Some history of how the yearly contest started:
Old-Lumens was a predominant member of Budget Light Forum who loved to make things, particularly flashlights and related items, with his own hands.
He went even further and encouraged others to do likewise by starting the annual Old-Lumens Contest which involves members making their own flashlight using only hand tools in one category or machines in another.
Sadly Justin (Old-Lumens) passed away in 2016, we here at BLF wish him to rest in peace and to continue to celebrate his life by hosting the yearly Old-Lumens Competition.
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You may enter intoonly oneof the three categories below with a single build.
Hand Made:
Your light must be made from scratch.
You mustmake a build thread, show images, give an explanation of the build progress.Remember we can only judge on what you show us in your thread.
No outside services are allowed.
Single or multiple emitter, driver and alternate power configurations are allowed.
Should be a portable and battery-operated light such as lanterns, headlamps and similar devices.
All small hand tools are acceptable, as well as these power tools:
Soldering gun/ station
Electric Drill/ Drill Press
Dremel style Rotary Tool
Electric Saws
Disc or Belt Sander
You may use some manufactured components related to flashlights such as reflectors, drivers, LEDs, MCPCB's, O-rings, switches, lenses, optics and clips.
You maynotuse manufactured flashlight parts suchas a bezel, a body, a tail cap, a head or a pill. Basically anything originally designed specifically for a flashlight host may not be used.
Machine Made:
Your light must be made from scratch.
You mustmake a build thread, show images, give an explanation of the build progress.Remember we can only judge on what you show us in your thread.
No outside services are allowed.
Single or multiple emitter, driver and alternate power configurations are allowed.
Should be a portable and battery operated light such as lanterns, headlamps and similar devices.
All machine shop tools are allowed, such as:
Lathe
End Mill
Programmed Automated machines
Standard 3D Printers
Plus all small hand tools
You may use some manufactured flashlight related components such as reflectors, drivers, LEDs, MCPCB's, O-rings, switches, lenses, optics and clips.
You maynotuse manufactured flashlight parts suchas a bezel, a body, a tail cap, a head or a pill. Basically anything originally designed specifically for a flashlight host may not be used.
Modified LightCategory:
Enter this category with a light you have modified or something you have modified for or into a light.
You must show us something that was modified by you and how it was done.
You can make a new thread or link to a mod you have posted on BLF within the stated time-frame.
You can build or modify by any means at your disposal and your mod can also be some form of self built flashlight attachment(s), clips, lanyards, paracord wraps, pouch or other related paraphernalia.
Judging the entries and prizes:
Everydaysurvivalgear is supervising the judges and prizes.
The following points are the judging criteria used in previous years.
Skill Level/ Finished Build Quality: Judged fairly on the persons access to tools, materials and abilities. Is the finished build functional & looking good? Difficult to make? Was the build completed, started or no work done at all?
Uniqueness/ Inventivenessof the build: Is the light unique, one of a kind or does it operate in a special way?
Build Thread Quality: Did the contestant do a good job of showing and explaining to the forum how they did the steps in the build? Good thread organization, pictures and descriptions of the methods used?
Purpose Built:Was the light purpose built for a specific use? Is it a special new EDC, upgrade or something for use that simply can't be bought easily?
Technical Details:Including new driver firmware, PCB designs, new technical ideas, programming and special switches etc.
Problem Solving&Obstacles:Were any specific problems encountered, documented and resolved by the contestant? Documenting the obstacles and using the power of the BLF community to solve them is seen as a big plus!
Enthusiasm to Participate: Did the contestant give it their best shot even knowing they would be up against more skilled veterans? Did they support other contestants build threads by posting encouragement and even giving help?
Following the Guidelines: Did the contestant follow the rules and guidance given?
Shown Operational:Did the contestant show us the light operating, its functions, beam-shots, videos etc?
Hey, thanks for opening the contest and wish good builds/mods to the ones involved in the competition this year
I am not sure if I will be able to enter the contest, but if I do, I will say it later on
As I said, good luck to all and show us how good BLF builders/modders are
Here we go! Great, that the contest is happening again and many thanks to the organizers.
I am already checking my reflectors, hosts and leds to see what would be suitable this year.
May I ask why the modified light topics should go to the Flashlight Modding section while in the last years all threads were in the Giveaways and Contests section?
That is a great question, and shows that sample size can be important.
By that I mean that I looked at the modded category list in last years challenge and randomly selected one; that of djozz. That one was in the Modding section. A further random selection today found that the two I selected today had placed themselves in the Giveaways and Contest section. That prompted a look at all last years modded entries. All but two were in the Giveaways and Contests category.
Therefore I believe it would make some sense to place all three category entries in Giveaways and Contests. I am changing the original posting.
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