*BLF LT1 Lantern Project) (updated Nov,17,2020)

Sounds just what I’m looking for! I’m in.

I’m excited, and I think that high doesn’t need to be very high at all, even when using a lantern for working on something like a generator, the kind of guy that has a quality lantern won’t be looking to light up the entire garage brightly, he will have a headlamp to handle the boost he needs for detail work.

In the living room we want the family to have a good bright light available, but we don’t want it so bright that people avert their eyes and shade their eyes from it.

But I think you made it clear that you have already thought of all that, long ago.

I look forward to this thread. Have you thought of a setting for simultaneous lantern and ceiling bounce, for a better room filling effect, and flashlight use?

Sounds very well thought out. I’m in.

Looks great! Wouldn’t you know, a lantern sits firmly next on my list of “new lights I can rationalize,” but as you clearly stated, decent stock options are essentially non-existent. My best thought until now was to start with something like this (modded to run off 18650’s, of course), but a down-firing SRK variant sounds simpler, more durable, and more compact.

I’m very interested in a potential group buy (depending on price, of course), but also interested in following your prototype build… The challenge of a home-made version also sounds attractive, so I might need to buy one + make one, because, you know, it’d probably be smart to have something in a different tint as a backup…

Thanks again for getting this started! Excited to see how it progresses regardless of outcome. :cool:

Yeah this is intriguing. I’ve got one lantern, a Fenix CL25R, but this seems like a very different project. So consider me interested.

I’m Interested!

-Chuck

for indoor use in rooms with white ceilings, the design of this lantern with a down-firing LED, simply set it on a higher shelf or table upside-down, and it will bounce quite a bit of light from the ceiling around it if preferred. (those tests & photos will be coming too. :slight_smile: I thought about the idea of building it with two switchable LEDs ( one on the top facing up and the inside one facing down) but that would just add complexity & cost to a manufactured version.

Agreed - I really like the idea of a simple, dedicated, non-crappy lantern. If we want something to aim at the ceiling, well, we all have at least a dozen options for that, don’t we? :wink:
I have one that’s switchable between upward (flashlight-ish) and downward (lantern-ish) firing, and it doesn’t do a good job at either.

Very true, we all already have tons of flashlights for ceiling bouncing/tail standing indoors. But when it comes to acual lanterns that can be used outdoors for area lighing there are way to many crappy, plastic, bad-tinted, low-runtime lanterns with unreliable “gimmics” added to them already available from sellers & stores,
But for outdoors, or in places/rooms where white smooth ceilings are not an option, a simple, durable, long running, 360-degree lantern is needed.

I’m interested
As long as the cost doesn’t get too crazy

Depending on the price, I may or may not get one, but I am interested.

I am in!! Possibly multiples if price is agreeable.

Very interested.

Interesting project. I’m in.

I’m in!

Can’t wait for this one. The way I look at it, this lantern will have no competition. Nothing else like it on the market, everything now is plastic, alkaline powered, and no name emitters. Can see this being a huge seller to campers, hikers, fishermen, hunters, and such. Looking good DBSAR.

The plan is to build a lantern than can fit in a coat pocket, produce the light of a 60 watt light bulb, have good high CRI tint, and run for several nights of use on high, (Or for weeks on lower modes) without the need of recharging the batteries, be durable, solid, compact, useful when needed, and do what a lantern is supposed to do. (and be open to further modding like all of here like to do if we wish to. :slight_smile:

This sounds like a great project.

Just one question; Where are you getting the SRK clone with threadded LED plate?

I am in :slight_smile: nice project!

I could certainly use a good lantern, I’m in.