Heat from worklights...

[Accumulator]

Thanks guys, Accumulator and SVR, can I have an example of where you would put your worklights when working on the hood of an SUV?



How bout the roof, trunk, sides...??

I have `em back a good ways, can`t say just how far but I don`t have to worry about the heat at all. Six to ten feet I suppose...yeah, that`s a big range



I raise the light so it shines *down* on the hood and trunk (can`t raise `em high enough for the top of big SUVs). I move them down to varying levels for the sides and I reposition/adjust them as needed so I can see what I`m doing. This can be a royal PIA as sometimes I spend forever getting things just right.



But then I turn out all the lights and use incandescents for the final inspection anyhow. I usually dab a smear of light polish on the flaws that I find that way, because I probably won`t be able to see them with the halogens and/or other lights back on when I actually do the work.

[kleraudio]

Thanks Accumulator! One more thing, say your doing work on the hood, and your working from the front of the car. Would the light be behind you or on the side of the car. I realize they would be shining down on the hood, but behind you or on the side?



Thanks



Jim

[SVR]

I don`t have a tripod as of yet. Just hand held. On doors, it`s six feet away, on the ground and is either slightly raised upwards or just flat on the ground.



If you get them too close, it will hide or mask the defects. you need to be at least four feet away to be able to see defects and holograms properly. when checking for holograms, I just put it on a box or something and move my head up and down, left to right. Dunno about a tripod, they can fall down.

On boots, hoods and roof, I just check the paint before I start and after each product. I`m not suspending a work light above a car. I`ve had one fall on my mates car and put a dent in the front guard before so I stopped doing that.

[kleraudio]

Thanks SVR, yea that would suck to have the light fall on a friends car. OUCH.



I will have to experiment next week sometime.



thanks for all your help everyone!



Jim

[99blackSE]

I suppose you could use a mirror above the roof to shine light down onto it if you really wanted to? Fasten one above in a rafter? I dunno, just thinking of ideas. Maybe tape a couple flash lights up there? I keep them (lights) far way enough that I can`t feel the heat with my hand anymore. Usually is about the distance Accumulator mentioned IIRC.

[kleraudio]

Yea I knew I screwed up keeping the lights so close... Oh well, live and learn..



Jim

[SVR]

Yep. Live, learn, grow as a person and then pass on the knowledge

[Accumulator]

[quote name=`kleraudio`]..behind you or on the side?/QUOTE]



To the side.



As for the distance...IIRC it`s "distant, point-source lighting" that works the best for spotting marring. No so far back as to be too dim, but back a good ways. The incandescents in my one garage are weaker, but higher up, than the ones in my shop...and the former show marring better (which can make for some nasty surprises on silver when I think I`m finished).

[kleraudio]

Thanks alot Accumulator for all your help, I think I have this light thing under control now. Wow I cant believe I had those lights so close!! No wonder the paint was so hot, coupled with foam on a rotary, surprised I have any clear left!



Jim