Flourescent Light for checking defects

[OhioCarBuff]

Most people on here talk about sunlight being the best indicator of defects remaining in the finish, however I have buffed a number of cars that looked as perfect as they could get (no swirls showing) when they were pulled out in full sunlight- then when they were under flourescent light (like if you would pull into a gas station at night) any remaining defects were MUCH more obvious, especially fine swirls. Has anybody else experienced this phenomenon?

Matt

[Murr1525]

Re: Flourescent Light for checking defects

Different lighting definately reveals different things.

Do a search for the "Swirl Finder", or maybe "Swirlfinder", you should pull up some nice threads about some flashlights that people like to use to help.

[the other pc]

Re: Flourescent Light for checking defects

The effect you describe is quite normal, seeing fine line defects like scratches and swirls better in gas stations and parking lots at night.

But first, are you sure you’re talking about fluorescent lights? Gas stations and parking lots usually have HID lights.

Those sorts of defects are most visible under conditions that illuminate the defects in a way that preserves and accentuates their geometry.

HID lights, mounted up high, approximate a point of light at a distance. This is a very good type of illumination for accenting geometric features. Since we are viewing the paint with this lighting at night there is high contrast between the illuminated defects and the background. The Sun is also a distant point source but it’s so bright and there are so many bright objects around in the daytime that there is too little contrast for our eyes to see the fine details.

It’s easier to see those scratches under sunlight in small areas if you look at the correct angle.


PC.

[imacarnut]

Re: Flourescent Light for checking defects

if you havent used one yet, wait till you use a halogen light tripod stand, you'll cringe at the sight of every little defect it shows!

[The Shine Shop]

Re: Flourescent Light for checking defects

any car will look good under flouresent lighting, it does not show up swirls,which is why i have both those and halogen daylite bulbs in my shop along with a dual 300w stand . search this site for maryland detail classes in reisterstown and you can see pictures of the lites that mike took
mike

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Flourescent Light for checking defects

Hi Mike,

That was a fun class, thank you again for your hospitality.

Here's the link,


Mike Lambert's The Shine Shop - Reisterstown, Maryland!

The below is from the above thread...

Here you can see how Mike has added 8" florescent tube lights to light-up the sides of the car so he can see what he's working on.




There's two more sets of 4 footers, (two tubes in each set), on the other side,




And both florescent lights, and halogen lamps, mounted to the ceiling.