GlassStarz wrote:I have seen several versions at dental supply sites some not very expensive
I like the big ole yellow one in the sky but when I do use a light I like one I can set on the glass and move on to something else and the handheld flashlight wouldn't allow this so I haven't bought one.
I tried using a dental cure light.
It did not work.
Wrong wavelength.
So can we at least confirm that 365nm IS the correct wave length?
I think $60 isn't that bad....
I remember Jeff talking about DK trying different LEDs light sources. Did anything ever come of this? Were there any proven conclusions?
thanks
365nm is the correct wave length, at least for Delta Kits resins. The main problem with UV LED lights has always been that they were too expensive to be practical, but UV LED lights are getting less expensive all the time, and some are now being marketed as curing lights for windshield repair. As with any other light you need to be aware of the output, bulb placement, etc. It's pretty much guess work if you do not have a UV light meter that is calibrated for the proper wave length. For instance, a light with excellent output that has the bulb placement next to the repair rather than over it will be far less effective than a light with significantly less output that is placed directly over the repair. The distance from the glass makes a huge difference as well.
As we have discussed in on the windshield repair forum in the past, compact battery operated lights typically put out far less UV than AC or 12VDC lights. That is one of the reasons we suggest a 5 minute curing time even though the surface cure time for Delta Kits pit resin is only a matter of seconds depending on the light and power source used in laboratory testing. We never know what light someone will be using and the AA battery operated lights are painfully slow to cure. The other reason we suggest a 5 minute cure time is that the solar green glass used in most windshields today blocks out much of the UV, so although pit resin cures very quickly on the surface, lower viscosity resins take much longer to cure when under the protection of the solar green glass.
I agree with Mr. Bill that "most" dental lights are the wrong wavelength, although I believe there are a few that are 365nm if you are willing to pay the price. For some reason the price goes up when you get to the 365nm lights.
Other than the cool factor, UV LED's are still a cost vs benefit item in my opinion. If you get the same wave length and power output you will pay considerably more for the LED, but again, that is changing quickly so it may well be that soon the UV LED lights will be the way to go. At least that has been our conclusion so far based on the testing we have done using a UV light meter calibrated for 365nm.
I have searched and I've tried many different word combinations, but I have yet to find any other topic thread with discussions about UV LED curing lights. I tried to research the previous discussions about this that were brought up somewhere on this thread, but I think the key word LED or LEDs is too short to register a search. Can anybody recommend search keywords to find these other threads discussing the matter?
I appreciate any guidance to the mentioned other threads on this matter, or any previous discussions.
Watch the output, especially with UV LED lights that are battery operated. We don't recommend AA battery operated lights for curing except as a backup to your primary curing light.
