Night Time Repairs (in The Dark)

[Sneck]

I would love to do windshield repair full-time, but since I only do it part time (as I have a good day-time job) I am faced with only doing repairs after work or on week-ends. I use to shy away from doing jobs in the evening until I went down to the local home-depot and purchased a dual-head work light on an adjustable tri-pod stand. I have done several out-door night-time repairs with the help of this lamp. I am no longer limited to day-light hours because the lamp really lights up my work area.

Are there any of you fellow techs doing night-time repairs? And if so, have you had good or bad experience with doing them?

Sneck

[mafsu]

I do some, and have had good experiences with it. One of my fleet accounts used to have their entire lot inside a warehouse. That was a chore just checking their cars with a flashlight.

[maxryde]

I too do the night time fleet repairs with a flashlight. It is a pain!! I have done repairs on vehicles when sunset was on and if you are carefull it can be done. My neighbor had a 14" crack and it got dark during the repair process which worried me but I just used a flashlight and the repair went fine. I had to check it out the next day, I was a little concerned about the outcome, it looked great!! Given the oppertunity I won't repeat the situation though.
Scott

[glassfixerCO]

I've done some repairs at night and have found having light on the INSIDE of the car seems to spotlight the repair better.
Sneck, if you're using those halogen worklights, I heard somewhere that they emit a certain amt. of u.v. light--maybe not enough to cause any problems--just thought I'd mention it. Cliff.

[Sneck]

I have experimented with different light positions, and I too have found that lighting from the inside works best. I don't actually put the lamps in the the car as the type I have is a dual-lamp set up on an adjustable tri-pod. It produces so much light (and heat) that I usually only turn on one lamp head for fear of tripping a customers circuit breaker.

I position the lamp slightly behind the side-door at an angle so that it shines through the side window and lights up the windshiled from the inside. If this lamp set does emit ultraviolet light, then I'll have nothing to worry about when I use it in the position I just described.

The only part I don't like about doing repairs in the dark ... is you can't look at the sky and tell if it is about to pour down rain or not. It's harder to tell what the weather will do.

Sneck

[Richard]

I have a 12 volt fluorencent work lamp I use, it fits neatly on most dashes and there very little heath to damage the dash or windshield, not to mention burn my fingers.

[repare-brise]

I have used a LED light that is supposed to strap on your head, I instead put it on the head rest of the car and aim it twords the break, works well, but daytime is still my preference.

Merci

[JT2]

Haven't yet done a repair at night but I would probably prefer daytime repairs. I too have a very strong LED light and works well at night.

[screenman]

Maybe an english thing but I was always told eating carrots helped you see in the dark

[magicogar]

Is it just me or does the led light gives off a blueish light? I prefer my maglight over the led one.