Brinkmann Xenon Owners Poll

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

3. Yes absolutely. Best light for the money.

I agree. I would agree even if I didn't work for a company that sells them.

I always keep one with my in a truck for the simple fact it's also the best darn flashlight you can have for emergencies. Comes with both a wall charger and a car charger.

And yeah... I use it on every car I work on to inspect before, process and after results.

 

[FUNX650]

Just did a very quick search and found this thread by Mike Phillips:

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/ask-expert-featuring-mike-phillips/43192-let-there-light.html

From the above thread:

Try turning off all of the lights and use one light source to find the swirls. Sometimes the ambient lighting floods the paint too much and obscures the defects.

Make the garage dark. Very dark. As dark as you can make it. Close the doors, cover the windows. Then use only whichever swirl light you use.

^^^^^^^:dblthumb2:^^^^^^^

A few examples of my doing so:

One 500w halogen:

Two 500w halogens:

One 35w halogen "swirl-finder" flashlight:

Something about those lights at the gas station make swirls just hop out at you.

I have never... ever... seen ANYTHING as exposing, unforgiving, and just hideously accurate when it comes to revealing paint defects, scratches, and swirls as overhead gas-station fluorescent lights. I don't get it - they're basically the same lighting I installed in my garage for detailing, but SOMETHING HAS TO BE DIFFERENT.

The biggest difference is the distance. The same lights at various distances will show and/or hide defects.
Gas station lights are usually way high up.<<<So is the Sun, I'll add...

The reflection of the light shows defects but it is high enough that the actual light will not wash out the defects.

And from this thread-starter:

Quite frankly, the Brinkmann doesn't really help that much to see fine defects.

I agree. Under gas station LEDs or under the sun I can find defects in my paint that my Brinkman never shows.

Piggy-backing off the above:

The 3M Sun Gun might work, I tend to not use it because it's more of a cruel master than the Brinkmann and the Brinkmann is cruel enough...

May be cost-prohibitive to some folks…Even on sale?!?!

3M Sun Gun Color Matching Light, 3M PPS Sun Gun, color match gun

Using my "Sun Gun" in the same darkened garage...
On the same day/vehicle area...as in above "halogen pics":

^^^Pretty close to the "Real Sun"^^^...IMHO.
(Same day/vehicle as above pics)

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"Sun Gun" How to's:
-http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...dowsandwheels-request-my-version-sun-gun.html

-http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...home-made-swirl-light-sun-gun-under-30-a.html

-The Ultimate Home-Made swirl spotting torch - Detailing World

-DIY Sun Gun - romanian version, cost under 5 GPB!!! - Detailing World

-Built my own 3M Sun Gun for under $40 USA Edition - Detailing World
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I have no real need of a 'Brinkman' at the present time...
But that doesn't mean I wouldn't mind having one someday.
The more/different light sources the better!!

The only thing that seemed to work was viewing the paint surface at awkward, neck-bending angles

^^^(And it doesn’t hurt to be a double-jointed contortionist either)^^^

Bob

 

[SON1C]

save your money, I'm disappointed with mine.

this will be a great thread to ask, how are you guys using yours to spot the swirls? it works on some paints, some times, but I find it hard to capture the true form of the paint with it, and even harder to take pictures 500w's blow it away and they can be had for $30 on sale

 

[07RS4]

Not technically a poll, just another Brinkmann thread.

I'm putting together another AG order and am trying to decide whether to add the Brinkmann Xenon to my cart. I'm hesitant because I've read lots of reviews about the unit dying (or nearly so) after less than a year's use.

So please help me out...


If you own the Brinkmann Xenon Swirl Finder Light, please reply with:

1. How long you've owned yours.
2. How well it is holding a charge.
3. Whether you would recommend or buy again.

Thanks for the help!

Steve

1. 1.5 Years
2. Loses charge quickly, and charging light works randomly. Yes I charged via instructions.
3. No. I rarely ever use it. Already had to replace the bulb, and it doesn't hold a charge worth a damn. My 2*500 Watt halogens and Made in the USA LED flashlight will do just fine while this collects dust.

 

[KillaCam]

To all of you saying the product isn't good, I think you aren't using it correctly. It is an awesome unit for the money, especially if you don't want to carry around huge halogen lights that take up a ton of space and get extremely hot.

A tip I found is to hold the light about 2-3 feet away from the surface and inspect. If you hold it too close you won't be able to see defects as well. And checking from different angles is key. I just buffed out a white car of mine which is not easy to see the defects, then I took it out in the sun and was not disappointed. The Brinkmann did a great job. Plus, it doubles as a flashlight!
If my unit ever goes out I'm going to make my own sun gun.

 

[davey g-force]

Thanks for the links FUNX725!

I might have to try to make my own one day when I get some time. Looks like a fun and rewarding project :xyxthumbs: