A Light Named "River"

Flashlight Modding and DIY Parts
1

River? Well, long ago I decided that I hated "Model Names" so when I got serious about selling lights, I decided that no two would be identical and they would each have their own name. ... so, this one is "River".

I got stumped on this light so I thought I would finish a couple of others and think about it a little. I can't decide exactly what I want it to look like. It may take a scotch or two but meanwhile I thought I'd show a little manufacturing porn.

Here are most of the chunks... None finished.... Still need to do a lot of work as you can see. The lock nut isn't made for the tail cap and without the hole in there a switch is going to be really hard to operate!!!

You never get finished making tools. Here is a mandrel... it is necked down so it will fit in my mill chuck after I am finished using it here on the lathe. I'll whack it off back by the chuck where it starts growing again.

Here the head is partially screwed onto the mandrel...

Screwed on and ready to spin...

AND... What ugly parts now exist do all actually fit together. Sorry about the blue tape on the body... it has more lathe work to be done and I didn't want to remove it.

I'll show this one finished once I know what it needs to look like and get it done. I hope everyone read the comments and understands... IT AIN'T FINISHED! I think though it's good to see sometimes where it all starts and what it takes. There is honestly (for me anyway) more "Thinking" in building lights than working. Thanks for looking. Dan.

A light named "River" update
2

Reserved

3

I kind of like the way it looks now! :bigsmile:

4

Uhhhh, OK, I guess… J)

5

Hi,

I know too little, but that kind of looks like a P60-type reflector. Is this light going to be a P60 host?

6

Looks like it’s going to a great light. Sturdy as heck too. Looking good.

7

Very cool.

I know what you mean about always making tools...sometimes I want to make multiples of parts just to use the darn tool I just made more than once !

I have been using Delrin lately for holders/mandrels, after fusing two parts together.

Looking forward to seeing the finished light.

8

Chicago,

That’s called a “self-fulfilling prophecy” :)…

9

So, it's going to be a single 18650 light? I see an 8X7135 driver? and an XM-L what? T4 or T5 possibly, from Illumination Supply?

Looking forward to more!

10

Love the work shots Texas. The blue tape I take is masking tape? Mandrels come in so handy. Your not missing out on the pictures off your mill chuck in action are you? There is no such thing as to many action shots. Thanks.

11

He wondered what name he should give her

And so he decided on 'River'

He worked her all night

And in the first light

He said " Man this old gal can deliver ! "

12

And then he got working on his new flashlight…

Buh dum dum...chhhh!

13

The reflector is P60 size. The reflector driver & Led all mount in that piece the reflector is sitting on.

Thanks for looking. Dan.

14

Ha! No, I'll do a couple when the mill is running... JUST FOR YOU!!! Yep... That tape saves me a lot of cleanup. If you adopt that method, use the heavier tape thats available. The actual "Scotch" brand is nice but a little thin and the chuck can mark through it.

Thanks MRsDNF! Dan

15

Well, I'll try this again.... I answered this and the site went down!! ??? It is a single 18650... The LED is from Illumination Supply and I think is a XM-L T5... I like those. The driver I'll have to look at... these were laying by two other in-progress lights and I might have picked up the wrong one... GOOD EYES OL!!! Thanks for looking! Dan