Telescoping light for perfect sight
While reclined in the dentist chair one morning, I watched as he manipulated that bright light to put it exactly where he wanted it. I thought: "That's what I need in my shop!" But after a little research, I realized I'd need a second mortgage to buy such a fixture. So, instead, I came up with the telescoping light, shown, for next to nothing. By sliding one 48"-long PVC pipe inside another, I can place the light directly over any point along a 10' workbench. (I recommend centering the pipe over the bench to minimize shadows.) The inner pipe can be removed and slid into either end, and the cup hooks keep the cord secure and out of the way.
To safely cut the slot for the larger 11⁄2 " pipe, first mount it to a 48" length of 2x4, screwing through the wood into the pipe. Set your tablesaw blade at the minimum height needed to cut through the pipe wall. With the pipe down and the 2x4 up, let the edge of the 2x4 ride along the fence to make a straight cut. With the second cut, complete a slot 1⁄2 " wide, as shown in the illustration.
—Joe Dellaria, Woodbury, Minn.