UV light for wood ID
John K Jordan
For those interested in wood ID with a microscope and otherwise, a good UV light is helpful in some cases since certain species fluoresce uniquely. The problem is acquiring a good UV light.
A 365nm UV light seems perfect. If it is too long a wavelength, i.e., closer to 400nm as most of them are, there is too much white light which overpowers the fluorescence making the light nearly useless.
The people selling these lights seem to substitute whatever they can get for what they advertise, or just outright lie. After buying several cheap lights, some which were good and some worthless (and being a pest until one finally sent the correct light), I finally found an excellent UV light, courtesy of some posts on the Candlepower forum.
This one is advertised as 365nm and I believe it. It is well made and very bright: EagleTac P200LC2 365nm UV, uses CR123a or the rechargeable 18650. About $60.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B014AYMBMQ
NiteCore also advertises one that is the same size and probably more useful with both bright white and UV but it costs more or I would have bought it. (I have another NiteCore I really like, small, 1000 lumens, and well designed UI - even has a built-in voltmeter to monitor the battery!)
Here is an example with honey locust and redheart. Black locust and honey locust fluoresce a bright greenish yellow. Redheart glows bright orange. The cell phone photos below are not exactly what my eye sees, but you can get the idea.
I just turned some redheart finials for ornaments and I can see every shaving bright orange in my bin.
The UV light is also good for checking US bills, and reportedly good for spotting scorpions and pet mishaps.
JKJ
