have heard about 4 to 6" above the top of your shaping rack. Currently they are at 4 to 5". I have a 12" wide shelf over the lights. I am shaping out of a single car garage. Which if I had to guess would be about 12’ wide. My last bay was 8’ wide with the same light set up and was perfect for me. Is the added width of the shaping bay causing the cause of my glare? What I am trying to avoid is the light shining in my eyes, but I also don’t want to make my racks so short that I am hunched over. I am not using an overhead light. I know a lot of it is personal preference, but I was just wondering if there was a standard? Thanks.
this is what i did… i would put the blank on the racks, then move the blank or lights until i got the desired shadow atop the blank. as far as glare,what watt. bulbs are you using? i made myself portable lights, the bulb housing will turn verticle for better storage when not shaping. if you wanted some ideas for these, you can just re-post. then you can space the lights out as needed for less glare.
I’m just using 40 watt floresent bulbs. Two per balast - total = 4 bulbs per side. I think it is the difference in the width of the shaping area. Thanks for the info.
I want to tweak the lighting in my shaping area. I just checked the > archive and did not find what I was looking for. My question, how high > above the top of the racks should the lighting be (I use (2) 4’ balast on > either side of my area). I have heard about 4 to 6" above the top of > your shaping rack. Currently they are at 4 to 5". I have a 12" > wide shelf over the lights. I am shaping out of a single car garage. Which > if I had to guess would be about 12’ wide. My last bay was 8’ wide with > the same light set up and was perfect for me. Is the added width of the > shaping bay causing the cause of my glare?>>> What I am trying to avoid is the light shining in my eyes, but I also > don’t want to make my racks so short that I am hunched over. I am not > using an overhead light. I know a lot of it is personal preference, but I > was just wondering if there was a standard? Thanks. What works good for you is fine, but my racks are hip high on me,38", add 3 1/2" for blank thickness plus nose rocker is how much of the deck that needs some side light across it. My lights are 53" to the top bulb, this seems really high to other shapers, but I have seen shaping rooms that the decks are very dark and not that much detail is visible. As for the lights being visible, my room is 9’3" wide and I can see my lights, but I am looking at the board and ignore them easily. Once again, what works for you is the best, trial and error.
What works good for you is fine, but my racks are hip high on me,38", > add 3 1/2" for blank thickness plus nose rocker is how much of the > deck that needs some side light across it. My lights are 53" to the > top bulb, this seems really high to other shapers, but I have seen shaping > rooms that the decks are very dark and not that much detail is visible. As > for the lights being visible, my room is 9’3" wide and I can see my > lights, but I am looking at the board and ignore them easily. Once again, > what works for you is the best, trial and error. Mike, you also might try some long strips of cardboard, taped as hanging visors to the edges of your shelves. If you experiment with their width you will usually find enough light on the board, and just enough to cut the shine in your eyes. I’m with Jim though I can see my lights, but I’m deep in concentrating on the foam. And I work with so many different thicknesses and shapes of watercraft, that bulb shine goes with my territory.