When working on a vehicle, technicians need their work area to be properly lit, otherwise, some work, such as undercarriage or underhood work, becomes almost impossible to perform. Jeff Buckley, owner and master technician at My Father’s Shop Certified Auto Repair in Midlothian, Texas, found a handy solution for lighting problems with the Streamlight FlipMate, No. 61500.
Buckley says the FlipMate has quickly become his favorite light with its USB-rechargeable battery and rotating light bar, making it “extremely versatile.”
The FlipMate offers two light settings – a bright, white light for illuminating large areas and a color matching light for detailing and painting. The white LEDs deliver 500 lm on high and 250 lm on low with run-times of 2.5 and 5.75 hours, respectively. While the color-matching LEDs offer 400 lm on high, with a 2.5-hour run-time, and 200 lm on low, with a 6-hour run-time.
Though Buckley hasn’t put the color-matching LEDs to use, he’s found plenty of jobs for the white LEDs to assist with.
“Most the time when I use this light,” says Buckley, “it’s on suspension work, brake work, or up underneath the hood.”
He appreciates the handsfree use the FlipMate offers.
“[One] of my favorite parts of this light is the super-strong magnet at the base, and there’s also a hook so that if you need to hang it up [you can].” Buckley finds it very useful to have a light that stays where you put it while allowing you to adjust it so you can see everything you need to work on.
Another feature of the light Buckley enjoys is the compact size. When folded up, the FlipMate is only 4.58” long, 2.56” wide, and 1.3” thick, meaning it fits right in your pocket, so you can always have a light on you.
Overall, Buckley is impressed by the Streamlight FlipMate.
Watch a video review of the Streamlight FlipMate here.
