3rd Annual DIY Contest - prize light builds, OL and the Duck square off, OL wins!

You should see my launch controllers… they are wicked-ass cool… if I say so myself. GPS/IMU/compass/range mapping / LCD touch screen / several mile range / multi-channel/multi-pad / no-single-point-of-failure / continuous fault mointoring / military-grade crypto / slices / dices / makes Julienne fries

I picked up a file this morning, looked at it and said "you dirty bastard", well, I had forgotten to clean it after using it last night. It was a half round coarse bastard file. Hey, why do they call them by that name? Steve, when you tour the US, your bus will have several minor breakdowns. Just keep to the back of the bus and you will be safe.

To be perfectly honest I’ve seriously enjoyed both your own launch videos and those you’ve linked. Memorable, to say the least. Just wish there were more ways to combine efforts to make more kodak moments. Salad bowl satellite launch?

New pic in op.

More pics, 7/11.

Looks great. How will you secure the brass tube to the aluminium body?

Right now it’s a tight press fit so it has good electrical conductivity but final assembly will include epoxy. Maybe some wood on top with brass rings. The tube was cut on a combo kit drill press/wood lathe. I’ve done a few other simple projects on it but nothing requiring great accuracy due to inherent slop. A chunk of wood bored and turned to fit the hand might be possible.

Only need maybe 1/4” (6-7mm) to get a good bond.

A couple new pics in the op.

After work I cut some of the cherry stock to ~62mm. Next I drill a 3/4” hole down the center and ream it out to slip over the brass tube and epoxy it on.

I am glad to see you working on this. I have been looking at my mess and waiting till you're almost done, so I can come and steal it away.

I figured to just keep plugging away. This will be my only real build for the season but I’m in the other boat, lots of work and little spare time. I hope you can find a way to continue both in the hobby/career(?) in general and in this build in particular. Your imagination and skills are unmatched.

A few more pics.

I like the way this is heading. :slight_smile:
What make/type of cut-off wheel are you using here:?

I have a load of Dremel 409s but they are a pain to use - far too brittle and take an age to cut through copper pipe.

By the way, your introduction of wood into the build gave me a ‘light bulb’ moment
……which eventually led to….

So thanks very much for the inspiration! :wink:

I use the thin cut blades with the quick change holder. They remove less material and both the disc and center hole are reinforced. For copper it’s faster to use a pipe cutter.

P60 torches have always been my favorites, look forward to reading on how this shootout goes. I suspect both will be great results.

Ever since Justin did a wood veneer Maglite I’ve wanted to do something like this. Not a veneer but a turned handle with a conductive sleeve. The join technique is the same as I use for Minimags to control the length of the tube knurling but replaces that with wood. The only real difference will be turning it to shape rather than using an existing section of the tube. Reaming the wood took only a few minutes this afternoon so next I need a couple brass washers ~1 1/4” OD that I can enlarge the center hole to fit the sleeve. Then I’ll turn a piece of wood to fit snug inside the sleeve so when it’s all glued up I can turn the wood/brass as a unit.

That wood/Cu combination looks sweet!

I’ve been thinking about making a wooden light myself, haven’t gotten any farther than that though. lol

RBD’s AAA MiniMag below, what a work of art! :slight_smile:

Looking real good. Love the turned wood exterior idea.

I’m glad you didn’t wait. If you had there would be little time left since as usual I can only work on this a bit at a time a few times a week at best. I just hope it doesn’t get derailed at the end.