Any Incandescent Floods?

[Paul_in_Maryland]

Can anyone suggest an incandescent flashlight (not a lantern or headlamp) that provides a broad flood (without adding a diffuser)? Ideally, it would use 123A cells, but given the paucity of choices, I can't be picky.

Can anyone point me to a link that explains how to diffuse any flashlight's beam? I already use that film designed for black-and-white PDAs; I want a beam that's wider, not just smoother.

[Phaserburn]

Hi Paul, long time no hear...

How does the Pila GL3R meet your criteria? It throws better than an SF L4, but is very floodlike in beam. A really nice beam, too, very bright, smooth and very wide. It really allows vision when on. It takes 3x123s or 2xPila150As.

[Paul_in_Maryland]

OK, that's the version with the "standard head" (36mm). I have a Wolf Eyes 9MX, which is equivalent to the Pila with the wider head (45mm); your light and mine use different lamp assemblies. The 9MX's beam is the widest xenon I own, but I'm looking for something even wider--like the G&P 12V lamp, but in a 3x123A form factor.

How does the beam width of the Pila / Wolf Eyes 36mm LAs compare with that of their 45mm LAs? Anyone?

[Mags]

How about the Pila GL3X?
http://www.pilatorch.com/products_gl3x.htm
Its got the head of the GL4, except runs on 3x123 or 2x150A

[JimH]

Can anyone point me to a link that explains how to diffuse any flashlight's beam? I already use that film designed for black-and-white PDAs; I want a beam that's wider, not just smoother.

You can diffuse any incandescent flashlight's beam very easily. Any bulb made of glass can be diffused by using etching paste. Etching paste is used a lot in craft hobbies, and is, therefore, available at most craft stores.

Practice on some cheap bulbs first. The instructions usually say to leave it on for 5 seconds then wash it off with water, but you can play around with the time (shorter or longer) to get more or less diffusion. You can also play around with how much of the bulb you frost - from just the tip to the whole bulb.

It's a bit of trial and error at first, but you can turn a real thrower into a total flood. Try it - it's cheap, easy and fun.

[JimH]

Just thought of a great incandescent flood. The Polaris, made by Ginseng, uses the MR16 bulb. MR16 bulbs are available in a wide range of wattages and beam angles, including flood. MR16 bulbs are readily available at Home Depot, etc.

Keep any eye out on BST. I've seen the Polaris come up for sale occasionally. Or you could post a WTB.

In fact, there's one available here right now.

[NikolaTesla]

Thats real easy. Take a Mag85 and uncrew the reflector/head off of it. Turn on the light. Voila instant super-candle.

[JimH]

Thats real easy. Take a Mag85 and uncrew the reflector/head off of it. Turn on the light. Voila instant super-candle.

Not a smart thing to do. If that bulb blows, you'll be in a world of hurt. Just ask js or anyone else who's had it happen.

[bwaites]

As JimH says:

Please DO NOT use any of the WelchAllyn, Carley, or Osram lamps in candle mode!!!

On the rare chance that they do explode, they can cause significant damage to soft tissue, including eyeballs.

ALWAYS keep high pressure bulbs behind a barrier of some type.

Bill

[FNG]

How about a SL Scorpion or TL-2? You can adjust the spot to the widest part.

[Phaserburn]

Ditto on those exploding 1185 Welch Allyn's. I've had some blow, and they do so quite violently at that.

[NikolaTesla]

Come to think of it, I did have one do that too. May a big POP! and turned to dust. It was potted type but I guess any of them could blow. Oh well maybe its safer to get an Aurora with a Mr16 bulb. That is a Flood.

[Paul_in_Maryland]

How about the Pila GL3X?

Thanks, but that's the twin of my Wolf Eyes 9MX. Its beam is wide, but not wide enough!

[Paul_in_Maryland]

How about a SL Scorpion or TL-2? You can adjust the spot to the widest part.

Now that you mention it, I'm not sure I've tried that with my TL-3. Wouldn't the resulting beam be full of artifacts and a donut hole? I'm not sure that even my "smoothing" film on the front lens could help it. But I'll try your suggestion and let you know the result.

[Paul_in_Maryland]

Thats real easy. Take a Mag85 and uncrew the reflector/head off of it. Turn on the light. Voila instant super-candle.

Safety issues aside, that beam would be TOO omnidirectional for me. Thanks anyway.

[Paul_in_Maryland]

Any bulb made of glass can be diffused by using etching paste. Etching paste is used a lot in craft hobbies, and is, therefore, available at most craft stores.

I like this idea, Jim. Being lazy, I prefer to buy online, but I couldn't find "etching paste" on eBay or Froogle. Is it known by another name?

[Paul_in_Maryland]

I just remembered: Bicycle lights come in very small lamp assemblies and are designed in a variety of beam widths (actually advertised by the angle of coverage), in powers raning from 6W to 25. 15W would be the sweet spot; anyone know what voltages they run? I'd be willing to stuff three or even four Pila 150 cells in an extended body.

[JimH]

I like this idea, Jim. Being lazy, I prefer to buy online, but I couldn't find "etching paste" on eBay or Froogle. Is it known by another name?

Do a Google search on the following words "glass craft etching paste" all together. You'll get a ton of hits about etching paste, but almost all of them say to get it at your local craft store.

[CLHC]

Doesn't FlashlightLens<dot>Com sell some sort of diffused (LDF?) lens already? Also, I fooled around by spraying/sputtering Rust-Oleum Clear Lacquer High Lustre Coating both on the relfector and lens until I found the desired emitted wide-flood light. It seemed to work very well. . .Just an el cheapo approach in my opinion.

Ciao4Now!

[WDR65]

Not sure if this would apply as it may not be specialized enough, but Surefire P91 has quite a broad beam, it floods my living room quite well. An expensive solution compared to most mentioned here, but seems like it might work. I'm sure there are other options, but I'm less sure of the best. Maybe the Streamlight Liteboxes would be another option, but I haven't tried one of these in a few years.

[chumley]

I used to use diffusion sheets when I worked in graphic arts. I would cut out a circle and place behind the lens of my flashlights, instant flood beam.
Try looking for frosted acetate at art supply stores, I looked up a site that called it GRAFIX Matte acetate.

I have 2 VistaLite flood lights on my bike that use frosted bulbs, that seems to work pretty good, but etching bulbs seems to be a trial and error process.

[Paul_in_Maryland]

etching paste, P91, flashlightlens.com, diffusion sheet--these are all viable solutions, and I will try them all!

I have a P91 but haven't been able to power it with AW cells, be they 17500, 18500, or 17670. I have some Pila 150B cells on the way and I hope they'll work. I simply won't use 123A primaries anymore; too much anxiety as my mental cash register counts what it's costing me per minute.

The flashlightlens.com diffusion lens comes in a few specific sizes. Does anyone know which size I would need for the lens in a Surefire 1.25-inch bezel (C3)?

The diffusion sheet is my favorite idea so far. I can use it with any lens, and I won't risk ruining a lens as I practice.

Thanks to everyone!!

[pizzaman]

I use the "poor mans diffuser".... clear contact paper, for my flood lights.

www.contactbrand.com

It works great. I'd say I have it on 75% of my incandescent flashlights now. I seldom need a bunch of throw in my lights, but flood (work lights, etc) is the norm for me.

I have a love hate relationship with my 3D maglites. They were so cool, and all the rage when they first came out. But, the beam is lousy and full of artifacts. The flood mode is a bad joke.

I cut out a small square of contact paper, pull off the backing, lay the lens on the sticky side, and rub in circles to get a good contact. Trim off the excess film and install the lens (I put the film on the inside of the lens to protect it from scratches). I probably wouldn't use the film if I had a bulb that emitted serous heat.

I was more than pleased with the results on my 3D maglights. I could still create a "hot spot" if needed (with reduced throw) and the flood capabilities are now amazing. All 3 of my big mags are modded, all 3 of my military "L" lights are modded, I modded my mini-mags with contact paper (till I found the cool Nite-Ize LEDs), Heck, even then I put the contact film back on to smooth out the LED artifacts.

You can buy a roll of this (enough for thousands of flashlights) for less than a few sheets of PDA film. It is easy to do, and completely reversible if you don't like the results. Give it a try.

Good luck, TR

[Paul_in_Maryland]

Pizzaman,
My link doesn't work, even when I type in that URL directly. A message says that that URL cannot be found. I'll try Googling "contact paper" and find it elsewhere. Thanks.

[Paul_in_Maryland]

I looked up a site that called it GRAFIX Matte acetate.

Thanks; it's cheap and easy to apply; I've just ordered some from here.

[Paul_in_Maryland]

I just received my Surefire Z34 Beamshaper, the one for 1.25-inch bezels. I immediately installed it on my LEDWave Z-3+A19+Surefire Z44 tactical bezel. Whoa! It sure does what it says. The beam is about five times as wide--even wider than I was hoping for! As a result, the brightness is very low.

Good thing I've got some 150B and 168B Wolf Eyes rechargeables on order so I can use the Beamshaper with my 200-lumen P91 lamp and 220-lumen G&P 12V lamp...

[Paul_in_Maryland]

Now that I've used my beamshaper for a couple days, I'm really sold on the vast beam. But it comes at a price: Dimness. I think that the only lights now on my wish list are various FiveMega mods that have the lumens to spare (500, 700, 800) to be satisfying when diffused this wide.

[Phaserburn]

I take it the beamshaper is a no-go for the TL-3? You mentioned it being for 1.25 inch bezels...

[Paul_in_Maryland]

I take it the beamshaper is a no-go for the TL-3? You mentioned it being for 1.25 inch bezels...

I'm awaiting delivery of the wider Beamshaper, the Z-14, I think it's called. I have high hopes that it will fit the TL-3's 41mm bezel and can't wait to find out and let everyone know, in this thread.

It may even fit the 42mm bezel of the Wolf Eyes 6M/6MX/9D/9DX. I have the 6MX and will report on that fit, too.

[Phaserburn]

Super. Staying tuned...