barclay
has rocks in the head
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Member since November 2011
Posts: 510
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Post by barclay on Mar 29, 2018 20:39:29 GMT -5
I am looking to buy an ultraviolet light to take with me into the field for hounding and probably another to mount in a display case for the club's flourescent minerals we are creating to take into the class room. If I could pool the collective knowledge of the board for make/model recommendations as well as a vendor I would appreciate it.
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pizzano
Cave Dweller 
Member since February 2018
Posts: 1,390
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Post by pizzano on Mar 29, 2018 21:05:27 GMT -5
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Post by toiv0 on Mar 29, 2018 22:52:47 GMT -5
I got a short turtorial last weekend at the Janesville rock show. What I took from the guy with the UV lights was don't look into the long wave, a small light will only make a small display. I asked about making a small room and he said start small and make sure the light can't be looked at directly. He said for a small box about 2 x 2 by 1 ft deep would cost 2000 dollars or so. I thought I guess I don't really want to make a room or even a small box. Looking forward to seeing what others here say. He had the light in the ad pizzano showed and he said it wouldn't light up a box much bigger than the width of the lamp. |
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NRG
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since February 2018
Posts: 1,688
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Post by NRG on Mar 30, 2018 11:18:44 GMT -5
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NRG
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since February 2018
Posts: 1,688
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Post by NRG on Mar 30, 2018 11:21:11 GMT -5
I got a short turtorial last weekend at the Janesville rock show. What I took from the guy with the UV lights was don't look into the long wave, a small light will only make a small display. I asked about making a small room and he said start small and make sure the light can't be looked at directly. He said for a small box about 2 x 2 by 1 ft deep would cost 2000 dollars or so. I thought I guess I don't really want to make a room or even a small box. Looking forward to seeing what others here say. He had the light in the ad pizzano showed and he said it wouldn't light up a box much bigger than the width of the lamp. His estimate is way out of line. Germicidal bulbs are inexpensive. Make a box 2 * 1 * 1 box and set a fluorescent fixture with germicidal bulb in the top. Veiwing port on the side. No looking at the bulb. Less than $200 for sure. Not $2000 Get the bulbs that don't make tons of visible light too. |
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barclay
has rocks in the head
Lowly Padawan of rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 510
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Post by barclay on Mar 30, 2018 11:28:59 GMT -5
I have seen boxes of flourescent minerals at our local rock shows and county fair. I know these folks are not laying down $2,000 for a display. I can see needing a very powerful lamp for a room sized display and at a certain point you cross the line from equipment made for the hobby to industrial and all bets are off for cost.
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Post by aDave on Mar 30, 2018 11:59:43 GMT -5
Can't help you with the display aspect, but I bought this light for field work. I first started with a 4 watt light but ended up being disappointed with the output. The vendor allowed me to return that lamp and apply it toward credit for the enhanced (11 watt) light. It is a much better lamp, but I've not yet taken it back in the field. I've only used it to entertain the neighbor kids by lighting up stuff I picked up at Princess Pat Mine. Good luck. |
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pizzano
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Member since February 2018
Posts: 1,390
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Post by pizzano on Mar 30, 2018 12:06:50 GMT -5
I have seen boxes of flourescent minerals at our local rock shows and county fair. I know these folks are not laying down $2,000 for a display. I can see needing a very powerful lamp for a room sized display and at a certain point you cross the line from equipment made for the hobby to industrial and all bets are off for cost. I thought you might like this read.......:
uvsystems.com/wp-content/uploads/R_G_Article_5.pdf
It may help you determine a direction to go.......be careful with germicidal (even if less expensive).....it can release an ozone like environment which is not a favorable odor or comfortable temp. if not ventilated real well........I used to be into marine reef tanks, my dad was big into that hobby. After he passed away, I was left with the responsibility. His set-ups had several types of lighting equipment for various displays.......and filtering devices..........without a sufficient amount of air circulation the odor and heat generated can be very uncomfortable, as I found out once I transferred the tanks to my place.......the coral and fish didn't suffer much, but I did until we installed a better ventilation and refrig. system........lol
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rockncajun
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2009
Posts: 344
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Post by rockncajun on Apr 2, 2018 1:15:54 GMT -5
Try Way Too Cool. They have a great 13 watt, long wave/ short wave 12 volt portable light for less than $500. They also have 120 volt lights that can be used in display cases. As for using germacidal bulbs, I would never use one without a filter. The filter is not only safer, but cuts out all the white light that overshadows the great fluorescent minerals.
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Post by toiv0 on Apr 9, 2018 7:53:43 GMT -5
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metalsmith
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
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Post by metalsmith on May 8, 2018 4:54:08 GMT -5
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NRG
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since February 2018
Posts: 1,688
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Post by NRG on May 9, 2018 13:46:34 GMT -5
Those are long wave UV or UVA (315-400nm). The mineral lights have this, but also feature germicidal UVC (100-280nm). The higher energy wavelengths cause greatly excited ions and brighter colors unseen in UVA |
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metalsmith
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Member since October 2012
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Post by metalsmith on May 12, 2018 13:30:19 GMT -5
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NRG
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since February 2018
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Post by NRG on May 12, 2018 16:16:24 GMT -5
I love you researching this. Forced me to as well! The bulb cannot be used exposed. It produces visible light too. That visible light is pollution for seeing the minerals. To solve this manufacturers use a "band pass" filter that is black to all but the UV rays. Those are EXPENSIVE. Here is one at 2" x 2" at US$165. I'm sure light makers get a better cost, but still. It's the most expensive component by far. Keep after me! I like the challenge. 😎 |
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metalsmith
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Member since October 2012
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Post by metalsmith on May 19, 2018 16:05:14 GMT -5
I love you researching this. Forced me to as well! The bulb cannot be used exposed. It produces visible light too. That visible light is pollution for seeing the minerals. To solve this manufacturers use a "band pass" filter that is black to all but the UV rays. Those are EXPENSIVE. Here is one at 2" x 2" at US$165. I'm sure light makers get a better cost, but still. It's the most expensive component by far. Keep after me! I like the challenge. 😎 There's a guy at work I see now and again. He's a physicist and I like to try to see how long I can hang on to his shirt tails. Its not normally very long. I'll run it by him and see if he has any ideas. |
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barclay
has rocks in the head
Lowly Padawan of rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 510
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Post by barclay on May 19, 2018 21:45:35 GMT -5
I love you researching this. Forced me to as well! The bulb cannot be used exposed. It produces visible light too. That visible light is pollution for seeing the minerals. To solve this manufacturers use a "band pass" filter that is black to all but the UV rays. Those are EXPENSIVE. Here is one at 2" x 2" at US$165. I'm sure light makers get a better cost, but still. It's the most expensive component by far. Keep after me! I like the challenge. 😎 There's a guy at work I see now and again. He's a physicist and I like to try to see how long I can hang on to his shirt tails. Its not normally very long. I'll run it by him and see if he has any ideas. Thanks |
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