Wobble Light - First Test

Tools of the Trade, Sept-Oct, 2003 by Mark Clement

At first glance, the Wobble Light is a bit funny looking, but in use it's a tough work light that casts a good light for jobs that burn your midnight oil. The light's 500-watt bulb nicely brightens 360 degrees of floor, walls, and ceiling in a 200-square-foot area with a soft light that makes seeing detail easy. A fan vents the bulb's heat, so it's not like you've parked the sun in your workspace, and you can use it in small rooms.

The light has a few unique features. You plug an extension cord into the light, so there's no cord hanging off of it, and the prongs on the receptacle really grab the cord, so you can move it around the site easily and position the light and cord in one try. A smart receptacle on board provides an extra power source off the wall. The molded handle under the halo is nice, but hard to find. Workers could accidentally grab it by the dome, which could be tougher.

Wobble Light looks like a kid's toy, but it works. In fact, it's built like a Weeble Wobble toy, automatically righting itself if bumped or knocked over. The smooth, compact form is excellent for crowded rooms undergoing a remodel. At 20 pounds, you can tug cords and hoses around it without dragging the light across the floor or toppling it. The shape is even better for transporting in the truck.

Now, if there was a built-in radio and cup holders to keep coffees warm, you couldn't keep Wobble Light off the site. * Wobble Light. $99. 773-463-5900. www.wobblelight.com. Circle #206.--M.C.

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