What material to use for a Diffuser? To make an LED like a lightbulb?

[guy121]

So I've tested a piece of printer paper just wrapped around the top of my Cree LED U2-Style flashlight and it works pretty well, but the paper is not letting enough light get through.

Anyone have any good ideas on what materials to use? I would like to use the flashlight while I'm hiking and when inside the tent I could use a diffuser so it doesn't blind people.

I'm welcome to other ideas instead of a diffuser.

 

[Derek Dean]

Howdy guy121,
You might check out this thread:

http://candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=169191

CPF member FASTCAR spent a lot of time and money testing almost every conceivable type of material for use as a diffuser, and ended up with the stuff that is being reviewed in that thread. I was lucky enough to get a bit of it myself, and it is excellent. I'm not sure if he has any left, but you might PM him and ask.

For a quick fix, try putting a bit of that frosty looking Scotch Tape on the front of the lens, works in a pinch. Or, for smaller lights, you could slip one of those transluscent plastic tops from a water bottle over the end of the light. Some folks have had good results by using a small piece of this stuff for mild diffusion:

http://www.gizmos2go.com/product.php?productid=5466

You can also buy a replacement lens for you light here:

http://www.flashlightlens.com/

Then specify that you would like the 'LDF' coating, which is also excellent, but of course totally kills throw. Happy hunting.

 

[RedLED]

The Real Material is...

Get the real matreial used in photography, and motion picture lighting: Diffusion Gel.

Any professional photo, or studio lighting supply will have Diffusion Gel.

There are hundueds of levels of diffusion, Neutal density, and Color correction gels.

I have made my bluish looking led's pure white with 1/4 orange cc gel.

Hope this helps.

This would be the professional material to use, anything else is improvised.

RL

 

[GregWormald]

Re: The Real Material is...

If you want a 'light bulb' effect then a translucent plastic 35mm film canister works well. I use this just sitting on top of the light in tail standing position, but you could cut the lid to fit over the end of the light easy enough.
For a 'flood' beam I have cut a disk that fits on top of the lens out of a soft plastic CD case. I have 2 disks--one from the smooth area over the CD and one with a 'pebble' texture from around the outside of the CD area. The disks have 3 small 'ears' that snap fit into the O-ring recess between the lens and the bezel.
Greg

 

[bondr006]

You mean like this?

I also got a tooth brush travel case from Walgreens that works very well.

 

[Derek Dean]

Gee Rob, that second shot, of the Walgreen's travel case, looks like it was made just to fit that light. Good find!

 

[d123]

Fenix Store actually sell a diffuser for the Fenix lights(which might fit other brands as well), fits and works very well AND only costs $5 :thumbsup:

LINK

 

[deeuubee]

I use these diffusers:
http://www.ledium.com/eng_opt_dif.html (it's not where I bought them, but it does show all the available patterns.)

In these fixtures from:
http://www.optiled.biz/products_lamps.php?prod_id=1

for landscape lighting. You can get just about any thing from spot to flood. I was going to try them on my new lights when they get here tommorrow and report then, but I just wanted to give a heads up. The're 44mm lens. I'm not sure what type of plastic they are.

Edit: sorry, I misunderstood. I thought you meant beam pattern not bulb diffuser.

 

[guy121]

:thumbsup:Thanks guys! Thats exactly what I was thinking about. Just everytime I search for diffuser, people are talking about a diffuser in terms of throw/light pattern.