Barbara - You've gotten great ideas already, but let me add my 2 cents on lighting fixtures, etc. For general lighting (not task) I have had great success w/ 4' fluorescents. In my home-basement shop, I too first had only a few single bulb pull cord fixtures on bare wood floor beams - wow was it dark...... To save the most height and to get the most lighting, I installed white 2x2 ceiling tile FLUSH, instead of the drop style which would have taken at least 3-4 more inches away. I then mounted the 4' (w/ two bulbs each) fixtures FLUSH to the ceiling tile that had the 'crushed ice' style reflectors, including the sides which emit great light in all directions. I put them only 5' apart. The combination of adequate lighting, a white ceiling and white painted walls works great for a basement shop. It's like you're outdoors on a bright sunny day - but not! I did more research when designing my new shop - above the ground. Go to a lighting store (not a Home Depot or Lowe's) that will sell a quality ballast that is quiet. (Joel Jones' observation is so true). They do make them and the cost is not out of line - and totally worth it. Also, for a little bit more $, you can get the 'natural light' fluorescent tubes so that the red felt isn't green when the lights are on... Choose the 'crushed ice' reflectors only - stay away from the 'honeycomb' style that will only direct the light straight down. Since I had more options w/ the new shop, I put 4' (4 bulb) fixtures every 4 - 6 feet apart. Visitors ask if I'm growing plants.... Have fun figuring this all out........ Dave Hulbert, RPT 414.315.7763 dave at hulbertpiano.com www.hulbertpiano.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://ptg.org/pipermail/pianotech.php/attachments/20091014/2dd3af6f/attachment.htm>
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC