Finding the Right Light When Polishing

[CaliforniaSpecial]

What are you guys using to check your results after each pass during polishing? I used a Brinkman swirl finder for my first polish in my garage and wasn't really able to get a good look at my results. I thought the car looked pretty good in my garage until I moved it in the sun and noticed holograms all over the place.

Do you guys use similar swirl finders? Maybe I could try some certain techniques with it to better inspect the surface? The lighting in my garage isn't the best. Maybe some portable light stands?

Just throwing out some ideas here but I'd like to hear what the rest of you are using. Can't get a perfect finish if you cant see all your imperfections!

 

[Timmbo]

I've got the Brinkman LED dual head and it's bright! I also installed these lights in the garage.

T5 HO fluorescents. Two eight foot fixtures running front to back, one four foot that shines over the hood and bumper running across the ceiling at the front of the garage and one four foot that shines over the trunk and rear bumper running across the ceiling at the back of the garage forming a nice large square of light for the car to be under. These lights are insanely bright. Your local Home Depot has them. Kind of pricey but check them out. Made all the difference in the world in my garage. Very happy.

 

[BlackReign]

Lighting in my garage sucks.
If I was going to stay in the house for awhile I would hang florecent lights.

But for the time being, I just use the portable florecent shop lights that are on an ajustable stand. Home Depot had them on sale dirt cheap one time.

 

[CaliforniaSpecial]

Those portable lights were more along the lines of what I was thinking since I do a lot of moving around still at the moment. Just wasnt sure if thatd do the trick or not.

 

[bullitt2086]

Lighting in my garage sucks.
If I was going to stay in the house for awhile I would hang florecent lights.

But for the time being, I just use the portable florecent shop lights that are on an ajustable stand. Home Depot had them on sale dirt cheap one time.

I've got the exact one and I can tell you there bright as shiitttt!

 

[Rasmus]

I've got the Brinkman LED dual head and it's bright! I also installed these lights in the garage.

T5 HO fluorescents. Two eight foot fixtures running front to back, one four foot that shines over the hood and bumper running across the ceiling at the front of the garage and one four foot that shines over the trunk and rear bumper running across the ceiling at the back of the garage forming a nice large square of light for the car to be under. These lights are insanely bright. Your local Home Depot has them. Kind of pricey but check them out. Made all the difference in the world in my garage. Very happy.

I did the same. Found some cheap fixtures at HD and installed eight 4ft T8 fluorescents; 2 front, 2 back, and 2 on each side. The walls are white. Car is lit up like a Vegas casino.

 

[John@Lethal]

I have a Fenix tactical light that I keep around the house, it doubles for when i need to find swirls.

 

[BlackReign]

I've got the exact one and I can tell you there bright as shiitttt!

Can be hot as crap too.

I did the same. Found some cheap fixtures at HD and installed eight 4ft T8 fluorescents; 2 front, 2 back, and 2 on each side. The walls are white. Car is lit up like a Vegas casino.

Thats what I eventually would like to do if we stay in our current house. We literally have one single 60watt bulb in there now. Whoever came up with that idea thinking that light was acquitted in a garage is an I-D-I-O-T.

 

[CaliforniaSpecial]

Can be hot as crap too.



Thats what I eventually would like to do if we stay in our current house. We literally have one single 60watt bulb in there now. Whoever came up with that idea thinking that light was acquitted in a garage is an I-D-I-O-T.

Thats about how my set up is. Being able to work at night would be awesomeee.

 

[BlackReign]

Thats about how my set up is. Being able to work at night would be awesomeee.

Yep, totally pisses me off. My neighbor across the street (also a mustang guy) wired up about 8 florescent lights in his garage before he had to move. I tried to get hime to let me buy them and have him help me wire them up....lol....but he had to rent the house out pretty quick.

Anyways...next garage will be glowing like Vegas.

 

[hwm3]

Here's the lighting in my shop.

 

[itsslow]

Plan on fully detailing my car tomorrow, two stages of polish, two stages of glaze, and a stage of swirl remover, all meguiars products

 

[CaliforniaSpecial]

Lighting in my garage sucks.
If I was going to stay in the house for awhile I would hang florecent lights.

But for the time being, I just use the portable florecent shop lights that are on an ajustable stand. Home Depot had them on sale dirt cheap one time.

Do you guys maybe have a model number or wattage number on those?

 

[Timmbo]

This is pricey but has gotten good reviews on detailing forums. Puts out virtually no heat and is 5100 lumens. Pretty damn bright. Only pulls 60 watts.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200585836_200585836

 

[BlackReign]

Here's the lighting in my shop.

I just pee'd myself a bit with excitement....that would be such a beautiful thing.

Do you guys maybe have a model number or wattage number on those?

The picture I posted was from here.
http://www.harborfreight.com/1000-watt-twin-lamp-halogen-floodlight-66439.html

But you should be able to go to Home Depot and find the exact same thing for about the same price. Thats where I bought my lights.

 

[Seer]

What also helps is using a light colored garage floor too, like those garage floor sealer kits.

 

[bullitt2086]

I would have to agree those portable halide light fixtures do get really really really hot!

 

[Timmbo]

What also helps is using a light colored garage floor too, like those garage floor sealer kits.

Yep. Now that I've got nice lighting up, new paint and new Kobalt cabinets the floor is my last project slated for late March when it warms up. I'm thinking about buying the Rustoleum Epoxy kit in grey to match my walls.

 

[doogie]

Yep. Now that I've got nice lighting up, new paint and new Kobalt cabinets the floor is my last project slated for late March when it warms up. I'm thinking about buying the Rustoleum Epoxy kit in grey to match my walls.

Good plan! I sealed mine a couple years ago using that same product (I have a thread on here about it) and it makes it so much nicer to work out there and keep things clean. I even find myself mopping once and while to clean up all the crud that comes in with the snow in the winter.

 

[CaliforniaSpecial]

What also helps is using a light colored garage floor too, like those garage floor sealer kits.

That's a good point. I'll have to keep that in mind when it comes time I can start piecing my Taj Mahal together haha