The BLF DIY Forum First Annual Scratch made light contest - CONTEST IS DONE - WINNERS are Announced! in the OP

if my vote counts...

Hand built:

1st: DBCstm

2nd: Rufusbduck

3rd: relic38

Machine built:

1st: MRsDNF

2nd: vestureofblood

I wish there was more to pick from in the machined category... but say do i have in that, i also did not finish lol

Relic, posting all of the pictures in one place like that was a perfect idea. The size of the pictures is good too. The smaller size makes it far easier to compare them.

well done everyone, the bar has been set well and truly in the stratosphere! I’ve enjoyed reading about every single build and I’m only glad that I’m not the one that has to pick a winner as they’re all as good as each other, just in different ways. Great job on the sponsors too, that’s just the icing on the cake.

I’m sorry I couldn’t take part, work and travel (and family to some extent) ate up too much of my time and energy for the last 6 weeks. Still, at least I won’t be embarrassing anyone with my awesome 1in.sq. alu tube build :slight_smile:

mattthemuppet,

Built in anti roll feature :slight_smile: . “It’s hip to be square” Huey Lewis. I place as much value on what’s on the inside than the outward appearance. If you can find the time, follow up on the idea and share.

I just HAVE to know how to make a square reflector to match the de-domed emitter! :slight_smile:

Wow, some awesome builds here and some very very useable lights. Small to large, tight spot to mega flood, the only thing truly in common is we all are making the Li-ion battery suppliers very very happy! lol

he he he, yep, I’m so out of fashion I’m in fashion. By wearing the same type of clothes my whole life, I’m in fashion approximately every 10 years :slight_smile:

it’ll definitely get built, in fact it’s pretty much the next thing on the list now that I’ve built a lipo battery pack for my power tools (doing some trail clearance tonight and didn’t fancy carrying 4 18V NiCd batteries up a 4 mile climb!). I’ve given myself extra incentive by giving my old headlamp to a friend and having my old car have something else that needs fixing. I had about a week before the contest started when I had time to build it (built an LED work lamp instead), then it’s just been nuts. Things have calmed down a bit now though!

well, you may jest, but 1in.sq. alu tubing is just perfect for Ledil’s 20mm square optics :wink:

Not all of us… :wink:


6 AA Eneloops and 3 XM-Ls work quite nicely in terms of output! :wink:
It wont do 7+ for that many seconds but it will do 6A for a long time! J)

Awesome job putting together this contest Old Lumens.

It was really amazing seeing what everyone came up with. Amazing work all around. :party:

My favorite is Rufusbduck’s retro laser pistol light.

-I would say Rufusbduck have the best light in terms of originality. For that type of light, I would say execution is on a top level! Maybe Rufusbduck is an alien, most humans would not dare to even try to build such a light. And now he even have his own space-gun… Any similarities? Possible alien, space gun? He is obviously from another planet. Normal humans would never be able to pull of that build! :wink: I bow in the dust of all the hand made pieces…

-Relic38 seems to have a very well built constructed light. Not only a show-room light, but a light I would love to use. Its kinda like a SRK, only way more copper, and
even more compact. And who does not like that combination when its extremely bright,with nice tint, nice modes and good looking? It makes me drool a bit… :wink:
Its just a very nice light that has been nicely built! Highly desirable!

-Im a sucker for clean looking builds. DBCstm made one clean looking light and with great output too! Very original! Whats not to like??

Those are my top 3 favorites!
Lots of other great builds too! All are great, in their own way!

those are my top 3 also... been over it in my head over and over, and really my 1st, 2nd 3rd are hard to pick.

ja7 also needs a mention. his pill is a work of art

Ja7 has the most artistic build and I think Texaspyro did the most professional job on a light designed to attract alien attention. Buckminster Fuller would be proud of the coke light. I guess it depends on whether you like apples, oranges, peaches, nectarines… No two are alike so how do you decide?

a huge shiny .50 bmg (Big Motherfudgin Gun) round that puts out a decent amount of light... i really like all the builds, but i am partial to militaria

the machined class was most difficult. i like the bare look and contrast of the different metals of DNF, but i am a stickler for good knurling too

Yup, it fries them big eyed little gomers to a crisp… that’ll teach ’em to keep them probes to themselves…

I was thinking it’s going to signal them to come. Think about the warp signature that thing is putting out! J)

Yup, lure them in with one of the beacon modes. Then crank up the volume to “11”…

And I’ll pick off the strays while DBCstm plays hide and seek out in the asteroid belt. Ja7 can pretend to be an asteroid. The tower of power would light up the dark side of the moon. Relic could be posing for glam shots and when the visitors stop at the coke machine, they’d get a big surprise.

The winners have been announced, in the OP.

Congrats to all the winners for your well deserved victories!! I can't begin to say how inspired and awed I am by your ingenuity and patience. You are all winners in my book!

I will add that as good as they all were, I fully agree with the final decision and placings for the winners. Just like I'd have picked 'em. :bigsmile: :beer:

Build your own light , the wise old man said

With your own two hands and the smarts in your head


Heat up the iron ‘till it glows cherry red


Many’s the hour that you’ll spend in your shed


Nurture the foal to a grand Thoroughbred


Give it your best and your legend will spread


And the Gods will be pleased when your life’s story’s read

I knew that ray gun with both flashlight and laser was a sure winner, simply too ingenious and well implemented to not come in 1st in a landslide. Nice wins everybody, and thanks so much to the sponsors, WooHoo! Bounty! :slight_smile:

Seriously, I really do appreciate the compliments on the GDB 50BMG. My first flashlight build and it was a smashing success, loved doing it and super loved the expression on my cousins face while he soaked it in when I gave it to him! I’m already doing things I was scared to try before, so it’s opened doors to me (I’m sure I’ll destroy some things as well, but it’s not like that’s never happened before!)

I have a 25mm build in store, just about have the necessary parts to get started. It will sport a custom made triple xp-g2 at 5.4A from Australia. :slight_smile: This one is massive, the empty case literally swallows the entire 50 BMG!!! :slight_smile:

More news at 11. :wink:

Thanks again, very very much appreciated!