Which Lantern Floods best? Must be cheap!

[PlayboyJoeShmoe]

I have a Garrity with the outer half of the Reflector faceted... that ain't it!

I have an EverActive with the inner third of the reflector orange pealed... closer.

I have a Rayovac with a smooth reflector... nope.

I had a Craftsman that was WAY too funky of beam.

I also had some Red lantern I didn't like much, and both of these two got garage sale sold.

Which lantern makes a big flood?

 

[cheesehead]

The Coleman (100 watt spot) advertised as "Smart Beam" technology is a pretty big flood, but again, it has some funky ring artifact-which at first was very annoying because I bought it as a "spot" light, so I wanted a pencil thin beam, but after a while, you realize (as you have) that a nice flood is also very useful.

Maybe it's time to take a ballpeam hammer to one of the metal reflectors and "orange peal" it. I've tried using aluminum foil put inside the reflector and that will "flood" it out, although the beam often isn't as nice as you would hope for. Then I coated the foil with epoxy, and that helps a lot, although the epoxy sucks up some of the lumens, since it's a little bit yellow-but it was a good trade-off. Eh, I haven't seen any other good and cheap option.

cheese

 

[paulr]

I'm not sure what you're asking; if you want an area light, try one of the compact fluorescent ones.

 

[RussH]

Mod it for an MR16 flood. Thats a little on the small side 2"? for a lantern reflector. But you can get these up to 75w (12v) or maybe 35w in 6v. I know they have some in 6v, but I've never used one. Oh, those floods come in a few different widths of beam, something like 20deg., 35deg, 50 or 60deg. There are some 6v sealed beams (JC Witney tractor lights, 6 or 12v) that might fit depending on the diameter of your housing. There's bound to be one about 4" in diameter, 6v, 35w (maybe 55w) and maybe with a replaceable H3 bulb...

 

[PlayboyJoeShmoe]

paulr,

What I seek is a light in the 6V lantern form factor that floods light. All thet I have are from VERY tight spot to moderately tight spot.

I'm not too sure about MR16 mod....

 

[Sway]

PBJS,

Have you tried adjusting the focus on the lights you have? Just a little tweaking 1/16” or 1/8” can make a big difference by backing the bulb out of the reflector using rubber washers like you put in the end of a garden hose.

I not sure how you lamps mount but there must be some way to modify them, to make a flood is much easier than trying to focus the beam into a spot.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thinking.gif

Later
Sway

 

[BillBill]

Would an adjustable 6v lantern like the Brinkmann Maxstar work?

 

[phyhsuts]

I would suggest using an AR-111 from Osram-Sylvania Halogen .But they have only one in 6V and that is a super spot! The floods are all 12V. Trouble is, in the form factor you want, it is very difficult to get a 12V battery. The easiest way seems to be to get a Eveready 9101IND and fabricate a holder for a 12V7Ah VRLA for it and use the widest beam AR111 you can find. It is easy enough; it is what I did! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif The 12V 35W AR111 draws about 3A, so run time is not great at over 1 hour, but the amount of light is! Very even and very wide. I think a 12V 17Ah VRLA can be used but that is just too heavy to be called "portable". The 9101IND is about $25. The VRLA about $20. I have no idea how much the AR111 cost in the USA. I think you should try it out. IMHO it is well worth the effort and expenditure.