Rastl Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 I was thinking over the holiday weekend. I was doing this thinking while I sat at a picnic table, near a lovely lake while camping. OK - we were also gaming but that's beside the point. One thing that makes painting difficult for me outside of my work area is lighting. I can clean and base coat figures elsewhere but generally find that I don't like the results if I try to do any more detailed work. So my next thought was of lighting sources. Most of the places I paint aren't near power outlets so the light would need to be battery-operated. It would also need to be on the small side so I could haul it where I needed to be. Anyone have an idea of where I might find such a thing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orcsoul Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 Ott Lite makes battery powered lights ... and they're pretty portable too.. I'd suggest shoppin for em offa ebay though as it's hard to justify spending that kind of money on a light. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ixminis Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 Extension Cord? If I go somewhere else, I take at least a 10' power strip and the lights I'm used to. I fail miserably when using anyone else's lamps and lighting... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enchantra Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 Ott Lite makes battery powered lights ... and they're pretty portable too.. I'd suggest shoppin for em offa ebay though as it's hard to justify spending that kind of money on a light. I'd be relatively careful purchasing ott-lites off Ebay. A decent chunk of them are probably stolen goods (Not all mind you). I say this because at least in my store we had to go to putting empty boxes on the shelf as people were stealing the ott-lites and then posting them up for sale on Ebay. Heck we've even had the display models which are fastened down to the shelving ripped off. As for the lighting sources to use while camping, Coleman makes a wide variety of battery-operated lanterns and other lights for camping. You might want to check them out as they would be cheaper than ott-lites. Most stores catering to outdoor sports and hunting would probably carry some of the Coleman products. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vutpakdi Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 You might try a headlamp with an LED. I've got one that I picked up for reading in the dark (at home) that is pretty bright. I haven't tried it for painting. I don't know how much the color shift is for painting. Here is the REI page with some headlamps. I got mine at REI, but the lamp is old enough to be a discontinued model. Ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rastl Posted September 4, 2007 Author Share Posted September 4, 2007 I'm darn geeky enough when I'm prepping minis at the lunch table at work. I'm NOT going to be wearing a headlamp! No way! And while Ott-lites are great they're also darned expensive. I can't see getting one just to take around with me and I also can't see setting it up and taking it down out of my work area all the time. Color shift isn't that important since I'll be picking my colors elsewhere. Is it so darn hard to find a battery operated lamp that has a more directed light than the lanterns?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cerridwyn1st Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 (edited) If you look at Michael's you can find a lamp that's intended for books and a magnifying glass that attaches. The magnifier is usually on an endcap near needlework supplies, since that's what it is designed for. This can be used for painting and I saw a person use one for sculpting. I don't really use mine anymore, as just about anyplace I would go that I would use it has outlets and I can use a portable magnifying lens. You may find it too small to be practical, but it's inexpensive enough that if you don't like it, at least you are not out a lot of cash. It can be run off battery power or a transformer. Edited September 4, 2007 by Cerridwyn1st Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Kutz Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 Check the tools section of your local hardware/home store. I have a half dozen or so different lights which range from spot to flood to lantern which run off the cordless tool batteries (usually tossed in with a kit). They aren't exactly cheap - but they will be more than enough light for painting...and when the batteries are used for the lights, they last for days. If you have any cordless tools already - I'd check with that brand first. That way you get the extras too that are usable around the house. If not, take a look at Stanley (they have a pretty good tripod light). Some examples. A lot of those are lantern style - but you also have several flood and spot types. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spike Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 Snake Light by Black & Decker My dad has one. You can actually manipulate the thing so that it serves as a desk-lamp, and it's very bright. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kristof65 Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 If this is for camping, or where you don't have an outlet available, I'll second Spike's suggestion of the Snake Light. VERY VERY handy, and positionable. I've used them in a desk-lamp configuration, hanging from an overhead brace, and even wrapped around my neck. If you're thinking of something that is plugged in, I picked up a rather nice desklamp with a true color halogen (I think) bulb by Hampton Bay from Home Depot for about 20 bucks. Not as nice as an Ott Light, but it provides decent light, and is relatively portable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rastl Posted September 4, 2007 Author Share Posted September 4, 2007 Update. I stopped by my local dollar store and picked up a clip light that has a bright white LED. At least, that's what the box said it had. It's also got a pretty solid flexible wire from the clip to the lamp so I should be able to position it as I need. Since I use a small metal case to cart my stuff I have a secure place to clip this while working. I'll let y'all know how it works out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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