http://workbook.novarese.net Homebrew and Modified Flashlights by Paul Victor Novarese Wed, 05 Apr 2006 14:54:13 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en A CPFer from Japan noticed that a replacement for the Z57 tailcap retaining ring could easily be fabricated. The stock retaining ring sits flush with the main body of the tailcap, but by making one that extends out further, you get a nice shroud to both reduce accidental activation ... http://workbook.novarese.net/?p=13 Today, I received a special package from Don. Inside was a replacement bezel ring for my chrome Aleph 2 [2004.12.04]. This isn’t just any bezel ring, though; it’s Titanium with a scalloped face. This allows the user to see if the power is still on when the light ... http://workbook.novarese.net/?p=12 After tinkering with hundreds of E-series and C-series Surefires, I finally got a “big” Surefire, a M3 with the Turbohead. I was in a good mood, so I splurged and got the SW02 tailcap to go with it. I’ve actually been planning on getting one of these for ... http://workbook.novarese.net/?p=11 Don describes a modified “snake catcher” screwdriver in his light engine build notes [qv]. A small notch in the blade of the screwdriver allows one to wrange the wire into position, then hold it in place for soldering. I took a standard (non-reinforced) Dremel cut-off wheel and sliced ... http://workbook.novarese.net/?p=10 Today I received some samples of a new Chinese-made clone of the Lumileds Luxeon LED. The clones are easy to identify when they are mounted on the star heatsinks, as the solder pads are flatter, the heat sink itself is a much lighter metal, and there is no binning or model ... http://workbook.novarese.net/?p=9 I just got some Aleph parts plated in nickel-chrome from KJ. The finish is perfect, and gives the pieces the cold feel of good tools. It’s very difficult to caputre the shininess in a photograph. I got both the standard and newer flat-top tailcaps: http://workbook.novarese.net/?p=8 The Surefire L1 has all driver circuitry in the body of the flashlight, while the head is “dumb,” containing just the Luxeon and a simple battery contact. Removing the battery contact from the head is pretty simple. Once the bezel ring is removed, the NX-05 optic falls out, ... http://workbook.novarese.net/?p=7 I received a sample of the new Aleph 3 variant, which hosts a massive 38mm reflector. The standard Aleph 1 head uses a 27mm reflector based on that used in the Pelican M6, for reference. As you can see, it dwarfs the Aleph 1 head: Since it may be ... http://workbook.novarese.net/?p=6 The McCapsule is a drop-in module intended for the Longbow series of flashlights, but with a specially-modified 27mm reflector, it works perfectly as a replacement for the standard P60 lamp assembly in Surefire Classic-Series lights such as the 6P, C2, etc. Required parts: McCapsule Kit (McCapsule, battery contact board, and emitter board) Badboy ... http://workbook.novarese.net/?p=5 Required parts: Aleph Light Engine Kit (Ecan, Escrew, and emitter board) Badboy or Downboy Power Converter Board Luxeon Emitter Hookup Wire (0.75″ red, 0.75″ black, 1″ bare solid ground wire) Required tools: Soldering Iron Solder Thermal Epoxy Hobby Knife Super Glue Helpful: Vise Flat-blade Precision Screwdriver Needlenose Pliers Tweezers Nippers Needle Files Non-adhesive Thermal Grease Prep Work Some runs of Badboy and Downboy boards have had excess copper protruding from ... http://workbook.novarese.net/?p=4