What Kind of Lights?????

[CARSGroup]

Hi All,
I have a question about lighting. I am building a new shop and I am trying to incorporate The best of whatever I need into this new building. I am curious if anyone knows what the best light fixtures are to use in the ceiling to show swirls, holagrams, scratches... etc... etc... I am looking at T5 fixtures with 6 bulbs each - they throw off 31,800 lumens each and there will be 20 of them in an 1800sqft +/- space. What I am not sure of is the correct color temp (kelvin rating) to use. The sample I got had 5000k rating which they said was the brightest "white" light available, although it was very bright and threw off a tremendous amount of light it did not show swirls/ holagrams that well at all I am wondering if a higher kelvin rating would? say around 5900k. Does anyone have any knowledge on this? I know about the xenon and kryton hand helds, but they do not make large 4ft bulbs from either of those materials. Any help would be greatly appreciate

Thanks,

Len House
CARS Group Inc.

[Totoland Mach]

Re: What Kind of Lights?????

I have a combo of lighting at the shop I work at: Flourescent + white epoxy floor + halogens on stands for moving as I work. The halogens can be positioned to show the smallest imperfections while the other lighting is more for general lighting.

Here's a pic



Totoland Mach

[stealth]

Re: What Kind of Lights?????

Looks like Totoland Mach has a good set up. In reference to lights be sure you get flourescents that aren't affected by ambient temperature of the shop. I'm in NJ & learned that you can get bulbs that work thruout a wide range of temps w/o a startup problem,flicker, or loss of lumens. Also the portable halogens have different wattage so you can mix-n-match for effectiveness. Keeping safety & cost containment as a priority, they do generate some heat.If you would like some help PM me & if geographically practical it would be a pleasure to assist you. I've been doing this for more years than the average age of our forum members. Good luck w/your new shop.

[Totoland Mach]

Re: What Kind of Lights?????

Looks like Totoland Mach has a good set up. I've been doing this for more years than the average age of our forum members. Good luck w/your new shop.

I think I know the age feeling stealth! LOL



That white hair isn't compound splatter!

Toto

[gorin002]

Re: What Kind of Lights?????

nice

[Mike Phillips]

Re: What Kind of Lights?????

Hi Lenny,

Long time no see...


Worked on a few cars inside the main Barrett-Jackson Auction tents and noticed that even though the lights were pretty high up, they seemed to highlight and reveal every swirl. Don't know what kind of lights they were but if you're going to Barrett-Jackson this year you could check these out.

There's an auto museum nearby and same kind of thing, whatever the lights are that they're using, they tend to make every swirl and scratch show up.


Intense lighting is good for revealing defects, sure helps to keep a detailer honest...

[CARSGroup]

Re: What Kind of Lights?????

Thanks for the replys to my post about lighting. I have spent all morning on the phone with scientists and engineers from various lighting manufacurers and suppliers and found there is a whole lot more behind the science of light than I ever imagined. From what I have gathered so far it seems my problem may be 2 fold, to much light and not the right color temp (kelvins) so I am going to experiment with both of those issues first. My newest shop is located in Jamesburg right by Thompson Park. Any time you would like to come by would be fine. It is still in the fit-up stage, so I am not open as of yet and am in and out of there as contractors and the rest of my business allows. I have 2 other locations in NJ (shared with a dealer group) and am about to get another in Manhatten starting in January. The Jamesburg shop will be my first stand alone building that I don't share with a Dealer.

~Lenny

[gorin002]

Re: What Kind of Lights?????

nice garage big i have a very smal and its stored lots of things
wich i do not have much space

[stealth]

Re: What Kind of Lights?????

Totoland Mach you got more white compound splatter on ya' than me! I'm jealous! I use the reflections off my head as a swirl finder!! LOL & happy holidays to you!

[stealth]

Re: What Kind of Lights?????

Toto , BTW I've got a labrador retreiver too like your avatar but he's black like my missing hair used to be, & he's got more of it too!

[Totoland Mach]

Re: What Kind of Lights?????

Toto , BTW I've got a labrador retreiver too like your avatar but he's black like my missing hair used to be, & he's got more of it too!

LOL...yep Stealth: that compound splatter can get ya!

she's a Lab/Pit mix that is a rescue dog and we have another black Lab rescue ... I thought about calling them Black 'n Tan

Have a great holiday to you and your family.

Totoland Mach

[stealth]

Re: What Kind of Lights?????

WOW! What a coincidence! My black lab is a retired search & rescue K-9 who worked the WTC. I was on the job & adopted him when the pile closed. 6 mos. later bleeding from his mouth I got him to Vet's & a fully encapsulated carcinoma was removed along w/his right lung lobe. He's been cancer free but last month I had his right dew claw amputated to the bone due to osteomiolitis which luckily didn't spread. The tumor attacks bone & cartiledge so I keep a close watch on him because of his exposure to toxins @ the WTC. Next month "Ace" will be 12y/o & he recently got an award for K-9 excellence from the AKC. I'm his only handler so I retrained him as a therapy dog & won!

[Totoland Mach]

Re: What Kind of Lights?????

Fantastic Stealth! We are the "caretakers" of the animal world for sure. I've had a bunch of rescue dogs (pitbulls until the city banned them) and they all have been great animals.

I am gonna break down and actually "buy" a dog LOL in the next couple of years: Boerboel It's an African breed and a large animal, but very family oriented.

Take care