Best Work Light For Welding

Precision is a key aspect of welding. If you can’t see what you’re welding, there’s a big chance of messing up and ruining the entire project. That’s why a good work light is essential for this type of work.

In this article, I will go through different types of work lights and leave you to decide which one is most appropriate for your work. Just kidding, there’s a buyer’s guide at the end where I’ll help you with that too.

Best Rechargeable Construction Light

Sometimes you may find yourself in a situation where there are no available outlets, or you simply need to move too far away from one. That’s why it’s good to always keep a battery-powered light source on hand.

Trongle 30W LED Rechargeable X2

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This is probably the best bargain for an all-around work light ever. For less than $30 you get two battery-powered work lights. They come with four rechargeable batteries that you can charge without ever taking them out because there’s a micro USB port.

Now, this is a cool feature! Next to the micro USB port, there’s a USB outlet that you can use to charge any device, so the work light can actually work as a power bank. If you find yourself in a situation where you can’t recharge the batteries, you can use four regular AA batteries instead.

The 30W LED lights produce 2,000 Lumen, which essentially replaces a 300W halogen light bulb.

There are three different lighting options: full power, low light, and SOS flashing. This makes these lights very versatile, and even possible lifesavers.

They meet the IP65 waterproof rating, so they can be used in the rain without trouble. The plastic that these lamps are made of is also corrosion and impact resistant. The handle on the backside can move 180° and can be adjusted any way you want. This means you can hang the work light, set it on a flat surface, or hold it in your hand.

The only drawback about this product is the battery life. Although the manufacturer claims the light will work for 2 hours or more at full power, users report that it actually lasts about an hour. In low brightness, it will last around 2.5 hours.

Pros:

  • Rechargeable batteries;
  • Regular AA can be used instead;
  • Works as a power bank;
  • Waterproof;
  • Very versatile;
  • Great value for the money.

Cons:

  • Rechargeable batteries only last about an hour on full power.

Best Standard Lighting Source

If you (like many others) have simply turned your garage into a shop, then you most likely have a standard E26 light outlet on the ceiling. This nifty gadget is designed specifically with that in mind. Even one of these is enough to lighten up a large shop so that you don’t even need additional lighting.

Bapro 60W LED Garage Light

This is a great solution if you have just a standard E26 light outlet in your welding shop. It’s super bright and includes three adjustable panels, so you can lighten up a large area. The panels move 90° so you can aim them in the desired direction.

The lamp is made from polycarbonate, ABS plastic, and aluminum, so it’s quite sturdy. In fact, this product meets the requirements for FCC, RoHS, and CE quality certificates.

You can choose between a 60W and a 100W lamp. The 60W led light produces 6,100 Lumen, which is equal to a 300W incandescent light bulb. The 100W lamp produces 11,000 Lumen, and 6,500 Kelvin, giving out a daylight white saturation.

You can choose between three different models: a standard E26 base, the same one but with a motion sensor, and one with a plug instead of an E26 base.

The manufacturer has very good customer service, so you can contact them for any issues you might experience.

The only drawback that seems to come up is with the motion sensor. It tends to detect the tiniest vibrations and may activate the LED lights from movement in another room. Some users also report that it activates randomly even when there’s no activity in the room.

Pros:

  • Super bright;
  • Large area coverage;
  • Fits a standard E26 light outlet;
  • Sturdy design;
  • Affordable.

Cons:

  • Motion sensor is not too reliable.

Best Cord-Connected Construction Light

This is a must-have for any blue-collar worker. 

LTE LED Work Light 50W

This is a classic construction light design. The cage is made from aluminum and it features soft-grip handles. Adjusting the axis is done easily with lockable knobs, and the lamp can be set on a flat surface or hung, depending on the situation. The light panel is also adjustable and it moves 180°.

The work light comes with a 16.4ft long cable which is not great, but it’s better than what most work lights offer. There’s a switch about a foot down the cable so you don’t have to unplug it when you don’t need it anymore.

The lamp has an IP66 waterproof certificate, so working in the rain doesn’t present an obstacle (you can’t really weld in the rain though). 

The 50W LED bulbs replace a 400W halogen bulb, producing 5,500 Lumen at a 120° angle. The light shines with a white, daylight saturation with 6,000 Kelvin.

The only drawback about this product is the quality of the plastic knobs that hold the axis. The plastic is not too durable, but it’s unlikely to break after a few drops.

Pros:

  • Practical design;
  • Long cord;
  • Great coverage;
  • Waterproof;
  • Very affordable.

Cons:

  • Plastic knobs aren’t too reliable.

Best Tripod Construction Light

If you often find yourself working on larger projects or construction sites, then you should definitely get yourself one of these.

LEDMO Work Light with Stand

This is a 6.4ft tall work light and it costs less than $100 for the 50W, 10,000 Lumen version. You can also get a 100W, 20.000 Lumen version which costs around $50 more.

The LEDMO features a sturdy build quality. It’s made of stainless steel and the actual lamps are made from cast aluminum, while the handle has a soft grip for comfort.

It’s very easy to retract and disassemble the bracket. The piece with the lights can be set on a flat surface and it has a detachable handle so you can move it around easily. The whole thing weighs 8.8lbs so it can be carried with ease.

The lamps have knobs that allow them to move sideways, and screws on the side so they can move upwards and downwards. This means there’s an almost 360° coverage, which makes this work light super useful for working on a bigger project or at a construction site.

The lamps are impact-resistant and IP65 waterproof, so light rain can’t do them any harm. The whole thing is very durable and reliable, but if anything does go wrong, you have a 5-year warranty and great customer service to rely on.

The only issue that comes up with this work light is the quality of the plastic joints on the tripod. Some users report that they tend to break after some time, but because of the warranty, the manufacturer will most likely send you a replacement. The cord is only 6ft long, but if you’re a welder, you probably have an extension cord in your toolbox.

Pros:

  • Tough and reliable;
  • Waterproof and impact-resistant;
  • Light and easy to assemble;
  • Great coverage;
  • 5-year warranty;
  • Great customer service.

Cons:

  • Questionable quality of tripod joints;
  • Cord is only 6ft long.

Best Small Emergency Light

If you have a toolbox or a welder cart, then they should be equipped with at least one flashlight, and this one can also be used as a work light. Because of the magnet on the bottom and the foldable hook, this gadget can be placed just about anywhere.

Lmaytech LED Work Light – Flashlight

As the name suggests, this little gadget can work both as a standing work light or a flashlight. The magnetic base is strong enough to stick to a vertical metal surface, and there’s also a foldable hook so you can hang it. This lamp is useful for all kinds of workspaces.

Overall, the Lmaytech light holds up quite well. The case of the flashlight is covered in rubber for a soft, firm grip. The headpiece is made from aluminum, so it’s quite sturdy as well.

There are five different light modes: high brightness, low brightness, red light, red flashing, and front light. With high brightness, the LED lights will last over 2 hours and over 5 hours on low brightness. It takes 2.5 hours for it to fully recharge.

For around $20, you get two of these gadgets that come with a 12-month warranty. The customer service is very helpful and will accept any complaints you may have about the product. However, there are a few minor drawbacks.

Firstly, the magnet will barely hold the lamp up, so you can knock it off very easily. Some users have reported that it tends to stop working for no apparent reason after only a few months. The good thing is that if you have any problem with it, you can contact customer service and they will do their best to send out a replacement.

Pros:

  • Very versatile and practical;
  • 5 different light modes;
  • Very affordable.

Cons:

  • Magnet could be a bit stronger;
  • Faulty items have been reported.

Best Helmet Mounted Flashlight

This is kind of like a miner’s flashlight, but you can simply attach it to your welding hood or hard hat.

Life Mounts LED Helmet Light

This gadget can be mounted on hoods or hard hats. Installing it is very simple because it uses two thumb screws to be fixed in place. It can easily be handled even with big leather gloves on.

The flashlight itself is fixed with velcro tape, so it can be removed easily, and you can insert another flashlight in its place. This is great because even if the flashlight dies on you, you can replace it with any small flashlight you can find. The flashlight uses one AA battery, and the LED light produces 300 Lumen.

The focus of the flashlight is adjustable, and it can project over 10,000 feet. The mount for the flashlight moves in a 360° circle, but it would have been great if it also moved up and down. Another drawback is that it goes through batteries very quickly. The maximum you can get out of one battery is 5-6 hours.

Pros:

  • Easy to install;
  • Easy to operate;
  • Adjustable focus;
  • Moves 360°.

Cons:

  • Doesn’t move up and down;
  • Goes through batteries quickly.

Best Work Light For Welding: Buyer’s guide

Even though there are so many different types of work lights, these are some factors you should think about when choosing the right welding light for you. Of course, in general, it will depend on the type of welding and your working conditions.

LED Lights

LED lights have really taken over, especially when it comes to welding light. Regular light bulbs waste around 80% more energy to produce the same brightness as LED bulbs. That’s why all of the products on this list use LEDs.

Another advantage of LED lights is that they don’t produce as much heat, because honestly, there’s already enough heat from the welding arc already.

Brightness

Lumen is a measure for brightness. A rule of thumb is that you need about 100 Lumens per square foot for general lighting. Around 300 Lumens per square foot is bright enough for the actual welding area.

Type Of Work

It’s very important to know exactly what kind of work light you need. There are so many different types of lighting and each is best suited for a different situation. Some are useful for improving the lighting in your shop, others are appropriate for field work, etc.

Cord or Batteries?

If you often work at construction sites, then you know there are usually power outlets everywhere. Battery-powered work lights are very useful for emergencies, but because welding requires electricity (duh), you will probably have a power outlet nearby.

Conclusion

Hopefully, this article has been useful in your search. Let’s quickly go over my favorite lights one more time.

If your welding shop has a regular ceiling lighting source, then the Bapro Garage Light is the best choice. This “garage light” produces 6,100/11,000 Lumen which is quite bright. The adjustable panels also allow you to lighten up a very large area.

The No products found. rechargeable light panels are so versatile that everyone should own at least one. They cost so little, but you get so much. You can use them in any emergency situation and even charge your phone or other devices.

The best standard construction light for the money is the LTE Led Work Light. It’s lightweight, sturdy, energy-efficient and the cord is quite long. The light panel is waterproof, and it gives off 5,500 Lumen. You can’t really ask for more.

The 6.4ft tall, stainless steel LEDMO Work Light is the best value for the money when it comes to construction lights. It’s very sturdy but lightweight, easy to assemble, and can be adjusted to point in any direction. This is the best option if you often work on large projects or construction sites.

The Lmaytech LED Work Light - Flashlight should be a part of any worker’s toolbox. It’s a small, versatile gadget with a magnetized base so it can be placed on a welding table, stuck to a vertical metal surface, or hung because it also features a foldable hook.

I would advise every welder to buy a Life Mounts LED Helmet Light. Sometimes even in a well-lit area, you can cast a shadow over your work, and this is a perfect solution for that. Very often you will need to squeeze into narrow spaces or work at weird angles, and if you have one of these on the side of your helmet, you can just switch it on without even taking your gloves off, and there shall be light.