Thanks for the welcome!
Yeah, I didn’t think the SAiK-305 will fit a D cell, and a cut-down Mag would be a but pricey.
I made a Neutral white XM-L 3D mag and recently got 4 D cells to run it (Tenergy Premium 10Ah), so I’ve got an extra D cell that I would like to put into a light. Already have a 3 mode single cell driver and LEDs from other mods so all I’ll need is a host.
See link here: http://m111.photobucket.com/albums/garrybunk/4AA%2050%20LED%20Home%20Depot%20Light/?src=www which has photos of my 4AA Defiant light. My post is here: https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/9776. I'm not sure how well the head is going to work for you, but it definitely fits a D cell.
-Garry
Are you not in the US?
I’m in the US in the New England region. Might drop by Home Depot to look at the Defiant light, thanks for the tip Garry!
Well if you're in the US then you can get a maglite for 15-20 dollars and then cut it down your self.
I’d love to, but all I have is a dremel and a drill, and a few files somewhere.
That’s never stopped anybody. Have a look for OL’s human lathe video. 
That is quite literally all you need. I have made one and am working on my second using the same things. It is time consuming but totally worth it. I will be back in a few minutes once I find the tutorial.
Edit: Here the guide on how to do it is. Use this bit in your dremel to bore out the inside and a file to do the outside. (Dremel bit 115)
Thanks for the links. I’ve seen mods without a lathe but I personally dislike press fit parts. ma_sha1 on CPF also did a nice cutdown mag mod without a lathe.
Thanks for all the help!
What about buying aluminum/copper tubes and making the light from those? Like match’s custom light. If I use copper, I can solder/braze the parts together in an oven or over a fire.
That could definitely work but the question is whether you would be able to find 32mm ID copper tube.
There are folks on this forum and CPF that can cut down a Mag and rethread it for you.
Would you be willing to do that for me PCC? If so how much would it cost?
A cut and retread is fairly easy to do, but, my lathe isn’t big enough to handle longer jobs. If its a 2D or less cut-down with external threads I can do it, but, internally, it is pushing the limits of my lathe. A 1D with internal threads I can easily do. Either job is $20 if you supply the host. I’m buying 3D MagLites plus a Mini-Mag these days for about $20 if you want me to supply the host.
So it's possible to get a 1d mag with internal threading to match the tailcap for 20 dollars+host?
Yes.
I’m not sure what you’re attempting here, but the simplest and cheapest way I’ve found to make a 1-D light is to add a dummy battery to a regular 2-cell flashlight.
Welcome to BLF! While that is an option by making a real 1d size maglite you get a much smaller light.
I was on Amazon earlier searching for a pocket pen light when a comment I saw there caused me to make a search, which in turn showed me the existence of this forum.
My point is that a person can already buy some mighty good small & bright lights. And if I want “really bright” in a Maglite I’ll reach for my Malkoff mod.
The main reason I’m so partial to the Maglites is that that they’re built like a tank, and can produce a decent focus from whatever kind of bulb which a person happens to be using.
But getting back to the old D-cell models, what I want from them is long run time with decent light output. From what I can tell, the old PR4 bulbs put out about 7 lumens with brief bulb and battery lives. My favorite ‘fix’ for both issues is to replace the incandescent bulb with a low-draw LED so as to get about the same light output, but with a vastly longer run time. As it happens, Eveready sells a really cheap and crappy 1-D LED flashlight whose only saving grace is a PR-shaped bulb using only about 60ma. In my old Maglites (along with that ‘dummy’ battery) these will run for a very long time. And with a nice spot!
Long runtime has become a bit of an obsession with me. I want my emergency lights to be something besides candles or kerosene lamps, and I want that them to be so cheap I can have them littering the house. Besides the 1-D flashlights, I’ve played with the Pak-Lites. Hanging on the wall in the other room is a “basic” model I’ve snapped onto an 8-AA holder. For disposables I fill it with six batteries and two dummies - 9 volts. For rechargeables I use 8 batteries - 9.6 volts. At a measured 20 ma (the 9v level) I figure this combination will last.
Finally, a recent discovery - the solar sidewalk light sticks. Except for running into some on a closeout table for 90 cents each, I’d have continued to ignore them. But at that price, what the heck! - I bought one. Inside was nothing except a cheap AAA rechargeable. I replaced it with an AAA alkaline, then turned it on in a closet to see what would happen. The freaking little thing burned for several days, day and night! Back to the closeout table and scoop up the rest. They’re getting modified with a tiny hole in the side that’ll pass through the power wires to an outside D-cell. I’ve no idea how long a runtime these will have, but with a draw of about 13 ma/1.5v, it ought to be awesome. I’ll hand these out to relatives at Christmas as “ice storm” lights.
It's a pleasure to have you onboard, Zachary Smith!
