Welcome to the 11th Annual Old Lumens challenge!
CONTEST DURATION:
This year’s contest has officially started as of Saturday September 23rd 2023 and ends December 31st 2023 for a total duration of 100 Days.
WHAT IS THE OLD LUMENS CHALLENGE?
This is a contest which challenges BLFers to build a lighting device from scratch! All skill levels are welcome!
For the history of this contest, and to view all previous contest threads and entries, check out the Old Lumens BLF Contest Archive 2013 - 2022.
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.
HOW TO ENTER:
Create an appropriately titled build thread in the Giveaways and Contests forum category.
Please include your username, the name of the contest, and which category you are entering. (You may change categories if you wish.)
Reply to this thread with the link so that the organizers can add your build to the list of entries.
Links to mods may also be entered by replying to this thread.
All entries will be listed in post #2 of this thread.
QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, AND CONCERNS:
Feel free to reply to this thread. If you wish for a private exchange, please PM The_OL_Contest account.
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:
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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?
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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?
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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?
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Shown Operational: Did the contestant show the light operating, describe its functions, take beam shots, videos, etc.?
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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.
SPONSORS AND PRIZES:
On behalf of the BLF community, THANK YOU for your generosity!
Convoy is offering a choice of any flashlight from the Convoy store!
UPDATE: Convoy has also donated two 3X21D SBT90.2 flashlights as prizes. (3x P42A cells included with each light)
CountyComm is offering two prizes, a $100 CountyComm Gift Card and a $200 CountyComm Gift Card!
Nealsgadgets is offering a NLIGHTD L1 LEP Flashlight!
SKYLUMEN is offering a Weltool T1vn with SFT40 6500K or SFT40 5000K + User programmable DriverVN4, OR a “Mystery Flood” light, OR a “Mystery Throw” light!
