Super Awesome Altoids MINI Flashlight

Don't you just hate it when the power goes out, and you have to lug that huge flashlight around your house. No worries my friends, you can make a flashlight that fits right in your pocket!

Lets get started!

Step 1: Materials

Here is what you will need:

• Altoids "Smalls" Mints tin (I got mine at a drug store) Amazon, $23.39 in bulk for 12 packs
• 5MM LED Best Hong Kong, $0.40 each
• Push-button Switch Goldmine Elec, $1.50 for 3
• Hookup Wire Radioshack, $14.99 for 35ft
• 3V Coin Battery 1topstore, $1.55 for 10
• Soldering iron Radioshack, $8.99
• Solder Radioshack, $4.49 for 1oz.
• Electrical Tape Radioshack, $3.99 for 60ft
• Masking tape Choose, any type works
• Dremel tool with the drill bit or device to poke holes in metal

Comments

[nicktheskier]

How long does this last?

[JoshuaZimmerman]

Except you can no longer get this type of tin...

If you want to do an Altoids smalls you'll have to follow these directions.

A Better Altoids Smalls Flashlight

[raykholo]

i just bought a bunch of stuff from the goldmine-elec.com site i saw it came up in a couple of instructables and the prices are great -- radio shack is too expensive and cool idea with everything...

[kroq-gar78]

yup. electronic goldmine a s amazing prices in bulk (and sometimes individually). radioshack's items are waaay to expensive. i guess that's what you pay for convenience....

[raykholo]

i cant believe im actually saying this but radioshack does have some good stuff. like not components but tools. And if my soldering iron breaks or somethin like that... its easier to have bought it from radioshack than online in some cases (again convenience). i also found out that they have this wire that i want to use for making vias in pcbs, and no other place had it, so they are ok i guess... Im also getting started with pcbs right now (as u might have just figured out :) ), so allelectronics and digikey look like they will be coming into the picture... they look pretty good so far. but yeah if all you do is like the more simple electronics stuff (me in the past) then goldmine definitely rules.

[kroq-gar78]

yup! goldmine rules for simple stuff!!!! radioshack's things are way too expensive (components at least). their prices or tools and tools themselves aren't bad though

[raykholo]

yeah that and that radioshack has virtually no variety or specialty stuff. Its all generic, basic, and expensive. some people look at that as a good thing, dont ask me how

[awang8]

If you make the LED hole too big, glue it in place with some (very) think epoxy.

[jimbo333]

hot glue could work good too.

[poop11346]

What is hookup wire... can i use pos and neg from a usb cord?

[Brennn10]

You can use the positive and negative USB cord, but you match up the negative end of the cord with the negative side of the battery. And vice versa with the positive side.

[poop11346]

can I use speaker wire cuz it's easier than cutting USB cablz

[poop11346]

also do u have to solder.. or is there another way.. i can solder if there is no other .way .....thank u

[Brennn10]

Well you can attach the wires to the battery with tape or hot glue. Solder doesn't work the best on batteries. And on the LED and switch, you can wrap the wires around the leads instead of using solder.

[poop11346]

THX

[Brennn10]

If you have any other questions let me know. I would be glad to assist.

[Clayton H.]

or you can replace the blue light with a red light to "preserve your night vision"

[waverider894]

I might combine this instructable with one of the survival tin instructables

[Brennn10]

Sounds like a great idea!

[TheMoonMaster]

w00t! I can finally make this because a sugar-free store just opened in town and the have smalls and the gum too. Yay!

[Red49]

where did u get the pushbutton switch that u used can u give me a link to the website that u got it from. I bought 1 and it was to big for the altoids smalls tin so im making it with a reg altoids tin

[puffyfluff]

You can get them at radioshack, but you can also get them in hundred packs off eBay quite cheap.

[Red49]

could u give me a link

[puffyfluff]

They are called SMT or tactile switches.

This is for some 6mm by 6mm, which might be too big.

These are smaller and better documented, but a bit harder to obtain. Here's the datasheet.

If these don't work, try a Google search.

[Red49]

thanx

[puffyfluff]

You're welcome.

[MeisNubby]

You know what would be kind of cool, is if you did as Elflord said for a laser!! xD Use the switch you have for the LED. I know laser diodes are harder to come by, and harder to wire.. and need more voltage... But the guy who created computers (PCs I mean ** xD) did it, and they all thought he was crazy. Just an idea.

[MeisNubby]

Oh my bad, nice Instructable too. I'm new to all this so.. cut me about 4 inches slack.. Joined yesterday..

[MeisNubby]

OH and favorited my bad.. Sorry XD

[Brennn10]

Haha thanks! Your idea is awesome!

[MeisNubby]

I try. Mmm. I'm trying this sorta... BUT in a flashdrive. Thumbdrive. The case.. I'll post pictures and maybe even an Instructable... Ooooo {*Thinks* "EVERYONE CLAP"} Mmm. Also a funny idea is put Mini 2mm LEDs (only require .5 voltage into paintballs.. Only hard thing would be actually PUTTING them in.. You could just tape them on one side and play in the dark. It'd be like "OH CRAP" Pitch black. Except for a blue LED. Might hurt, but that's what masks are for.

[MeisNubby]

Oh... Just get a DVD Burner {16x} like KipKay, then an AixiZ module and wire em together. Then just drill a hole the size of the diode into the Altoids tin, and just tape down the module.. Then again, the tin probably isn't big enough. Oh and I'm wrong, a Commercial Laser Pointer uses about 4.5 volts.

[XaiofDren]

This is awesome; it's simple to understand. You got favorited. :D

[Brennn10]

Thanks!

[grundisimo]

I finally have a use for that gosh dang altoids tin on my dresser

[Red49]

GREAT INSTRUCTABLES DUDE JUST STARTED WORKING ON MINE i weill TELL YOU WHEN IM FINISHED

[Brennn10]

Great! Thanks! Tell me how it goes!

[Red49]

where did u get the pushbutton switch that u used can u give me a link to the website that u got it from. I bought 1 and it was to big for the altoids smalls tin so im making it with a reg altoids tin

[Brennn10]

You can buy the switch online at Radioshack.com

http://www.radioshack.com/sm-spst-0-5-amp-momentary-switch2-pk--pi-2062546_tb-techSpecs.html

[Brennn10]

I bought the switch at Radioshack, and I have yet to find an online seller selling the same switch.