Just another fail - NOPE, It's alive and running again! Light is finished - almost... and working!

Well, you all know I'm not in the Scratch Build contest, but I can't resist doing a week-end scratch build. I know y'all got three months to do your builds and some of you need it. (Those that have a life). But for some old farts, we don't have anything better to do, so I'm going to whip out this little Copper 3x14500, XM-L2 light this week-end... I hope...

aprc1

So, I am using a 1-1/4" Copper coupling for the head and three pieces of 1/2" Copper pipe for the battery holder. I've got a 37mm reflector and a 37mm lens. I would have preferred 36mm, but I ain't got, so 37mm and it's called "make it fit". I have a Qlite driver with some extra chips, an XM-L2 neutral white on a Copper star, a C8 Copper heat sink, a momentary switch, a rubber boot, an old driver that will be used as a contact plate and some other Copper pieces lying around, for this and that.

aprc2

The tools are fairly simple, but of course I don't have them all out. What I do have are files, pliers, cutters, some measuring and marking tools, Calipers, soldering equipment, an Exacto knife, sanding blocks and steel wool. I don't have here, but I will use, a small butane torch, a hacksaw, possibly a hammer, some small vise grips and maybe some other small hand tools. I will not be using any power tools, at least I don't think so.

aprc4

The reflector and lens are too big to go into the head. They are the same diameter as the Copper coupling, so in order to use them, I have to come up with something to hold them in.

aprc3

I am making a sleeve that they will fit into. It's a piece of Copper coupling, but when I add it over top of the main coupling, it has a gap to be filled.

aprc5

I use another small piece of that same coupling material, to make the rest of that collar. It's a matter of cutting close and then doing some fine filing, till it fits in. I have to clamp the ends of the first part, so they don't move when I solder this section in.

aprc6

I always use too much solder and I always have to clean off the excess. It will take some filing and sanding to get it all cleaned up.

aprc7

I started this project at about 9:45 this morning and stopped for lunch at about 12:30 p.m. I will be working on the necessary adaptor rings, to get the pill to fit into the Copper head, this afternoon. I imagine I will get most of the build done tonight, if I don't run into unforeseen problems.

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Time for some more photos...

ac1

I've got most of the excess solder off the top ring on the head, but I still need some more work. It's starting to shape up.

ac2

I've been working on the body too. The three tubes are soldered to the back plate, (tail cap).

ac3

The springs are also soldered inside.

ac4

It will load from the top. The 14500's just fit in the tubes. They stand high, so they can touch the contact plate, sort of like an SRK does.

ac5

I'm also working on the top plate. It will be more of a guide, when putting the body on the head and I have drilled out holes that I will need to open up. I will be using the Dremel after all, since it's more precise for opening the holes.

ac6

The pill has a couple layers of copper around it, so it will fit tight in the head and I need to do a bunch of clean up on this too, but it's break time...

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End of the day, I'm tired.

arc1

The reflector and lens are in. I used clear epoxy to hold the lens in and seal it.

arc2

The momentary switch on a 10mm star.

arc3

It will go about here, when everything is together.

arc5

I'm using Arctic Alumina adhesive to hold the switch in place. I have a piece of copper under the star, to hold it against the rubber boot.

arc6

The pill is ready to go.

arc7

4 extra chips. Since the driver is behind a contact plate, I don't have to worry about height, so I added the chips on the back side.

arc8

Speaking of contact plates. I am using an old driver for the contact plate. I added a copper center, for the positive and I added solder to the outer ring. The outer ring is not the negative. The driver is grounded to the pill, but I have to keep the contact plate off the copper body, so things don't short out.

arc9

The body is done. I milled out the center, to make double sure the copper contact plate cannot short to the body.

arc91

With the spacing, I know for sure that there won't be any shorting. Bad things happen to Li-ions when they short.

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That's it for day one. I'm beat. Hopefully, I will get it finished tomorrow.

It's history. Several failures that amount to a light that will not ever be repairable. It's resting in the circular file now. after using a big hammer on it a few times. Boy, that felt good! Didn't realize how much rage I had. Now I want to go smash about a hundred more, LOL.

The real problem with lights like these is that they are not made in sections with threads. Once something is soldered and glued together, there's no going back and with all the errors made, there's no way to fix those errors except to start over and I'm not about to waste the money and time doing it again.

You have to know how much I beat myself up over this light. I do not like to fail and I don't take it well...

So, I revived it and finished it. Well, I am still waiting on the lens, (Camera UV filter), but it's basically done and in working condition.

Here is the last of the build.

rev1

All the guts are in and here's the contact plate.

rev2

I still need the lens, but I am going to hold it in with a copper ring instead of gluing it in. That way it can come out again.

rev3

I filed the grooves, so that the body tabs fit in and a small twist locks them in.

rev4

Yep, I painted the body with textured paint. It's Rustoleum.

rev5

rev6

That's it! Once I get the lens, I will do beam shots, but this will by my 5000 post giveaway light.

Reserved

I really enjoy watching these. Thanks for giving us a show.

+1It’s great to see the creation of a flashlight step by step 8)

wohoo - great thread!

I am looking forward to the build…

Can’t wait to see the finished build with all the coppery goodness.

I sure hope if you decide to sell this one, I can catch it too! I need to add that to the other copper one I got. This looks lovely! Can’t wait to see the finished product.

More Photos in the OP. It's afternoon break.Tongue Out

Very cool as usual. I'm surprised you did not bellow out the copper tube to fit the lens and reflector?

Very nice build, I like the form factor, it is actually not so much different from what I am planning for the 2014FSBcontest. I may steal some ideas ;-)

subscribed.

I criticized the UniqueFire UF-T20 for looking as though its parts came from a plumbing supply house. I should have added “without the hand made look” or something like that. I think this is going to be really nice looking and have extraordinary heat sinking ability. I suppose it will be easier to get high current with 3 14500s than with 1 18650.
Maybe I will attempt a zoomy similar to that some time, though it will take me at least ten times as long. I have a glass aspheric that won’t fit in any light I have. I have a big non-electric soldering iron, like my grandfather showed my how to use, that I have never used yet.

Looking good. I fell in love with copper several years ago when building a geothermal heat pump. After that, I started modifying the plumbing in some of my cars. Brazing, makes incredibly strong joints. Kind of a pain to though and luckily flashlights don't seem to need that much strength.

Day one is done, more photos in the OP.

Sweet. Just saw you new photos. Love your creativity and craftsmanship.

It’s incredible…the master of just seeing something and pow it happens, you make it look so easy

Awesome!

Where do you get all your copper plate and pipe and stuff?

Looks beautiful so far. Looking forward to seeing more.

This is so cool!

Great job OL, it would take me two weeks to get that far. Should turn out to be a great light.

great work!

i am exited to see day two!
(unfortunately i am 7 hours “in front” of you)