Is this Ring Inspection light as good as proper swirl finder lights?

[Submariner]

OK I have 2 of these LED inspection lamps
RIL3600HP | MAGflex Twist LED Inspection Lamp | Inspection Lighting (http://www.ringautomotive.com/en/product/RIL3600HP)

My car has very few light swirl marks.
IMO its almost impossible to see them in the daylight, but we have a halogen securuty light high up on the wall beside my driveway ... that picks them up nicely! But being fixed arent good for correction work ergo cant see the vertical sides etc.

I wondered are these extremely expensive dedicated swirl finders ( like the 3M Sunray) a lot better than these? And are the real one LED based?

Looking for something cheap, that could highlight these minor swirls in daylight. I.e. when I work on it.

To highlight a swirl is it better hold the lamp very close or as far away as possible ?

[TTQ B4U]

I have several lights purchased over time and honestly the best one for showing swirls in a hand-held manner is a fairly bright fore-head lamp I got at Lowes. I also have the specilized Rupes Pen light and it works but as I work, the one on my forehead works better. Hold it about 18-24 inches away and it will light up a car. Here's an example (http://www.pbase.com/timothylauro/image/167699692/original.jpg) from recently. Another good one (http://www.pbase.com/timothylauro/image/167780628/original.jpg)showing a B-Pillar just holding the light in my hand.

The ones I use daily are also from Lowes (https://www.lowes.com/pd/Utilitech-2500-Lumen-LED-Portable-Work-Light/1000343431) I run 2 and they are awesome at lighting up sides of vehicles and light enough that if you need to pick one up to inspect a hood or roof it's easy. Same car as my other example only using both work lights on the floor (http://www.pbase.com/timothylauro/image/167699693/original.jpg) One more (http://www.pbase.com/timothylauro/image/167699691/original.jpg)using both.

[Submariner]

I have several lights purchased over time and honestly the best one for showing swirls in a hand-held manner is a fairly bright fore-head lamp I got at Lowes. I also have the specilized Rupes Pen light and it works but as I work, the one on my forehead works better. Hold it about 18-24 inches away and it will light up a car. Here's an example (http://www.pbase.com/timothylauro/image/167699692/original.jpg) from recently. Another good one (http://www.pbase.com/timothylauro/image/167780628/original.jpg)showing a B-Pillar just holding the light in my hand.

The ones I use daily are also from Lowes (https://www.lowes.com/pd/Utilitech-2500-Lumen-LED-Portable-Work-Light/1000343431) I run 2 and they are awesome at lighting up sides of vehicles and light enough that if you need to pick one up to inspect a hood or roof it's easy. Same car as my other example only using both work lights on the floor (http://www.pbase.com/timothylauro/image/167699693/original.jpg) One more (http://www.pbase.com/timothylauro/image/167699691/original.jpg)using both.

Much appreciated your detailed and very useful advice.

[grovlet]

I have several lights purchased over time and honestly the best one for showing swirls in a hand-held manner is a fairly bright fore-head lamp I got at Lowes. I also have the specilized Rupes Pen light and it works but as I work, the one on my forehead works better. Hold it about 18-24 inches away and it will light up a car. Here's an example (http://www.pbase.com/timothylauro/image/167699692/original.jpg) from recently. Another good one (http://www.pbase.com/timothylauro/image/167780628/original.jpg)showing a B-Pillar just holding the light in my hand.

The ones I use daily are also from Lowes (https://www.lowes.com/pd/Utilitech-2500-Lumen-LED-Portable-Work-Light/1000343431) I run 2 and they are awesome at lighting up sides of vehicles and light enough that if you need to pick one up to inspect a hood or roof it's easy. Same car as my other example only using both work lights on the floor (http://www.pbase.com/timothylauro/image/167699693/original.jpg) One more (http://www.pbase.com/timothylauro/image/167699691/original.jpg)using both.

When you say "Fairly Bright" - any idea on how many Lumens? Looks like they offer anywhere from 100 to 600? Also any idea on particular brand?

that might help to narrow down general options to get a close ideal.:cheers:

[Cruzscarwash]

Don't forget CRI plays a part, the higher the CRI (color rendering index...I think) the closer to actual sunlight the color. Higher lumens is not always better. I as well have a collection of lights from many off the shelf places but non really do better then the scangrip.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

[TTQ B4U]

When you say "Fairly Bright" - any idea on how many Lumens? Looks like they offer anywhere from 100 to 600? Also any idea on particular brand?

that might help to narrow down general options to get a close ideal.:cheers:

The headband one I have is 650 lumens. I found the same one at Advanced Auto Parts yesterday too. Was like $40. Works great for interior detailing too.

[Submariner]

The headband one I have is 650 lumens. I found the same one at Advanced Auto Parts yesterday too. Was like $40. Works great for interior detailing too.

Very jealous of your choices in the USA ..
how come only the Chinese seems to be able to freight stuff cheaply into the UK?

personally I would much rather buy American as long as you went Metric lol!

[Eldorado2k]

Very jealous of your choices in the USA ..
how come only the Chinese seems to be able to freight stuff cheaply into the UK?

personally I would much rather buy American as long as you went Metric lol!

I wouldn’t trade my Chinese made Cree LED headlamp for anything. I paid $7 bucks shipped, it takes two 18650 rechargeable batteries [which I’ve got plenty spares on hand], claims to be 1800 lumens and shines so bright I can zoom in and see more than 2 blocks away. It’s lasted me 2+ yrs. and still going strong.[emoji1434]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180912/7c1026df6e8a6201fe0f5d5dcb4e4d8a.jpg

I’ve seen some of the made in USA headlights that cost about 5x the price and come nowhere near the quality and performance of this headlight.[emoji4]

[DBAILEY]

Any point source light is better as a swirl finder than no light at all and just using diffuse overhead lighting.

[RippyD]

Too bright is a problem for me. I need to get off the brightest settings or I can't see anything. High CRI seems to help. The lights in the parking lot of my grocery store show eveything. Every little defect shows up. These are dim and must have terrible CRI. So I'm not sure what's best.

[DBAILEY]

You're onto something. Lining your garage ceiling with parking lot lights.

[TTQ B4U]

You're onto something. Lining your garage ceiling with parking lot lights.

I always tell people who ask about swirls or imperfections to check out their car at night while filling up with gas, cruising car dealer lots or even parking under a light pole at the grocery store.

[Submariner]

I always tell people who ask about swirls or imperfections to check out their car at night while filling up with gas, cruising car dealer lots or even parking under a light pole at the grocery store.

Its funny they used an obviously expensive swirl light at the body shop, hardly any showed up yet my cheapo B&Q security light high up on the wall picks up the few light swirl marks best! :)

[TTQ B4U]

Its funny they used an obviously expensive swirl light at the body shop, hardly any showed up yet my cheapo B&Q security light high up on the wall picks up the few light swirl marks best! :)

Yep. I have used both expensive ones that say they emit the right color light, etc. and the ones I've shown you and there's no noticeable difference. Save your money.