Good UV curing lamp?

[sunshine wr]

''Keep in mind the distance between the uv light and the break. If you want the best GlasWeld light, I would recommend going with their cheaper one, since it sits directly over the break. Both have been tested personally, and the cheaper one is far superior over the break. You can have the greatest UV light in the world (the sun), but distance between the source and the break makes a huge difference.'' According to Glas-Weld the stick light should be put on each side of the tri-pod for 2 min. 2x3=6min plus 1 min. to cure pit, that's 7 mins total cure time for 1 repair. Pro-cur 1 min over injector 1 min over pit = 2mins. total cure time.

[sunshine wr]

''Keep in mind the distance between the uv light and the break. If you want the best GlasWeld light, I would recommend going with their cheaper one, since it sits directly over the break. Both have been tested personally, and the cheaper one is far superior over the break. You can have the greatest UV light in the world (the sun), but distance between the source and the break makes a huge difference.'' According to Glas-Weld the stick light should be put on each side of the tri-pod for 2 min. 2x3=6min plus 1 min. to cure pit, that's 7 mins total cure time for 1 repair. Pro-cur 1 min over injector 1 min over pit = 2mins. total cure time.

[ChipRite]

Consider a dual tube light, it give double the watts 4 +4 =8watt and if a tube fails you have one other to carry on with in an emergency. And as Delta says get as close to the repair as you can, such as 10mm if possible. Remove all clear shields if you are using a home made lamp as some plastics will block UV. Blacklight or whitelight UV tubes both work well.

[Shepard]

Thanks for all the great feedback! I am going to cobble together a light... so far, I have had great luck with the $5.99 bulb from a $98 Poly Lite lamp... which I placed in an Ebay $6.99 AA battery 6" handheld. Takes 2 minutes to thouroughly cure. I have replacement bulbs on the way from topbulbs.com and am all set now!

I recall some local rich folks in muddy Pond TN where I was reared being asked, "When your bedsheets get worn out, you cut them down the middle and sew the outsides together... you are rich, why do you do that?" The rich folks answered, "Why do you think we are rich?"

Yep, regarding letting a company make some bucks... I agree within reason... but what if it was $3250.00 for a UV curing lamp? I guess it commes down to where we each draw the line...mine is in the $75 range... I have certainly come out ahead on this one though, because I have only spent about $80 on 8 different lamps & bulbs and between this message board and piddling in the garage about 3 hours (I could have done at least 3 windshields at $60 each in that time). So, with only $260 invested, I now have a couple great light-systems made of cheap bases and the same bulbs used by the big companies... so, as the song by Kenny Rogers says, I am the winner .

wink wink...

Also, I did some research last week and have concluded that fixing windshields in the shade when it is -4 degrees outside is really uncomfortable. Hope this helps!

Jeff, you got it! I won't call.