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

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.

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.

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

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

You mean like this?



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

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

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

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.

: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.