FmC's DIY Handbuilt thread. Finished!!! It's Alive!!!!!!!

that’s some very neat work you’re doing there! Coke can’s are awesome, they’re useful for all kinds of things.

That is looking quite nice! Great job FmC. Maybe I should start my build soon…

Great find on the brass. I can hear it now ” can I help you sir?“, ”no thanks, just looking”. No idea how many times I’ve wandered the isles looking for “I don’t know what”. Borrowed my share of tape measures too.

I’d suggest to find another shop if they don’t supply customer service. Whoever heard off a plumbers supply not helping you find the fitting that’s just right to build flashlights with. Whats happened to this world. Unbelievable.
Still watching. :slight_smile:

Mine went something like this:
“Can I help you sir?”
“Yeah, I’m looking for a threaded adapter in copper that I can use for a flashlight head”
[blank stare] “OK, well everything we have in copper [starts backing away] is in this aisle, so if it’s not here [raises voice due to distance] we do not have it.”
“Sure, no problem, thanks!”

After that, now I just say what RBD says :smiley:

Yeah, lesson learned. Now I put on my stupid face and say “nope” whenever they ask. I like the way this is turning out and the tricks you use.

When I get asked that question, I just start drooling and twitching and blurt out “they have tried…”

2nd post updated again with a little more work on the pill/heatsink.

…I actually needed help in the hardware store a few weeks ago;

Me; “Excuse me…”

Enthusiastic employee; “Yes, what can I help you with?”

Me; “Where’s the toilet around here???”

Enthusiastic employee; [smile reduces substantially]“Oh… ….right down the end isle, in the back corner”

Me; [walks rather quickly away]…

This is looking good! If this light is ever going to be buried and they dig it up 500 years from now, they will peel away all the layers of this light and will have a hard time explaning what has happened here .

It’s finished!! 3rd post updated with final build pics & working photos.

:beer: :beer: :beer: :beer:

Very nice! Great concept, great execution.

(And a good reminder to the rest of us that there’s a garden aisle as well as plumbing…)

That’s awesome!

Looks really good, and well done!

wow! i’m amazed by all the good builds in this contest, and this one is really cool as well! nice work

That’s awesome! Great job FmC!

fantastic job, well done. It looks very slick, especially the tail cap which looks really pro. Only one question though - how do you unscrew the tail cap? Just by finger pressure?

very nice work! Great flashlight.

Just the 123K throw with a P60 sized reflector sounds a bit too good to be true, is that correct? (I get that only with a hard driven dedomed xp-e2/50mm reflector)

I’m glad I’m not a judge in this comp. Congrats and well done. The thought and effort put in has been extraordinary as has been in all the hand built lights.

Yep, just push & turn to unscrew. The cap turned out better than I expected!

I’m still not sure about my lux meter (how to use it properly), but here’s some comparison readings taken under the same conditions;

Solarforce MPP1; 280k
P60 XML @ 2.6a; 46k
BTU (CW, AR lens); 715k
Convoy C8 (T6-3C, 2.8a) 185k

I never actually mentioned it in the build, but the LED is an XP-G2.

Thanks for all the feedback & comments, it’s been fun doing this, & watching all of the other builds as well :slight_smile:

thats very cool!

Nice light