Modder Fodder

[charliek]

Fodder: readily available material used to supply a heavy demand

We all know how great Maglites are for modding, but what are the best sources for hardware that BEGS to be turned into a killer flashlight?

 

[Eric_M]

So, are you looking for raw stock to be machined?

Eric

 

[charliek]

No- just looking for ideas of what other people use for mods... Nice Balisong BTW.

 

[tvodrd]

Charlie,

McMaster sells 3/4" O.D. 6061 T6 tubing in several wall thicknesses. It bores for 123's and taps 11/16-XX. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif Strangely, Industrial Metal Supply in Irvine sells it pre-anodized in several colors for a lot less. (Now if they sold it pre-knurled and anodized..... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif )

Larry

 

[charliek]

That sounds great- I don't have any access to a lathe... so I was really looking for other good cheapie flashlights that are good candidates for retrofits..

 

[Rothrandir]

any light can be modded /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

my problem is finding a good host for cheap.
i've got 3 or 4 cheapo 3dcell lights laying around that i wont mod because they've got that dam backwards switch /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[charliek]

Exactly Rothrandir! Good hosts cheap... Guys with the machine shop tools (and skills) wouldn't have problems going from complete scratch.... I have no access to the tools and it's been more than 20 years since I've touched a lathe.
What I need is some ideas for some modder fodder that can be "upgraded" with my Dremmel tool and some Epoxy.. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[WildRice]

You can use almost anything. here are some of mine.

jeff

Also, PVC is versatile.

 

[charliek]

Looks like a Garrity in there- what are some of the others?

 

[WildRice]

Mods are from LEFT to RIGHT

1. Singhe White running on 2x .22F caps with a 14:1 gear reduction motor with a fishing pole handle on the end( better than those shake light thingys)
2. 2xAA direct driving a 1W red-orange retina melter.
3. Pager light 6xwhite with a booster from 2xAAA.
4. original design flashlight/tent light 5xdimmable with Li_ION and a 1W white with optics.
5. swivel light with a 1W white with optics, 2x dimmable and a Li-ION
6. lantern 1W star low=50ish mA and high 380mA, 4 LEDs in the base 3white and 1blue (flood) Green on the front behind a piece of plastic (covering the original switch hole, running 20uA. and guts from a laser pen through the front.

FRONT RIGHT
1xAAA with 1xwhite and a Satcure booster in end

FRONT LEFT
light for my 6yr old. Multi-color 1x red, 1x yellow, 1x teal, 1x UV, 1x white and 2x blue. has mod'ed trigger switch, and is Li-ION.

 

[charliek]

How are most of the Luxeons driven? direct drive is just a resistor, right?

That lantern sounds great!
Laser pen?
The lantern have a 6v lantern battery or 4Ds?

 

[WildRice]

Yeah, direct drive w/res. I got a bunch of Li-ION cell phone batteries from wal-mart for $1 a while back... And I always check Radio shack battery return bins for cell batts. Lantern has a large Li-ION (rated 1200mAh (I think)) and yes, I drilled a small hole in the reflector just off center and glued laser pen guts there to shoot out the front. This is going to be a Christmas gift for my Uncle. There is a battery charger and a Dorcy 'AAA' inside the lantern also.
Jeff

 

[charliek]

Sounds like quite a wiring job.... your uncle must be a gadget lover like us. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Negeltu]

Direct drive is without a resistor inline

 

[WildRice]

well, yes, i know that. what was ment was I didnt use current regulation, or anything like that.

 

[charliek]

what is the voltage drop on a typical luxeon?