Help me choose a Flash Light for swirl Finding??

[RippyD]

I already chose the COAST 375 one and it's fantastic 3 light settings zoom in and out great led....

By great LED do you mean the emitter? I can't find any info on what LED emitter it uses, so not sure how you know it's a great one. I don't see why this flashlight is any better than any other over the counter LED flashlight for finding swirls. I have a $5 hardware store LED light. It finds swirls too. Not well, but it shows some.

I see al the swirls as I would see when I pull out my car...

Are you saying this flashlight shows as many defects as the sun? I don't see how that's possible and doesn't seem believable. I have no doubt it shows some defects. If it works for you and your're happy with it, that's all that matters.

How or why would a hi CRI light make for a better swirl finder?

That's a great question and I don't know the answer. I don't have any reason to believe that high CRI is necessary for finding swirls. I'm guessing that most high swirl finders are high CRI because they show the true color of the paint better than more colored light. It could be they help with swirls - don't really know. EDIT: made a comment about high CRI showing more detail. But my high CRI lights are also neutral color, so it may not be the CRI.

A 60w incandescent bulb has a CRI of 100.
So does a candle.

How come nobody is recommending them for finding swirls?

Not sure where you got that info. Most candle flames are about 1700 CRI - very yellow. Most incandescent bulbs are warm and fairly yellowish, about 2700 CRI. Of course there are incandescent bulbs that have a more natural light color, but they aren't typical. Both of those light sources are very diffused. I suppose an incandescent bulb in an enclosure to direct the light may work just fine. Of course there's the size, the heat, the power cord, and the potential for breaking the bulb. So maybe not the most convenient choice.

[mengelhardt]

Not sure where you got that info. Most candle flames are about 1700 CRI - very yellow. Most incandescent bulbs are warm and fairly yellowish, about 2700 CRI. Of course there are incandescent bulbs that have a more natural light color, but they aren't typical. Both of those light sources are very diffused. I suppose an incandescent bulb in an enclosure to direct the light may work just fine. Of course there's the size, the heat, the power cord, and the potential for breaking the bulb. So maybe not the most convenient choice.

CRI is not the same as color temperature. You seem to be confusing the two.

[RippyD]

CRI is not the same as color temperature. You seem to be confusing the two.

Ugh... yes, I was. My bad. Most incandescent sare 100 CRI. Not sure about a candle. Chrisg8p was correct about CRI for these.

[mengelhardt]

Ugh... yes, I was. My bad. Most incandescent sare 100 CRI.

I know, I already stated that they were.

Not sure about a candle.

I am, it's also 100 CRI.

Chrisg8p was correct about CRI for these.

correct about what?

[CobraRed]

I think for those with customers, the goal is always to replicate how the car is going to be seen by the public and customer, which is in sunlight. So anytime you can bring some more sunlight or sunlight replacement onto a panel and see how it's going to look on the road, that's preferable.
That works both ways, seeing imperfections sun would show, and stopping when they would not be visible in sunlight.

[2black1s]

A 60w incandescent bulb has a CRI of 100.
So does a candle.

How come nobody is recommending them for finding swirls?

This is not necessarily a recommendation... But I've been using 100W Incandescents in an old school trouble light fixture to aid my polishing since the 1970s, long before there was any such thing as a swirl finder light. It has always served me well and I continue to use it today. The only difference is I now have a led bulb in there because incandescents are no longer available in CA.

[Bill D]

I still use incandescents to swirl find as well. They work well!