Bostitch Office VLF100 LED Swing Arm Desk Lamp

J. L. Roberson

October 9, 2026

This Kind of Light is Supposed to Hold Its Place. This does not.

Have a look at the pic for what IO have to do to keep your miserable light in place, you total Bostiches. NOTHING to tighten at the base? Thanks for the permanent pain this will be.

It would be a great light if that were only fixed. Instead you make it almost useless. Now I have to pay again for a C-clamp that actually holds the thing. I don't know why I'm not just returning it.

Did I mention the switch feels so loose it might fall apart? Very poorly put together. It only gets two stars because it turned on.

Great Light

Very bright light, easy to use and set up, fits perfectly on my table and easy to take apart to store elsewhere while not using. Pivots and turns freely without falling out of place.

Lapara de mesa

Me encantó justo lo que necesitaba. Hoy la recibí y hoy mismo pediré otra

Easy to set up and use.

Been needing one for painting objects. Does the job.

Adequate with poor design choice limiting useful life

An inexpensive and functional desk lamp, it works well for its intended purpose. Construction is adequate, except for the flimsy desk mount and the questionable design choice shown in the attached picture. While 3 out of the 4 spring mount points are studs that allow free movement of each end of the spring, the mount point at the base of the lamp is simply a hole drilled in the sheet metal where the spring end is threaded through the hole. At this point any movement of the spring rubs against the edge of the sheet metal, resulting in friction and eventual wear and failure of the spring. This choice, which probably saved a few pennies of manufacturing cost, will also probably shorten the useful life of the lamp. Still, it will probably work okay for limited lamp movement for a while.

Customer

January 11, 2026

POOR Quality Control black Shade and Clamp

Shade will not stay in place and falls off even after several attempts.

does not fit right

Durable

Ugly as hell but made well and durable. One of the only desk lights that allows ypu to buy and replace the bulb. Also allows ac plug. The usb clip lights are cute and much easier to use to do my mani pedi. But the don't last more than 30 days and you can't change the bulb. So it's hideous and clunky but it gets the job done. Very well packaged so that bulb was intact and works well. I use one once a month to do my nails. I wish it came with a clip.

Does not attach

The arm itself seems well made and works well. But that is the only part that works. The shade falls off every time you touch it. The clamp is terrible. The metal bar is too short on the lamp end. Every time I adjust the lamp the clamp comes off of the desk because there is no way to really secure it. It is not flat. More like a V so it slides off of the table.

So happy with this cool lamp!

This was a good buy. My table has a tapered side and the clamp had no problem grabbing on securely. I love that it has no logos (just a removable sticker). The style reminds me of the iconic animation studio light :)

Flawed design - avoid avoid avoid!

They missed a manufacturing step to capture this threaded piece on the bulb mount and now the only thing stopping the entire bulb receptacle from spinning when you screw in a bulb are the 120v wires themselves. Apparently I screwed the bulb in too tight the first time and when I wanted to change to a different bulb the wire couldn’t take the tension and came undone. Just a live 120v cable floating around in the housing. Lucky it didn’t start a fire.

I've never in all my life had a problem with how tight I screw in a lightbulb on any other light fixture.

Both of the lamps that I ordered have the same defect. Shame I only noticed after the return window ended.

Avoid avoid avoid!

0:07

Base is unstable

I was looking for a new desk lamp since the one I had burned out. How a single wire stops working , I don't know. But, before I bought this one, I did ask if you could turn the light bell completely upside down to bounce light off the ceiling for softer light and was advised , not completely, but almost all the way, so i figured good enough. And true to word, it doesnt go compleyely upside down and I've gotten used to it. They just dont seem to make ones anywhere that do that anymore.

However, what inspired me to write is the base for this lamp, I'd call inadequate. It's just like other lamps I've had, or so it seems, but no matter how much I tighten it to the edge of the desk, the weight of the lamp will pull it around. it hasnt fallen off , yet, since I dont move the lamp that much, but I've never had a lamp base be so loose.. I know I have a base from an old lamp somewhere and I'm going to see if that works better if I can find it.. But , as a light, it works just fine.

Bar-b-que Light

I was looking for an adjustable light for the outside bar-b-que. I wasn't happy with the lights currently listed for sale, not bright enough and didn'tlike the mounts and they just look cheap. So I bought this desk light for the Bar-b-que. I also bought a brighter LED bulb. I was lucky because of the design of our bar-b-qur. On a side shelf there are slots. I took off the nut and clamp then slid the threaded shaft through the slot. Installed the clamp and nut on the threaded shaft and hand tightened the base onto the grill shelf. I know this lamp isn't designed for outside use. When it fails I'll fix it. It's a 20$ light with easy-to-use components and is easily repaired or replaced. We use our Bar-b-que alot. Our outdoor lights do not shine sufficiently into the grill after sunset. Eliminating or improving the switch on the lamp to an out door rated switch turns this lamp into a great light for my needs.

Durability: I'm not expecting more then two years before the light fails. It's not designed to be used like this and I understand that. But that being said, I'm good at fixing things and its a lamp not rocket science. As long as the main components continue to work. I'll be happy.

Different style bracket

Very happy with the product, but unable to curate to my easel weight too much may be a different bracket

Thank you in advance. Hope we can resolve my problem.

Works fine, but pretty flimsy

The lamp works like it should but the base is extremely flimsy even when tightened down. The lampshade is secured in place with a "dimple" in the metal. It stays but does not feel secure. The shade and bulb holder used to be one piece in older lamps. Might return this. I'd be willing to pay more for something of higher quality but the same style, with a replaceable bulb.

0:16

Not sturdy

There's nothing to hold it in place except it's own weight. It feels really unsteady.

0:13

Mom loves her new light

0:02

Great for the job

Works great. Mounts on the back of the desk alongside the dual monitor mount and is able to extend easily over the 24" monitors and light up the keyboard area. I did install i higher wattage wifi LED bulb to allow for more adjustment with the light, but the included bulb is probably sufficient for most.

Works, but set expectations low for quality.

You get what you pay for so don't expect to be pleasantly surprised upon setting up this light for the first time. The product is as cheap as cheap gets and the manufacturer spared no effort in cutting costs to a bare minimum. The word that best describes this light fixture is "flimsy", in my opinion.

The table clamp is cheap and marginally effective. The lamp fixture "wobbles" while being adjusted due to excessive play of post in the clamp receptacle, and the clamp assembly itself "wiggles" in place as well.

The fixture itself is full-size (accepts full-size bulb) but is smaller than you might expect if you have used other lamps having a similar design, so be sure to check dimensions (or see photo for reference).

That said, the lamp works. So if you don't care about quality, then you should be OK with the lamp.

Boomer

February 28, 2021

Light!

Works great, put light right where you need it!

Poorly Made Product

Where the boom arm and clamp meet, there is a piece missing that allows you to lock the boom arm in place and prevent swivel. Without this integral piece, this mount is merely worthless junk. Very disappointed in this product, it didn't matter to me that this was cheaply made, but this cheaply manufactured piece being missing is a detriment to the product itself.

Loose fit, confusing assembly, different parts

My lamp came in with a base that was different from the one featured in the photographs - in putting it together, it doesn't feel very secure at the clamp (which arrived slightly different from the one featured in the product photos).

While there's definitely a reasonably straightforward element to assembly, the "instructions" featured no information on how to assemble the product, instead opting for a list of common sense no-nos. So while I do know not to operate my lamp underwater, I'm not sure if it's put together correctly.

LED bulb is pure white if you're into that, recommend opting for or purchasing a warmer bulb alongside if you choose to buy.

Amazing Lamp

I bought the Bostitch lamp for about $23. The package contains the metal lamp with the cord, metal lamp shade, plastic clamp mount, and a light bulb. I used a smart light bulb 8.7 watts with Alexa.

The shade is easy to put on. The smart bulb does not protrude the shade. It's not hot to touch after a long period of time. The lamp holds the position when I changed it, so far.

Not Recommended

Nice lamp. Functional and what I needed...until I inserted it into the base. It came with a different base than pictured here as well as what is pictured in the "manual" it came with, which leads me to believe it's a replacement base. The base is too big for the lamp. As you can see in the video, any type of movement and it wobbles. It's not secure. There's no way to adjust it...loose enough so that it can be adjusted but tight enough so that a slight wind can't blow it out! Also, the clamp is as tight as it will go but as you can also see in the video, it's not flush with the surface of the table. If you're going to send different parts, make that clear! My search for lamp continues.

0:09

Perfect additional lighting for new pandemic art space!

Bought 2 of these long arm clamp on lamps for art space that gets very little natural light. They are used on the back of a 5/8 " angled drafting table. Between the table and the top of the clamp...and the table and the bottom clamp piece...I cut squares of grippy shelf liner for additional security. They feel very solid and I'm still able to swing them as needed. One reason I chose this specific one was that the lamp shade was a flared shape offering a flood lighting effect instead of a more narrow spot effect. And the included bulb is a 5000K daylight LED which also remains cool, important for not drying out paints and inks too fast as they are being worked. My only complaint is that at this price, now I will have to buy a few more to keep up with the growing art space.

Ryan

November 20, 2020

Best bang for your money!

You cant go wrong for the price! I'm definitely buying another for the other side of my desk. I dont understand how people are having problems installing this, IT REQUIRES NO TOOLS! I guess it proves you can be book smart without common sense.... I was so happy with the first purchase I bought a second!

Garbage. DO NOT BUY.

Do not move the lamp head or even lightly touch it. it comes off if you even breathe on it. It’s such a shoddily machined part I can hardly believe it’s being sold. i’m too lazy to return it so i’m stuck with it.

The base is made of plastic so expect it to break within a year. Everything about this product except the advertised pictures screams cheap junk.

Do not believe these other fake reviews, this product is HOT GARBAGE

0:03

Not awful. Just...know what you're getting first.

The bulb is very bright and works well. The adjustable portion is sturdy enough to do the job of holding up the shroud and bulb. The problem is the base. It's flimsy. It's not a plastic vs metal issue. It's just poorly designed. Even when tightly clamped to a sturdy table, the entire thing swings and moves. If you're planning on keeping the light stationary and NEVER moving or adjusting it, then I say go for it. Otherwise, you truly are getting what you pay for.

does not come with instructions but its not rocket science

Honestly for $21 its really good for what you get. I saw that many people were not happy with the way the base is plastice but logically its probably becuase its cheaper to produce a intricate thing... the lamp and arm itself are simple designs made of metal so thats good. Its sturdy enough to fucttion.

Once its screwed on tight, it was actually quite sturdy in my opinion. Id say of you wish for it to be more sturdy...place double sided tape unter the circular base before fastening. As for its turning, It really doesn't move all too much.

There isn't really a lamp that will do this job for under $30

Id say its a really good value for what you get.

make sure to use it properly

Most people complaining about the clamp are simply MISUSING it and have installed it wrong. I partially cannot blame them as it does not come with instructions but nonetheless, this seems to be the case according to at least one reviewer’s photos. The pin does not enter the larger hole up top on the clamp. It goes into the smaller hole below it for a good grip. The lamp is light, tight, and bright. Good price and good build.

Perfect

This is exactly what I needed to help me do my puzzles at night & not have the ceiling lights on. I can now work on my puzzles & not keep my husband awake at night. Thank You!