Closed: 3rd Annual BLF Scratch Made Light Contest

Yes, yes, and yes. All of them are allowed to use as a cutoff tool. [Although I think table saw might be dangerous if working with metal. Be careful out there!]


Right.

Does it have to be strictly battery powered, or are other portable energy sources allowed? My entry last year used kerosene. I don’t want to give away too much, but I don’t plan on using conventional batteries this year if I don’t have to.

Thanks for the fast response _the_. Much appreciated.

Rufusbduck wrote:

I guess it depends on how they are used. I'm thinking that using the fence on the table saw to regulate and control slot separation of fins might be stepping over the line but just as a safer cutoff tool with the t-guide might be okay.

This sounds exactly how I planned to use the table saw. It's a very tedious and manual intensive process as you have to very carefully rotate the part and not allow it to shift at an angle from the fence. That was how I did my battery tube last year (it's documented in my build thread). I respect the ruling though and will comply if I participate.

I wish I had a cutoff saw and knew what you were taking about with the t-guide. Do you lock the saw blade in a fixed position when doing this. I can't picture rotating the part and holding the saw blade at the right height. Sounds crazy dangerous, but I probably just don't understand.

EDIT: I think I see what you are talking about with "t-guide". I think you mean using the table saw as a safer way to make a cut by using the t-guide accessory of a table saw.

Updated the rules to allow that. :)

Hmm... Sounds *very* interesting. Approved. :)

Table saw used in a safe and manual intensive way is allowed.

Let's try to be keep this event FUN and the rules loose and flexible enough. Judges will lower the score if they think that a contestant is bending the rules too much. :)

Here’s what I hope to eventually be my build thread. I’m looking forward to seeing what everyone comes up with. This is going to be so exciting!

Someone help talk me out of entering the machine made category. I’m seriously hampered with a lathe that can’t thread, but I’m still all itchy to enter even knowing I’d have to have a really strange design to avoid large internal and external threads.

Don’t enter. Just watch from the sidelines. Be a spectator. Threading is essential to a good machine-made design. Besides, you don’t want any of the prizes being offered anyway, right? J)

Anything else I can help you with? 0:)

That was helpful. :stuck_out_tongue:

Ah, what the hell, put my name down for the machine made category.

_the_ wrote:

Table saw used in a safe and manual intensive way is allowed.

Let's try to be keep this event FUN and the rules loose and flexible enough. Judges will lower the score if they think that a contestant is bending the rules too much.

Just trying to clearly understand the rules so I don't bend them.

Go ahead and bend them the judges will just knock off points. :slight_smile: Give the other people a better chance.

I believe there have been guys that learned to thread on a lathe that didn’t do automatic threads. I am pretty sure it has been done.

Bet you could do it too.

https://www.google.com/search?client=opera&q=making+threads+on+a+lathe+without+automatic+threading&sourceid=opera&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8#q=cutting+threads+on+an+old+manual+lathe&tbm=vid

Good to see new members signing up. I hope more members will take the plunge, new or old. The more contestants, the better the contest. We want you.

More build threads listed in post #1. More prizes added in post #0. Are we having more fun already? At least I am! :)

ATTN: Contestants! Would you please:

  • Make the competition easier to follow by adding the following info to your build thread subject:
    • Your name: "MyName's entry to ..."
    • Category: "Hand Made" or "Machine Made"
  • PM me when you create the build thread so that I won't miss it when adding links to post #1

Go for it Henry. Just make the pieces fit snug, then D&T them and screw them together to secure. This is a make the coolest light contest, not the most user friendly lost in the woods light contest. Regardless, I’d have a screwdriver with me in the woods. Hell, there is nothing going to be user friendly with my light.

The way I’m reading the rules I don’t actually have to own the machines I use in the build, just be the one to program and operate them while they’re running my parts. A whole universe opens up for me if that’s right, I have A LOT of machines open to me at work and the local community college.

You are interpreting the rules correctly. Go for it! :)

J)

It’s on like Donkey Kong.

Oh hell, I'm in for the Hand-Made Category.