basic Mag-Lite 3D build

[dreydin]

hello, CPF! this is my first post here and i am VERY new to all this, so i can use all the help i can get

im very into modding (car, gun, mp3 player, etc.) and tinkering with things and have always wanted a nice flashlight, but just have never wanted to spend the money until now... i have an old Mag-Lite 3D that i got in the early 90s and it has followed me everywhere since. i have always been satisfied with it, but recently my dad has done simple plug & play LED upgrades to his lights and it has made mine feel, well... lacking lol. so today i ran over to my local Wal-Mart to see if i could snatch up a new bulb and wallah! i installed it and it was brighter, but i was not impressed. what i bought was a Nite Ize D&C 2-6 cell LED for about 10 bucks. weak is what it is!

so i started doing some searching on bulbs and came across this video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNfXvWiYeSM

big mistake! im hooked! now on to the point of all this. from my initial searching, this is what im thinking is going to be my best route (below, 1-3). but please! this is where you come in as the more experienced vet who shall tell me the proper ways of building this light.

1) new lens http://www.malkoffdevices.com/shop/ultra-clear-lens-for-maglite-p-74.html
2) drop-in mod http://www.malkoffdevices.com/shop/dropin-module-for-23-dcell-to-fit-maglite-p-2.html
3) rechargeable NIHM batteries (no clue what brand)

and thats all ive gathered so far. my budget is about $100 and im in that mode right now where im taking everything in like a sponge, so be careful what you tell me many thanks for any help that i might receive!

 

[^Gurthang]

Drey,

Welcome to CPF. Now on to your 3D....

If you want to stay w/ an incan bulb go over to the incandescent forum. Plenty of info / ideas / scary hot-wire mods there.

If you'd like to try LEDs just read through some of the M@G tutorials right here in H&M.

I learned LOTS from the tutorials and have done several M@G mods, just finished a 2C mod running 2 X 18650s.

As to budget, you can certainly do a good basic mod [incan or LED] for your $100.

A couple of suggestions; as part of your first mod get yourself
a good soldering iron,
a good wire cutter and wire stripper,
at least one wire clamp [hemostat],
some thermal compound,
good needle nose pliers
silicone or teflon jacketed wire
LOTS of other odds & ends that you may find useful.
[don't get too carried away w/ the odds & ends, you won't have any $$ left for your mod.]

Good luck and enjoy

 

[Fulgeo]

Also do not forget to get a Digital Multi Meter, DMM for short.
:welcome:

 

[420light]

The general vote for batteries around here is http://www.accupower-usa.com/User/AcculoopAP.aspx?PCID=1

Also, the video you see as a inspiration is not the typical drop in route. So you have to decide if you want a "drop in" like Malkoff, or a "build" like this: http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=238641

And BTW :welcome:

 

[^Gurthang]

Fulgeo,

Oh DOH!, knew I'd forget something.....

 

[Databyter]

You won't need all those tools mentioned above for a dropin if that is the route you go.

It should be fine with the stuff you mentioned.

Get good NiMh batteries and your good to go.

I'm sure you'll be back for more ambitious mods, but a dropin from Malkoff is a respectable upgrade.

Cheers!

 

[dreydin]

i really appreciate the info so far, guys.

ive been reading almost non-stop since my original post (a little overwhelming) and i think im gonna go small for my first light modding. i was considering the Malkoff drop-in, but its out of stock. i also considered the incandescent Pelican 3753-H build with 4Cs and a flipped spring, but ive finally decided on the TLE-6EXB drop-in (newer version) with a UCL lens. ive mostly decided to go this route because i have very little experience with soldering and want to see where these small mods take me. if they surge my interest in the field, then ill be looking at more things like aspherical/bezel setups and soldering my own builds. ive found a ton of threads, but these two...

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=177171
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=193434

really take the cake! a few questions still though. what batteries should i use with my setup? i hear a lot about NiMh, but i still know very little about them. would they help with the items im going with? ive heard they have lower voltage then alkaline... not even sure what that means to be honest. why would i want these? i am interested though because my current batteries are OLD! im looking to either buy some basic Duracel Ds from the local store or do something more interesting...

thanks :twothumbs

 

[420light]

Have you seen this?: http://www.batteryuniversity.com/