I am unpacking my painting supplies

[KnowTheToe]

OK I have a new shiney house with a big basement and I am planning on setting up my painting station in the basement. The lighting is poor so I will need to set up new outlets and lighting. Any suggestions for good bright lights that don't distort color too much?

Also for my paints for miniatures I would like to get stacking carosels/ turntables for them. I have seen people use whie plastic ones but don't know where to buy them, any suggestions?

 

[Tewligan]

Go [ http://www.michtoy.com/MTSCnewSite/...ntier. I've got one and it rules the school.

 

[Tewligan]

Go here,
http://www.wargamescenics.com/Paintier80.html

 

[Judas]

Planters bulbs put out a good white light, not yellow, and produce very little heeat compared to conventional bulbs. Either that or get a halogen type bulb the screws into normal bulb sockets. Home depot/Lowes carries them.

They are called Plant bulbs or planters bulbs. They are blue when off, but emit white when turned on.

 

[KnowTheToe]

Go here,
http://www.wargamescenics.com/Paintier80.html

Exactly what I was looking for. It is more money than I would have thought, but when aren't hobby and art supplies.

 

[James Heard]

I usually try to find out the specs on most things I need, then hurry over to a Walmart or Home Depot or something to see if there might be something more reasonably priced that fills the same role as an actual art supply catalog bought item. Micheals stores are also sometimes pretty good if you have them in your area, they sometimes have pretty good sales. I haven't had much trouble with light though, whenever possible I just cart my stuff out onto my deck and paint outside or next to my window - so good luck.

 

[Painfully]

I bought my painter 80 at Gencon last year, and now I've got enough paints to fill a second one! Just remember that you can put way more Vallejo-style paint bottles in them than you can Reaper paints or citadel paints. It is yet another reason to go with Vallejo, IMO.

As for lightbulbs, I have an OTT-lite desklamp, but still prefer the coverage of a pair of desk swing-arm lamps with GE Reveal bulbs. It's a much cheaper alternative. A search on the web for full-spectrum bulbs will yield good results. I've used Chromalux bulbs, and while the light can be stunningly revealing, [like, wow! I didn't know my walls were so NOT white.] I don't think the price difference is worth it.

I also have a flourescent light with a magnifier between my two swing-arm lamps. When I want to really inspect my mini I always use all three lamps at once. With all those lamps running, it does get a bit warm sometimes.

I've been debating getting one of those headvisor magnifiers lately, but wonder if it is worth the expense. I rarely use the lamp magnifier as it is, except when I am painting eyes.

Instead of using newspapers under your work area, I like to use Tyvek envelopes courtesy of the U.S. Postal Service. Water beads right off of them, AND they are free! Just lay down a bunch of those (I cut them open to cover more area), and a few paper towels on top of that, and that's about as good as it gets. I actually tape the tyvek to my desk since I don't want it moving around.

 

[KnowTheToe]

Thanks for the input. I ordered the paint 80 thing yesterday and look forward to its arrival. I had been using the GE reveal bulbs and they seem fine to me as well. I am thinking of getting some hallogen lights to mount above the desk, but have to look at options and cost.

 

[Tewligan]

Good choice. The paintier really frees up a lot of desk space - I'm really bad about letting junk accumulate on my table until I barely have any free work space. Anything that helps alleviate that problem and keeps all my paints where I don't have to dig for them under a pile of blister packs and papers is a good thing.