Black Lights

General Discussion
1

I’ve been thinking about putting some black lights in my shaping bay but haven’t got around to it. Probably be too dark, but the shadow cast would be pretty true and the blank would be crazy bright… might go bit mad in there but. what you reckon, anyone tried it?

2

hey yorky

i dont know about the black lights but

i am sick of blue walls

huie

3

Careful, UV isn’t good for the eyes (early cataracts). You might have to wear some good shades in there…

4

thanks, sounds like a bad idea.

5

I was checking out sites to see if ‘black lights’ are exactly the same as ‘UV’ lights that people are using to kick their UV resin. It says they are called the same and that black lights emit UVA rays which are next to nil in doing any harm. It also sad that compared to the rays of the sun that what is emitted from the lights is miniscule…er, tiny…hence even less chance of harm.

It does mention UVB and another I forgot, but those are the ones that fry your skin and massive exposure should/could/would give you cancer. Kokua mentioned he used them quite a bit w/out any harm, but also made a point not to hang around while they were on, and also to turn them on for about 15 minutes before exposing a board to them. I’ve heard others claim the lights will not work to kick the resin at all unless it is set up in a light box with foil or mirrors to reflect the rays. Kokua said that his lights were from above and that the rails kicked off w/out having to locate lights alongthe side or from below.

Who else has had experience with UV or black lights? Could be a good deal for rainy day hurry up repairs or glassing. Also, I doubt you need a different fixture, right? Just stick the tubes in your existing set up?

6

Hey yorky, are you talking about UV lights??, the ones that “kick” the UV resin?. If so, can you tell me where you get them, and what they are called, ie brand name, code/part number. I’d be keen to try them as i use the UV resin, but its a pain lifting a wet board off the racks and putting it out balancing on the bin, then trying to reflect the light onto the lapped rails haha. Would be good to just move the lights in close, and flick the switch.

Cheers

7

I don’t know about permanent damage, but I was experimenting with them doing paintings with “day” and “night” scenes, where the lights in a cityscape would “light up” with the house lights off and a black light on. Really cool effects but I would get nasty headaches after awhile. I started using my UV protection sunglasses. It was interesting- the flourescent black light itself would appear dead, no light emitted (a sign that the sunglasses work), but the colors on the painting would still light up. ??? And I would still get the headaches.

I would advise against extended use of a black light.

8

I use a black light for all my ding repairs and a 4’ double strip to speed up catalyzed resin on colder days.

http://science.howstuffworks.com/black-light.htm

9

Hi Mark,

Any electrical wholesaler will have blue/black uv lamps.

TLE or Gordon Macs in Nowra has them.

Im pretty sure there is a TLE in your area.

They are the lights they used to have at the discos that made your white clothes glow.

Daren

10

Thanks daren, i’ll look at that for sure, Got to be easier than moving a wet board. Cheers mate.

11

i have a bunch spare uv tubes beerfan. if your coming up to the fish fry ill show you our setup. got lots of stuff from ebay etc.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Super-Tanning-Facial-Solarium-Tanner-RRP-179-00_W0QQitemZ140206085248QQihZ004QQcategoryZ105769QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItemthese are good for dings on rainydays or instore…

and these can be setup for glassing http://cgi.ebay.com.au/SOLARIUM-LAY-DOWN-MODEL-SUN-BED-TANNING_W0QQitemZ260209484230QQihZ016QQcategoryZ105769QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

12

If all else fails you can get UV tubes and bulbs from most pet shops that stock gear for reptile owners. I use the globe in the link below, in a lead lamp for ding repairs on rainy days. You need to hold the lamp pretty close and it gells the resin in about 15 to 20 seconds. You will need to move the lamp around the repaired area as the rays no not seem to travel far. I also add MEKP when i’m working this way. Use the light to kick it, put it in the rack and forget about it. Still not as fast as sunlight, but it is a whole lot quicker than waiting for the resin to gell using MEKP only. That globe cost me about $48 Au. platty.

http://www.hagen.com/usa/reptiles/product.cfm?CAT=31&SUBCAT=3102&PROD_ID=03021890020101

13

Hey dave thanks mate, but i wont be going to the fish fry. Would love to but it;s 1000k;s away and i have a young family. Love to see a whole different bunch of fish and fish related people, riders and shapers. Keen to try the lights so im slowly looking into it though.