Reading Lamp that Accepts 100 Watt Incandescent Bulb

August 16, 2018 5:19 AM

I like to read in the evening with an amber light. For various reasons, amber LED light bulbs won't work for me. I need 100 watts of amber to see clearly, and my challenge is that all the desk lamps I've run across specific 60 watt maximum (and I've found out the hard way that they mean what they say). Would appreciate any tip on a good quality reading light that might work. Thx.
posted by Jon44 to Home & Garden (7 answers total)

Not necessarily attractive, but maybe something like this ceramic-base clamp-on work light? If you're using it at a desk, you could install an anchor point on the wall to attach the clamp to.
posted by The Deej at 5:34 AM on August 16, 2018 [1 favorite]

You would want to look up how reliable they are but assuming you're in the US lampsplus.com has more than a few. I got there by googling for 'lamps for readers.'
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 5:53 AM on August 16, 2018 [1 favorite]

I was going to suggest a vintage brass Anglepoise upgraded to ceramic hot-condition fittings, but anything using that size of incandescent close to reading materials would be a major fire risk. If there were to be a fire or injury, your insurance would likely nope out on coverage since it would be so far outside current code.

You can get long-life flicker-free incredibly bright (2000 lumen: ~ 125 W equivalent light output) amber LED spots and floods for snow vehicle use. You'd have to rig up a DC power supply capable of delivering a minimum of 24 W, which gets you into all sorts of fire code issues again.
posted by scruss at 6:03 AM on August 16, 2018

Two 60 watt desk lamps?
posted by flabdablet at 6:53 AM on August 16, 2018 [3 favorites]

Not sure why this would be a fire risk, regular table lamps can commonly be found at wattages up to 150w. Amazon sells thousands of them. Ten years ago, this type of lamp would have been easy to find. Lamps that are rated for the higher wattages of incandescent bulbs are on their way out, but they're still around.

I think you may have more luck if you search for "drafting light" rather than "reading lamp" or "desk lamp." For instance, this site offers a number of 100w drafting lights, one of which may work for you. Those are all clamp-on lights, but if you can't find one that's freestanding you could just clamp it to some weighty yet portable object and go from there.

Alternatively, take any 60w reading lamp that you like and just buy two of them. Put them on opposite ends of the desk for nice, bright, even light.
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 6:55 AM on August 16, 2018 [1 favorite]

Maybe you need a library lamp with two bulbs.
A Less expensive one, but still very expensive. Maybe you can find one used or on Etsy.
posted by amtho at 7:15 AM on August 16, 2018

We have a 20 year old Ikea version of a 3 headed tree floor lamp that each take a 60W bulb and would get the light you need.

Also Tri Light bulbs are readily available with maximum wattages up to 300W so you might look for a trilight lamp that otherwise meets your needs.
posted by Mitheral at 7:29 AM on August 16, 2018 [1 favorite]