Best way to diffuse the Arc AAA?

Got my AAA-P today. Very please with the size, machining
quality and pocketability. The beam isn't great though.
I'm probably spoiled by Luxeons already.

The beam is yellowish with two blue bright spots in
the middle. I stuck some Scotch Satin tape over for
a test and it's better. With Scotch Magic tape it's
better still. With the Magic tape I'm happy with it.
But there's no good way to make it stay on for any length
of time.

I read about scotchbrighting the LED but that's probably
not feasible with the Arc's recessed LED.

Any suggestions?

I would be nice is someone made a little diffusing cap
that friction fit over the head. Any CPFers know how
to heat form some plastic sheet?

Cheers - Greg

I think someone put a thin layer of epoxy over the LED. You might want to check out Don's webpage (McGizmo) of mods. Then if you wanted, you could scratch the epoxy up a little bit so it would have some texture... I think that would work, but do it at your own risk /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

-Allen

If you want to see the effect of the epoxy, just put the light under water, which does the same thing (water has about the same index of refraction). It's pretty cool.

When I shine either of my AAA's on a white wall I see blue spots and worry about them -- hey, I'm a flashaholic -- but I hardly ever notice the blue spot when I'm actually using the light.

If I use it for reading in bed (one of the items on the "are you a flashaholic?" poster), I wrap a piece of kleenex over the end, this both mixes the colors and diffuses the hot spot.

Thanks for the suggestions.

I don't want to do anything permanent like the epoxy
idea.

Maybe I just need to carry a roll of magic tape in
my pocket /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I'd still like a little friction fit cap that was
a diffuser.

Greg

I tried dunking my AAA last night. The beam does look
much better. I'm still not sure I want to commit to
a permanent epoxy mod.

Greg

The fumes from superglue will "frost" the lens.

You can scotch brite as well no problem. I did this to a green infinity to improve the splotchy beam.

Can you scotch brite an LED that is recessed
like the Arc AAA?

The C/A fumes idea is interesting, though too
permanent for my light I think. Thanks for the
idea though.

If you haven't seen this thread describes the
solution I came up with.

Greg