3M Light gun

[BlueAngel]

I`m shopping around for a light gun and was recommended by my friend the 3M brand. It looks pretty nice, but pretty steep too. Is it worth it? Are there other brands just as good, but affordable? Your thoughts, thanks!



http://detailshoppe.com/catalog/Mediawebserver.jpg

[craigdt]

Thats one of those pricey Sun Guns isnt it? From what Ive seen they do a great job of showing defects, etc. I know plenty of people have the Brinkmann Halogen light gun, and its considerably cheaper. You can get it at Walmart.

[BlueAngel]

Thats one of those pricey Sun Guns isnt it? From what Ive seen they do a great job of showing defects, etc. I know plenty of people have the Brinkmann Halogen light gun, and its considerably cheaper. You can get it at Walmart.



No Walmart around here, but thank God for the internet! :clap:

[Lonnie]

Try this link

[URL="http://www.1car-detailing-training.com/cm-5300-swirl-mark-checker-p-14.html"]

[Accumulator]

I have one of those and while it`s OK it`s no miracle-worker IME. I kinda wish I`d saved my $ as I hardly ever use it.



Maybe it`s just me ~49-year-old eyes, but I still find incandescent lighting to be better for final inspections as I end up missing some really light stuff with the Sun Gun. The Sun Gun is a lot handier though and I dunno how many people really care about stuff it takes many minutes to spot anyhow (you know, the kind of marring you have to mark right away because you won`t find it again easily if you turn away for a moment).



My good painter loves his for spotting color/texture match but as for detailing, eh... :nixweiss

[Apollo_Auto]

I can`t find it on the net, but I purchased an Osram spotlight here in HU for about $30 and it`s excellent :) Has leds, a led "bar" light and a blinding spotlight. The leds come in very handy for medium and lighter colored cars like the one below.



http://apolloauto.hu/images/Q7_9.jpg



http://apolloauto.hu/images/Q7_11.jpg

[MorBid]

I`m with Accumulator on this one, for Detailing it`s a waste of some serious cash. It was designed and originally marketed for Painters to do just what he said, Color Matching when doing spray-out`s.



I use a combination of Incandescent lighting. Halogens to find the heavy marring then Fluorescent for the light stuff and finishing.

[BlueAngel]

Do you think a regular LED light from maglite will do the trick?

[MorBid]

Dunno, I`ve yet to try one. Truth is for the several years I`ve been detailing (non-professional) I`ve yet to come across one true solution for lighting.



You can buy regular fixtures/and or bulbs that are the same as that 3M Gun (natural light) but they tend to be as pricey.

[Accumulator]

Do you think a regular LED light from maglite will do the trick?



I have some rather powerful LED flashlights and while they`re handy for checking out used cars I`m window-shopping theyr`e not something I use when detailing. But just because *I* don`t like `em for that doesn`t mean nobody else will (e.g., the SunGun is simply *loved* by guys like Dave KG; YMMV so who knows about the LEDs).



Honest to God, *nothing* I`ve tried in my shop shows flaws for me better than a plain ol` incandescent light bulb. NOTHING. That doesn`t mean it`s *easy* to spot everything though, I still spend nearly as much time inspecting as I do correcting.

[Irkie500]

Hey just got a question about this, would an LED flashlight work? thoes things are really bright and we use an LED lightbar at work for the interior, never looked at paint with them though.

[BlueAngel]

I might go with the 3M sun gun, but later this year. I hate to spend $300-$400 for a flash light, but if it will do the trick then so it be. Mean time i`ll search the internet for a nice used one. :work:

[detailbarn]

I have not personally tried the sungun, but I have used the various LED flash lights available and though they served their purpose I found this light to be more useful for detailing. Even in a well lite shop it exposes the entire panel you`re working on and allows you to see the flaws and progress you are making.



http://us.st12.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/tolae_2038_183887912





K-Max Portable Light (http://www.topoftheline.com/kmaxporlig.html)

[BlueAngel]

interesting.

[PresdntialDtail]

I have not personally tried the sungun, but I have used the various LED flash lights available and though they served their purpose I found this light to be more useful for detailing. Even in a well lite shop it exposes the entire panel you`re working on and allows you to see the flaws and progress you are making.



http://us.st12.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/tolae_2038_183887912





K-Max Portable Light (http://www.topoftheline.com/kmaxporlig.html)



Now that looks nice!