Customer Reviews

DELTA 25-869 14-Inch Goose Neck Magnetic Base Mount Lamp Attachment with 8-Foot Cord

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If the magnetic base on this light were twice as strong, it would be worth owning and deserve a high rating. As it turns out, the magnetic base is far too weak for many of the applications that this light is intended for. Here are some things I tried with this light:

1. Standing upright on a cast iron table (such as a tablesaw) - This thing nearly jumped out of my hand to stick to my tablesaw.

2. Attaching to the side of my drill press - Basically the magnet would not hold the light in this position. Only if I flexed the neck so the lamp itself hung straight down would it even hold itself to the side of the drillpress - and then it was so wobbly that I was afraid to turn on the press for fear that the light would slide right off...

3. Hanging straight down from a metal plate on the ceiling - This light will support itself in this manner so long as nothing bumps it, in which case the magnet gives up and the whole thing falls down.

So, I have to say that either I got a bad magnet or this tool is not worth owning, or both. Since a clamp on light will do everything that this can do and more - I don't recommend that you buy one of these!

The first and foremost thing I checked was that it only takes a 40 watt bulb. Which puts just enough light to help and not quite enough if you have a bright shop. The other thing I noticed is that I went through my first light bulb very quick when I had it on the bandsaw. I think the vibration killed the bulb (get a light bulb for fans?), but since I moved it over to my drill press, the light bulb has lasted a bit longer. I haven't had any noticable issues with the magnet, it's strong enough to hold the lamp, but nothing else.

I ordered this magnetic lamp with the intention of using it with a newly purchased Jet Bandsaw. The magnet is strong enough to hold the base to the upper wheel cover, but only with the lamp hanging down. If the flexible arm is angled to the side or up, the base rotates or slips and will not hold its position. This product might work better if the surface to which it is attached is rough rather than the type of smooth painted surface one finds on the Jet saw. Save your money. This one is a dud.

I like this light for the fact that you can remove the base and use it to directly mount the unit on a homemade bracket or mounting hole on your tools. I found the magnet was not as strong as i would like, but by mounting it directly on my DP with a homemade bracket (connected to the bolts used for mounting the motor) it works great, not utterly perfect, but better than any other light of ths nature.

Well made, strong magnet, nice flexible gooseneck, just what I needed to shed some light on my bandsaw. It makes a big difference in work efficiency to have a focused light on your workpiece. Highly recommended.

Delta Magnetic Base Shop Light

Cons:

- Since the magnet isn't as strong as it should be, the lamp only holds well on an absolutely FLAT steel surface or on horizontal & flat cast iron. It holds quite well on the top cover plate of a drill press. The large pulley-door on my band-saw is slightly curved, and the lamp won't hold at all there. Mount on the side of a band-saw or drill-press, even if flat, and the weight of the lamp shade will [eventually] rotate the lamp downward on its base. If that's where you need a lamp, you could remove the lamp-base and make a custom bracket or put it in a mounting hole; or, buy something else.

Pros:

- The goose-neck mechanism, lamp shade, and switch, work well. I've owned similar Delta lamps (non-magnet) for a dozen years and their flexible necks still work.

- Delta recommends a 40 watt A-15 appliance bulb, but a 50 watt PAR20 flood is a much better choice. (See Customer Images.) 30 watt PAR20 flood bulbs also work well. A standard 13 watt compact florescent bulb (equivalent to a 60 watt incandescent bulb), fits, but extends beyond the shade a bit. Sylvania's 13-watt Compact Fluorescent Micro Mini bulbs are small enough not to poke out. Most regular incandescent bulbs also extend beyond the shade, so the glare can be distracting, which the last thing you need while working with shop tools.


March 1, 2009 update:

I was researching round magnets so as to replace the one on the lamp base - and decided to test Delta's magnet. It could pick up a 20 pound York weightlifting plate, but couldn't pick up a 25 pound plate. I noticed that Delta put aluminum foil [duct] tape on the bottom of the magnet; I peeled it off and tried again. This time, the Delta magnetic base easily picked up a 25 pound plate. Without that shiny foil, the lamp also stays put on the flat side of a drill-press without the lamp shade rotating down. Presumably, the foil is there to protect a painted metal surface from scratches, but without the aluminum interfering with the magnet, it's a much better product.

One of the small pleasures in life - adequate lighting! I find this very helpful for a number of tools. Get one - you'll like it.

The lamp rating of this light is something like 30 watts, not very bright unless you can find a reflector bulb that will fit, and the magnetic base, while it mounts firmly to a cast iron table top, doesn't hold on the thin sheet metal of a band saw's wheel covers, the most logical mounting place on a band saw. I find that I only use it on the drill press with its cast iron head.

First off, I spent (wasted, actually) a great amount of time looking for this type of lamp online from a GREAT many retailers.. Even here on Amazon, I had to search for it using Delta's Part #, instead of "goose neck lamp".. But I persevered and was rewarded for my efforts.. Most other lamps w/flexible necks are only partially flexy.. They are RIGID for about half of their length, whereas this lamp's neck is completely flexible. The magnetic base has a very strong grip as well, so it doesn't flop or twist about once you attach it. In addition, it cost MUCH less to acquire it from Amazon rather than from my local retailer..

I would prefer this lamp to allow the use of a standard size bulb, up to 100 watts.