I’ve been playing with low cost fluorescent bulb covers for paintless repair. The results are pretty good.
This is an easy way to “fuzz out” the edge of your stripe.
Since the stripe goes behind the painted cover, it can be focused in or out a little as well.
This seems to really pick up the orange peel or texture of the car. Should do wonders for pointing out highs and lows too.
You can pick up these covers at Hardware Stores. I get mine at Home Depot for about $3.
If you experiment with different colors of fluorescent paint, let me know what you discover.
See what you think – watch the video and give me your opinion.
How to fog your bulb for PDR
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Looks good will try it out thanks
Went to Menards and bought a 48″ tube for $1.84 already had the paint, works like a charm. Thanks for the tip.
Nick, Matt and John, thanks for trying this out.
Rennie Burrus from Ohio came through town on Saturday and we brainstormed this:
Black is very important to your light. The painted cover “fogs” the edge alright, but it also dulls the black, or grays it out.
Try this: Remove the painted cover and add another 3/4 inch stripe to your bulb, but overlap the other by about a 1/4 inch. Now you have an 1 and 1/4 inch stripe on the bulb itself.
Put the painted cover back on and run a 3/4 inch stripe down its length as well.
Now you have the best of both worlds. True black with a fuzzy edge.
Since your bulb cover spins, you may get some interesting results by turning it.
Let me know what you think.
as soon as I get the ts-1 light, i will be trying that out. thanks
Thanks Tim I like this ideal , got my tools in working on a light ,Love the videos learning lots. I now have a stock car to race next season so I’ll get lots of practice and I love a challange.
@Tommy – very cool. Say hello to Ricky Bobby for us. Shake and Bake.
@Rick – great question! Since the bulb cover is twistable (?), I sprayed one third white, then the yellow fluorescent. It made it darker, but it was so blotchy and uneven, I don’t use it.
Best part is its cheap, but who needs another unused spray bomb laying around?
The fluorescents work because they are very close to what a “candy color” would do – show through to the color underneath.
I have also tried window frosting paint, reflector paint, and yellow paper.
The first two didn’t do much and the paper was too blotchy.
I have been using the 48″ lamp cover that slides over the regular 2-bulb lamp from A-1 tools. It has a fade in the center of the cover thats a sticker. Before I install the cover I applied 3/4 inch, 3-M green masking tape the length of both bulbs. The tape kinda dulls the lamp a little, without having to buy 25 watt bulbs and also causes a kinda cool effect, espically on darker colors. I also added a 1/4 inch stripe on the cover to cross check with a straight edge. Seems to work great for me. K
@Kacy Coggin: Thanks Kacy. I wonder what would happen if you put a 1/4 inch black stripe right down the middle of your green masking tape?
My gut says the distance between the cover and the bulb will render a fuzzy something.
Thanks for the tip. Although, I don’t use that type of light, I have been rethinking the method employed in shading my own and that video has given me food for thought.
Have you tried yellow paint instead of the flourescent yellow? If so, was the reflection on the panel less transluscent?
hi tim,thank you for this advise i will try this method asap,also i am enjoying the quick start guide just purchased from yourself,i feel i understand more and more everyday.thanks again!
I tried what you said Tim By adding an extra 1/4 inch to the bulb and It works much better giving a much nicer shadow but I found that 1/4 inch stripe on the painted bulb instead of 3/4 worked better for me. I guess it is because I’m so used to working with a 1/4 inch stripe. I can’t believe how much better I can see my pushes using the yellow bulb instead of a bare bulb and my glue pulls are so much better.
@Nicholas Lloyd: Great idea with the 1/4 inch Nick! I’m happy its working better for you. Derek and I sure like it here.
Tim I cut a tube to fit my mobile light . I happen to have an orange stripe on my bulb as I am working on a black door. It works great. It shows more texture and I can see my pushes easier which had been an issue before. I think I may try other colors for different car colors.Great idea, thanks.
HI Tim i orderd on line a light 24″ from ultra dent tools just like the one on your video and it works like a charm ive bought your mentor system now about a yr and been practicing when ever i can cause you know i have a bodyshop and dont have to much time to practice but i can tell you i now started makeing some money useing your teaching abilites,thanks again Tim
Tim, i believe Ultra Dent sells an amber colored bulb protector. Has anyone tryed it?
Hi Rick,
great question. I believe the amber colored cover is tinted clear.
This custom cover works because the yellow fluorescent is milky, giving a fogged effect.
If someone finds some covers that are “bug bulb” style, these might work if they are less opaque.
Hi tim ,just want to let you know after takeing your course on line I have become very good in fixing dents wow just cant belive it myself .I should of done this a long time ago taken your course I want to thank you my teacher & mentor for helping me get started,i dont refuse any kind of dent as long as it resonable mind you .
Hope to hear from you .
Thankyou
George,
this is excellent! I am proud of you for doing so well. Thanks for posting.
Great presentation of how light matters ! If I may ask Tim what is one of your favorite colors. Thanks LT
If spraying fog on a tube, the yellow seems best since it also lets the most light through.
Really haven’t tried other colors, though have tried window frosting and spraying a white streak first. This became a dark stripe in the reflection.