I bought myself a light for my tying desk and I cant seem to find a spot for it that I like :roll:. Where does everyone put their lamps in relation to your vise? I am right handed and use a pedestal vise base.
Grab72,
I think that depends on your fly tying set up. I have a Luxor magnifying lamp at my desk with a long articualted extension arm. I have a large rolltop deck and I’ve mounted the lamp base on the top right side of my desk where it is out of my way. I can (and do) pull the lamp/magnifier down to use us and push it up out of my way when I don’t need it. Before I had the rolltop desk, I mounted the lamp at the back of the desk for the same reasons. I think you’ll end up having to move your lamp around a bit until you find the right “home” for it and then you’ll be all set.
Jim Smith
My Ott light goes immediately to the left of my vise.
Now that I have it, no complaints, but if I had it to do over, I’d have gotten one of the larger models, with a long extension arm.
my light is to the left of my tying bench and directly over my vise
We often discuss which light, but I think that placement is a very important issue as well. It has to be a synergy between the type of light, the model of vise, your tying station configuration or where you tie and the tier’s physical make up. Sorry, but there isn’t a simple answer.
Worse case senario: Smaller light, big vise that rotates (Like my Baracuda) which you need access to both the left and right sides of the vise, small cramped tying station, and a tier with bear size paws. Best case would be a nice big vise with plenty of power and clearance, simple vise like a Regal, expansive work station, average size guy. I’m not talking about the best tying station, or best vise to produce flies, I’m referring to what type of situation is easiest to set up the lighting on.
I use one of the folding Ott lights. It is great for taking to fly tying classes and shows or demos but it doesn’t have a lot of room to extend over the vise. I also use a large rotary vise and need access to the left side of the vise for rotating it and the right side for my bobbin hand. For me I now, put the vise on the far side of the vice and have the light come back over the top of the vise. I have had it on the right and left sides and it always was in the way or my clearance felt cramped. Now with it behind the vise it is out of the way more.
Good luck finding a light that works with your vise, in your location with your body and comfort level.
Rick
I have an Ott light and a Renzetti Traveller on a pedestal. I put the light directly behind the vise since it’s too short to extend over the jaws from the side; works for me.
Regards,
Scott
The best location I have found is shining directly down on the top of the vise, but that is hard to do in some cases - with the Ott, you would just about have to put it up on top of a box or sumpin.
there are other options to the ott light, like the daylight brand thats on my table
Garb,
If you look back at teh thread about tying desks, you’ll see that most tyers will place a pedestal mount light to the left of the vise, for a right handed tyer, and align the light source above the vise when possible.
You want clearence for the vise functions, and for your hands to do the work you need. It’s best if the light source is as close to the vise as possible without being in the way. Most folks prefer that the light be below their eye level, so it doesn’t shine in their eyes.
Not all lamps are created equally. Sometimes the lamp you buy won’t work as is with your tying set up. That may require some adaptation. You can build/modify/rethink how the lamp is mounted to your bnech…put something under it if it’s not high enough, find a way to clamp or hang it, etc… Or you can adapt your tying to the lamp.
All of this is subjective and there is no ‘correct way’ to do this, only what works for you.
I have dedicated tying table so I put a track light track above it and installed four 100 watt halogen bulbs that I can ‘aim’ where I want them, plus two full spectrum bulbs to help with seeing colors… I aslo have one of the swing arm magnifiers. I like lots of light, and this works for me.
Buddy
Geez, how do you guys get away with just one light? In addition to the ceiling light and a standing light in the corner, I use a 27 watt Ottlite on the left of the vise, and an inexpensive architect’s lamp on the right. The architect’s lamps uses a 75 watt “daylight” full spectrum CFL bulb, so it produces the same light as the Ottlite…and if I had know about these when I bought the Ottlite, I probably would never have done so.
While I agree with Buddy that it is a subjective choice, your guiding principle should be the more light the better!
Normand — You don’t happen to have building plans or sketches for that beautiful tying and tool desk/bench, do ya???
Sorry if it’s slightly off topic, thanks Doug.
Thanks guys I havent found a spot that I like yet, and im not sure I like my light either… I will play with it more when my peak gets here.
why not post a pic of your tying area
I got my Peak in today, and works much better with the lamp. will post pics
I use two lights. The cheapest Ott-Lite they make on the right, and a Tensor light on the left. It gives me enough light. If I tie at night, I use both. If not usually I get enough light in from the window to make it with just the Tensor during the day.
Hi Garb,
My best advice would be to play around with the light and tools on your tying desk until you find an arrangements that feels right and lets you see well. Most of your choices will be easily diagnosed and remedied such as hitting the light with your bobbin hand or working in a dark shadow of material hand. Maximizing your illumination is really a question of equipment and personal tying style. What works for me may not be of much help to you. I also agree with Whatfly about using a second light. I’ve got two extension lights that I can lower right over the tying vise. You can never have too much light in my very humble opinion. Experiment! Experiment! Experiment! 8T 
garb72 and kelkay, WOW are your tying benches neat or what. Mine never looks that nice! Y’all take care, John.
Thanks. My tying area is not nearly as neat right now. I need to clean it up again. I have more room if the area is not so dang cluttered. Before I added the second table it was one big pile of clutter. I want to try to keep it like the picture, but sometimes I quit tying and leave a mess.
uh oh. I have the same light as Normand.
I have the same tool caddy as Normand.
I have the same window blinds as Normand.
I have the same feathers in the same sized bucket as Nortmand.
Looks like home to me.
But I bet I cannot tie as well as Normand.
Jim