Scuba Tank Based Light Build

Giveaways and Contests
1

I build will be building a light based on a section of scuba tank. I sure hope the scuba tank is smooth and of consistent diameter inside. K50 and oxygen tank are in pictures for scale.

Went from air conditioned house out into warm humid air. Had no cells in the K50 to burn off the fog.

The tank is 7.25"/184mm OD (Will be less after removing finish). I may be shooting for something like the below diagram, nut will likely have to scale back to bring down weight. The idea is to have the following available on one side:

  • Supper thrower with Dedomed XP-L
  • Floody thrower with Dedomed MT-G2
  • Flood light with XHP-70

The other side will have the following separately available:

  • UV lights
  • Red lights
  • Blue lights
  • Old high CRI Nichia 219's (Neutral to warmish)
  • Newer high CRI Nichia 219's (Neutral to coolish)

The light will have lots of light options, good run times, and capable of fairly high output. Disadvantage will likely be weight and size. Will probably need a shoulder sling to carry for medium/long periods of time.

Proportions are all out of whack in the picture below. There will be as little space in the center as possible. I need to make the light as short as possible and remove as much excess material as possible to bring down the weight. Will be 3P (not 4P like in the picture) cells in the 4 banks. The cell tubes only be open to the outside. If a cell vents, it will blow a relatively weak plug to the outside.

Heat pipes can move heat up to like 250 times more efficiently than just copper (I think I read that some where).

2
  • Piece of Scuba Tank (7.25"/184mm OD)
  • .07"/1.8mm Copper Sheet made from 1.5"/38mm ID Copper Pipe
  • .035"/.9mm Copper Sheet made from 5/8"/x.xmm OD Copper Pipe
  • 5/8"/x.xmm OD Copper Pipe used for HVAC applications
  • Various Reflectors
  • Buck Drivers
  • Glass to make lens
  • Screws to hold down bezel (Are these allowed?, If not I will develop alternative fastening system)
  • Silicone or o-rings to seal lenses
3

Reserved

4

Reserved

5

Challenges:

  • Size. Not sure how best to even cut it open straight and true. Sawzall seems the best idea at the moment from my tool choices.
  • Heat Pipes. Never made one.
  • Removing the hard enamel finish
  • Cutting massive, deep fins to bring down weight and improve heat sinking
  • Anodizing. Never have done it.

Fails:

  • Being smart enough to not enter this contest
6

To cut it as straight as possible with a sawzall, you should continually rotate the tank to cut a channel all the way around. Keep rotating until the channel is almost through the tank all the way around. Then, finish cutting through it straight down. The channel you’ve made will keep the blade relatively straight. :slight_smile:

7

^ Great idea. Much better than using a piece of wood to guide the blade like I was thinking. Thank you :)

8

I’ve had to cut large pipes with a sawzall lots of times. But, actually, a hacksaw with 32TPI blade is more accurate/clean. Just takes longer.

9

Good luck with the build! :beer:

10

Ambitious project, looking forward to the build log!

11

Thanks guys. I decided to go with the scuba tank and chose overall design. OP updated. I probably won't get a chance to start working on the build till Sunday.

12

Poppin in to say hi an pulled my chair up for what will be an inspiring build.

13

Sounds like a very unique and challenging build. From what I've seen from some of your work, you will make it an awesome one.

14

Aluminum 80? The shoulder and neck will be of uneven thickness but the barrel should be pretty consistent.

15

Cool, good to hear that. Yes, aluminum 80.

Changed Name of thread.

16

A scuba tank? You’re crazy, you know that don’t you.

No wonder you fit in so well around here!

17

^ I think there are many that would agree with your assessment of my mental state, but the voices in my head disagree.

It is a bit crazy in that I'm not sure how I will be handling and machining this behemoth.

Speaking of machining. I'm taking this opportunity while the judges reassess the rules to request that my entry be reclassified to the Machine Made category. I've renamed the thread as I'm sure the judges will accommodate the request given the circumstances.

18

Your decision has nothing to do with the fact that there is currently much less competition in that category, naturally. :wink:

19

Why yes, nothing at all

EDIT: Seriously though, I really have no chance of placing once another talented member joins the category. I like trying though because it challenges me and makes me grow.

20

Changing to Machine Made should be easy - they just move your name. There shouldn’t be any major decision to be made. It’s not like you’re trying to move the other way. Hand Made is the more restricted category. :bigsmile: