[Rockhounds] UV flashlights

[Doug Bank]

Yes, Mark Cole (MinerShop.com) has instructions for building a 4 LED long wave light. Not a simple project, but doable...

http://www.minershop.com/technology/diy-projects/lw-display-light/

It doesn't use the same LED as these new lights though, so it possibly could be improved. I think the new Nichia 365 LEDs put out less blue light and are therefore more efficient.

Sent from my iPad

> On Mar 29, 2017, at 7:38 PM, Tim Fisher <nospam at orerockon.com> wrote:
> 
> Somewhere I read that it has been done. I think on that fluorescent minerals sight. They put an array of the LEDs in a housing of some sort.
> 
> Tim Fisher
> Orerockon.com
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Rockhounds [mailto:rockhounds-bounces at rockhounds.drizzle.com] On Behalf Of Doug Bank
> Sent: Wednesday, March 29, 2017 4:26 PM
> To: Rockhounds at drizzle.com: A mailing list for rock and gem collectors
> Subject: Re: [Rockhounds] UV flashlights
> 
> What I mean is that the Convoy 365nm light won't really show me the same stuff as my 254nm SuperBright. However, it usually shows something. For example, my willemite calcite from Franklin glow dimly red green in the long wave light. If something gets a reaction, I may be willing to gamble that it will react better in shortwave.
> 
> The fly in the ointment, though, is that some things glow spectacularly well with this light, but do NOT glow nearly as well with a traditional 365nm tube display light. I may have to build a new LED display light....
> 
> Doug
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>> On Mar 29, 2017, at 12:10 PM, jgharris7 <jgharris7 at yahoo.com> wrote:
>> 
>> Doug: you write that the response is not a "true" response? Do you just mean that it is not close to the peak of the relevant excitation.  I thought that even though the states responsible for the fluroescence are discrete, the interactions with other atoms and vibrational states  creates a range of levels for the states.
>> 
>> 
>> Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
>> -------- Original message --------From: Doug Bank 
>> <dougbank at alum.mit.edu> Date: 3/18/17  12:33 PM  (GMT-05:00) To: "Rockhounds at drizzle.com: A mailing list for rock and gem collectors" <rockhounds at rockhounds.drizzle.com> Subject: Re: [Rockhounds] UV flashlights There is a new flashlight that the fluorescent mineral community is buzzing about. It uses a Nichia 365nm LED that has very little visible light leakage (so the rocks aren’t real purple) and the wavelength is true (That said, a filter is advisable). The really cool thing about it is that it is CHEAP. The light can be bought for under $25, though you also need to add the price for a good 18650 battery and charger and maybe $2 for a filter. While it is long wave, it is REALLY bright, and can get a response from many short wave minerals. Not a true response, but enough to show you that something is fluorescent. You can find a lot more information here:
>> 
>> https://www.naturesrainbows.com/single-post/2017/03/01/365nm-Flashligh
>> t-Torch-The-Most-Significant-Innovation-in-UV-Mineral-Lights-in-Years
>> 
>> The only real problem with this light is that is seems to have few sources, is shipped from China, and has a variable supply chain. Ditto for the 20mm ZWB2 filters, which are out of stock in most places. The link above tells you everything you need to know.
>> 
>> It is cheap, it is light, it is small. It can be easily taken anywhere. The brand is also well known for quality among flashlight hobbyists. Get one today.
>> 
>> Doug
>> 
>> PS Also the best cat pee detector I have ever used! :-(
>> 
>>> On Mar 18, 2017, at 10:37 AM, Peter Richards <rpr at heidelberg.edu> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Any comments about the best UV flashlight for mineral use, value for money?
>>> 
>>> Thanks,
>>> Pete Richards
>>> ___________________________
>>> R. Peter Richards, Ph.D.
>>> rpr at heidelberg.edu
>>> Morphological Crystallographer
>>> 
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