LED lights in my reloading press for about $20

[LexLuther]

The lights in the room where I reload are terrible for reloading. I have just a standard ceiling fan light in a small bedroom and I couldnt see what I was doing under the shadow created by me or the press. I should probably sell these, but I have decided to post it here as the whole point of reloading is to save money...

My next task is to make a set for a 550, can anyone send me a decent picture of a 550 looking up from the shell holder? Maybe one with a toolhead, and one without? Somthing like the 3rd picture below, I would really appreciate it.


Here are the pictures of the finished product


In this picture, there are no other lights on in the room.

[LexLuther]

Here are the before (or at least lights off) pictures









Here are some more details on how.
These are the lights, you can cut the string where marked, every 3rd light.

I ordered from this guy

http://www.ebay.com/itm/LED-Strip-Cool-White-5M-3528-SMD-300-US-FastShip-InDoor-/270782834666?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f0bea 27ea

The rest is basically layout. the lights are adhesive backed, the connections are soddered and all the terminals / connections are covered in shrink wrap. You can run them from a battery pack of 8 AA batteries (available at Radio Shack for about $3. Mine run on an adapter that I found that puts out 12V. I cut the end off the adapter and used its own wire for most of my project wire. I added an inline switch to the cord in back of the press, but mostly because I had it on hand.

[mpolter]

I liked it so much, I went and ordered a strip. It's dark enough in my reloading area that I can't see powder in a 223 case.

Thanks for the tip!

--MikeP

[grant22]

Nice job and well though out. I did something similar to the front of my Polaris RZR.

[1Fastrider]

Nice idea. I've got some spare LEDs from another project so might try it on my 550

[LexLuther]

The lights are directional, but I am thinking of adding a strip down the closest arm of the frame. The nice thing about these, is that they stay with the frame rather than trying to shine down through the toolhead hole. If someone will send me the pictures described in my first post, I will post a picture of what I make up. I have a 550 toolhead, but have never looked at the machine to see where the lights will fit.

[rmblaster]

Sent you some pics

[NoJoke]

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=620750&highlight=LED

[VCMike]

That is a great idea, I think I will order some, Thanks for the link.

[LexLuther]

Interesting link nojoke...I thought of putting it on THR but just didnt get around to it. The thing I like better about mine is that since these lights are directional, mine shine down into the case, even though my aprroach is lots more soldering. I thought about making these to sell, but I think I would sell it as buy your own battery pack or provide your own adapter and sell it for $10 shipped especially since 9 lights and a little wire will fit in a padded envlope, and I dont mind providing enough answers to anyone here to make their own as stated in the first post.

[LexLuther]

Made another for a 550, here are some pics of what it looks like pre-install

[BigBronco]

Thanks, I just ordered some.

[Breadfan]

tag

[Nirrad]

Awesome idea Lex! Thanks for sharing; going to order some.

[Lead Waster]

Very cool!

I use a clamp on BBQ light (battery powered) which I stole from my BBQ area!

This solution is much more elegant, thanks!