What is a work light tripod?

What is a work light tripod? Well, simply put it’s a fixed stand for work lights to be elevated off the ground. These work light tripods come in all shapes and sizes and have differening ways of connecting to their work lights. Some are designed for heavy duty work lights and flood lights, others are for compact LED work lights. Larger flood light stands need to be bigger themselves, so they can take the weight from a large site light. These are usually constructed out of aluminium, providing a sturdy yet light weight combination.

In this article we are going to take a look at what makes a good work light tripod and how it can benefit your work.

What other features do work light tripods have?

Well, let’s start from the ground up. How many legs does a work light tripod have? If you guessed three legs, then you’re correct! The word tripod itself comes from the Greek word for three which is ‘tri’ and the Greek word for foot which is ‘pod’. If there are any more than three legs, then it becomes a work light stand.

Most larger tripods have folding stability brackets connected to their legs. These connect to the shaft of the tripod and provide stability, especially on uneven ground. They fold inwards when the work light tripod is closed, staying compact.

Work light tripods also tend to have stability feet at the bottom of the legs, usually made out of rubber, or another gripping material. This helps the tripod to remain stable in a workshop, on site, or any other environment. When you’re set up to work with a site light, the last thing you want is for it to start moving!

Some tripods have height adjusters, so you can raise or lower its height depending on where you are working. If you’re a builder, or electrician working on a site, then changing the position of your flood light will be vital. With such dynamic jobs, you wont find yourself always working at one height and may need to change position multiple times a day.

Different thickness shafts

Most multi height tripods will have two or three different thickness shafts that are connected to one another. Usually, the largest piece is on the bottom, next to the tripods feet. The smallest piece is at the top, nearer the work light. To height adjust, a lot of tripods will have a screw that will connect to the side of the shaft and lock it into your desired position. Others may have a different system, with mechanisms that tighten around the whole shaft, locking the tripods into that position. The TRIPOD-SGL has this system.

How to connect your work light to a tripod?

Each LED site light manufacturer and tripod will connect in a different way. Its important to research whether your existing work light, or flood light will connect to the work light tripod you are purchasing. Some simply just slot over the top of a bracket, others screw in directly. Some magnetic work lights will connect directly onto metal plate tripods (like the TRIPOD-360).

Which connection type is best through?

Well, each have their merits. LED Site lights that sit on top of a bracket provide a quick and simple way of connecting to a tripod. The downside is there is often nothing to ‘hold’ it in place, which can lead to the site lights falling off. The other option is when the work light screws directly into the tripod, securing it in one place. This is the most secure method of connection. The only drawback is the time element, as it takes a while to fully connect the work light to the tripod.

Magnets are a hybrid method, with a strong magnetic bond, yet the ability to quickly pull off the site light when required. There aren’t really any drawbacks with magnets, except the stronger the magnet, the more force you need to pull with to take it off! As magnetic base LED work lights become increasingly popular, so is the need for metal plate tripods to fit them on. Some LED site lights will also have the optional accessory of a strong magnet, allowing you to adapt it for use on a metal plate tripod, or any other suitable metal area. One such accessory is the LARGE-MAGNET

Smaller Tripods for LED Work lights

Not all work light tripods are large and cumbersome. Some in fact are quite compact and are built to hold smaller work lights. These might be no more than 30 cm of the ground, but can offer some utility. In addition, they will keep outdoor work lights off the ground and therefore out of mud and water that may be on the floor. Whilst most outdoor/heavy duty worklight have some dust & waterproofing, its still important to protect them and keep them clean. Learn more here on how to keep your work light clean and here if you want to know about different dust & waterproof ratings .

Most work lights have a stand of some sorts. Unfortunately, this stand does not always position a work light in the right direction. That’s when a small work light Tripod like the TRIPOD-MINI can work wonders. This type of tripod works with a screw that slots into the base of a work light, providing a useful way of positioning your work light exactly where it needs to be.

Other useful features in work light tripods are wheels. When you are car detailing with High CRI lights, you will find a wheel very useful for wheeling around the car and spot checking as you go. The TRIPOD-SW is a great example.

Now you have researched work light tripods, are you ready to look at the best LED work light

At Unilite we think we have a pretty good selection and proven experience in this field, having started in the early 1980s. If you need any more information about our selection, please look at: unilite.co.uk or get in touch at sales@unilite.co.uk