Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,584
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Post by Mark K on Jun 24, 2014 22:38:42 GMT -5
Has anyone ever made one? This is a storebought version, but I don't want to fool with store bought. I want better.
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Post by jakesrocks on Jun 25, 2014 9:24:46 GMT -5
It seems to me that the hardest part of building a UV light box would be finding the protective viewing lens. The best lenses are made of fused silica glass, and could be quite expensive.
For my own UV viewing, I found a surplus lab grade UV light with stand on ebay. I'm going to have my wife stitch up a black felt hood to fit over the light frame. The cover will have a flap I can open for viewing or taking pics.
UV light can be reflected back to your eyes, so use all non reflective surfaces, and never look directly into the UV light. Especially short wave UV. Short wave can also cause sunburn to exposed skin, so keep the time you are positioning specimens under the light short.
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Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,584
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Post by Mark K on Jun 25, 2014 9:46:38 GMT -5
The purpose of this would be for when I am in the field, I can see if something reacts.
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Post by jakesrocks on Jun 25, 2014 10:13:13 GMT -5
Possibly just a plywood box with the light mounted in the top. Paint the inside of the box flat black. leave the front of the box open, with black felt covering it. Small opening to view through, and a good pair of sun glasses. Most good sun glasses will block UV rays. Also, most places that sell UV lamps also sell protective UV glasses.
The main thing to consider is protecting your eyes from short wave UV. Most rocks that react to UV, react to short wave. Only a few to long wave or mid range wave.
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Post by connrock on Jun 28, 2014 7:45:38 GMT -5
A few years ago I took 3 Aussie friends down to Franklin NJ to collect fluorescent minerals.I had never been there nor did I ever collect fluorescents before so I contacted a friend in Ohio who has collected there quite a few times.He told me to bring a small dark colored tarp to drape over me and the area I was collecting in.This worked out very well for us as we could drape the tarp over us and "fan' the area with a light to see the fluorescent minerals well.We had to take turns doing this because I only have 1 light. connrock
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