Match's Mods: Make your own custom flashlight (no lathe!)

Match, you're awesome!

How hot does this nice light get? Does the copper body really help avoid sagging?

I bow my head in amazement. I whish I had those skills.

or geniously simple.

You are the man Match. I really like it.

I just closed the ebay page with the hobbyist lathes, that was still open in the background. I really thought about buying one, but suddenly didn't feel like in a hurry anymore. Now seriously, I allways wished to have a small lathe. They go around 300 to 500 euros. To have a lathe nearby, can be useful for so many things. Not only for the flashlights, but well yes, it can be used for to make flashlights!

AWESOME JOB , DUDE !

DUDE !

Thanks for the nice comments, guys. I still get hesitant sometimes about posting builds like this up...don't ask me why.


[quote= Be-Seen Triker]

I have only one question... how did you make sure the switch is making contact with the body?

[/quote]

Ack! I thought I snagged a picture of that... whoops. What I did was run two copper strips from the switch up and over that little brown spacer ring I made.

[quote= Bluebeam]

I would spray it with many layers of clear coat to keep it "wet and shiny looking"

[/quote]

Ya, I was thinking about clearcoating it... I guess I haven't yet because I still plan on messsing around with this one. Good idea though!

[quote= Haggai]

How hot does this nice light get? Does the copper body really help avoid sagging?

[/quote]

I honestly haven't tested that with the I.S. yet. Just walking around, ya, the whole thing warms up pretty evenly..but not what I'd ever consider hot. Gotta love copper for heat dispersion!


Absolutely amazing flashlight... One of the best DIY project i ever seen. Great job Match!

Very nice work and certainly an inspiration to the lathe-less masses :) -Nutz

"Not only for the flashlights, but well yes, it can be used for to make flashlights!"

"Honest honey, I could use it for all kinds of things around the house. Flashlights? Well, I suppose it could be used for that but . . ."

Nice to know the uniquely male talent/need to justify a tool purchase isn't just an American phenomenon.

IthinkmywifeisontomeFoy

I don't dare go into tool shops. The conversation tend to go: "What's that for?

OK I'll buy one."

Repeat until bankrupt.

It's a wee shiny copper beast...excelent work as always :)

LOL Same here. Everytime I go to Sears just to 'look around', I come out of there with extra tools......even ones I really don't need right now but just might have a need for it someday.

Truly impressive, Match! I am going to order up a few supplies right now to build one of these gorgeous bab boys. I love the clean look and ironically was just rolling around the same idea in my head the other day. This clinches it!

A question for you...do any of the optics sold by ledsupply work on an xm-l emitter? if not, I will order a triple xp-g like you did with the carlo optics. I'd like to stick with what I currently have though for cost savings if I can.

Good God almighty, Match,

that is more sexy than a 22-yrs old drunk nymphomaniac women's prison escapee!

I'm booked!!!

-the sixfink

Yes. Either the ones spec'd for xp-g's or mc-e's will work. Carclo recommends using the xp-g type, but I've tried both and personally prefer the one's spec'd for the mc-e.

LOL! That had me rolling...Laughing.

Thanks for the nice comments, guys.

+∞!

I have a Harbor Freight store conveniently close by and stop there on almost a weekly basis and can always find something I want. There is usually a conversation like this:

Me: (picks up item) Wife: "What do you need that for?"

Me: "For my stuff..."

Wife: "Oh. For your flashlights."

They usually have some really awesome deals in their coupon flyers. Right now, they have a 800 Watt generator for $89 after their coupon; my brother has one and it works great. I'm going to buy one for backup power for the well pump...

Match that's a great mod.

Mr Administrator maybe there sould be a section for Match's mods.

Awesome job Match! Please keep them comming

+1

cool!

I'd try to keep it that way .I know how nasty copper gets after 3 years of being under the sink with water dripping down the side of it ..I'm not sure about clearcoating it and then heating it and cooling it .

Guess the trick is to do nothing let it tarnish and see how hard it is to spiff it back up to showroom condition again