How much light do you think is enough...

[Malinda]

In planning my new glass room I am wondering this.

It's 15'x15' for starters. I think I am going to put a large table in the center of the room so I can walk all around it to work on projects, a utility sink on one wall, a kiln in one corner (near the windows) and we're going to have to rebuild a glass rack like 5'x6' for one of the walls also. So right now I have 3 windows all on one wall for lots of natural light to come in. Then I have planned 2 light fixtures for the ceiling, they're called pillow lights technically...I'd describe them as 4' long and I think it holds 2 bulbs.

So....with all that natural light and the size of the room do you think one or two of these pillow lights would be good? Oops and I also have a lightbox which is 4'x3' approximately.

Thanks for your opinions.....

[JoanFrances]

Malinda, I have several lights in my studio, which is almost the size you are talking about.

I have a 4 ft one at my grinder, a 5 light over the work table in the center of the room, another 4 ft light at the half way point and 2 different lenght lights over my work table, which are hung under my wall cabinets.  I also have 2 wide windows and a 9 light door.  There are times that I wish I had another 4 ft light on the ceiling

don't forget, as nice as natural light is, if you are going to work at night, you may want more lights.

Have fun designing the room my friend you have waited a long time to do that

[Glassic]

I would guess another 4' for night work, I have three plus the light from the glass racks + a long life daylight bulb. But, if I was starting from scratch with your room and the two you have I would consider a track just to get it right!

[Vic Rothman]

In planning my new glass room I am wondering this.

It's 15'x15' for starters. I think I am going to put a large table in the center of the room so I can walk all around it to work on projects, a utility sink on one wall, a kiln in one corner (near the windows) and we're going to have to rebuild a glass rack like 5'x6' for one of the walls also. So right now I have 3 windows all on one wall for lots of natural light to come in. Then I have planned 2 light fixtures for the ceiling, they're called pillow lights technically...I'd describe them as 4' long and I think it holds 2 bulbs.

So....with all that natural light and the size of the room do you think one or two of these pillow lights would be good? Oops and I also have a lightbox which is 4'x3' approximately.

Thanks for your opinions.....

DO a full floor plan and then see what type of light is needed. Too much is better than not enough. I have 5'x10' benches with an 8' fluorescent light over each. I installed a pull chain on/off switch on each light. When I solder I like to turn of the light to reduce the gleer on the solder.

[Judy K]

I am the wrong person to ask. I believe there is no such thing as enough light! Individual switches are always the best.

[Wayne]

In this small studio, I have two sets of 48" lights over the main work table (parallel) and one perpendicular to them over the light table.  The lights as Vic mentioned can be individually turned on/off by a pull chain.   The third light on the end is usually not on for normal work but is used for drawing and some foiling since it eliminates the extra shadows created by having lights in the first place!  One important consideration are the types of bulbs.  I use the GE Daylight series sold by Lowe's and Wall Mart and Home Depot.  They give the really white/blueish light instead of the soft white light most bulbs give off.

[nansea121]

I like to use enough light so that there are absolutely no shadows cast while I'm working on a project. The more light, the merrier your work day will be:)

[Wayne]

I like to use enough light so that there are absolutely no shadows cast while I'm working on a project. The more light, the merrier your work day will be:)

You can have a lot of light and even natural light and still have the dreaded shadows.  Placing the lights properly can make a lot of different and add quality to ones work day...

[nansea121]

I like to use enough light so that there are absolutely no shadows cast while I'm working on a project. The more light, the merrier your work day will be:)

You can have a lot of light and even natural light and still have the dreaded shadows.  Placing the lights properly can make a lot of different and add quality to ones work day...

I place the lights so that there won't be any shadows, lol. No shadows on the work piece makes for a great work day.

[JoanFrances]

I like to use enough light so that there are absolutely no shadows cast while I'm working on a project. The more light, the merrier your work day will be:)

 
You can have a lot of light and even natural light and still have the dreaded shadows.  Placing the lights properly can make a lot of different and add quality to ones work day...

I place the lights so that there won't be any shadows, lol. No shadows on the work piece makes for a great work day.

Nancy I don't know how you can avoid shadows, because even you're own hand can create a shadow if it gets between the light source and the piece you are working on

[nansea121]

You move and position the light overhead so that no shadows are cast. I have three 4' sets over each of my work tables, one over each grinder, 2 in the sheet glass area and another one over another smaller work table. I move (position) the overhead lights until I'm satisfied that there are no shadows cast.
For example, over the grinding table, if the light is shining from behind the grinding head, it will cast a shadow on the front of the grinding head. You simply move the light so that there are no shadows cast in front of the grinding head.

I like the lights to be directly above me while I'm working at the work table. When i patina, I like to do that outside - weather permitting, because the natural light lets me pick up any misses (shiny spots) on the soldered lines.

Once you get into it, it's very easy to accomplish. The ultimate lighting goal is to have no shadows while you work.
Have fun in your new studio Malinda:)

[nansea121]

Nancy I don't know how you can avoid shadows, because even you're own hand can create a shadow if it gets between the light source and the piece you are working on

I don't get any shadows from my hands because I have the lights directly over me, behind and off to the side. At Dan's work table, he has 4 sets of four footers because his room is relatively dark. So that light shines behind, over and beside us...no shadows are visibly noticable.

[nansea121]

Another thought...

If I get a shadow underneath my hand, that shadow doesn't get in the way of me seeing what I'm doing because there is enough light in front of my fingers with no actual shadow on the area being worked on.

[Kev]

I like the idea of track lighting...you can move them when you need to, and add more lights when you need them .

[nansea121]

I like the idea of track lighting...you can move them when you need to, and add more lights when you need them .

That sounds good. I don't have any tract lighting at home, so I don't know very much about them. Can you get bulbs for them that would be similar to daylight bulbs? I would think that florescents would be cooler and more econimacal to run?

[Malinda]

thanks everyone, looks like I'm heading back to the lighting company today for questions / changes....

[Kev]

I'm not sure Nancy, but I placed a few tracks in my garage and it lights up like a lighthouse. I have 10 light fixtures on it.

[ct4mom]

I have the track light in my room and I love them. They give off a lot of light and can be adjusted where you want it and they are economical too. I dont like working at night but with these lights it makes it feel light day time.

[JoanFrances]

Question... do you mean that instead of the 4ft lights, you have track lights, or do you have both.

They sound like the way to go.  What size watts do you have for the bulbs?  And can you turn some off if you don't need all off them?  Oh, how many lights can be put on one track system?

Sorry, I guess that is more than just 1 question LOL

[Anne]

I agree with Nancy, the more light you can have the better!  I also have 3 big windows in my shop Malinda.  Even on a bright day i tend to have my overhead lights on!  Like you I was lucky enought to be able to have my room built to my specs when we built this house.  I drew out plans for the shop a few times till I came up with what I wanted.  I even went as far to cut out 'patterns' sized for what my counters and shelving units would actually take up in the room and moved them around till I got the combination that worked for me.  I even had a sink drawn out  so everything that was going in the room was accounted for.  After I worked that out then I figured out where I thought lights would work best.  I have 4' overheads and I have track lighting over a long bench that also houses my drill press and my water saw - I turn them on when I need them.  The overhead lighting is over the cutting, grinding and soldering area and I also have a movable long arm Ott lamp that I can direct lighting with for grinding or soldering.

Everyone's shop is different and the lighting issues will be different too. Take your time with it, you'll spend a lot of time there and you want it to work. And the other nice thing about all of the preplanning is you can have the shop wired the way you want it.  Remember to include wiring close to or on your work bench for your soldering iron, extra lights, maybe a radio?? and your fume trap -anyway you get the drift - you'll probably need a power bar there.

I loved this part of putting my shop together! It was such a treat to be able to plan it all out, right down to the kitchen sink and counter beside that to dry all those new goodies on!  Have a great time!