ModelRailroadForums.com is a free Model Railroad Discussion Forum and photo gallery. We cover all scales and sizes of model railroads. Online since 2002, it's one of the oldest and largest model railroad forums on the web. Whether you're a master model railroader or just getting started, you'll find something of interest here.
A weighted base would have to be pretty wide, heavy, and hefty. This lamp is heavy. Shipping weight was about 8-10 pounds.
I screwed a piece of 1x4 scrap to my layout table and then clamped the lamp to it. The clamp will accept a board slightly less than 2½ inches thick.
I made a base for my old lamp out of a pipe flange and a ½ inch galvanized pipe nipple. I still had to fasten the pipe flange to the table with screws.
I have 1 that's a little different. Mine is round w/a florescent lite built in. Mine had a post into a C-clamp. I took the clamp off & drilled a 1/2" hole in my workbench & stuck it in the hole. Mine was $39.95 at a Harbor Freight store.
Most of these are made pretty similar, they use a post (~3/8" dia) that goes into the clamp. In many cases, they are sold with an optional weighted base, which can also be made out of anything heavy enough with the appropriate hole drilled in it.
We used to use them at a former place of work, we drilled a hole in the workbench to more securely mount it. iirc, we also placed a metal plate as a wear surface and somehow clamped the post under the table to prevent it from coming out, but all that's probably overkill for us hobbyists!
Yes they are handy. I use a different style with separate magnifier and lamp. Couldn't live without it!
I like the large square shape of the magnifier and the lamp arrangement ii that one, Mikey. I've got a small magnifier lamp but need a bigger one for my latest project. Looks like that on will fit the bill nicely.
