Garage/Small Workshop Lighting Upgrades

Bigdave0924

Bigdave0924

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I am in the process of turning my garage into a workshop to be able to do process barn wood, hopefully build some furniture, and try not to go broke buying everything I need. I have a two car garage (22’x23’) that is a blank canvas as far what I can do. One corner has a water heater and the door to get in the house and I have two deep freezers out there other than that I am currently at the planning stage. I don’t mind spending money but I am renting. Currently this is a hobby but I have hopes to one day be able to sell stuff that I make. I am a carpenter by trade mostly specializing in remodels/additions but this is all for the most part fairly new to me. I have built cabinets in the past but that was in a legit cabinet shop with all the latest and greatest as far as tools.

With that said I am trying to make my small space more enjoyable, efficient, and ergonomic. The lighting situation in there is not the best. Right now there are 5 single bulbs mounted to the ceiling. When the garage door is open two of the lights are covered. I plan to get either a window unit or a portable AC unit when it starts to warm up so it would be nice to be able to close the garage door and keep AC inside. Are there any special bulb I could use that are brighter than a normal light bulb? I swapped out a outdoor light at the corner of my deck a couple weeks ago and was blown away by how bright a $75 led light was. I got the small one even and it’s like day time outside when it’s turned on. I want something like that in my garage but I don’t know where to look or how much this is going to cost me and I have more tools to buy.
 
My old garage was ~14x22. I had 3 - 4' shop lights. I had replaced the fluorescent bulbs with LEDs. It was like daylight in there.

Since you're renting, you might not want to do anything too permanent. You could maybe replace some of the current light bulbs with screw in outlets and plug in shop lights?
 
This is something like the ones in my shop.


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Mine are mounted this way. On a hook with a receptacle to plug it in to. If one dies you just unplug it take it down and replace. Better than hard wired in my opinion. I have 8 in a 30x40. Gives great light but you still have shadows in certain places.
 
Schattenreiter said:
This is something like the ones in my shop.


View attachment 725270


Mine are mounted this way. On a hook with a receptacle to plug it in to. If one dies you just unplug it take it down and replace. Better than hard wired in my opinion. I have 8 in a 30x40. Gives great light but you still have shadows in certain places.
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The light I installed over my deck is similar to this. These would be sweet in the garage but pricey.
 
I went with linkable led 4 foot shop lights. Similar to these I just found on Amazon. Amazon product ASIN B06XGBKDKZ
Electrician friend got mine for me a little cheaper through the company he works for. They only require you to plug one up then plug the others into each other. I've got 9 total in my shop but the 2 I have over main work table light up entire 20x24 shop. The others I have over each additional workspace let's me have additional light when I need it.
 
GymB said:
You could try something like this if you just want a screw in. There are bigger versions, I got mine at Lowes.
View attachment 725259
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Diablos said:
I have a couple of these in my attached garage, they provide ok lighting

View attachment 725262


These are in the detached garage and are freakin sweet

View attachment 725263
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I have seen those but don‘t have any first hand experience. I may go this route at least at least until I figure something better out.
 
Diablos said:
I have a couple of these in my attached garage, they provide ok lighting

View attachment 725262
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I have something similar in my garage. It lights the whole area. I have another in the attic, and it does a pretty good job by itself.

I have my dad two for Christmas last year, and he uses them in a much bigger attic than mine.

Buy 5 of these, and for $50 you’re gonna have a decent amount of light. (Click pic)

Note: these are only 60W, so much less total wattage than the next ones I post.

IMG_6341.jpeg
 
I bet this 4-pack would do well…add a single of the other design they have, or buy two more of these and put the 6th light somewhere else.


4-Pack LED Garage Lights, 160W Garage Light, 16000LM 6500K Garage Lights Ceiling Led with 6+1 Adjustable Panels, Garage Led Light Fixtures, LED Shop Light for Basement Workshop Attic (6+1P 4Pack)

IMG_6343.jpeg

Just have to make sure you could handle 160W bulbs.
 
Any of the led "replacement" bulbs will brighten up your work area to an impressive degree. $10-12 for the "adjustable panel" single bulb inserts on Amazon is very much worth it. So are the florescent "led replacement" kits.

It is impressively cheap to upgrade the lighting. The most important thing to remember. The one thing that does matter in my opinion.

Is that artificial lighting, especially cheap, led stuff will throw off how a piece looks. Expensive lighting and especially natural lighting (taking the piece outside in the sunshine) will make wood look completely different, including stains and finish, compared to how it looks under cheap led lighting.

Cheap LED stuff is awesome for light to make cuts and such. But it does, can and will change how a finished piece looks in the shop versus in a customers home.
 
Buy the 4’ LED shop lights mentioned above that are cord connected. They are linkable as well with a receptacle on the opposite end where the cord is attached. Then buy a couple mogul base receptacles to screw in the existing fixture. The Amazon price $44. Go to a Re-store (Habitat). Most of these stores sell the product for $28. It will not be the cleanest look but you can take them with you easily if you move.

Note: If you have a light fixture with screw in base rated for 60 watts should you put in higher watt bulbs? Think about it. Also note equivalent lighting is not the same as true rated light, ex: package says 150 watt comparison but the actual power used is 15 watts.
 
Another vote for the 4 ft linkable leds! I've used them in a basement woodworking shop and a garage. For the money they cant be beat. Linkable and can be hardwired or plugged in. I even made a pvc attachment to a tripod and attach them to the hood of a car for engine work.
 
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