So I find myself fully involved into flashlights now and I don't know why. I want to start moddin flashlights but have little to no electrical experience.Anyone reccomended tools I need and maybe a first easy in expensive projects to get me hands dirty.
Do you have any experience with working with electronics? You'll need some experience working with solder and the basic tools and equipment to support that.
Most important tools:
- Soldering iron
- Multimeter
- Some don't like it, but I'm partial to this soldering paste
Other tools in my kit:
- A solder sucker
- These strap wrenches have been very valuable for loosening tight flashlight body tubes.
- These pliers have a very small point that can be used to unthread drop-ins and switch retainers.
- Dental tool picks
- Needle Files
- And for those "No turning back now" projects, a hacksaw.
Will any cheap soldering iron work?
I would look for an adjustable soldering station, if that's in your budget.
If not, a fine-tipped iron of at least 40 watts should suffice.
Any soldering iron would work, just don't get one of too high a wattage that might overheat components too quickly. I am using an older 25watt I've had for years. I also have a 15 watt iron, although I haven't used it yet on flashlights. The higher wattage will be needed where you are soldering/desoldering on a large pill. Oh, you may want some sort of butane/gas torch for those driver removals from pills that just won't come unsoldered with an iron (and you're just trashing the old driver anyway).
Also, be sure to get a decent multimeter if you want to measure current. I've found my cheap Harbor Freight DMM just about useless for currents, but it's reasonable on voltage. Search around about meters, there has been a ton of information posted on them. (Also consider the "homemade higher gauge wire" test leads for it.)
I'd also suggest snap ring pliers for removing pills, etc. . . Those needle nose pliers linked above might work though.
-Garry
One idea might be to build a project light for people to build or mod.
I'm sure we have more than enough people who could find a cheap light to buy and mod or the parts to build a custom light. That way everyone would be on the same page and most of the problems anyone had would be common to at least a couple of other people who were building the light.
And we could call it the BFL Light.
People from all over China would be rushing to build a copy of it as soon as the New Year is over :-)
A complete light for around $30 would create alot of followers for sure.
For a project I was thinking an Ultrafire 501B host , empty p60 drop-in module, XM-L T6 emitter on 16mm base, lots of choices on drivers - try this out - or in the US here (and already modded to 3mode). You might need Teflon wire like this or this. That driver is a 1.4A on high which might be better suited for that 501b host (from what I hear - I have no experience with this setup). You could jump to the 8x7135 for 2.8A high, but then you have to watch the heat.
You could also try a Maglite mod. My first "real" mod was putting a drop-in into a Mag running on 2 Li-Ions. Not too difficult. You wouldn't be doing much with the driver though since it's pre-wired and attached.
I think the above is a good simple get your feet wet usable type build. Not really a mod, but building from separate components.
-Garry
(Others feel free to chime in on anything I linked as not being well suited.)
I'd suggest a vise or a third hand soldering station.
Flux, wick, thin and wide soldering iron tips.
Tweezers are also very helpful.
Also, I haven't tried it yet, but soldering iron tip cleaner in the form of a wire is said to be better than cleaning with a wet sponge, because it doesn't cool the soldering iron mid-work.
I use this soldering station, it's affordable. I use Radio Shack solder. Rosin core, always use rosin core, never acid core. I use Desoldering Braid (radio shack) instead of a sucker.
Also the Ronsen Tech Torch or one just like it. Use it all the time for all kinds of heating and soldering larger stuff.
A list of tools?
Files like these and these and a larger set like these
Hacksaw and 32TPI blades. Starrett & Dewalt are ok blades.
Needle Nose Pliers like these, these & these
Channel Locks
A Variable speed Drill like this or this
"C" clamps can be handy
Arctic Alumina and Arctic Ceramique 2
Teflon covered silver coated stranded copper wire in small quantities and various sizes.
I am showing you examples, not the stuff you must have or should have. User your own judgement. I buy as much as I can from sears on sale or from Amazon with free shipping.
What else? Tons of stuff, to accumulate over the years.... and tons more I have forgotten.
Get some copper wire and some scrap copper and brass and just start soldering. It takes practice before you can complete a project. If you learn to do it, you will have confidence in your work, otherwise your failure rate goes way up.
Hmm, a dremel might be a good idea, but not sure if needed for beginners. I haven't got one myself, although I found a lot of situations I felt like needing one. Maybe I'll buy one soon.
A rotary tool is great, wish I had one a lot of times. There are some lower priced models, but Dremel is the main (best) one. Very useful for modding.
Not a bad idea if it could be coordinated. It depends on who’s version of modding you use. Lots of mods can be done by using a simple “drop-in” where tools are minimal. After that, it tends to become something invented by the maker. Changing heat sinks, reflectors, emitters, etc, can become one off customs and many times no two people will do it the same.
I could see a light where we start with a "host" that everyone can get their hands on (worldwide) and then deciding on the emitter, heat sink, reflector, lens and batteries, to make a "kit mod". That might be really good, but it will need some discussion.
Anybody interested in that type of thing? A custom BLF special mod?
I like the idea of a project light . Maybe a list of parts then more people can light. Then I would know that I have all the materials before I take a shot in he dark.Because I am not A 100 percent onnut flashlight terminology... Pills drivers etc.
I would love to be part of this. I'm interested in learning the inner workings, and how to repair / mod.
+1....something like this could go a long way.
Personally I'd like to see the same done with a headlamp...
Say a basic model, then a choice of stars with links...driver's with links, then some way of changing battery carrier if possible?
is there a link/thread for him on how to test his drivers to see how many amps it getting or any other info on how to use a DMM....That's one thing i never found when i started back then lol
I believe this is such a cool idea! I would LOVE to get into modding myself. We could do a blf group light. Give everyone a couple of weeks to gather all their tools and make an order for certain things. maybe have a YouTube vid of step by step for noobs?
I'm interested. I just shuffled some lights off for new drivers, or the flashing of a driver. It would be nice to learn how to do driver swaps/installs and emitters. I currently feel like I'm on the outskirts of my hobby because of my inability to do these things. Show me the way in the persistance of vision...
Well, if enough people can agree on the host, it would be a fun deal. I would volunteer to possibly do a video of the step by step, if I were asked to and I'm sure others here who are modders would be willing to do the same.
We would have to figure out a host light first. Someone sharp enough to be able to list off a few of the best under $20 lights that can be modded easily and easily accessible to all (group buy for the host possibly), and maybe have a poll to figure out which one is the most popular for a host light. Then decide on what to mod, like a different emitter, heat sink, etc.
Anyone want to try to help set up something like that. Good organiser? Hopefully a modder who is up on which boards and such? Any sharp modders here want to help work it out?
First step, decide on battery type?
Then decide on a possible list of hosts and have a poll?
Yes, No? Help?
I have limited knowledge of all the lights out there and the only one I would say (off the top of my head), is good for a beginner is this light. Only because it will accept an 18650 or 3AAA and it already comes with a glass lens, aluminum reflector and a heat sink that can be modified. I am sure there are a bunch of them out there like that, but it's the only one I know of. That's why some other modders need to chime in on an easy to mod, versatile light.