Any Flashaholics here?`

AgaBoogaBoo

Lifer
Feb 16, 2003
26,108
5
81
I'm looking to get into flashlight modding in general, not sure where to start. I'm reading around on candlepowerforums.com, but looking for advice.

I'm wanting to keep the price reasonable, maybe ~$50 or so for the flashlight plus any modifications. I'm pretty flexible in terms of price, but who doesn't like to spend less? ;)

One suggestion has been looking for a damaged arc 4+, which I may just do.
 

simms

Diamond Member
Sep 21, 2001
8,211
0
0
General Flashlight Discussion (7 viewing 9961 Threads 115072 posts

OH. MY. GOD.
 

Dessert Tears

Golden Member
Feb 27, 2005
1,100
0
76
MiniMag (2AA) + sandwich is all I can think of off the top of my head. Your price range is a little restrictive. It is a reasonable starter light.
 

ArmenK

Golden Member
Oct 16, 2000
1,600
1
0
I modded a 3D maglite with a Luxeon LED, Hotlips heatsink (found on candlepowerforums), and UCL lens from flashlightlens.com

Here's a pic of what the flashlight looks with the lens off.
 

Evadman

Administrator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
Feb 18, 2001
30,990
5
81
I go out in a trenchcoat when I want to do that, but finding a trench for < $50 will be difficult.
 

AgaBoogaBoo

Lifer
Feb 16, 2003
26,108
5
81
Originally posted by: Flatscan
MiniMag (2AA) + sandwich is all I can think of off the top of my head. Your price range is a little restrictive. It is a reasonable starter light.

I can spend more if needed, any reccomendations?
 

Dessert Tears

Golden Member
Feb 27, 2005
1,100
0
76
The modded larger MagLite is also a good idea, but will cost more for the flashlight body and heatsink, will have more (probably confusing at this point) options, and will require thermal epoxy and soldering. The sandwiches can be bought turn-key - you just pull the parts you don't need out of the MiniMag and drop the module in.

I don't have too much advice on the entry-level stuff. I got some Photons, an Arc AAA, an Inova X5T-HA, the aforementioned MiniMag mod, a used Surefire A2 Aviator, and went up rapidly from there. The Fire~Fly 2 is a neat little light and modular, but with a price tag that doesn't quite make sense until you realize how small it is (it's not the best, but it's from a larger production run). The Mr. Bulk LionHeart or McGizmo Aleph series are both very good, but with prices to match (not for a beginner, IMO). The georges80 uFlex/nFlex kit is a nice little task light, less expensive, and not too difficult to build.
 

Dessert Tears

Golden Member
Feb 27, 2005
1,100
0
76
Originally posted by: AgaBoogaBoo
Originally posted by: ArmenK
Here's another light I built but its not portable.
This is the LED maglite vs the 80 Blue LED light

Whoa! How much did that cost you? Is there any guide or something to help me along?
Heh. $25 for 100 blue LEDs from eBay (cwithk, from Hong Kong), resistors included, $3 for perf-board. I hope you like soldering. I built a 20-LED array for my case lighting, and that was a little annoying. Also, heat gets to be an issue with so many 5mm LEDs.

Originally posted by: BrokenVisage
You should mod your FleshLight into a flashlight!
You know, that sounds like a good idea, but it's really not. It's much larger than necessary and has heat dissipation problems.

Edit: entered correct eBay ID
 

ArmenK

Golden Member
Oct 16, 2000
1,600
1
0
Originally posted by: AgaBoogaBoo
Originally posted by: ArmenK
Here's another light I built but its not portable.
This is the LED maglite vs the 80 Blue LED light

Whoa! How much did that cost you? Is there any guide or something to help me along?

I don't have a step by step guide by I got the idea from a guy on fatwallet (link). I think it cost me around $50. I got the 80 LEDs from lsdiodes.com and the rest of the parts (including the power supply) from mouser or digikey.