Sunfading... with a UV lamp!

[Sawkinator]

So I have a Nightglider that has what looks like Sharpie marks on her nose. I've seen some discussion about using UV lamps to sunfade, but I don't think I've ever seen anyone do it. And since I happen to have a UV bulb, I decided to actually try it!

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I'm hoping this will be faster than the weak spring sun here. I'll monitor her progress and document it here.

(Hope no one thinks any less of me for using a rarer pony as a guinea pig  None of the other ponies I have have such drastic marks though. I figured it was better to use something that would be obvious if it improved)

[milkywaymochi]

Looking forward to seeing the results!

[kingluke]

For me it didn't work but I hope that doesn't discourage you from trying.

[SunPony]

I'll be interested to see how it goes.  I have wondered about UV lights for this...it SEEMS like it should work? 

With marks that bad on her nose I doubt anyone will fault you for trying it out!  You obviously took precautions with the foil there.

[KottonKandy]

I’m looking forward to seeing how this goes. Thank you for experimenting and documenting the process. This is how we learn!

[NightGliderSA]

Can't wait to find out the results. As you say, this is something that many people have discussed but results haven't really been posted so we are all unsure as to how well it will or will not work. Night Glider also deserves to be restored IMO. I have a very bait one waiting for lockdown to end before she is sent to me so I am glad you chose her for your test subject as well 

[Mewtwofan1]

Oh an arena science experiment! I hope you have success, and can report on your methods so others may try. I for one have my doubts about sun fading over here, since we don’t get a lot of strong sunlight. A UV lamp alternative would be useful for those of us in these kinds of areas. Good luck, and I hope it goes well. Even if it doesn’t, the results have been documented for restoration purposes.

[Ribbs]

I am curious how this turns out. Good luck!

[tailrustedtealeaf]

I hope it goes well! I've seen people use Retrobrite with a UV curing lamp and I wonder if it's the same strength as the bulb or what...if the bulb fails maybe a nail curer would be the way to go.

[Loona]

Wow, this is interesting - I'm looking forward to see the results!
I have zero experience with artificial UV (never been to a solarium or had my nails done), but if it omits UVA rays, in theory it should work. While UVB is often considered the be the worse out of these two rays because of its immediately visible effects (sunburn), on the long run it is UVA that is worse - it does not burn your skin, but this is what is causing the skin to age (+also skin cancer), and objects to fade (which is exactly what you need for sunfading). Frickin UVA passes through windows (thus while you cannot get sunburn through the window, objects exposed to a lot of natural light in the window - like ponies - will fade) and even clouds, so it is there, affecting your skin even on cloudy days.
Do you have any way to find it out what type of UV comes out of the lamp? Maybe the reason why it did not work for some people  was because it is not omitting the right type of UV?

[Sawkinator]

An update!

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It's not really obvious in the picture, but I think there's been a little improvement so far. I'll wait longer for the next update and hopefully there'll be more appreciable progress by then. 

Do you have any way to find it out what type of UV comes out of the lamp? Maybe the reason why it did not work for some people  was because it is not omitting the right type of UV?

That's a good question! I looked into it and indeed most true blacklights emit UVA. I do know a lot of 'blacklights' out there (specifically incandescent ones) don't actually emit a lot of UV light, so if someone uses one of those then it might not work.
If nothing else, I could also try putting her next to one of my gecko's cages - they have full-spectrum mercury bulbs in their lamps.