What is the purpose of UV flashlights?

[alpg88]

Fungus and bacterial infections glow, uv is often used to diagnose it, shine uv on your feet, you'll see if you have fungus toenails. vets use it to see for skin infections too,

 

[PhotonWrangler]

...She has two different blood types circulating thanks to the different bone marrow DNA in her left side bones. The immune systems of the different parts of her body tend to fight...

Wow. I had no idea this was possible. This raises so many questions in my mind.

As far as the Blaschko lines, I think the question would center on what substance would cause the fluorescence under UV. Blood doesn't fluoresce under UV at all, but fingernails do. Maybe it has something to do with keratin?

 

[desert.snake]

UV tracer paste and UV ink for identifying a nearby thief or mischief maker. They used to coat the handles of public fire alarm pull boxes with UV tracer paste. If a false alarm was pulled, the firemen would check the hands of nearby kids for glowing fingers.

I've been wanting to find a petty thief at work for a long time, so this paste could help, I didn't even know about its existence

 

[PhotonWrangler]

I've been wanting to find a petty thief at work for a long time, so this paste could help, I didn't even know about its existence

It comes in paste and powder form. The professional version of the paste contains an agent that binds to the skin and is very hard to wash off, even though it's undetectable to the subject. This is the stuff you want.

 

[Monocrom]

I'm guessing a pair of gloves would defeat the paste.

 

[PhotonWrangler]

I'm guessing a pair of gloves would defeat the paste.

Not entirely, as the subject is likely to transfer some of the paste to their clothes, desk, etc. Also the subject needs to suspect that this is being used in the first place. And even a tiny bit of the paste will stand out like a sore thumb under UV.

 

[BillBond]

I use nailbender P60 UV lights for hunting scorpions in the summer time.
My record for one night is 24.

 

[CelticCross74]

UV lights are an essential tool with most plumbers. The UV makes leaking water brighter and thus MUCH easier to locate leaks.

 

[desert.snake]

Now I'm just looking for suitable UV lamps and the question of eye protection has arisen. I found these glasses, they seem to be intended for laboratory technicians who constantly work under ultraviolet light

UV Protective Eye/Face Ware – Product categories – MX Industrial Distributors

www.mxindustrial.com

Has anyone used these?

The last time I used UV to check money, the reflection from the bill for about 10-15 seconds was enough for my eyes to hurt for about 3-4 hours after

 

[sparkyv]

Great stuff. Thanks for your responses, folks.

 

[alpg88]

Any polycarbonate blocks uv, acrylic, pmma will not, few of my reading glasses are made of PC, i can see things glow, but when i look directly into uv light with black glass, i see nothing, but without glasses i can see leds die. if you have no black glass, even with PC glasses you will still see visible spectrum that uv led emmitts.

 

[PhotonWrangler]

Any polycarbonate blocks uv, acrylic, pmma will not, few of my reading glasses are made of PC, i can see things glow, but when i look directly into uv light with black glass, i see nothing, but without glasses i can see leds die. if you have no black glass, even with PC glasses you will still see visible spectrum that uv led emmitts.

In a pinch, you can use blue-blocking computer glasses. These will block all wavelengths shorter than around 450nm including UVA thru UVC.

 

[raggie33]

your all some smart humans

 

[chaosdsm]

Here's my UV lights in action:
US Passport with Visible light:


With UV:


Leak under the house after adding Riboflavin to the water:


Rock found in California - mostly Mica & Quartz:


But definitely has some mineral in it:

 

[PhotonWrangler]

Here's my UV lights in action:
US Passport with Visible light:
View attachment 57594

With UV:
View attachment 57595

Leak under the house after adding Riboflavin to the water:
View attachment 57596

Rock found in California - mostly Mica & Quartz:
View attachment 57597

But definitely has some mineral in it:
View attachment 57598

Interesting. Now I'm wondering if the non-toxic UV tracer dyes are made with Riboflavin.

 

[chaosdsm]

Interesting. Now I'm wondering if the non-toxic UV tracer dyes are made with Riboflavin.

Possibly.... based on what I know now, I only need about a milligram per gallon for a decent reaction... for two 80 gallon storage tanks I put 1/2 cup. Took about 1 month for the yellow tint (under normal light) to go away, and about 3 months to stop getting a UV reaction.

 

[LEDite]

I build portable & AC powered UV lights to remove stains from hand-woven rugs.

 

[PhotonWrangler]

I build portable & AC powered UV lights to remove stains from hand-woven rugs.

Interesting. I didn't know of this use for UV. Is this UVA/UVB metal halide?

 

[KITROBASKIN]

Ultraviolet eyes will explore the universe under new NASA mission

NASA has officially selected a new mission – the Ultraviolet Explorer, or UVEX. By scanning the skies in UV light, it will be able to study the hottest objects and fleeting events like supernovae, complementing existing and upcoming telescopes watching in optical and infrared light to create a…

newatlas.com

 

[LEDite]

The stain removal light is UVA frequency {LEDs}, but high enough actual UV output is the key for good results.