halogen lamps for photo polymerization

General Discussion
1

…hello,

instead of the Black lights

some of you have experience doing the stuff with halogen lamps?

if so,

how many Watts?

for ex. with Black lights its ok with around 500W for a deck and rails

thanks

2

why don’t you just take UV tubes?

halogen doesn’t emmit a lot of UV.

3

…because I can find and buy whatever type or model and Watts

however with BL only found locally no more than 40W ones

so bunch of tubes to get a proper radiation

there are 400W UV bulbs too, but super difficult to locate

4

as above, halogen lights don’t emit a lot of UV… are you aware of the wavelength needed to set off UV activated poly?

The other downside of halogens (this might actually be an upside depending on your location) is that halogens give off a LOT of infrared (heat). Good if you’re somewhere cold, and will accelerate the resin anywhere, but that’s not a reason to use them.

What inquiries have you made with local lighting supply shops for UV fluorescents? I spose you’re aware that UV is what fluorescent tubes actually produce, but the light produced is actually from the phosphor coating on the inside of the tubes, not the UV emitted by electrical arc interaction with the low pressure gas in the tube.

Knowledge is useful

5

…if I understand correctly, do you say that is similar a 40W UV tube than a 100W one?

6

I think you are after Metal Halide lights which are used in industry for UV curing.

http://www.heraeusamba.com/metal.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metal_halide_lamp

Seem to be mainly mercury halide.

Mark

7

Fiberglass Hawaii has the U V lights to set off the U V resin. (800) 566-2653. I hear that they are about $50 each, so I never bought them, just took the boards outside instead. I’ve seen curing boxes where they are lined with aluminum foil to reflect it all. They sort of look like tanning beds.

I know that halogen lights don’t set it off, because I use them to see what I’m doing, and the resin stays liquid just fine.

8 
Howzit everysurfer, I think you got the price wrong since I bought at least 10 of F.H's UV bulbs for around $20 a piece. They work just fine and only take a few minutes longer than the sun, work great for rainy weather. Aloha,Kokua
9

I’m sure you’re right on the price. I was going off memory from a year ago.