After all those talks about green lasers and their harms, I settled on a low power <5mW laser but still I insisted on having a burner light. I had a 7.4V 15W Xenon bulb and a 28mm aspherical lens I had from DX sitting around. I have been using a fake Solarforce L2 I had from KD along with a light battery extender tube so after I had my 18650 LiFePO4 cells, I decided to make a power xenon with all these as these cells and the bulb seemed to be the perfect match, 2x(3.3-3.6V) = 6.6-7.2 and ~2Amps => 12-14W)
I removed the flat lens of L2 and put the aspherical lens in. The blob side was looking forward at first. A protruding lens, a non fitting bezel and a useless mid range beam made it just a toy light. What is new for me, I found reversing it made better ergonomics, head standing ability and non protruding lens, floody mid range support and a sharp close focus.
Tried this combo on a usual testbed, a black CD case.
No longer than 3-4 secs after:
I know it is nothing new for most of you but I have heard many good things about those nice tints of incandescant lights and this time I wanted to try some xenon/halogen. These kind of abilities just increase the joy.
I have a 9 volt xenon drop in kicking around, I thought I would never get to use it. So basically the lens focuses the beam to produce enough heat to set things on fire? Does the lens have to be in backwards or does it work either way?
I ordered one of these lenses from DX to experiment with making an XM-L thrower, I guess I better order another and maybe I will have it by Christmas.
Exactly the same lens. I had had it to focus an XR-E led to far but found p60 reflectors annoying if focused and bezel rings won't fit fully is the lens is put protruding the head. A friend saw this and asked what would happen if the lens were backwards, tried it and saw this was a better this way. Maybe not optically but better in use.
I got a Surefire G2 Nitrolon yesterday and even its 60lumen bulb gives an excessive heat. I don't think even an XM-L can compete with incandescant in heat. It is the infrared radiation making the burn.
I tought if a random well driven XM-L can warm up my face pretty nicely focusing it to a small point can probably ignite paper... i mahy however be totally wrong. Some made ludicrous lumen led flashlight that burned paper... Youtube hoax?
I have that exact lens laying around at home. I never thought to reverse it to create a "laser" of sorts. Might have to get a Xenon drop-in ($4) to get enough heat but if I can use this to light my cigars I'll be happy as a pig in sh!t!!
LOL! the next thing would be someone using a L2P + XM-L dropin tto illuminate an acquarium along with providing heat for the required tropical water temps.
