Homeade light diffusers to use flahslights as laterns

What are you guys using to put on the head of your flashlights so it turns the beam into more of a whole room illuminator in times of power outages, or for camping in atent, etc...

I know they sell light diffusers that friction fit over the head of flashlights , but im sure that something could be found in our homes/ food pantrys that is plastic and would accomplish the same thing, all for free..

Look around the house for disposable items made of translucent plastic. Depending on the flashlight, things like water bottle caps and chapstick caps might work. I once stuck one of my lights into a hotel shampoo bottle and got a nice lantern effect. You may have to cut the plastic with a razor knife as needed.

The few times I needed to diffuse the light I just used a piece of toilet paper and a rubber band. :green:
Or I point it at the ceiling, or at a piece of white paper.

I tried some fine nylon mesh (like for silk screening) which worked well without much loss -- but I have two LED lanterns if I need them. It's the light loss which concerns me most. I'm thinking maybe the mesh works better because it works mostly by diffraction.

I did cut out a piece of plastic 1/2 & 1/2 bottle to replace the lens in a dollar incandescent to get rid of the artifacts, but it does lose light.

Hair spray lids

You can always do what I did for a light I coun't find anything to fit on. Go shopping. I took the light to Walmart and walked around sticking lids on it till I found one I liked.

Yucca Patrol said:

Look around the house for disposable items made of translucent plastic.

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buy yourself a couple plastic cutting board, they come as white or an assortment of other colors
looks something like this: http://img.alibaba.com/photo/249225100/cutting_board_chopping_board_chopping_mats.jpg

rumme said:

What are you guys using to put on the head of your flashlights so it turns the beam into more of a whole room illuminator in times of power outages, or for camping in atent, etc...

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If there is a white ceiling, bouncing the light of the ceiling can work much better than a diffuser.
You will get a more uniform light in the room and no blinding hot spot, when looking at the diffuser. But it will usual require more light, i.e. use more batteries.

i use disposable plastic cup, that has a milky color, works great.

Here is a shot of a Fuji film canister diffuser I made for my L0D.

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/...16&postcount=4

A ping-pong ball on top of your tail standing light works nicely.

Geoff

JWP_EE said:

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I copied and pasted it from another post and now I don't know how to fix that. If I click on it and make an edit it seem to change. But when I come back in again it is still there and my edit hasn't taken effect. :shrug:

For my Maratac AAA light, I plan on using a Chapstick cap like kramer5150 did with his ITP A3 EOS. Brilliant! :thumbsup:

I have been looking all over for the right Chapstick. :sigh: I may have to raid my daughters' stash.

A Crazy glue cover works great on my iTP, S2 (LOD head) and E01 for a lantern as it is longer than the chapstick cover so offers a nice glow. A bit like a chem light stick only better as there is some real light.

bluepilgrim said:

...a piece of toilet paper and a rubber band.

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MacGyver IS IN THE HOUSE! :nana:

I'll have to try that ping pong ball trick. Sounds good. I find a small clear plastic bottle full of water works great (when I'm goofing off - have never tried it in an actual outage).

This is a great idea! Shame all the kids have are orange balls! I guess I'll be picking up a pack of white to try it out. Thanks for the idea!

just try not to ignite them balls, ..things i did with them when i was a kid..

G2 bottle caps fit most of the P-60 style lights.