How to make an ultraviolet lamp for drying nails?

Many women visit beauty salons to get their nails done. This process is usually accompanied by the application of a special varnish. Without equipment, it takes a long time to dry. To quickly dry gel polish, use a lamp with ultraviolet light. Its main property is the rapid polymerization process of the applied material. To ensure a high-quality manicure, you need to carefully choose a lamp for drying nail polish. Today there is a wide selection of this product, but you can make a device for drying nails with your own hands.

UV lamp device for nails

To make such a useful device for women with your own hands, you need to study its structure and principle of operation. Ultraviolet lamps for nails have gained great popularity among home manicurists. Devices can be of different designs, this is due to the type of light source used, which is required for drying gel polish. Thus, we can distinguish several most used types of light source:

• fluorescent lamps;
• LED version;
• combined.

UV device for drying varnish
In professional manicure salons, high-power lamps are used, and for private use, medium-power light sources, which have a low price, are suitable. There are models for one hand and larger ones that can accommodate a pair of arms or legs. This design allows you to save on energy and time.

The design of this device is quite simple. Its body contains several light bulbs, and there is a control panel outside. Some devices are equipped with fans to speed up polymerization. The gel polish dries due to the release of heat by the heating element, which is LEDs or fluorescent lamps.

How to choose a device in the store?

The stores offer various LED lamps for manicure. How to choose a quality model? First of all, it is important to determine the power of the device. This indicator, as a rule, does not exceed 30 V. The conductivity of LED lamps is at the level of 33 microns.

It is also important to note that when choosing a lamp you should pay attention to the luminous efficiency indicator. Basically it lies within 80%. The ripple factor depends on the power of the installed lamp. The maximum operating frequency of the devices is about 20 Hz. A high-quality model with a touch switch costs around 16 thousand rubles.

The superiority of LED lamps over fluorescent lamps

There are structural differences between these two types of lamps. For example, for an LED device to operate, all that is required is the presence of the diodes themselves, while fluorescent lamps require, in addition to lamps, a mount for them, a special ballast and a starter. UV varnish drying devices that use LEDs have the following advantages:

• a simple device with installation of LEDs and drivers for them;
• long crystal life;
• availability for inspection and replacement of faulty elements.

LED UV lamp
Nail dryer, in which fluorescent lamps are installed, has significant disadvantages in comparison with LEDs:

• CCFL light sources contain mercury, which is dangerous if the device is subjected to mechanical impact;
• easy to beat;
• high cost;
• The large size of the lamp does not always allow replacement with a more powerful one.

It is worth remembering that different drying devices are used for different types of manicure material. For example, an LED lamp is used exclusively for shellac.

Consumer Reviews

When purchasing a lamp, it would be useful to read several reviews from people who have already used a certain brand, because even the high price of a product cannot guarantee 100% quality. If we talk about each type of lamp separately, then their disadvantages and advantages can be divided as follows.

Ultraviolet lamps:

• they have a very affordable price and will be affordable even for the simplest buyer;
• They cope well with the task and dry any gel surface;
• incandescent lamps have a limited service life: most often they have to be changed after 100 hours of operation;
• contain harmful substances and mercury vapor, therefore, after the lamp fails, it must be disposed of;
• have a fairly long drying time compared to LED lamps.

LED bulbs:

• Many gel polishes dry quickly and efficiently, leaving nails more shiny and polished after the procedure;
• are an environmentally friendly product and do not harm health and the environment even after failure;
• have a longer service life of heating lamps - up to approximately 50,000 hours;
• a significant disadvantage of the LED lamp is its high cost, although manufacturers promise to overcome this soon;
• are unable to dry many hard gel polishes that are not adapted for LED devices.

Lamps for drying gel nails and coatings are extremely useful in everyday life and help women save a decent amount on trips to beauty salons. Today anyone can acquire such a device, because a wide range of devices provides such an opportunity.

How to make a nail polish dryer with your own hands

There are several options for making lamps for drying nails. First you need to decide on the type of light sources used. Let's look at some of the ways to assemble these devices.

UV lamp for nails

To make this device, rated at 18 W, you will need to buy some parts, the cost of which is not too high. The set of lamps for drying gel polish includes:

• an old computer power supply that you no longer need;
• two ultraviolet lamps with a power of 9 W each;
• electronic ballast, designed for the power of two lamps - 18 W;
• wire with which the device will be powered.

Assembling a UV device with fluorescent lamps
First, you will need to get to the insides of the lamp, removing its base. To do this, you need to cut off the legs and remove the base. There may be a starter and a capacitor inside the lamp, which should be removed as unnecessary. Only the power wires remain. The same operation must be performed with another lamp. Now you need to connect both lamps in series with respect to the electronic ballast. A cable is connected to the power terminals, which will be connected to a 220 V network.

The next step is to assemble the housing. For better drying and a reflective effect, it is better to cover the inside of the power supply with reflective foil or other similar material using double-sided tape. One of the sides can be bent, thereby freeing up space for ballast, and a window for the hands will appear. You can secure the lamps using the same tape or mounting clamp. All that remains is to assemble everything into a single product and check its operation.

LED lamp for drying nails at home

In this case, any object that is suitable in size and suits the consumer from an aesthetic point of view can be used as a housing. It could even be a large junction box.

Applications of LEDs

In this design, the main element is a driver rated at 27 W and nine LEDs with a power of 3 watts each. It should be remembered that before choosing drivers, you need to study the parameters specified by the manufacturer in the instructions for the LEDs. The LEDs are connected in series to each other and soldered to the driver terminals. It is advisable not to confuse “+” with “-”.

Inside the body of the future DIY UV nail lamp, you will need to make a radiator in the form of fins to cool the LEDs. To do this, you can use what you have at hand, for example, an aluminum profile. Just as in the first case, you will need to perform light reflection inside the case and provide space for your hands.

UV lamp with DRL lamp

To assemble a device for drying varnish using this method, you will need the following parts:

• electronics from an energy-saving lamp with E27 socket;
• UV lamp, which is used in banknote checking devices;
• terminal blocks;
• cartridge for E27 socket;
• cable for powering the device.

UV lamp
The leads from the UV lamp are connected to the terminal blocks, and on the other side of them are screwed wires that will be soldered to the terminals of the board. Wires going into the flask are placed on these contacts, which need to be removed. After soldering, the base is assembled back and screwed onto the cartridge.

The resulting product must be placed in a housing. For the body, you can use the items listed in the first two cases. There may be several lamps; they should be selected experimentally.

This review is suitable for those who need an ultraviolet lamp to dry nail polish and do not want to overpay for the finished product.

Homemade model

Making an LED manicure lamp with your own hands is quite simple. First of all, it is important to choose a good regulator. It is more advisable to use low power lamps. It is important to pay special attention to the adapter. The network cable is usually connected through a rectifier. Triggers are used to increase the maximum conductivity. They are produced in operational or switched type. To secure the rectifier, a blowtorch is used. In some cases, modulators are installed on homemade lamps. These elements are connected to regulators.

Features of Professional LED lamp 50W models

This LED manicure lamp generally gets good reviews and is great for nail extensions. The parameters of the model are quite high. If you believe customer reviews, the lamps are made with high-quality amplifiers. The direct conductivity of the model is 44 microns. The transceiver in the device is used with a capacitor. The power regulator in this case is of a push-button type. The lamp of the specified series operates at a frequency of 30 Hz.

The converter is used as a conductor type. The presented model does not have a filter. The maximum current consumption is 7 A. The thermal loss protection system is of the second class. The device is great for painting nails. According to experts, the model treats the skin of her hands very carefully. The device is suitable for large beauty salons. You can buy a lamp of this series at a price of 21 thousand rubles.

Features of Mixed Lamp 40G models

This lamp is very gentle on the skin of your hands. In total, the device has six replaceable light bulbs. The amplifier is used with a push-button regulator. If necessary, the power of the device can be changed. The transceiver in the indicated lamp is used with two diodes. Its conductivity parameter is not very high. It is also important to note that the device is very popular due to its compact size. The lamp converter is used with a zener diode.

This lamp is not afraid of problems with regulator overheating. Thermal loss protection system is used in the third degree. The current consumption indicator does not exceed 7 A. The luminous flux in the device is at the level of 75 lm. This model turns on very quickly. The maximum dispersion angle is 30 degrees. Everything is fine with color rendering in the device. You can buy this lamp at a price of 15 thousand rubles.

Features of Glamor 10 W models

These LED lamps for manicure have many advantages. First of all, it is important to note the high pulsation parameter. The lamp converter is used with a filter. If desired, the power of the model can be selected. The lamp has no amplifier. The current consumption is exactly 3 A. The turn-on time is no more than 3.3 seconds. Everything is fine with color rendering in the device. The scattering angle of the lamp is low. You can buy a model from the presented series at a price of 20 thousand rubles.

Reviews of replacement lamps of the Glamor 15 W series

These replacement LED lamps for manicure are in great demand. The device is great for nail extensions. The lamp of this series has an overvoltage protection system. The maximum current consumption is 3 A.

The turn-on time of the LED lamp is about 3.2 seconds. Pulse interference from the network of this model is not dangerous. Luminous efficiency at 30 V is about 70%. The luminous flux in the device is not very high. It is also important to note that the lamp of this series has problems with the transceiver. You can buy this model on the market at a price of 17 thousand rubles.

Reviews of lamps of the Professional LED lamp 55W series

These lamps usually receive good reviews. Buyers praise this model for its compactness and high conductivity. The luminous efficiency at 30 V maximum is 3 microns. The lamps of this series turn on very quickly. During prolonged use, the case practically does not heat up. The current consumption indicator in this case is at the level of 4 A. The thermal loss protection system is used of the second class. The filter in the presented lamp is of the dipole type. The power of the device can be adjusted using a switch. The model costs around 22 thousand rubles.

Gel FX 480 series lamps

These LED lamps for manicure allow you to quickly dry your polish. It is also important to note that the model has an excellent trigger. The device uses a third-class thermal loss protection system. If you believe customer reviews, the model is great for nail extensions.

If we talk about indicators, it is important to note that color rendering is at around 70%. The current consumption parameter in the device is low. The interesting design of the model deserves special attention. Problems with inclusion are observed very rarely. Luminous efficiency is maximum 60%. The presented LED lamp does not have a filter.

The manufacturer provides a sensor-type regulator. Voltage dips are observed only at maximum power. The amplifier in the device is of the phase type. This model can last about five years. If necessary, the lamps can be changed without problems. Nowadays you can buy this model at a price of 17 thousand rubles.

Criterias of choice

The main criterion for choosing LED lamps is their power, since the quality and speed of the procedure will depend on this indicator. This indicator is determined by the power of the LEDs: their number may vary in different models, and their parameters can be 1, 2 or 5 W. The main features depending on this characteristic are discussed below:

1. 9 W LED lamps are the weakest devices; it is recommended to choose more powerful analogues, since the use of such devices can negatively affect the quality of the manicure created. They regularly perform all the basic functions, but the safety of the achieved result is usually quite low.
2. 18 W LED lamps represent the middle class of such equipment. The quality is much higher than that of weaker analogs; such models are characterized by increased mobility and are a good choice if you plan to frequently transport the device. A large number of positive reviews indicate that this is one of the most optimal options for home use.
3. 45 W LED lamps are intended for use by specialists in beauty salons, but many people also purchase them for home use. They are considered top-class devices, since the drying speed of the nail plates is increased to the maximum level.
4. 72 W LED lamps are exclusively professional equipment and are usually used only in specialized salons.

It is also extremely important to understand under what conditions the LED lamp will be used, since the presence of a timer or other additional elements that expand the functionality significantly increases the size of the equipment. If you plan to transport it frequently, it is recommended to choose simpler devices with increased mobility.

Expert opinion

It-Technology, Electrical power and electronics specialist

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Lamp for drying gel polish: description and review of the best Touch ones turn on when you place your hand inside the lamp, often with a timer, mechanical ones have a switch, not all have a timer. Ask, I'm in touch!

How to use it correctly

The process of operating LED lamps is no different from analogues; it is carried out in the following way:

1. Initially, a decorative coating or extension material is applied to the nails, depending on the procedure being performed.
2. The LED lamp is connected to the mains.
3. You need to make sure that the type of material you choose is suitable for use with LED lamps. You can check this by the presence of the LED mark.
4. Fingers, a hand or both hands at once, depending on the design of the device, are placed inside the drying chamber.
5. The drying process depends on the characteristics and structure of the material used; the duration of the procedure on average takes from 15 to 90 seconds.
6. After the selected period has expired, the hand must be removed from the drying chamber and the LED lamp must be turned off, unless it has the ability to automatically switch to an inoperative state.