One of the surprising interactions that result from an online column in a Woodworking Magazine is that sometimes a distributor of woodworking tools or supplies will approach me to offer to send me an item.
Unpacking the Lightview Pro and assembling it
Brightech was kind enough to give me a hand in selecting a lamp from their extensive selection of tall stationary, desk and mobile lamps. The Lightview Pro Magnifying glass with LED Floor Lamp and Rolling Base Stand Black, with a light spectrum ranging from 4000K to 6600K, was the best for my type of activity. It would satisfy both my current and future needs, as well as my curiosity about the new lamp. A lamp with an integrated magnifying glass would be a great fit for a retired woodworker. It can be moved around the bench and used to light the table saw or band saw.
Shading Light
People who work in shops that depend on artificial lighting must shine more light onto the area they work in. This enhanced flood of photons makes life easier. In addition to a few ceiling bulbs, in my own shop I use a standing lamp with a 100W bulb and a portable desk lamp from Ikea. These lamps are used primarily to light my bench. Our school has pendent light elements above our benches and fluorescent lights on the ceiling. The Lightview Pro, which is 9W LED and 800 lumens brighter than my 100W standing lamp, is comparable to my 60W incandescent bulbs. Therefore the Lightview Pro cannot replace my main bench light but rather it can become a task light to help during close up activities such as chiseling, detail and dovetail work, hand tool tuning and more.
A portable and articulated standing lamp will certainly help with all of your detail work around the shop, but it can be of assistance in so many more chores including serving as the perfect lamp for your drawing table.
Light spectrum
Lightview Pro’s unique feature is its ability to adjust its temperature and light intensity. In other words you can control, to a degree, the strength as well as the warmth or coolness of the light that the ring of LED bulbs omits. In effect, the lamp has two dimmers: One for controlling the cool white light and the other for the warm yellow light. The user can decide how much light they want to emit. For people like me, who dont like to work under white light and prefer a bulb that produces white-yellow or warm white light, this feature is really an advantage. Controlling the temperature of the light is important in paint jobs, as well as for those who need to work with veneers and finishes.
The amount of warm or cool light is increased/ decreased by pressing the red arrows. The cool white light can be increased or decreased by pressing the white arrows
Structure and Versatility
The Lightview Pro is an articulated lamp with a solid construction that is easy to set up. All of the friction hinges and structural elements are strong and made from steel. The tightening screws function well and the casters under the weighted base move smoothly on flat surfaces. I would love to have seen a larger version of this lamp, with wider casters, to make it more mobile on carpets and overcome obstacles like wood shavings.
Magnification
The lamp I reviewed comes with a 5 Diopter Glass that magnifies objects by 2.25x or 225% more than their original size. However, the company also sells the same lamp with magnifications of 175% and 3 diopter.
Conclusion
The Lightview Pro accessory is reliable and well-built. This lamp is versatile and can be used in many ways. Its primary function is to provide additional light near the bench. This can be moved and adjusted easily to suit one’s needs. The magnifying glass is a nice feature that can be instrumental in determining, for instance, whether blades are dull, checking the saw set and identifying that delinquent tooth that needs to be persuaded back in line, plus many other close view tasks that a woodworker needs to perform. As I stated earlier, it would have been nice if the Lightview Pro came with a stronger bulb and with beefier casters, but even as it is now it will serve me well and will enhance and contribute to my work environment and my productivity.
Recommendations for Product
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