New flashlight modder (hopefully), needing some general advice!

Gray,
FM is a manufacturer/ modder for flashlight bodies. He makes some interesting things, but no electronics.
~D

Aahhh, gotcha! Still good to know :+1:

Lindstrom cutters or Erem 2422e- for those who like the expensive cutters!

Klien 11057- work great for me stripping small wires

Ideal Stripmasters are my favorite but you gotta have enough room for the stripping action to take place and they $50

Hakko is prolly best budget brand cutters IMO

Calling DrafterDan!!!

I’m curious about the thicker bodied flashlights being bored to accept the 18650’s.

Do you have a link or remember any articles that test the strength lost by thinning the walls?

I’m sure it’s still plenty strong but i find such things highly interesting! Thanks!

Anyone have a spot welder they would recommend?

For battery builds?
or general sheetmetal repair?

Lol, guess i should have specified.
Yes, battery builds!

LED reflow also works great on a small temp regulated hotplate

Or just a plate of aluminum that provides enough thermal mass so the heat up and cool down follows close to the temperature profilen that is recommended from datasheet,
you can heat it with gas torch or hot air gun

IR thermometer is also good for reflow temperature check

Can’t help ya though.
But I think sticker shock will follow.
I just use solder tabs. Use a high watt iron and be QUICK. Allow to cool if you need a second try. Put Kapton tape under the tabs, on the edge of batt (Pos side) for safety.

Great tips, thanks!! Need more tips like this if anybody wants to share! Got the IR thermometer already, those things are awesome, so useful!

No prob, thanks for the reply!
Yea, i’ve looked at prices. Sticker shock did follow lol. It will def. only be bought if I pursue building battery packs heavily (quite possible but not presently).

Thanks for the tips! I was figuring something like that would work fine if you paid close attention.

Does anyone do home anodizing? Got any tips for that?

Suggestions for diamond jewelers files?

Which thermal pastes/adhesives do BLFer’s like? If its a brand with more than one type can you specify which one?

Potting Compounds?

Potting:

Thermal adhesives:
Fujik (bad but often good enough, cheap), Arctic Alumina (good, expensive)

Thermal Paste:
Arctic MX-4 is recommended often
Overclockers’ pastes are mentioned often too
Recently I bought GD900 and I think it’s a good choice for cheap lights.
Liquid metal is the top pick for copper lights, but destroys alu ones

I’d like to see a file set recommendation too.

I use Arctic alumina for thermal adhesive for thing I need a better bond.

MX4 (Computer thermal paste) for thermal paste under emitter MCPCB to aluminum pills. If I use a brass pill I usually solder the MCPCB to the brass.

Also got some generic silicone thermal Plaster. Used that in the TIP around the reflector before assembly.

Never bought diamond files, have a couple sets of the 12pk generic jewelers files for fine work and various other smaller Nicholson files that can be had at the Orange store. Wet/dry variety of grits 220-2000 and red scotchbrite are must have on my bench.

I bought this S Mini Black Copper with intentions to expose the high spots of copper. What I did not expect was the nickel plating between the black and copper. I had to hand file the entire surface to expose copper and sand it out after. Turned out good but took 4X longer than I anticipated.
You can see the transition of the layers at the side of the SW in this pic.

This is bomber!!! Thanks!!!

I mess with building my own firearms too. One way to reapply a finish to aluminum is to Lead electroplate and dye it after. Some good vids on YT.
Sig 229 Build - 3 - Anodizing the Frame

That channel has some other good vids on surface finishes. Many other coatings from firearms can be used on our lights too. There was also a big thread on here about Powder Coating and heat transfer.

Of course the most popular way to strip Anno is Lye, Sodium Hydroxide. I have done many lights and usually polish them after. I have had several discussion how I do it but I do not think there is a dedicated thread.

Bummer that it took longer than you alotted, but i think it looks awesome! Great job :+1:

Excellent suggestions as well!! Thank you!

I agree on different grits in several media on the workbench as well as some good polish (flitz or similiar), and a Dremel of course! The diamond files are awesome! I’ve got several bigger ones and one on my Leatherman Charge ALX. They cut fast and last a long time! I’ve also switched all my blade/tool sharpening kit to diamond stones and rods in various sizes and grits and it makes a world of difference! I recommend DMT for that type of stuff but the jewelers files are something i haven’t acquired yet.

Thanks for this!! I do love me some Sigs! Been trying to save up for a P227 but something always comes up. Thought about grabbing a raw s2+ host to experiment on, might have to snag a raw AR lower to tinker with as well.

Dedicated thread would be nice!! You should do it and share your experiences!!

As I am making or building something, taking pics, stopping for what ever else involved ruins concentration or looses focus. I can forget what I am doing, or stray off to another tangent on my own, no help needed. Just not organized enough and the amount of time to do it would take me is much longer than most.

I prefer CZ myself or a good hand built 1911. After too many disappointments from top brands I just started building my own. Plus buying parts as I can afford them makes it happen when I cant shell out the bucks at one shot. Too many toys and interests keep me broke.

The silver Convoy’s are still anodize and you will have to strip them. The silver BLF/Astrolux S1/A6 is raw.

Some of my Jewelers files could use replacements so I am certainly interested in investing in some of the diamond variety of good quality.