The 6th Annual BLF / Old Lumens Scratch Made Light Contest
is Now CLOSED - Judges are working hard - Results will be published in ~2 weeks!
Hello everyone,
The contest officially starts as of this posting and it runs until November 30th at Midnight (UTC).
Common Rules for All Contestants:
- Build time is 2018/9/1 - 2018/11/30 (older builds can't be included)
- You must make a build thread and you must be able to show clearly legible photos of the progress of the build
- The better your thread, the better your chances, since we can only judge on what you show us in your thread
- No outside services allowed => You cannot send your parts or light out for someone else to work on it, or to Anodize it or plate it (read: All work must be done by you!)
- Must be made from scratch = Cannot use a pre-existing light
- Must be a hand held and battery operated light (Read: Loosely classed as a flashlight. Lanterns and similar are ok. Loosely classified as battery: Also other portable energy sources are allowed)
- Single or multiple emitter, driver and battery configurations are allowed
- You may use some manufactured components such as; reflectors, P60 drop-ins, drivers, LEDs, “O”-Rings, switches or lenses
- You may not use manufactured flashlight parts such as: a bezel, body, tail cap or head
- You may enter with only one build, in only One Category: Machine Made OR Hand Made
- If something is not mentioned in these rules, feel free to use your common sense, or think "What would Old-Lumens do?"
Hand Made Category:
- All hand tools are acceptable, as well as these power tools:
- Soldering gun/station
- Electric Drill / Drill Press
- Dremel style Rotary tool
- Cutoff Saw including Band Saw and Table Saw
- Disc or Belt sander
- No other power tools, for example:
- Lathes
- End Mills
- or automated machines
Machine Made Category:
- Can be made using machines such as a Lathe or End Mill, or what I would consider machines found in a machine shop, or any other tools listed in the hand made category
A panel of judges composed of current members of BLF, from all walks of life and from different countries, will judge the winners of the competition. I will be one of the judges as well.
What do we judge the contestants on?
- Uniqueness/Innovativeness of the build: Is it a one of a kind? Different? Using New methods?
- Skill level of the finished build: Does it look like a hack job? Or were the finished parts/assemblies done with skill and care?
- Thoroughness of the build thread: Did the builder do a good job of showing and explaining to the forum, how he did the steps in the build?
- Documenting also the failures & obstacles: How did the builder solve the inevitable problems? Documenting the obstacles and using the power of the BLF community to solve them is seen as a big plus!
- Possible new driver design or custom firmware is seen as a plus (especially when shared and open source in a true BLF spirit)
- Following the guidelines: Did the builder follow the rules and guidelines written in the contest thread?
Contestants: Please remember to PM me with a link to your Build Thread.
POST your Build Threads HERE in the "Giveaways and Contests" category PLEASE
I will keep all of the links in Post #2, so people can easily find all the builds.
Thank you.
PRIZES:
- ReyLight Mokume LAN, provided by Rey
- ReyLight Triple Ti (Dawn), provided by Rey
- $65 gift card to GearBest.com
- $35 gift card to GearBest.com
- Custom built C8 w/ 20mm MTN-BST3 driver running an XHP35 HI @2.2A (bypassed switch, etc.) w/ worldwide shipping to any of the countries USPS ships to, provided by Mountain Electronics LLC
- Emisar D4S Flashlight w/ 219C LEDs w/ worldwide shipping to any of the countries USPS ships to, provided by Mountain Electronics LLC
- $25 Gift Voucher for the MTN Electronics store, provided by Mountain Electronics LLC
- Astrolux S43, provided by banggood.com
- Astrolux S43, provided by banggood.com (yes, another)
- WubenLight A21, provided by Wuben
- WubenLight TO50R, provided by Wuben
- Acebeam H20 headlamp, provided by hc-lights.fi
- WubenLight TO10R, provided by hc-lights.fi
- + more
+ bragging rights for at least a year!
I'd like to thank the sponsors for their generosity, and would like to see all BLFers supporting their business: Please look to them when purchasing quality lights and accessories:
Still seeking for more good sponsors - PM me if you are a store owner wanting to donate something or have good relations to any good store that would like to sponsor this great contest, thanks! Good publicity guaranteed!
Prizes will be distributed by the same method than last year: Winner of the Hand Made category will select the one he wants, winner of the Machine made category will pick next, followed by the 2nd place in Hand Made, etc. (continued as long as there are any prizes left)
Let the modding begin and remember to have fun! 
=the=
Links to build threads
Hand Made Category:
Machine Made Category:
=the=
Subscribed
Let the fun begin and thanks for putting this together again =the=
MY REVIEWS THREAD /// My Flashlight Collection ///
Mods: 1 / 2 // TIR: 1 / 2 // Others: Biscotti 3 + 1*7135 / Triple TIR w/ XP-G2 /// My Review's Blog (PT) /// OL Contest 2019 /// GIVEAWAYs: 1 / 2
Alright! I’m looking forward to seeing what people come up with this year! I may or may not enter. I haven’t been able to finish my builds in the past. We’ll see!
The Cycle of Goodness: “No one prospers without rendering benefit to others”
- The YKK Philosophy
As far as i know i am in but i only have ideas thus far.
Whats going on with the mentors? Can we help people if we are also enteted into the comp? It would be awesome to see new people join in. Maybe offering assistants will encourage entries?
Light Reviews
Cheap Flashlight Durability Test
Convoy S2+ Written review
Brinyte T16 Artemis tear down
YouTube Reviews
Sofirn D25S Review
Xmund XD-FL3 Review
World band shortwave radio review
Mods and Builds
6th Annual Old Lumens Scratch build entry
7th annual Old Lumens scratch build entry
Unfortunately it pains me to say that dnf is not entering this year. Unfortunately I have made personal plans for most of this period.
I thanks the sponsors for their continued support and we should all be supporting them when we can.
the has again gone out of his way to make this happen on behalf of Old Lumens, thanks also.
And to the entrants, all the best. I’m looking forward to what you bring to the table. Its the most excited this old Moose gets these days watching the creations evolve you all build.
djozz quotes, "it came with chinese lettering that is chinese to me".
"My man mousehole needs one too"
old4570 said "I'm not an expert , so don't suffer from any such technical restrictions".
Old-Lumens. Highly admired and cherished member of Budget Light Forum. 11.5.2011 - 20.12.16. RIP.
I know how you feel. I’m gonna try pick something a little easier to reach the finish line with.
Thanks for doing this again the
Edit: what! No dnf build this year
I’m in! Just got my first parts order this week, all the remaining body parts will be cut out of Cu sheet.
RIP SPC Joey Riley, KIA 11/24/14. Now I am become death, the destroyer of worlds.
Yeah, if I can think of something that would be somewhat unique and special, and be possible for me to finish on time, I might still enter. I love these contests and I feel bad that fewer members are entering each year. I don’t really want to be one of the drop-outs. But, if I can’t make a finished light anyway, then I don’t want to kid myself.
I too am sorry we won’t see a dnf creation in the contest this year.
The Cycle of Goodness: “No one prospers without rendering benefit to others”
- The YKK Philosophy
Hmm. I’m not a great fabricator, but I might try my luck in Hand Made. If I can come up with something, this will be my first time entering.
I have been lurking every so often for the past half year or so. Too many things on my plate, but I need a fun break every so often. Sadly, I have not even modded a light this year so far, though the ones I have do get used, including last years contest entry.
I have an idea for a hand build but it may be too grandioise a dream for available time… It doesn’t even have any wood dreamed into it yet. 
We’ll have to brainstorm harder and then get a start. So I am a likely to enter guy at this point. Heaven knows there are probably enough odds ‘n’ ends around here to do something.
BLF Member Map, add yourself
My 7th Annual contest entry My 6th Annual contest entry My 5th Annual contest entry My 4th Annual contest entry
My DBSAR inspired SRK lantern hand made mod
Subscribed (for following this thread currently).
Great success to every participant!
I have an idea by myself but don’t know currently if it’s really feasible and if I find the time for realisation.
BLF Q8 Janus --- Emisar D4 RGBW --- Green Lantern and HAL 9000
6th Annual Light Contest Entry --- 7th Annual Light Contest Entry
Yeah. I feel pretty bad about this but I’m heading OS on LSL with my 81 year old father, wife and daughter. When we get back I’m heading to Alice Springs for a week.
djozz quotes, "it came with chinese lettering that is chinese to me".
"My man mousehole needs one too"
old4570 said "I'm not an expert , so don't suffer from any such technical restrictions".
Old-Lumens. Highly admired and cherished member of Budget Light Forum. 11.5.2011 - 20.12.16. RIP.
Family first!
BLF Member Map, add yourself
My 7th Annual contest entry My 6th Annual contest entry My 5th Annual contest entry My 4th Annual contest entry
My DBSAR inspired SRK lantern hand made mod
I Thank “The” in advance and I think he really captures the Ol Curmudgeons Spirit.
With that said I assumed (yes I know that does not mean “true”) that one of the underlying assumptions/goals is to have the greatest number of persons/lights entered completed efforts. My specific point is that contest entries should only be allowed once (but when an entry is not completed on time) it seems to me that with the exception of “time range” upon adhering to the balance of rules that person should have the option to enter once officially.
To put it differently I find it unfair to (via the rules) negate all the hard work that was done for a prior contest entry (when that Light was not completed i.e. “not officially evaluated as part of the contest”) to be eliminated as an option for the next (or other proceeding years).
Bottom line it is a lot of time and expense and upon complying with the rules of the contest (as noted except the time frame) it should be fair for each light and “entrant” to have its/their day.
Discuss…
(“It’s good that most people can’t remember their previous lives. Otherwise
things would be a lot more complicated than they already are.”
Ajaan Lee Dhammadharo)
If I understand what you mean, you believe or propose that any previous years project that was not completed by that contest years deadline should be allowed to be entered in this years contest. Sort of like dropping out of the Boston Marathon in 2017 and then being allowed to enter the 2018 marathon at the position you stopped in 2017?
BLF Member Map, add yourself
My 7th Annual contest entry My 6th Annual contest entry My 5th Annual contest entry My 4th Annual contest entry
My DBSAR inspired SRK lantern hand made mod
Yeah, I’m not a fan of that proposal for several reasons. Most obvious is that part of the contest is to get it done during the time frame.
The Cycle of Goodness: “No one prospers without rendering benefit to others”
- The YKK Philosophy
The people have spoken
(“It’s good that most people can’t remember their previous lives. Otherwise
things would be a lot more complicated than they already are.”
Ajaan Lee Dhammadharo)
Bump to keep this on the front page.
djozz quotes, "it came with chinese lettering that is chinese to me".
"My man mousehole needs one too"
old4570 said "I'm not an expert , so don't suffer from any such technical restrictions".
Old-Lumens. Highly admired and cherished member of Budget Light Forum. 11.5.2011 - 20.12.16. RIP.
MY REVIEWS THREAD /// My Flashlight Collection ///
Mods: 1 / 2 // TIR: 1 / 2 // Others: Biscotti 3 + 1*7135 / Triple TIR w/ XP-G2 /// My Review's Blog (PT) /// OL Contest 2019 /// GIVEAWAYs: 1 / 2
Is there a thread where I can see past winners, like a Trophy Thread ?
I may not enter this yr because I was unaware this existed and thus am ill prepared with no reflector in hand.
But I may still try.
CNC & Manual Machinist. Think outside the box too long , cannot find your way back in.
Never give up, Never surrender. Make someone Smile today.
Inside you’ll find links for the lights entering the “contest” each year
the 1st – http://budgetlightforum.com/node/21934
the 2nd – http://budgetlightforum.com/node/30014
the 3rd – http://budgetlightforum.com/node/40431
the 4th – http://budgetlightforum.com/node/47957
the 5th – http://budgetlightforum.com/node/55702
MY REVIEWS THREAD /// My Flashlight Collection ///
Mods: 1 / 2 // TIR: 1 / 2 // Others: Biscotti 3 + 1*7135 / Triple TIR w/ XP-G2 /// My Review's Blog (PT) /// OL Contest 2019 /// GIVEAWAYs: 1 / 2
“ MascaratumB “
Thank You, I’m checking them out now 
I needed to see the previous competition, so far they have Great Imagination.
CNC & Manual Machinist. Think outside the box too long , cannot find your way back in.
Never give up, Never surrender. Make someone Smile today.
I would love to enter the contest for the first time. I have some very interesting things in mind but there is too much to figure out to have it done in this timeframe.. And I will probably dont have enough time anyway.
I will follow this, and good luck to the participants.
MY REVIEWS THREAD /// My Flashlight Collection ///
Mods: 1 / 2 // TIR: 1 / 2 // Others: Biscotti 3 + 1*7135 / Triple TIR w/ XP-G2 /// My Review's Blog (PT) /// OL Contest 2019 /// GIVEAWAYs: 1 / 2
Yes, hopefully you’ll see that even the lack of a reflector doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t enter.
The Cycle of Goodness: “No one prospers without rendering benefit to others”
- The YKK Philosophy
Morning bump.
djozz quotes, "it came with chinese lettering that is chinese to me".
"My man mousehole needs one too"
old4570 said "I'm not an expert , so don't suffer from any such technical restrictions".
Old-Lumens. Highly admired and cherished member of Budget Light Forum. 11.5.2011 - 20.12.16. RIP.
Is a sign of a healthy circulatory system, from what I hear.
Review: 150 Million Candlepower Military Xenon Arc Battlefield Illuminator (AN/VSS-3A)
My new collection of 50+ Chinese knives
Careful FMC. That guy’s trouble!
The Cycle of Goodness: “No one prospers without rendering benefit to others”
- The YKK Philosophy
Pages