Windshield Repair Forum

Hello Everyone. I was wondering what type of lighting is being used to perform successful repairs after normal hours. I live in PA and it is getting dark around 5:00. I am part time and sometimes start repairing around 5:00. I was thinking about portable spotlights but I found out how hot they get after being plugged in for 15 to 20 minutes. I would have to wait extra time for the lights to cool down. I did a repair this evening with a small flashlight which I had to hold with my mouth while switching from pressure to vacuum, it worked but I am sure there is a better way.

If I was your customer, I'd tell you to wait until it was light. I don't want to see someone working on my car, in the dark holding a flashlight in his mouth!
I have found that working in a garage with poor lighting (customer's) and using artificial light makes it very difficult to see resin flowing into the break.

Well that just depends on what area of PA you live in. Certain lights work better depending on what county your in. We use regular old Fluorescent light. Also check out Delta Kits bridge mount light LED. I had an opportunity to demo these and think they are a good alternative for pin point lighting. If you need something just reach out, I see what I can do to help.

For night-time repairs, I use an all-weather flood lamp on a tripod. It does get hot, so I turn it off imediately when repair is finished. Then I pack up my tools, write the invoice, collect money from customer, and by then the light has cooled down and is the last thing to back into the truck.

I too work this business part-time, and especially in winter months when it gets dark so darn early, we have no choice but to sometimes work in the dark with artificial lighting.

Move the lighting around and view the repair from ALL angles BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER the repair.

I use the Helen Keller method. Sometimes I get the right car or even the right chip. But there are times that someone else gets there car worked on.

In a dark situation, I set up a 18" fluorescent mechanics light to light up the whole front of the car - then I use a little 4-AA Walmart fluorescent light with a 6" bulb. The little light is held in place by a suction cup between me and the chip and has electricians tape covering one side to keep its light out of my eyes.
The big light lets me see my tools and the little one reflects off my mirror and onto the repair.

JT,
Post a picture of the suction light you use.

Picture a Kmart or Walmart $6 / 6" fluorescent light about the size and shape of a hot dog that you lay on the glass and prop from sliding with a Dollar Store dollar-a-dozen suction cup.
The idea here is the same as with heating or cooling the glass - you only have to heat , cool, or light the part you're working on - about one square foot.