How to see swirls on very light paint?

I had many of the same frustrations - tried LED flashlights of various lumens, iphone flash, LED worklight all with my garage shop lights both on and off. I could easily see minor swirls on the piano black pillar trim but still couldn't see the imperfections in the silver paint.

Finally what worked for me was the DIY LED Work Light setup with all the garage shop lights off.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...-led-work-light-much-better-than-halogen.html
 
Did you try the old trick of using gas station lights at night?

Sometimes it isn't the full - bright - maximum sun type light that'll show it to ya'. It's that offset light at times.

Also, as has been mentioned... try using DIFFERENT light sources at the same time. I still use my twin-head halogen, a single head halogen, a big single head (square) LED shop light (one of those $99 ones) along with my shop lights.


Those consist of 4' overhead fluorescent fixtures with 2 of the Par 38 LED floods on each end of the overhead fixtures.

Between all of them.... and sometimes just SOME of them, I can find swirls on any surface. :D
 
s14rl and cardaddy you both hit something on the nose. I went to Walmart at night, and looked at the hood with the parking lot lights shining down. And that was it, I was able to see the imperfections in the reflection.

And then also my flashlight at night. It just helps not having the whole hood lit up from the sun. I can't see anything that way.
 
Yep, having a flash light and being in the complete dark is one of the best way to see defects, talk about the "cruel master "
 
cardaddy said:
Did you try the old trick of using gas station lights at night?



Sometimes it isn't the full - bright - maximum sun type light that'll show it to ya'. It's that offset light at times.



Also, as has been mentioned... try using DIFFERENT light sources at the same time. I still use my twin-head halogen, a single head halogen, a big single head (square) LED shop light (one of those $99 ones) along with my shop lights.





Those consist of 4' overhead fluorescent fixtures with 2 of the Par 38 LED floods on each end of the overhead fixtures.



Between all of them.... and sometimes just SOME of them, I can find swirls on any surface. :D
Click to expand...


This is exactly the type of situation when I referenced I've seen silver cars with swirls. The first floor of the parking garage at my work is dark and when you said gas station lights at night the bells went off in my head. This pic doesn't do it justice but I can walk down the row of cars and watch the light flow across the trunk lids and hoods and easily swirls, even on some of the silver cars.
View attachment 41680
 
willowcat11 said:
s14rl and cardaddy you both hit something on the nose. I went to Walmart at night, and looked at the hood with the parking lot lights shining down. And that was it, I was able to see the imperfections in the reflection.

And then also my flashlight at night. It just helps not having the whole hood lit up from the sun. I can't see anything that way.
Click to expand...

So Willocat - how did it look?
 
Well, I had just compounded the hood the day before, and Awesomely any swirls are all gone compared to the other parts of the car. Just some VERY fine tiny stuff that looks like the Polish will take off.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top