Even in full sun its difficult to see swirls and such on my gray vehicle (mixed blessing eh?) But from time to time I'll park under SUPER BRIGHT city halogens and see medium marring (probably a mixture of lazy washing ((I became lazy just prior to seeing the mars... I'm now back to my OCD wash)) and the Zaino product's gloss seems to have made them stand out). Never the less, I don't want to spend much on detailing products anymore (lord knows I already have) so I was curious whats available and cheap? Preferably around $50
Cheap lighting or anything that will reveal swirls?
- Thread starter danforz
- Start date
baseballlover1
New member
I was having trouble seing the swirl marks on my car today also... so i bought a flood light (like the one above)... i picked a dual telescoping light up for i think 35 at lowes. they had a better one for 55 and a less for 25
Accumulator
Well-known member
Best thing I've found for silver is regular old-fashioned incandescent lights, used in an otherwise dark shop.
The halogens are good to work under, but I turn them out and use incandescents for the final inspections.
The various "sun guns"/Xenons never work all that well for me...I don't see marring that I *know* is there. Plain bare bulb incandescent fixtures show stuff that I simply can't see under any other lighting conditions.
There are some threads where we discussed this in depth..but the short version is that only by inspecting under incandescents (from different angles and distances), in a dark shop, can I see *everything* on silver and thus avoid unpleasant surprises under unusual lighting conditions at night.
It's a matter of "distant point-source illumination". Not just a matter of brightness or color, but also (and more importantly) a certain specific type of contrast that makes stuff like swirls stand out.
Bare bulb ceiling mounted fixtures work best for me, followed by shaded ones that hang from the ceiling, closely followed by a hand-held incandescent work light. Since the two best ones require wiring the garage for them, I'd just get the hand-held. My Lowes has them in a high-wattage version; I use ~300w bulbs in mine.
The halogens are good to work under, but I turn them out and use incandescents for the final inspections.
The various "sun guns"/Xenons never work all that well for me...I don't see marring that I *know* is there. Plain bare bulb incandescent fixtures show stuff that I simply can't see under any other lighting conditions.
There are some threads where we discussed this in depth..but the short version is that only by inspecting under incandescents (from different angles and distances), in a dark shop, can I see *everything* on silver and thus avoid unpleasant surprises under unusual lighting conditions at night.
It's a matter of "distant point-source illumination". Not just a matter of brightness or color, but also (and more importantly) a certain specific type of contrast that makes stuff like swirls stand out.
Bare bulb ceiling mounted fixtures work best for me, followed by shaded ones that hang from the ceiling, closely followed by a hand-held incandescent work light. Since the two best ones require wiring the garage for them, I'd just get the hand-held. My Lowes has them in a high-wattage version; I use ~300w bulbs in mine.
PRB
Still Plays with Cars
Accumulator said:
Accumulator, sounds as if we use a similar approach.
I used "clamp lamps" in my shop and use them at home, still. We had them hanging about every 6 feet on the air compressor lines. They give off just enough light at the distance needed to reveal an imperfection instead of hiding it with a blinding flood of light.
These lamps were just a hand held with 300W incandescent bulbs. I used the "shop duty" bulb which was much sturdier and resistant to failure when you bumped the lamp.
While they don't light up a whole room or even a whole interior, they are exactly what works for me in finding those last pesky marks that I want to eliminate. They're also much cooler than halogens.
Accumulator
Well-known member
PRB- Yep, sounds like you and I have the exact same incandescents 
Wish they had a switch on them so I wouldn't have to plug/unplug...one day I'll have time to wire something up...
Good thinking, clamping them to the air lines! My air lines are run under the floor so I can't do that :think: My "clean shop design" doesn't help in that regard! I usually clamp mine onto the halogen's stand- turn on one, turn off the other.
I too usually use 300w bulbs in those (same ones I have in the ceiling mounts), but oddly enough the little 60w ones in the ceiling fixtures of my "regular" garage show flaws just as well if you position the car right.. seems to be a matter of the distance and angle.
Wish they had a switch on them so I wouldn't have to plug/unplug...one day I'll have time to wire something up...Good thinking, clamping them to the air lines! My air lines are run under the floor so I can't do that :think: My "clean shop design" doesn't help in that regard! I usually clamp mine onto the halogen's stand- turn on one, turn off the other.
I too usually use 300w bulbs in those (same ones I have in the ceiling mounts), but oddly enough the little 60w ones in the ceiling fixtures of my "regular" garage show flaws just as well if you position the car right.. seems to be a matter of the distance and angle.
PRB
Still Plays with Cars
Mine have a slide bar in the very base where the bulb screws in. That bar slides for on or off.
I have used 150W when I couldn't get the 300W pieces. Not much of a difference
Always thought that something bigger and more expensive would be an improvement, but I seem to keep coming back to the clamp lamps.
I have used 150W when I couldn't get the 300W pieces. Not much of a difference
Always thought that something bigger and more expensive would be an improvement, but I seem to keep coming back to the clamp lamps.
spartacus_33
New member
I bought the 27" Wobble Light. I like the fluorescent model because it shows flaws better. They make many models.
PRODUCTS - Wobble Light, Self-Righting Work Light That Bounces Back From Abuse!
PRODUCTS - Wobble Light, Self-Righting Work Light That Bounces Back From Abuse!
Accumulator
Well-known member
PRB said:
Ah, wish mine had the switches!
jermar- Interesting that you can see marring under fluorescent light...I simply can't (well, I can see the really *awful* stuff..) :nixweiss
Adam's Polishes
New member
I have the craftsman halogens on a stand... think I picked them up for around $25 at sears during a sale. Definitely reveal EVERY defect in the paint.