Popular Woodworking 2006-11 № 158, страница 35

SYLVAN!A

OCTRON-SOOOK

These fluorescent bulbs are rated for 5,000 Kelvin, a color temperature generally referred to as "daylight."

(cooler). And a green light will make the apple appear grayish. Imagine the effect that lighting will have if a dark cherry workpiece is subjected to warm or cool lights. Will that "golden oak" stain look yellowish or greenish?

Fluorescent lights and incandescent lamps color objects differently. The cool and warm color differences are a function of wavelength variations.

Warmer light is often thought of as the light at sunset or the light from an incandescent bulb. Cooler light is the light of mid-day, an overcast sky or fluorescent light.

Degrees Kelvin (K) is the term commonly used for light temperature. The Kelvin scale is invaluable for selecting light to match your needs. Generally, lower degrees Kelvin represents a warmer appearance and higher degrees Kelvin represents a cooler look.

Shadow, Reflection, Contrast

The amount of light required to perform a task is directly related to a person's age. At the age of 40, the light requirement is three times greater than that required for a 10 year old. At the age of 60, the light needed is 15 times

that needed for a 10 year old.

In some shops, work-area illumination requires careful light placement so that the area is shadow-free. Generally, it's best to locate light fixtures so that light falls directly over a work area. If there are numerous fluorescent lights throughout a work area, the diffuse light should limit shadowing. Flat lighting can be beneficial to a cabinetmaker wanting to see layout lines clearly. However, flat lighting isn't as useful for woodcarving. Lighting that is 45° to 90° to the carving will create better and more useful shadows that enhance the carving process.

A simple way to brighten the workbench is by clamping an articulated lamp on the corner of the workbench. This gives a spotlight effect, which is ideal for detail work.

Remember: the closer light is to the work area the stronger the shadows. The opposite is also true: the more dis

tance between light and work area, the weaker the shadows.

Types of Lamps

There are three main workshop types of lights: tungsten-filament bulbs, halogen lamps and fluorescent lighting.

Tungsten-filament Bulbs

These come in clear, frosted or tinted glass producing warm natural tones. Clear bulbs produce bright and more contrasting light. Frosted bulbs produce diffuse light and tinted bulbs add diffuse warmth to the environment. Spotlights and floodlights are also tungsten bulbs. They are cone shaped with front lenses that either focus or diffuse the light. Light travels outward from spotlights and floodlights in a cone-shaped form and the area of this cone of light with the greatest candlepower is referred to as the beam angle. Generally, beam angle is 15° to 25° for spotlights and

This articulated lamp fits into dog holes on Editor Chris Schwarz's bench and can be moved as necessary for detail work.

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