tvodrd
*Flashaholic* ,
About 3 1/2 months ago I made a long post . Right away, I could see that the optical solution was less than optimum, so I made a new head for it and started EDCing it. When SF came out with their scalloped bezels, I scalloped mine. The results sucked /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif , and this is not a light you want to accidently leave on. My lanyard attach didn't permit standing it on its tail so I started thinking about possible alternatives. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif I made a couple of these:
The rings are a #9 Fine from Worth Co. Co. I had to buy 1K /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rant.gif The ring is a friction fit in its recess, and the cross hole is bushed (replaceable) with 13ga thinwall stainless tubing. More on the gold plating later. Machining the recess was a PITA (That spacer must weigh over 200#!):
I then had a pair of identical lights to compare additional
"improvements." First, I found that I liked the beam on the HD much better with the optic spaced out abt .070 from the LS- the hot spot and corona got a lot "rounder" at the expense of less corona. Spill seemed unchanged. I made shims for the optics and started on 2 more lights which wouldn't need the shims. I didn't think to move the bezel O-ring groove forward, so I had to make a couple "longer"
bezels. (And a couple "longer" cases.)Next thing to happen was Wayne, dat2zip making some R2H HD Stars available- damn, I gotta do a DD! So I made a couple of those /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif .
At that point I had enough parts for a pocket full of lights /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif and it was time for a trip to the plater. First I took the copper center sections in for electroless nickel and while I was there, talked them out of some of this . The EN came out nice- wish I had spent more time/attention to polishing the copper:
Oh yeah, the gold- bought a kit from Caswells which is intended to work over nickel. There's enough in the 18-8 split rings that they plated nicely too. Next came the anodizing. I made a "masking" rack to keep the anodize out of the IDs- had to single-point each of the spuds:
The lights are .715" dia at the fairly aggressive knurls, and 2.115" long. That's almost exactly a $4.00 roll of dimes. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
I rarely need that smudge tool /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
L to R: Bezel, .020" silicone rubber lens gasket, 16mm saphire lens, turned and shortened optic, center section (damnit- left out the O-rings), .200" module- ones a BB750, other MM. The modules have coin silver contacts cannabalized from some old KRP relays. Module retaining ring. For the bat case, silicone foam rubber anti-rattle
washer, the neg batt contact is a gold-plated button head from Texas Knifemakers Sup. .
Finally, the split ring and one of the bushings.
I ended up with 8 after giving away a couple at work. 3 are DD and the rest take .2" modules. If DavidW is up to it, I'll happily donate one for benefit auction /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
I apologise for a couple links to old threads not working, and hope a mod can help /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mecry.gif
Larry
The rings are a #9 Fine from Worth Co. Co. I had to buy 1K /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rant.gif The ring is a friction fit in its recess, and the cross hole is bushed (replaceable) with 13ga thinwall stainless tubing. More on the gold plating later. Machining the recess was a PITA (That spacer must weigh over 200#!):
I then had a pair of identical lights to compare additional
"improvements." First, I found that I liked the beam on the HD much better with the optic spaced out abt .070 from the LS- the hot spot and corona got a lot "rounder" at the expense of less corona. Spill seemed unchanged. I made shims for the optics and started on 2 more lights which wouldn't need the shims. I didn't think to move the bezel O-ring groove forward, so I had to make a couple "longer"
bezels. (And a couple "longer" cases.)Next thing to happen was Wayne, dat2zip making some R2H HD Stars available- damn, I gotta do a DD! So I made a couple of those /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif .
At that point I had enough parts for a pocket full of lights /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif and it was time for a trip to the plater. First I took the copper center sections in for electroless nickel and while I was there, talked them out of some of this . The EN came out nice- wish I had spent more time/attention to polishing the copper:
Oh yeah, the gold- bought a kit from Caswells which is intended to work over nickel. There's enough in the 18-8 split rings that they plated nicely too. Next came the anodizing. I made a "masking" rack to keep the anodize out of the IDs- had to single-point each of the spuds:
The lights are .715" dia at the fairly aggressive knurls, and 2.115" long. That's almost exactly a $4.00 roll of dimes. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
I rarely need that smudge tool /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
L to R: Bezel, .020" silicone rubber lens gasket, 16mm saphire lens, turned and shortened optic, center section (damnit- left out the O-rings), .200" module- ones a BB750, other MM. The modules have coin silver contacts cannabalized from some old KRP relays. Module retaining ring. For the bat case, silicone foam rubber anti-rattle
washer, the neg batt contact is a gold-plated button head from Texas Knifemakers Sup. .
Finally, the split ring and one of the bushings.
I ended up with 8 after giving away a couple at work. 3 are DD and the rest take .2" modules. If DavidW is up to it, I'll happily donate one for benefit auction /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
I apologise for a couple links to old threads not working, and hope a mod can help /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mecry.gif
Larry