UV resins have become widely used in the fly tying world and in order for it to work properly, it must be cured properly. There a lot of UV lights out there to shop for, and you will also find if you’re looking for a quality light you’re going to pay more. Over the years, I have settled for a few lights which I thought would work and avoided paying for the good stuff. I was under the impression that UV light is UV light, and why do I need expensive UV light, after all, sunlight is free. Well, the saying “you get what you pay for”, certainly applies when purchasing your next UV Light. I’ve made all the mistakes with UV a tier can make and ended up being an expensive journey. Before testing a new UV light, be sure the resin you are working with is a quality tack free resin, your light could be fine but the resin you are testing with might not be. To test the resin, try using natural sunlight to cure and feel for tackiness. If it’s sticky, I’d avoid using the product. There’s nothing worse than ruining your custom tied flies with bad resin which clouds over and stays sticky, trust me, I’ve been there.
Once you know your resin is good, it’s time to test your light. I like to make a few small droplet samples on a surface and cure them with the sun first, then I’ll make a few more droplet samples next to them and cure with my UV Light. We’re looking for the same results as the sun and all droplets should feel and cure alike if you have a properly working UV light. I’ve recently tested and purchased the new Loon UV Infiniti Light as my go to light for my flies, and I’m leaving behind a pretty popular one as well.
With the 3 watt output, I found the UV Infiniti Light delivers a constant strong UV light and sets resin quickly before it has a chance to move. A quick set also ensures no air bubbles or clouding and creates a rock-hard finish.
The feature which really drew me in and made me realize the price is right for the light is the rechargeable battery (included). You simply plug the USB cable (also included) into the light. The USB cable measures a bit shorter at approximately 19 inches long.
Rechargeable, boom, lots of money saved right there! The battery for my old light required a very expensive ($10.00 for 2) set of batteries which didn’t seem to last for the amount of use. Another typical problem with UV Lights which require replacing batteries is the light constantly getting weaker. With my old light, I would notice the UV not lighting up as much over time and would slowly dwindle until the bulb went dead. This resulted in resin not being fully cured, or having to hold the light over the fly for a period of time. Another nice feature with the UV Infiniti Light is the on/off button that lets you know when the charge is running low by turning red. You can simply recharge the battery, and the on/off button will turn green when ready.
Slender and easy to carry, the light is constructed from metal and does not really have any plastic, a huge deal for me and my fly tying tools. The UV Infiniti Light weighs approximately 4.4 ounces including battery and measures five inches long. It also has a small removable wrist strap. Right out of the package it feels like a quality tool and performs the same, I highly recommend this light at the vise and hope this saves you money in the end. The Loon UV Infiniti Light is available now and retails for $59.95.
Operation Tips:
- When you receive the UV Infiniti Light, there is plastic around the battery, and it needs to be removed in order for the battery to charge. If the light will not turn on, try flipping the battery around.
- To shut the UV Infiniti Light off, press the on/off button for a few seconds.