The Old-Lumens Challenge - rules discussion

Okay so anybody that’s been following the competition is probably aware there has been discussion surrounding categories and rules. This thread is to try and compile the sentiments of what should be acceptable in the fine print. For example should the use of pills be accepted in handmade? Should we make a new category for outsourcing actual construction of the light or components? Or a new category for builds under $50 ? If it entices more participation it’s worth considering. So if you have some input would like to re-write the rule book have a comment about the competition let’s hear it. :slight_smile:

Here are the current rules for reference:

Rules of The 11th Annual Old Lumens Challenge:

CONTEST RULES:
You may enter a single build into one of the following three categories: (you are allowed to change categories during the contest)

  • Hand Made (Basic Tools)

Your light must be made from scratch.
You must make a build thread, show images, and explain the build as it progresses towards completion.
No outside services are allowed.
Entries should be portable and battery operated.

All small hand tools are acceptable, as well as these power tools:
Soldering irons and other heating equipment
Electric drill / drill press
Dremel style rotary tool
Electric saws
Disc or belt sander

You may use some manufactured flashlight components: reflectors and other optics, drivers, LEDs and MCPCBs, O-rings, centering rings, springs, switches, switch boots, and pocket clips.
You may use any PCB whether you designed it or not, and you may acquire it from Osh Park or elsewhere.
You may use any firmware or code whether you wrote it or not.
You may not use manufactured flashlight parts such as a bezel, head, pill or drop-ins, body, or tail cap.
All kinds of raw materials can be used: sheet metal, wire, tubing and pipe, metal and plastic containers, bottles and jars, extrusions, wood, plastics, fabrics, epoxy, glass, stone, leather, rubber, etc.

  • Machine Made (Advanced Tools)

Your light must be made from scratch.
You must make a build thread, show images, and explain the build as it progresses towards completion.
No outside services are allowed.
Entries should be portable and battery operated.

All manually operated and computer controlled machine tools are allowed, such as:
Lathes
Milling Machines
3D Printers
As well as all hand tools and other fabrication equipment.
You may use some manufactured flashlight components: reflectors and other optics, drivers, LEDs and MCPCBs, O-rings, centering rings, springs, switches, switch boots, and pocket clips.

You may use any PCB whether you designed it or not, and you may acquire it from Osh Park or elsewhere.
You may use any firmware or code whether you wrote it or not.
You may not use manufactured flashlight parts such as a bezel, head, pill or drop-ins, body, or tail cap.
All kinds of raw materials can be used: sheet metal, wire, tubing and pipe, metal and plastic containers, bottles and jars, extrusions, wood, plastics, fabrics, epoxy, glass, stone, leather, rubber, etc.

  • Modified Light: (Anything Goes!)

You must show us something that was modified by you and how it was done.
You can make a new thread or link to a mod you have posted on BLF within the stated time frame of the contest.
You can build or modify by any means at your disposal and your mod can also be some form of self built flashlight attachment(s), clips, lanyards, paracord wraps, pouch, or other related paraphernalia.
If your build breaks the rules of the other categories, you may enter it in this category.

The following is related to the judging of entries and of prize selection:

JUDGES:
Contest organizers will solicit BLF members in order to find judges. The identities of the judges are not revealed.

JUDGING CRITERIA:
Up to 10 points are awarded in each of the following five categories:

  • Skill Level / Build Quality: Judged with consideration to the person’s access to tools, materials and abilities. Is the finished build functional looking good? Was it difficult to make? Was the craftsmanship top notch with the tools used?

  • Uniqueness / Inventiveness / Innovation: Is the light unique, one of a kind, or does it operate in a special way? Can something similar be readily purchased? Were new technical innovations introduced? Were new firmware, drivers, or PCBs created?

  • Build Thread Quality: Did the contestant do a good job of showing and explaining the steps involved in the build? Were the difficulties encountered along the way documented and resolved? Was it easy to follow along?

  • Shown Operational: Did the contestant show the light operating, describe its functions, take beam shots, videos, etc.?

  • Subjective Evaluation / Bonus Points: The judge may assign these points at their discretion.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS:
There’s more than one way to win! In addition to the official judgement, a thread will be created which contains a poll, and the BLF community will vote for their favorite build. This poll will run for fourteen days. Contest participants may vote for other entrants but not for themselves.

PRIZE SELECTION:
The winner of the Hand Made category has 1st choice of prize, followed by winner of the Machine Made category, followed by winner of the Modified Light category.
Runner up of the Hand Made category has the 4th choice of prize, followed by runner up of the Machine Made category, followed by runner up of the Modified Light category. Prize selection will continue in this way as long as any prizes are left to award.
A special prize will be awarded to the winner of the people’s choice awards.

This is what the official scoresheet looks like:

reserved

Perhaps a Rube Goldberg type category . My build seems to be going that way . :person_facepalming:

Yeah pills are pretty easy to make really, I made 3 so far for mine lol!
At simplest you need some copper brass tube and some flat sheet.
I just used bits of brass I had laying round from other projects.
The easiest pill you can assemble is using brass gas plumbing bits.
These bits are cheap and easily available.
1/4 brass female socket plus 1/4” brass nipple, solder slice of copper for the top of the nipple, saw the bottom off and you have a pill and a nice threaded head.
Ideal for a 10mm led board, or if you want bigger, buy bigger fittings, all easily drilled out by hand with a step drill, well easy ish lol!

Hmm… I thought this thread might have a little more action than this.

If we’re going to talk about how stuff is made i can jump on that too. All sorts of things can be made even with a dremel.

The video that’s missing in that thread is still up -

Old-Lumens inspired me to do stuff beyond my limit too. I didn’t always have a lathe…

Well the crickets seem to be enjoying this discussion :laughing:

Oh well, if nobody wants to change the rules I think I can make it happen :laughing: :smiley:

Well , I enjoyed watching the video . As far as rule changes , I can’t say I have any ideas . The 3D printer subject and its uses in different categories is what I was figuring I’d see being discussed.

I feel like this started when I put my entry and then went back due to the pill! Despite there were, eventually other cases, in similar situation as mine,

Well, I won’t probably add much to this discussion on the rules.
I will admit that I don’t have at my disposition some tools or spaces to work (living in an appartment…), and I also don’t have some types of materials, as local stores with specific stuff for our builds are sometimes hard to find.

Also, I don’t have many of the skills or know-how that many folks here have, and in this case I will refer to specifically to “hand made” contestants and modders all over the forum.

So, some items - such as pills, heatsinks or others, that imply metal work and more tools/conditions, or even big pieces of wood that need to be cut straight - are harder for me to build. This doesn’t mean, however, that rules should change for those categories.
I will need to adapt my ideas if that is the case, as I needed to do in my entry. I felt like it was a build, but it needed to become a modification instead.

Justin’s video, the work of CRX in som many mods and builds, and many other ideas and productions all over the forum show that things can be done, so maybe lowering expectations/requirements about one can do is not the best option.

Whenever I can’t get something done, I will change my building methods or my category.

Being in this contest was something I never thought I would do when I joined BLF. 4 years later, I am doing it, I’m having (stupid) ideas and opening my horizons, and it surely continue that way!
Thanks for all sharing your work! Even when it is a small mod, that opens new perspectives, so thanks!

:beer:

Thanks guys. I do appreciate comments. Good bad critical or general.

I think accessibility is important to the contest. For that reason, I think the modified light category is a really important one.

As far as the rules in the hand- and machine-made categories, I think they do need to stay strict. It would make my build extremely simple to be able to use a Convoy S2+ pill, even if I did modify it (but especially if I didn’t have to). And I think, for a lot of these challenges, that’s part of the point - if I were building this light just to build it normally, I’d almost certainly adapt someone else’s pill, be it a stock Convoy version or a kiriba-ru pill. Taking the effort to stop and figure out how to make the light work without that is, to me, the spirit of the contest.

I understand completely that it’s difficult to enter this contest. When I lived in an apartment, it was nearly unthinkable. I barely had space to work (my workspace was my computer desk, so I had to clear everything off - and make the PC inaccessible - to do even minor modding work), and I definitely didn’t have room for much tools. I could barely store the one toolbox with my soldering equipment in it. Now that I’ve got a house, I also have a bunch of tools, and more space for things. I’ve even got a semi-dedicated workspace on my fold-down Ikea Bjursta desk!

I’ve definitely noticed that there are a few “modified light” category entries that are… well, they are quite something. On the one hand, I think they deserve credit for that in the judging of the competition. On the other hand, I fear that it may be off-putting for those who have more limited capabilities and yet are still entering the same category.

As for the 3D printing issue, I can see some potential issues. With 3D printing, so much of the build is the design itself, and it’s difficult to know for sure if that’s been outsourced. With a hand-made light, the design could also be outsourced, but it’s really a far less significant portion of the effort. I also have some issues with outsourcing the printing. I don’t think it would be fair to have someone else CNC or manually machine parts for a machine-made entry, so I don’t really see this being different. At the same time, one need not necessarily own the printer, just be the one to actually operate it. Similarly, one might have access to a lathe or CNC mill they don’t own, but have permission to use it (at work, or a friend/relative’s, etc.), and I don’t see that as an issue.

It’s exciting to see the new ways people have to participate in this hobby, and I definitely want them to be able to be included in the Old Lumens contest. I think we should really work, collectively, to figure out how we can fairly include as many people as possible. Because that’s what makes the contest (and the hobby as a whole) great: as many people as possible being able to participate in as many different, creative ways as possible. (also, people liking different things: the extreme CRI fans vs. max lumens flooder fans vs. max candela thrower fans vs. practical EDC fans all coexisting)

I did some thinking... since the borders between categories are not always clear (for example if I took an old light an completely changed all electronics, optics and modified the body, is it modified or hand made?) maybe just don't spilt into categories and only run a one general category with different prizes for example:
1. Innovation prize - for the built with best refreshing new ideas.
2. Team player prize - for the competitor that support and helped others.
3. Against all odds prize - for the one who solved many problems
etc...
All prizes can of course can have 1st, 2nd and 3rd places

Well said. That is the goal we are aiming for 

Thanks YuvalS 

Possible issues that I can think of -

  • ‘hand made style’ will likely disappear

  • Some people might (still) be reluctant to enter if they are not segregated from experienced modders/builders

Of course, i could be wrong on both accounts. However I still think it’s a good idea. Appreciate you suggesting it 

That’s the way forward imo, 1 compo, no categories, anything goes so long as a flashlight comes out the butt end.
There are simply not enough entrants to be picky around the whys and wherefores of how it was made. The judging/voting will sort that out and rules really are not needed.
The luxuries of many categories and lots of rules is fine if you have maybe 50 entering…but clearly this is not the case.
The write up is just as daunting I think - a lot of people don’t like having to do it, I know I’m not looking forward to it :frowning:
Anyway, last bit arrived today…… off to the shed. :wink:



You can set a "best first time build" for beginners.
Not sure why you think that hand made builds will disappear since people whiteout machines has no other option
For any action/value you wish to promote just set a dedicated prize

You’re a smart man YuvalS. I’m learning from you :student:

This year I entered the OL-Lumen Contest prepared with an idea, parts, and a plan to show what is possible to make by hand with few tools. After starting the build thread and looking at it, I was concerned it may discourage members from entering the competition. So I edited the build thread and removed what I was making in hope it would help not to deter anyone. I replaced it a few weeks later after a few members joined the contest.
.
I Love a challenge making things from raw material and a Blue Print. Been doing this for a job since High school.
Still a newbie here in many ways just having fun here at BLF learning and sharing with friends.
So after I joined BLF the OL-Lumen Contest was something I wanted to do. But I was afraid because everything was new and unfamiliar.
.
I think it would be a good idea to ask the members thru a poll or question list just who are interested in the contest, entry level, intermediate level, skilled level. If no response, then no need for changes. The goal is to Have Fun Competing and to get as many contributing as possible.
.
Also I feel it necessary for the experienced guys to want to compete. Guess I’m not much help. :person_facepalming:

I haven’t said much on this as I am more or less content with the status quo. But I can adapt to change.

There is a bit of an intimidation factor when contemplating entering . There are a lot of very talented people here making some beautiful stuff . I have been watching builds on this site for a few years and am just in awe and all starry- eyed , and think I’d like to make something too . But I know I am not even close to the caliber and expertise of some of the people here . The spirit of this competition , to honor Old Lumens , a guy who liked to make things , to try new things and not worry what anyone thought of his creations , is why I got the nerve to enter . That and I spent a chunk of money on a lathe , but it was this push that finally got me to make an attempt at it . It’s hard to take the plunge . I’m not sure changing the rules will help encourage more participants to enter . I’m glad its here and hope it continues because … if it just helps one kid…

I have considered a poll and will probably do it at a later date. Your suggested titles are a great starting point.

Thanks MtnDon. I appreciate the comment even if there’s no strong opinion one way or the other.

The way i read your comment is you weren’t comfortable enough to enter until you bought a lathe. I’m sure there are others that feel the same. If we could convince these types to enter without the heavy tools and machinery then that’d be great. Up until last year’s contest there was only 2 categories - hand made and machine made. Either way you pretty much needed to be good with your hands, have the space to work and access to the tools you need etc… On top of that you needed the motivation to do such a thing and then the willingness to present the workings to the forum. Last year CRX had the brilliant idea of introducing the modified category. To enter that category you didn’t ‘need’ a whole lot of tools and expertise. So in theory - if the tools and expertise was the restricting factor then this category should have had the largest pool of entries. The number of finished lights in that category however were much the same as the first two categories. Overall we did have some of the largest numbers in last years competition but not excessively large. So I don’t think the tooling and expertise issue is the problem. When you look around at the build threads and other additional threads pertaining to the OL comp (such as this one) you might notice the vast majority of comments are by the contestants. A relatively low number of non-contestants make comments in any of the threads. This says to me that the average enthusiast is not interested and we are a niche group within a niche group. As much as i love BLF it seems like this platform is probably not the best since the majority of members don’t seem interested. I’m not suggesting to move the comp elsewhere or anything like that, just making observations.

Bingo!