Mounting Lamps for Photography?

[cmort666]

I've got a couple of these type lamps:

which I use for illuminating my light box (made from plans posted here).

Unfortunately, the cheap vise type mounts with which they were supplied constantly work their way loose from the card table on which I work, even when I use wooden blocks to create a flat surface above and below the table.

I plan to buy a 4"x4" sheet of plywood to put on top of the table to give me a place to mount the lamps (and possibly other equipment.

What would be the best way to mount those lamps instead of the cheap plastic mounts which came with them? They have a spigot at the bottom which inserts into the vises. I was thinking of something which would screw to the top of the table with a socket on top.

Any suggestions?

 

[Tom K]

How about a block of hardwood with an appropriate size hole drilled into it.

 

[deadin]

THIS!!! ^^^^

 

[cmort666]

How about a block of hardwood with an appropriate size hole drilled into it.

I had thought about that a while ago and forgotten about it.

Actually rather than just a single block, A longer piece of wood with multiple holes would be better, since it would allow me to position the lamps fore and aft. I could put up a rail along all four sides, which would allow me to position the lamps pretty much anywhere.

Another option would be this stuff:

 

[deadin]

The only thing I don't like about those desk lamps is that they seem to be all elbows and knees that invariably get in the way when trying to get the adjustments just right.......

 

[Tom S.]

The only thing I don't like about those desk lamps is that they seem to be all elbows and knees that invariably get in the way when trying to get the adjustments just right.......

That is so true, and they often have a mind of their own. Flexible lamps tend to work better in this regard.

 

[loutent]

I use those lamps above my workshop bench like this:

 

[carpriver]

Have you considered use the LED lights, I have them in my shop, they replaced the tube lights (florescent lights). They give good color temperatures. I have them hanging over the bench in the center of the shop and with them on I don,t get many shadows

 

[cmort666]

Have you considered use the LED lights, I have them in my shop, they replaced the tube lights (florescent lights). They give good color temperatures. I have them hanging over the bench in the center of the shop and with them on I don,t get many shadows

I've heard that they give inconsistent white balance. Some Brits recommend the IKEA lights but say to buy them all at once to get them all from the same lot.

 

[rwsmith]

can we see a close up

Can we see some close ups of only the base?

Right now I see a flat metal plate, with a deep notch in one side to slide over the base, then bolted tightly down, to hold the lamp to the table by the edges of the existing base. Some shims on either side would enable it to bolt flat down.

If you flip the plate over and slide it onto the base from the front, you can set the lamp nearer to the edge of the table.

If you want to go with a socket, a pipe coupling or nipple welded to a plate would do.

 

[cmort666]

I went to Home Depot this afternoon and bought a 2' x 4' sheet of plywood to lay on top of the card table. This allowed the plastic vise mounts to have parallel surfaces, top and bottom, to grab onto. I still ordered a couple of metal vice mounts from Amazon, since I figured they'd be a lot more stable.

 

[Abbynormal]

Get som'e brooder lights with clamp on mounts. Make a 4' x 4' frame out of 1x2's, drape white cotten over the bottom and cheese cloth over the back, sides and top and mount the brooder lights pointing into the cloth.

Use 25, 40 and 60 watt bulbs and move the brooder lights till they illuminate the object you want to photograph

 

[cmort666]

Get som'e brooder lights with clamp on mounts. Make a 4' x 4' frame out of 1x2's, drape white cotten over the bottom and cheese cloth over the back, sides and top and mount the brooder lights pointing into the cloth.

Use 25, 40 and 60 watt bulbs and move the brooder lights till they illuminate the object you want to photograph

That's essentially what I have now.

I built a light tent from PVC pipe using plans that were posted here years ago. I use white hand towels as diffuser material.

It works quite well. My only problem was keeping the lights from falling off of the card table I use as a photographic stage. The vise mounts for the lights couldn't maintain a consistent grip on the table, even with wooden blocks underneath. The sheet of plywood I bought yesterday gives them something consistent to grab onto.

 

[Cyrano]

I have two cheap goseneck lamps which I point at the white ceiling. The bounced light is practically shadow free, and does not have glare spots on polished metal surfaces. I got two pigtail bulbs that are as close in color to sunlight as I could get.