D.I.Y. Flashlight kit?

[scout24]

If this has been covered or is in the wrong spot, I apologize. I did search first, no luck. I am wondering if anyone knows of a kit to put together your own light offered by anyone. My 15 year old is really interested in Dad's hobby, but I don't really want him tearing any of my lights apart... Even if this is not commercially available, I would be more than willing to make it worth someone's while to put a box of parts together with maybe a quick step by step included. I can solder, etc. Doesn't have to be the latest or greatest, but looking for something functional to keep his interest. I guess the closest I saw was the" How to Mod M@g" thread, but I would like something he could carry easily. Thanks for reading, hope to get some responses!!!

 

[yellow]

imho that makes barely sense anymore.
Before Fenix (to whom the cheers belong!) building lights was necessary, there simply was nothing (good), but a few brutally expensive ones.

Now, with all those nice makers (Fenix, Jetbeam, Shiningbeam, just to name a few) all this has changed.


an idea: look at the cheapo offerings (DX, kaido) and order "better looking" ones together, if something is not good or other than excepted (tint, inside soldering, UI/driver, ...), open the light and change parts.
Will give much insight into the field, with very nice and often tremendous changes.

 

[VidPro]

mabey a good solution is to trap him just like a modder gets trapped, buy him a good body flashlight, with rotten drivers and led, that can BE modded.
then buy the driver , or 2, one to learn one to burn, and a wizz bang latest led or 2, mabey some optic items, or switches.
then let him enjoy the great new toy then get bored with it, then drag out the parts, and tell him they are suppsed to fit in it. even if they really dont.

supply dremmel tool, solder station, bench power supply, wire, lathe, drill ,sander, bench grinder, a 140piece tool kit, magnifyer, holding clamps , solder, online credit card, and a Camera to post pics of it here.

if your toaster lights up the whole kitchen the next day, using parts from the blender, then he is all set

 

[scout24]

I realize that this is not necessary, and that I could probably spend less and buy a very nice light, but that was not the point of the exercise. I am trying to support his budding interest without having to wait for parts to arrive for weeks, etc. Maybe there is a conus source to purchase all the needed parts without keeping track of 3 or 4 shipments? I agree the dx type lights make a good jumping off point, are there any sources in the U.S.?

 

[VidPro]

taskled.com is in the states, has some of the best drivers ever made, start at about $20 each too. at dx you could get 10 things called drivers for the same price.

Many of the local dealers on this site, sell modding parts, batteries , various specialty lenses , drop in modules, , reflectors , and led items. many of them are in the states, but the parts lists from Each is limited IMO, but if you combine them you could get just about anything.

starting a thread for a specific task (ex modding your first mag) in the moders section would get him or you assistance in making a specific change or overcomming an obstical. having any dreampt up thing you specifically want to accomplish always helps. like how would i turn a bar of soap into a Q5 thrower

 

[1996alnl]

DX sells DIY flashlight kits for about 12 bucks. Perfect starting point.

 

[DaveG]

Try Tektite flashlights,they sell do it your self kits for scouts, kids,and such.I think still a USA company also.

 

[scout24]

Thanks all for your help! The tektite kit seems like a great starting point, $14.95, still at least located here. Will be ordering one here today. Any suggestions on lights that come apart without destroying them that make a decent starting point? would prefer to stay with a AA sized light so he doesen't grab all my 123's!

 

[VidPro]

more of the china lights come apart,
Coasts come apart after much tools and swearing and all meaning probably not the best choice
the premo modders $300 lights usually are what i would call "accessable" because they wouldnt leave us without a path foreward.
fenix lights not so easy to come apart.
lots of the target and wall mart lights come apart, oh wait i wasnt trying to get those apart
cheap e-bay lights usually come apart.
Shurefires are usually very modable
most of the mags obviously
"doller store" lights , easy cheap to mess with
5mm Multiled lights are not so easy to fix or change
any light with a "star" item is usually easier to update without much skills
smaller lights are often harder to do wiring, and driver changing and all, at least a large head on a light usually makes things easier, and more changable over the times.
go to the REVIEW section of the forum, if you see a light torn down to the switch and driver and the led itself, not just the tubes and heads, it is usually a light that is fairly simple to do that, without destroying it.