Types of infrared lamps for drying cars, rating and reviews of the best brands
When painting a car body, certain conditions must be met, which ensure tight and reliable adhesion of the material to the surface. In this regard, this procedure is usually carried out by professional painters using specialized equipment. However, using infrared lamps for drying a car, you can independently restore the car body.
Description and purpose
Two techniques used during the drying of the material ensure a perfect fit of the automotive paint to the bodywork: convection and thermo-radiation. The first involves the use of a special chamber that heats the air to a certain temperature. This option is used in body repair, when it is necessary to paint large body parts, or in the manufacture of a car.
The main disadvantage of convection drying is that only the top layer is heated. Due to this, the solvent evaporates outward, forming micropores, which negatively affect the quality of the paint.
When using IR radiation, the paint is completely warmed up within a few minutes to 60-80 or 120-140 degrees (less often - up to 240). The infrared equipment consists of the following elements:
- Frame;
- transmitters;
- reflector;
- Control block;
- a stand (or other structure that holds the lamp).
Infrared lamps work from a home network. This equipment does not heat the surrounding air, which speeds up the drying of the paint and reduces energy consumption. The features of such a radiator also include the presence of a function that allows you to adjust the wavelength. This helps regulate the curing process of the paint.
Varieties
Infrared lamps used to dry automotive paint are categorized by the wavelength they emit:
- Short waves. They are more popular compared to other similar devices, since the emitted wavelength allows heating a layer of paint with a thickness of 0.7 to 2.5 micrometers. Short-wave lamps dry the body in 5-13 minutes. In this case, non-compliance with the rules of operation of the device leads to the appearance of holes in the place where the infrared radiation is directed.
- Medium wave. Infrared radiation with this wavelength penetrates to a depth of 2.5 to 50 micrometers. For this reason, the drying of the applied coating takes half an hour.
- Long wave. Such infrared radiation penetrates to a depth of two thousand micrometers. Long-wave lamps are rarely used to dry car enamels.
According to the design, infrared lamps are divided into portable, portable and stationary. In addition, the dimming of this equipment is carried out according to functionality. The integrated electronic control unit allows you to set the drying mode for different materials:
- acrylic and alkyd enamel;
- mastic (coarse and fine);
- floor leveler;
- varnish.
Some models of IR lamps are supplemented with an automatic regulator which, depending on the drying stage, increases or decreases the radiation power.
Choice criteria
When choosing infrared lamps for drying bodywork, it is recommended to be guided by the following criteria:
- Wave length. This is the main parameter that determines the nature and speed of drying. Shortwave lamps are suitable for specialist workshops. When buying such a device, you should take into account that due to non-compliance with the rules of operation, the device will burn a hole in the paint. Therefore, for drying the body at home, medium or long wave transmitters are recommended.
- Maximum heating temperature. The higher this indicator, the wider the possibilities. That is, the type of material capable of drying the heater depends on the maximum heating temperature.
- Uniformity of heating according to the area treated. This parameter also determines the drying speed of the body.
- Characteristics of the control unit. The more modes the transmitter supports, the more flexible the configuration of the equipment. However, for working from home, it is recommended to purchase devices with limited functionality.
- Portability. If the transmitter is purchased for the home, a portable device must be purchased. Fixed equipment is suitable for gas stations.
- Manufacturer's mark. This parameter determines the degree of reliability of the product. Before buying a device, it is recommended to read the reviews of a particular manufacturer.
The price also plays an important role in the choice of infrared emitters. However, this parameter should be taken into account if the selected device meets the above criteria.
For household brushes, emitters with a wavelength of 500 millimeters are considered optimal. Such devices provide surface heating up to 60 degrees. Other types of equipment require specialist knowledge and are primarily used for professional automotive painting.
Rating and opinion of the best brands
Among the existing range of consumed infrared lamps, the following devices are most often noted:
- Garwin GI 1lb;
- Nordberg IF1_220;
- Garwin GI 2HLB.
The first model comes in the form of a portable infrared emitter, consisting of 21-inch quartz halogen lamps, which emit short-wavelength radiation, and a stand on wheels. This device is characterized by the following features:
- heating temperature - 40-100 degrees;
- coverage area - 80x50 centimeters;
- power supply - home network;
- the presence of a swivel mechanism that rotates 300 degrees;
- built-in timer for 60 minutes;
- the presence of a digital display and a height adjustment mechanism;
- power - 1100 watts;
- weight - 13 kilograms.
The Garwin GI 1lb model costs about 15,000 rubles. The Nordberg IF1_220 device is considered more affordable, estimated at 9,000 rubles. This shortwave transmitter has the following features:
- heating temperature - 40-75 degrees;
- the presence of a built-in timer for 60 minutes;
- distance to the working surface - 450-650 millimeters;
- heating area - 500x800 millimeters;
- output power - 1100 watts;
- service life - 5-7000 hours;
- weight - 4.4 kilograms.
For professional body drying, the Garwin GI 2HLB model is recommended, which has the following features:
- heating temperature - 40-100 degrees;
- output power - 1100 watts;
- heating area - 800x800 mm;
- the presence of a built-in timer for 60 minutes;
- 6 transmitters;
- hydraulic lifting device;
- the presence of a touch screen and a mechanism that rotates the lamps 300 degrees.
The latest model costs about 28,000 rubles.
Rules and features of the application
The use of infrared lamps for drying the body of a car is described in the attached instructions. The general procedure for working with such equipment is as follows:
- Selection of the optimum temperature and other settings, taking into account the type of applied material.
- Plug in the lamp and select the appropriate mode.
- Installation of the device at the required distance from the body.
- After drying the body, evaluation of the quality of drying and identification of defects.
During this procedure, the permitted drying time of the material should not be exceeded. This can lead to paint swelling and other effects. The drying box can polish the surface of the body.