I currently have 5 Ott Lites in my house. I have them for both of my machines, my ironing board and two for reading. My husband made fun of me for buying that weird looking light for the den so I could do handwork. Then one night he sat on the couch and liked the Ott Lite so well, I bought him one, too.

that's how they strike me, too. Plus, I can't stand the fat plastic rim around the magnifier, for some reason. So, what I've always done ( including my 4 years of low vision) is to use a combination of a swing arm lamp from Staples or similar that clamps to my sewing table or near where I hand-sew, with a slider dimmer, to fine-tune both position and brightness AND a rimless floor magnifier that can be pivoted to any height and position. The floor magnifier I ordered from a Lighthouse for the Blind just before the ottlite came out. It's brand is Big Eye and it has a 5" lens. It has a light, but I didn't care for the light beating down on the back of my hand while I was embroidering. Using the pivoting lamp, I can shine it anywhere and at any brightness I want. I find this solution to be most flexible.

Hugs, charlotte

I have 2 floor lamps, 1 table top, and 2 desk lamps that are Ott and love them! I just got 2 more desk lamps for mine great nephew and his roommate to take to college in August. I sew and read with them and they really help. I also have another floor lamp with the magnifier and have the same problem of it being top heavy but when I am doing fine sewing, it is wonderful.

I have 4 of them. 2 floors one by my machine and 1 by the cutting table. two table ones. I also bought one for my mother for her bedstand, so she can read at night. Used 50% coupons at Joanns, and 1 floor lamp was discounted.

I have the Ott portable table lamp....like it a lot.
Used a Hobby Lobby 40% coupon on it.
It is getting old but still using original "bulb".

I have a door stand one. I'm the doofus who set fire to her recliner with the magnifying glass, so cover it lol.
Personally I love AND hate it. I wish I could adjust the brightness, coz when embroidering on light coloured fabrics the glare is too much. Also when embroidering with rayons and metallics, too much

Sorry, floor not door

I have about 5 of them! The light is great! I keep a flip top one next to my couch on the floor hidden that my DH and I often use on a whim. I buy them at Joanns with at least a 50% coupon. Love them!

We have 4 OTTs….3 are mine and the other is anyone caring to use it!!!
I love mine but the last one I purchased was the portable/battery operated one…I was not too pleased with it. It did give bright light but the batteries did not last long at all! I wrote to Ott as I thought perhaps they recommended a particular battery and got a reply very quickly…and they were quite helpful. They did not suggest any certain battery but did tell me that I might want to purchase an adapter…which I did (at Radio Shack) and I love, love, love my little light weight portable lamp……..it goes everywhere with me.

I love Ott lights! I have had a floor model for over 12 yrs and have never replaced the bulb. I have 2 models that attach to both my sewing machine table and cutting board. I like how they don't take up needed room. I did buy one of the fancier models--silver--for reading and handwork in my bedroom, but I don't think they put out the same amount of light as the original styles--guess I like the light bulb that is in "bar form" as I call it. The light bulbs that look like the shape of a normal light bulb aren't as bright in my opinion. I have purchased lights at Big Lots that were off brands--they have worked fine and are definitely cheaper. One thing to keep in mind---some of the other lights get quite warm and before you know it you feel like you are lying under the sun at the beach. Never any problems like that with the OTT!

I also own two Ott lights and can not imagine trying to sew or craft without them. Started out with a small portable table light and have advanced to a floor lamp for sewing The bulbs last forever and have not had to change mine yet. I bought my floor lamp from JoAnn's before Christmas when they were half price an offered free shipping. Couldn't pass up a deal like that!

I have one on my cutting table, but I usually only switch it on when I want to do "natural light" color comparisons between fabrics, or between fabric & thread.

My favorite light comes from Reveal brand incandescent bulbs. I know...incandescent bulbs are on their way out, but until they're gone, I have Reveal bulbs in all my lamps and love them.

I have some LED lamps too and those are probably my 2nd favorite for good bright task lighting.

I have two, a tabletop model w/ a heavy base and a floor model. At the time I bought the tabletop, there weren't other full spectrum options available out there. The one thing I love about mine is that it has a very long neck which is very repositionable. All the other full spectrum lamps I've seen, don't have that long neck. This makes it so easy to see when I'm working at my cutting table, standing up or at my sewing machine, even at night. My floor model I have sitting on a box ( to make it tall enough) and it lights up my ironing board. This one doesn't have as long a bulb as my tabletop model, but still works great. I've had the tabletop one for over ten years and I'm still on the original bulb. Sometimes that lamp is on for 6 or more hours a day. I highly recommend them and suggest you get one at JoAnn's with a coupon. You can save a lot then.

I did buy special corkscrew Ott lightbulb for a regular lamp. I thought it would be better light for reading, not so. It wasn't bright enough. I returned it.

I bought an Ott lite look alike table lamp at Big Lots for $10 (on sale). The light it puts out is similar but the neck is shorter. I struggle with that part and have to reposition it in order to see at night.

I like mine - I have several in my sewing room - two non adjustable which I got a JoAnn's deeply discounted - the toggle switch does not work, so I have to turn them on and off using the power strip. I got one when I was scrapbooking that is portable and allows me to position the bulb (probably from AC Moore with a coupon). I also got one from Home Depot for a great price - it is a floor model with a flexible neck.

That said, I would LOVE to get a Stella light (http://www.debkarasik.com/store.php?cat=8). But they are ridiculously expensive. When I was at a Deb Karasik workshop a few weeks ago, she demonstrated the Stella features and I do like them a lot.

I am fortunate that if sewing during the day I have natural light to work with through the windows - so have less eye strain issues than I would if using artificial light 100% of the time (like at my office). That is a complaint I've heard from some Ott Lite users.

Cheers, K

I have several Ott lights and do like them. I bought mine at JoAnns on sale because they are expensive otherwise. I also have a Daylight lamp that I also like. If you watch for sales you can purchase these quite reasonably.

My Ott light frustrations are three: Joann's has lots of lights but few, if any, bulbs. Ott light keeps changing the style of the plug-in for the bulbs. The bulbs are so fragile I tend to break a bulb rather than getting it installed properly--very risky.

That said, I have a number of Ott lights and enjoy their lighting. You can buy full-spectrum bulbs, or other brand lamps, but Ott light seems to have the best intensity and usefulness.

Puzzler

I also have several and find them better than anything else I've used. Before I had cataract surgery I needed all the light I could get, but now with my "new eyes" I don't need as much. We bought a table lamp and a standing lamp for the price of one at a JoAnn's sale. By all means, wait for a sale and check JoAnn's often to get the best price. We also have two of the little folding ones, one for hubby's model railroad stuff and one for my sewing machine.

I have two of the floor lamps and one of the folding task lights. I really like them, had them for years. Where I sew the lighting isn't where I need it to be, so the floor lamp solved that problem. The light is bright and not yellow, much less eye strain. I can't sew on dark fabrics especially at night without one.
I added a picture so you can see how my floor lamp is placed where I sew.
Sharon

I love the ott lights I have two table lamps and a floor lamp, I use them frequently. The only drawback I feel is the heat, I am sensitive to heat I have to have a fan blowing on me when I use them.

I have been using OTT lights for years but may try another light now. I have seven lights throughout the sewing room and house, and four of them are down due to faulty ballasts/plugs. OTT liite knows this is a problem and allows you to BUY more parts, and they require a phone call to determine the part needed. Why not just build the quality in? I have not decided whether to replace ballasts for the third time or just buy another brand of light. I do like the full spectrum light.

I have several Ott lights that I have picked up at flea markets. I also have floor models that I purchased at Lowe's and really like them.

Enjoy my floor Ott light.

I have a floor stand lamp, got it about 6 years ago at JAF with a coupon. I've never had to replace a bulb but the ballast went out and I had to call Ott to order a replacement. The ballast was about $20 plus shipping. I do use it behind my machine, the light is really good. We also have a smaller table model Ott, it is great to move around with the folding sewing table. But in my new sewing room, I set up a cutting table inside the walk-in closet. The overhead was not enough and I got a cheap clamp-on trouble light to clip to the shelf above. I got a full-spectrum CFL bulb and it is Amazing! I won't pay the price of an Ott lamp again.

I have 4 and love them... One table & 3 floor.

I don't like fluorescent lighting. I have a battery powered LED ott light but am using those Reveal light bulbs in a regular lamp for other lighting.

Love love it! Iam visually impaired so helps me see mch better! Have 2 in living room, 1 in sewing room! Recommend them. 5 stars!!

I have Ott lights, I like them. We bought a vacation home and bought similar looking light at big lots for $29. Or a table lamp for 21. I don't see a lot of difference between it and my Ott light.

I Love mine, I've had it since December......it brightens up my work area wonderfully. Mine is a floor model that can be converted to clamp on with the magnifier. I got it when JoAnn's had the 50% off on ottlites sale.

I have 3 of them, 2 in my sewing room, and the makeup mirror in the bathroom. Love all of them!