Product Details:

The CRL Tin Side Detector can identify the tin side of any piece of float glass using short-wave ultraviolet light. This special lamp causes the tin to become visible in a milky white color. When the lamp is held to the air side, no color change takes place, just a dull image of the UV lamp is reflected. The short-wave UV light cannot transmit through the glass, therefore no change is noticed in the reflection and the milky color is not present. Some applications include auto glass fabrication, glass tempering and the manufacture of mirror and other types of coated glass. The detection of the tin side is necessary in the processing of these types of glass. The CRL Tin Side Detector works on standard plate, tempered, Low-E, laminated, tinted, reflective and any other glass manufactured in the float process. It can also detect the absence of tin. Such as when a scratch has been polished out of a piece of glass. Comes with a pair of UV safety glasses and runs on four AA Batteries (included).

Note: The term "float" glass refers to the production process in which the glass is made. In this process, one side is actually in contact with a molten bed of tin. When this happens there is a small amount of tin or tin oxide that is deposited on the glass surface. This is the actual tin side surface. In mirror or coatings manufacturing, the producer needs to know which side is the tin side because this side is generally smoother than the "air side".
Never look directly at this lamp without wearing the proper eye protection. Even though this lamp may appear to be dim, it can cause irreversible damage to your vision.