Work Light And Cord Reel From PVC Tubing

I saw this Husky work lamp at Home Depot and really liked the design. Being an avid intructabler (is that a word?), I thought I could improve on it and only spend about half ($35) of what it cost at HD. I wanted to stay away from the tripod legs that are bound to brake off and go with a pedestal design where the base doubled as a cord reel. I like to keep things compact and self contained.

Anywhere I can, I like to design things with multiple uses.

Please checkout this new instructable and rate it.

Thanks

Step 1 Assemble The Parts

I used:
1-piece of 48" x 4" black PVC drain pipe
1-piece of 24" x 3" black PVC drain pipe
2-3" pipe caps
1-4" pipe coupler
2-plastic screw-in lamp bases
2-100 watt fluro bulbs
3' of lamp cord
3" of appliance cord with molded plug
1-1/4"x1" loop
1-2 plug receptacle
1-2 plug receptacle cover
2-pieces of 3/4" x 18" square plywood
Various misc screws

Comments

[mturner12]

Only thing that might be a drawback is that the power going through the cord holder might heat up if you use this for too long and cause it to melt all together. Voice of experience....lol Had a cord in a commercial reel holder and had it plugged into a light and there is a thing called "Electrical Magnetic Reflux" from power running through the wire and it causes heat as the power goes through. The plastic covering can take that heat if it is unrolled, but rolled there isn't anywhere for that heat to go so it melts and causes a huge short. I am going to built the light for myself for sure. Great instructable!

[mjd]

How about covering it with some welded wire fabric or chicken wire? You could just bend it to the correct radius and screw it to the PVC.

[mjbird]

I understand why you don't like the tripod base, but that limits the application to only flat, level surfaces. I have a quite hilly backyard, and if I need to work on something (like cleaning up a tree that fell) I need a tripod (with extensible legs) for something like this. Hmm.. that gives me some ideas...

[escapefromyonkers]

rocks work, or anything strong enough. i used to work for telco and use ladders all the time, Many of the back yyard runs were not level, and we rarely had the safety ladder levelers in stock. all safety films would say that rocks werent safe, but they would say they were out or budget was closed. a big flat rock , hustle up and belt into the strand, funny how the belts were just belts,nothing like a climbing harness where if you turned upside down , you would probably not fall out.

[graphicsman]

In your situation I agree, but I would just strap the lower tube against a tree or spike I driven in the ground. I think your example is the exception not the rule. Thanks for bringing it up.

[patron_zero]

The absolute best reflective material I've used in lighting projects is 3M™ Daylighting Film DF2000MA, this stuff is amazing, is 99% reflective and works amazing well with enhancing LED sourced illumination.

Posting a link to this material.

http://solutions.3mindia.co.in/wps/portal/3M/en_IN/Architectural_Markets/Home/Products/six/two/

[escapefromyonkers]

anyplace in the usa that sells this? that was an india resource and the usa 3m doest , it i haven't doesn't a link on where i could buy it and how much it cost

[graphicsman]

Thanks

[patron_zero]

No worries, also placing a Fresnel lens (flexible magnifier) can assist in improving light output.

https://www.inventables.com/technologies/flexible-wide-angle-fresnel-lens

[Eye Poker]

Those aren't lights they are Transport Pattern Enhancers.

http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20050225013642/memoryalpha/en/images/thumb/e/eb/EnhancerActivation.jpg/180px-EnhancerActivation.jpg

[Cervantes]

That is an awesome build. I knew there were thousands of uses for discarded reels that can be snagged by the truckload behind my local Graybar.

[bo88y]

To the best of my knowledge, the black plastic drain pipe is ABS, not PVC.

[bassdale]

I like your lamp and would recomend white Reflective Tape as my experience with it is once stuck it dose not come off.

[graphicsman]

Yep, I'm going to try it. Thanks.

[trike road poet]

Serious work light, solid design and clean build.  This is great quick patio light, backyard light, garage lamp or clean up the design a bit, paint the bottom, point the light into a corner and make a great indirect 'art form' lamp for a different sort of room light (like in a TV or media room!)

You have a winner here.

[graphicsman]

Thanks for the compliment, I like the uses.

[KeBaNeMoS]

I think you should add a cover to those bulbs as they might be cool to touch but they are not shock resistant.
Bending plexiglass is not all that hard if you have a heat gun . http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUTNcQlHiho as seen here. Just take a piece of tubing and bend it against that and you should have perfect shape. 

[graphicsman]

Well maybe. I'm not sold on the clear cover concept. I know they are not shock proof but I think most "workmen" will have good sense not to use it in the wrong conditions. If I went commercial with it, I'd have to have a cover. Thanks for the reminder.

[richms]

Excelent. Have you tried other reflector materials? When I tried alu foil it was much dimmer than white card was.

[graphicsman]

I used this bright aluminum tape that they use to seal ducting. I like the idea of a white reflective background. I'm going to test this theory. Thanks.

[Yerboogieman]

That would be cool to have a shop heater like this.

[graphicsman]

I like the idea.

[rsoneill21]

 Hey,

Cool job man. That really looks good. Keep up the good instructables you are making "instrucatabler".

Ryan

[graphicsman]

Thanks for the compliment.

[mawi]

Great Idea & design..... many thanks!

[graphicsman]

Thanks

[MechanicalMashup]

Brilliant! Thank you!

[graphicsman]

Thanks

[theRIAA]

awesome job!

[graphicsman]

Thanks