TIL my bench light was making my work worse

A guy at the Seattle tool meet said my 5000K LED was too harsh for tiny parts. Switched to a 4000K lamp and my eyes don't strain after 3 hours. What color temp do you all use for fine work?

3 comments

3 Comments

parkera221mo ago

Man, I was in the same boat. I had this super bright 5000K shop light right over my bench and it was giving me a headache trying to see the threads on small bolts. Swapped it out for a simple 4000K bulb from the hardware store and it made a HUGE difference. The light just feels softer, way less glare bouncing off the metal. I can actually see what I'm doing now without my eyes feeling fried after an hour.

bettyfox1mo ago

Totally get this. I mean, I fought with a 5000K light over my workbench for months before my buddy told me to try something warmer. Switched to a 3500K bulb and it was like night and day, my head stopped hurting after long sessions. It's crazy how much that blue-ish light can mess with your focus on small stuff. Now I keep a little 4000K task lamp just for electronics.

sandrajackson1mo ago

Reminds me of when @parkera22 and I were trying to read a faded serial number under his harsh garage light. Felt like staring into the sun. We ended up using the light from our phones, which was way warmer and finally did the trick.