Unique need flashlight

[Stmor]

I am a gem dealer and I buy rough gems in africa. I need a bright light to look into clear rough gems. The gems are from a quarter inch to one inch in size. I think I need a focusing light similar to mag lights which i have used. I hold the light directly against the gem to light the interior. Long battery life would be helpful as I can use them for 8 hours a day for a week and recharging is not always available.
Thanks for any recommendation
Steve

 

[Bullzeyebill]

Moving this to Recommend me a light for ... forum.

Bill

 

[MikeAusC]

I would have thought the best light would be a point-source, like putting a piece of cardboard with a tiny hole in it over the front of a torch. I'm not sure of that's what my father used to do when searching for Sapphires ?

Now with LEDs, I'd put a piece of thin glass directly over the front of a small LED like an XP-G - no lens or reflector. Maybe a disc of cardboard below the glass to maintain a narrow beam.

I'm not across commercial torches, so I'm not sure what torches are available that could be converted this way.

 

[TEEJ]

Do you need UV as well as white light?

 

[Stmor]

Do you need UV as well as white light?

UV would be a useful tool but secondary to my need for a strong focused beam to light the gem. Uv is used in gem identification and when you are buying out in the bush any tool like uv can be useful.
Thank steve

 

[Stmor]

Moving this to Recommend me a light for ... forum.

Bill

Thanks for the Redirect.
Steve

 

[eh4]

I wonder if your run time is important enough to stick with led or if you'd be better off with a less efficient high temperature incandescent, something that gave you around 5000k with 100CRI?

McGizmo makes a "Sundrop" high color temperature, 90+ CRI reflectorless lLED ight doesn't he? Titanium, with sapphire lens, that seems like it might be gemstone evaluation worthy.

I wonder if infinite brightness settings would be better or several discrete brightness levels, guessing the latter.

 

[angelofwar]

Surefire E2L-AA should meet your needs.

Get a set of Eneloops, a solar AA charger, and you're set for life.

I'm currently running an "exercise" with my new Goal Zero set-up, to see how long I can go with having to charge batteries in the house. It's charges 4 dura loops in about 3 hours.

 

[sniper]

+1 on the E2L AA.
Would some sort of fiber optic attachment be a worthwhile addition to your light? That seems like it should provide a good point source of light.

 

[shelm]

have u tried preon 2? they have different emitter options for your needs.
a cheaper alternative is Terralux 80