By Mark Clement
Okay, who let the Weeble on the jobsite? Who put a light bulb in his hat? Didn’t they used to be smaller?
These are all suitable reactions when you first see the Wobble Light, a 3-foot tall, bottom-heavy work light on site. But after you use it, you’ll quickly realize that it casts a good light for all kinds of low-light and no-light conditions. I used the 175-watt metal halide bulb model WL175MH on my jobsites and it performed nicely everywhere I put it.
On Site. The Wobble Light was perfect for lighting up a trim project where I was racing a deadline and worked many hours past dark. Even after the sun dropped, the Wobble Light effectively lit the space and my work. The 175-watt bulb casts the same light as a dozen 100-watt light bulbs—plenty of lumens for one room.
I really like that the bulb produces white useable light that’s bright but not blinding. It enabled me to see details well. Unlike many halogen worklights I’ve had, I could easily make out how well molding fit together—instead of the hard outline of my own shadow next to a Kleig-lit work surface. I also like that the Wobble Light casts its light in a 360-degree halo. I could spend time moving trim around the room instead of moving the light—then adjusting it. That saved me steps on site and I like that.
I also enjoyed that the light burns cooler than halogen, so if I was working close to it, say hanging a door, I didn’t feel like I had to don an asbestos suit to keep my skin from melting. It was an especially nice feature in warm weather during an attic remodel. Installing a skylight shaft through the space and putting insulation baffles in the rafters before the lights were roughed in was a lot more pleasant because of it.
Cool Features. Somebody at Wobble Light visited some jobsites, and it shows. The smartly designed features on the Wobble Light made it easy to use. First, there’s no cord, simply a receptacle. While this may sound pointless, it’s actually a great idea. First, you need your own cord anyway, so this is a direct connection. Second, it makes transporting the unit to and from site—and stowing it in the truck or shop—much, much easier. You don’t have to wrap, wrestle with, or untangle a lead cord. Having no cord saves a step, and that’s a winning move.
There’s also an on-board outlet on the unit. I liked it for plugging in the jobsite radio, air cleaner, power tool for quick cuts, or another cord. And the receptacle is housed inside the unit, so there’s nothing to grab or snag when moving the light around. Another saved step. Even if you have those mondo replacement ends on your cords, the wide aperture of the receptacle accepts them.
The easy-to-grab carry handle is also a nice feature. I wish the smooth side of it (instead of the ridged side) was down, but really, that’s about the biggest complaint as I can think of. I also like the switch location in the middle of the stem. It’s easy to see and engage—an improvement from their first models.
One note: While I like the bulb, the metal halide doesn’t like to be turned on and off quickly. It needs five minutes to warm up and 10 minutes to re-set if you shut the light off. It’s really no big deal if you expect it.
Tough Torch. Wobble Light is also tough. The receptacles make a positive grab on your cords and you can tug the unit around the room if you need to. Then there’s the actual wobble feature. Because the unit is bottom heavy, it "weebles, it wobbles but it won't fall down." It’s true. If you tip it over by dragging a gun hose over it like I did, it rights itself instantly without disturbing anything around it. And because the center of gravity is so low, tipping it is tough anyway. That means it doesn’t roll around in the truck bed (which also protects the bulb). On a painting project, I needed to move the drop cloth (and light, paint cans, etc) to another part of the room. Instead of picking up every item, I just tugged the drop cloth across the floor. A standard work light would have tipped over for sure. Wobble Light barely teetered.
If you do knock the Wobble Light over—or drop it—the guts of the unit are shock-mounted inside its rugged plastic body. Even the light bulb (which is easy to replace by unscrewing a few screws in the dome) is set in a flexible gasket and harnessed by a wire spring for protection.
All in all, the Wobble Light is tough and jobsite ready. At 3 feet tall, 18 inches wide and weighing 26 pounds, it’s easy to move and just the right height to both cast great light and store easily when not in use. And with a lighting range of 30-42 feet, it’s great on most of my projects. I can even light up outdoor areas when the company party runs past dark. Replacement bulbs and other Wobble Light models in different wattages are also available.
Now, if only the Wobble Light had cup-holders ...
www.WobbleLight.com, WL175MH, $190
Mark Clement is a remodeler and author of The Carpenter’s Notebook and The Kid’s Carpenter’s Workbook, Fun Family Projects! Find out more at www.TheCarpentersNotebook.com.
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