[vasillalov]

I've recently moved to a new apartment and for the first time I actually have my own garage!

The bad news is that the garage itself has REALLY poor lighting. The good news is that I am allowed to install any sort of light fixtures that I see fit.

So, what kind of lights would you recommend for working in a garage and detailing a car. I have 2 cars and I generally do a full detail twice per year.

What type of light bulbs? Incandescent, halogen, fluorescent, HID, LED, Low-Pressure Sodium Lamps?

I am looking for something that will help me spot imperfections in the paint easily and be easy on the eyes (as little blue light as possible).

Thanks for your time.

[Krells]

I use this:

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1...atalogId=10053

[x3man1994]

Get A shit ton of florescents, put them on the ceiling and walls and you will be good to go, plus they don't eat up too much electricity and run pretty cool.

[Bobble]

I assume you do not own the apartment so in that case I would only install the needed flourescents on the ceiling to properly illuminate the garage(depends on size) and buy a portable spot light to look for imperfections. Why install a ton of stuff you can't take with, go portable and it moves where ever you go. Can go from hand held sun lights to halogen work lights are previously posted depending on budget and you add a light later if need be. I own my home and I have a halogen work stand and hand held Brinkman sun light I use.

[vasillalov]

Originally Posted by Bobble

I assume you do not own the apartment so in that case I would only install the needed flourescents on the ceiling to properly illuminate the garage(depends on size) and buy a portable spot light to look for imperfections. Why install a ton of stuff you can't take with, go portable and it moves where ever you go. Can go from hand held sun lights to halogen work lights are previously posted depending on budget and you add a light later if need be. I own my home and I have a halogen work stand and hand held Brinkman sun light I use.

Nope, I own the condo. The garage is mine as well. My biggest problem is that I wash the car inside the garage and I'd rather not have too many cables and portable lamps all over the place considering the amount of splashing...

So basically, you guys are saying either lots of fluorescent or halogen lights, correct?

I am going for lowest heat and blue light emissions but at the same time I want sufficient light.

[x3man1994]

People might think you are growing something naughty but this would work great.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/T5-HO-FLUORE...item1c197d9273

[vasillalov]

Originally Posted by x3man1994

People might think you are growing something naughty but this would work great.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/T5-HO-FLUORE...item1c197d9273

Hahaha! NICE! I think that may be a bit going over board! ...I might end up doing 2 lamps on the ceiling, and one on each wall so that there are no shadows on the body panels.

[Bobble]

I'd still get a hand held light like the Brinkman Xenon swirl finder. I find foulrescent lights sometimes do not show everything.

[Ridonculous]

Originally Posted by Bobble

I'd still get a hand held light like the Brinkman Xenon swirl finder. I find foulrescent lights sometimes do not show everything.

+1 on the Brinkman. Aside from examining the car in natural sun light, the Brinkman will help show you imperfections that are usually hidden in other lighting.

[x3man1994]

Go with the LED one http://www.detailedimage.com/wax.php...potlight-P467/ you will be able to see so much more than you could with the Xenon one.

[vasillalov]

Thanks guys! I'll put some orders in.

[x3man1994]

If you need any help picking out products and supplies I would be more than willing to help as well

[Envious Eric]

http://www.homedepot.com/Lighting-Fa...atalogId=10053
I have 4 of them

http://www.homedepot.com/Lighting-Fa...atalogId=10053
something around 4300-4700

http://www.detailedimage.com/Brinkma...potlight-P467/
hand held for spot checking

http://www.homedepot.com/WORKFORCE/W...atalogId=10053
but dual lamps on a stand

[churchillps]

These are $18 a piece at home depot and work well in a 2 car garage (my garage is 2 car plus golf cart, so the far corner isn't lighted well). Make sure you buy "daylight" bulbs. Stay away from anything that says "cool" in the name (eg cool white).

[vasillalov]

Originally Posted by churchillps

These are $18 a piece at home depot and work well in a 2 car garage (my garage is 2 car plus golf cart, so the far corner isn't lighted well). Make sure you buy "daylight" bulbs. Stay away from anything that says "cool" in the name (eg cool white).

Thanks for the tip and the picture!

My garage looks A LOT dimmer compared to yours. It also looks like I will indeed have the need to go with some lamps on the walls as well to be able to see all the body panels!

[churchillps]

I considered lamps on walls, but after talking to some pros for awhile the installation sounded like way too much work. The overhead lights install very easily (especially if you have wood direct on top of the ceiling. i had about an inch of sheet rock and had to buy some different j hooks than the ones provided). Brinkman dual xenon for the very bottom of the panels/rocker panels should be more than enough. You cant tell by this pic because I have the iPhone camera focused on the lights, but you can see plenty of side panel with just 4 fluorescents.

[Bobble]

Seriously I would pass on the wall lights and get a double headed halogen on a stand like what Eric linked. You move them from panel to panel to get the correct lighting etc.. That with a Brinkman to spot check things works fine. I have a 3 car garage and only have two sets of light on the roof, plus the openers and use the halogen stand all the time whether it's detailing or maintence on the cars, bikes or boats.

[vasillalov]

Thanks guys for all your help! I'll take a trip to Home Depot this weekend and get some lights.