metalworking?

[LEDagent]

I have a really cool idea that i would like to try to make a reality. I want to take the ballast from my LC100 apart and stuff the guts into another body. I have two designs. One is to make a double barrel body to hold 8 C batteries, the ballast, and reflector, and the other design is to make a seperate battery pack that can be attached to your belt or stuffed into a backpack.

How much does it cost to get a metal shop to create a custom body? Where do i look and what should i expect?

P.S. Right now, the LC100 is powered by 8C batteries at 12V. It can last up to 2-3 hours. Is there a battery pack that can provide enoegh power for a longer burn-time? If i'm going to go with design 2, then i think it would be cool to carry a larger battery pack for a longer run-time. My main goal is to make the power of the LC100 in a more portable, rechargeable package.

I'll try to post some pics of the dismantled ballast soon.

 

[Daniel Ramsey]

Try using one of those gel cells made for the kids Hot Wheels, you know the big electric carts, get the 12 volt battery and charger, both are available at Walmart at a fair price. Go find a good sized camping lantern like the old ones that used a rectangular battery and it has two studs on top that the sealed beam lantern attaches to. With some little work it can be a starter platform for an HID lantern.Should cost less than $100 total for everything.

Otherwise its making a body for the NI-MHD batteries and then the charger.

The Tigerlite flashlight may be a modding platform for installing an HID bezel, but I do not know if its 6 or 12 volts.It does use the NI-MHD batteries though, perhaps an extension battery tube?

If by chance you know where to get an air cooled cylinder jug like for a weedeater, 35cc engine or even a R/C airplane engine it would make an interesting bezel/head for heat dissipation.

Paint it with some high heat paint or have it anodized.

Wouldn't be too hard to make an attachment for the lense, course a lathe would be handy.
Just my two cents....

 

[CNC Dan]

Originally posted by LEDagent:

How much does it cost to get a metal shop to create a custom body? Where do i look and what should i expect?

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">It can cost a lot for just one. There will be a setup charge and a time/material charge.

One might cost $100 and two might be $103.
And you will need to supply a 'print with all the nessary dimentions.

I sugest you lurk at news group: rec.crafts.metalworking And see it you can find someone that is willing to help out. Many people there have their own lathes and mills as a hobby and would be glad to help out.

 

[BradN]

Do you have any drawings or pictures of what you want? I've got 2 lathes and a mill at work and am always up for a challenge.

cool?