First time I ever did one of these things, but I probably would have still put a time limit on it. If/when there is a next year's annual contest, I imagine it will be quite different and hopefully, someone else will host and run it. I hope that our Admin will now think about having a contest like this each year. If I had to do it over, I would not have done it at this time of year. Maybe in late April or early May and I would possibly have posted a month ahead of time. I would probably also include a category for best modified factory light.
Maybe the next contest could be thematic. As in period pieces, i.e. a light Washington might have carried, or Jack the Ripper, or Kublai Khan, or Galahad, etc.
With all those scratches, maybe TP is making a Sumerian Special designed in cuneiform.
So, how many are going to make the deadline of July 15? I’m cutting it close, but I think I can get something ready by them (it might be the biggest twisty light you’s ever seen though ). I still have a fair amount of work to do, but the major body and head assembly work is behind me, WooHoo! Just little things like the driver, lens and bezel to figure out.
of slackers and procrastinators that ever modded a light! Geesh!
I never made a light before, but mine is done and gone. I then modded my custom Ti light with a new driver. Then I de-domed another custom light for better throw. Today I took another apart and swapped emitters, created a mule for up-close-and-personal illumination in 3A of XM-L2 T6 Neutral White.
And I don’t even do this kind of stuff! Y’all should be ashamed, kickin back and tinkering with 60 parts and such, pshaw! And what’s up with that anyway? I thought this was a flashlight forum, lasers? Really? Lazy way out with no reflectors or lenses to build for huh?
Guess I’ll make another one cause we’ve got so much time left and I’ve got these left over parts and batteries…
In the meantime, can’t wait to see what y’all slap together and call a light lol
(of course y’all know that I’m blown away by what some o you guys are whipping up, out of this world!)
The laser is in addition to the flashlight. But you’re right, I whine too much. Must be the drugs, sex, and alcohol I’ve had to abstain from to get this done.
Rufusbduck suggestion about direct driving.
What sort off unrefined animal do you think I am. Yeah, ok I’m an unrefined Moose. But no direct drive where I live. I must have control off something. I don’t control anything else in my life so the control off the current is mine. All mine and no one can take that away from me. Oh the power.
Rufusbduck, I was out in the shed last night with that very idea off piggy backing chips again and again I failed miserably. I’m not sure whats going on with my meters. Both are measuring current low or every driver I have tested is dodgy, which points to my meters being wrong. I’m just going to get the light built and then worry about it. I’ve come to the conclusion that unless a miracle happens overnight I’m just a poor solderer full stop.
I’m not good at soldering but I go by thus rule: if it doesn’t work, don’t keep doing it the same way hoping for better results. Reading helps but melting things is set. I cheat now and use a temp controlled iron with 5 different tips. I close my eyes, flip a coin, and spin the knob. Oh, and use flux.
I need to get a decent soldering iron. I use flux too. My current soldering iron I got for like 4.99 at big lots, and it came with like 3 replacement tips. This last one refused to tin except for one tiny spot, and the flux seemed to eat that spot away. I keep meaning to get a new iron, but I always put it off. Now I have no tips I can actually solder with, so I mine as well get a new one.
Before this one I had a pretty expensive butane soldering iron, but that also sucked. When it ran good it was awesome. But I constantly had to adjust the flame control... And not just turn the slider up or down. I constantly had to adjust the adjustment range. Like adjusting an adjustable lighter to have a 2' flame. Take it apart and move the selector ring a few teeth this way or that...