Stipple a smooth reflector??

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Orion

Orion

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Jun 27, 2002
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Location
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Can a smooth reflector be stippled to produce a smoother beam? Metal reflector.

Or is there a HIGH temp chrome spray paint that could be "stipple" applied?

If this has been discussed before, please post link. Thanks!
 
I looked up the film. I just want to make the beam smoother, not really make it a floody light. I do appreciate the input, though. I've not seen that product before.
 
I think a diffusion film with a VERY light diffusion effect should be almost identical in terms of light-scattering as an orange-peel reflector, as they're both just scattering light to hide those beam imperfections. I do see what you mean though.

OP Reflectors are textured, and then the reflective coating applied over the texture. My worry with stippling a reflector would be you'd throw off the geometry of the actual light reflections. There's a surprising amount of math's involved in focusing the beam in one direction. And I don't think a chrome paint with have enough reflectivity to focus and throw a beam in any meaningful way.
 
Never tried with chrome spray, I always used ultra clear coating, never did it on a metal reflector, but it should not matter much, since plastic reflectors are vapor metal coated, If your reflector is clean, no scratches, use ultra clear spray, chrome sprays may look shiny, but their reflective abilities are not as good as clean aluminum coating, so if yours is intact use clear. I used both film and spray, film gives you flood, and does take away few lumens, spray evens out the beam, crosses, rings... that sort of things,
 
Hmmm....Yeah, I suppose it could throw off the geometry.

I wonder if there is a very light diffusion film that won't limit the output by much, but smooth it out some. Not sure anyone makes that. Just what you suggested before, which would make it more floody.
 
Try using a clear coat like what's applied over the colour paint on cars.
Lightly dust the reflector with the spray rather than trying to totally coat it. I'd also go with less is more and allow to dry and test then re-coat if required.
I think you'll get a good result unless of course you mess it up.

The only example I can show currently is a mod I did many years ago and it's a bit different but essentially the same process. I was looking for an even projection of light which this achieved. Throws an even disk of light from centre to perimeter.
I used white paint and dusted the reflector with a total stippled coverage which might be hard to see in the picture. It's holding up great and works great.
Obviously you'll be applying much less paint, be using clear coat and obtaining a different beam type but you get the idea.

IMG_0812.jpeg
 
Any imperfection seen is dust on the lens. I should have cleaned the lens and taken the picture in better light.
The surface finish is actually quite pretty. It’s a nice matte white with an even grainy finish.
Most importantly it creates an awesome beam.
 
What kind of light is it? some lights like convoy and other, you can ger different reflectors for, either smooth or OP.
Any film will mess up the beam profile, some more some less, Long ago I had a protective film for palm pilots, it looked frosted if you look thru it, but if you stick it on the screen it looked clear with glare reduction, that film messed up the beam the least, but it has been decades since those are sold, never seen anything like that for cell phones. try to look for anti glare film, there is also anti glare glass, that is used for framed pictures, but with those film expect to lose some lumens, if you have 3-4k lumen light you will not notice it, but with 500lm you will.
 
F89 said:
Try using a clear coat like what's applied over the colour paint on cars.
Lightly dust the reflector with the spray rather than trying to totally coat it. I'd also go with less is more and allow to dry and test then re-coat if required.
I think you'll get a good result unless of course you mess it up.

The only example I can show currently is a mod I did many years ago and it's a bit different but essentially the same process. I was looking for an even projection of light which this achieved. Throws an even disk of light from centre to perimeter.
I used white paint and dusted the reflector with a total stippled coverage which might be hard to see in the picture. It's holding up great and works great.
Obviously you'll be applying much less paint, be using clear coat and obtaining a different beam type but you get the idea.

View attachment 85027
Click to expand...
This looks great, almost like a hybrid mule
 
You can use drawing paper, cut it size of dime and attach to center of lens.
If you want more diffused light, cut it size of larger coin.
If you want less diffused light, use Scotch clear tape.
 
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