Hi again. I talked to my father and he agreed to help me create this. We both have basic shop knowledge and love to do projects. I just recently talked to him about how I want to create the 24inch searchlight but, I was wondering if I could get some plans/tutorials for this? Once I have that we can start. Btw thanks for all the previous information. I guess I'm just I really simple minded person who needs plans or step by step tutorials.:shrug: Sorry about being so bothersome. If not just let me know.
have a good day/night
I Think about what basically drives the project: What am I most comfortable working with and what are the cost(s) associated with it, (changes often). Example is my first searchlight I used a mound of firmly packed, slightly moist soil, shaped into a parabolic "negative". I precisely 'finished' the mound by placing a rod at the top of the mound and had a "screed", (a piece of wood cut out into the parabolic shape), fastened to the rod so it would 'spin' freely. I slowly spun it around, allowing the edges to scrape away the excess dirt, finally making a perfect dirt mold. I covered it with thin plastic sheets and then paper mache and PVC pipes to act as a frame. after drying, covered with foil. Worked well! Great solar concentrator too.
What I'm getting at, is what you like to work with will work. I used the Styrofoam because I had no access to the right kind of dirt, dirt that is easy to shape and stays that way, (I would have used dirt if I had access to it). The Styrofoam is easy to 'roughly' shape and is light and easy to deal with in a condominium setting. The cement that is placed over it works well. :twothumbs
Originally the 24 inch searchlight was built like a surfboard, but I didn't have quite the perfect shape I was after to get a good beam. I used a screed to place a thin layer of cement over the fiberglass to get the desired shape. I put the reflective material on the surface treated cement.
The newest way I start out, is to build a base form of Styrofoam and then 'screed' shape it like the mound of dirt, into a perfect parabolic shape. Cover this with melted candle wax, buffed to a shine and then fiber glass this. Visit the
'50 inch Monster' thread to see a good method of making a reflector like this.:huh: I used a different cement back then. I would use actual Portland cement now.
What three dimensional 'sculpting' material(s) are you comfortable working with? There are almost endless possibilities. The critical factor is getting a good copy of the parabolic profile you want, (deep dish, like the
24 inch LightSward, the medium split reflector like the
26 and 30 inch LightSport and NightHawk, or the flatter but longer focus length split reflector
50 inch Monster). You can obtain these by copying my profiles and then "scaling" them to the desired size. I usually print mine full scale and then glue it to a piece of 1/8 inch Medite, or high quality particle board. You can print to scale using multiple 8x11 sheets or just going to a Kinko's type place where they can print large copies. Carefully cut out shape with jigsaw, or band saw, etc. Paint or other sealant to prevent 'warpage'.:thumbsup:
I really should start a 'comprehensive Thread, that examines all the things I've learned making these lights. I have learned what works and what doesn't. Do you have limited space, (I do), or lots of storage and a big yard you can get messy with? A person can actually cut out multiple layers of cardboard and then cover with cement and wax. One big thing is, what kind of light source do you think you might use? HID, HMI, halogen, LED. How many watts, etc. :naughty:
Start looking around at what makes you comfortable, etc.:thinking:
Let me know. I'll start organizing a New Thread about just basic big light construction.
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