Gas Pipe Flashlight

by qxnixrfnaozqqx

23K20036

Intro: Gas Pipe Flashlight

This instructable will show you how to build a LED flashlight.

STEP 1: Tools and Materials Needed

Tools
Soldering Iron
Hot Glue gun
Nail clippers
Wire strippers
Marker

Materials
1/2" Pipe Cap
4.5" x 1/2" Threaded Pipe
1/2" to 3/4" Pipe adapter
Perforated circuit board
Spring
Wire
Solder
Hot glue sticks
10 5mm LEDs
Sheet of foam
Shears or Dremel with cutting wheel

STEP 2: Cut the Perforated Circuit Board

Cut a circle out of the perforated circuit board that will fit inside the pipe adapter.

STEP 3: Dry Fit the LEDs

Put the LEDs into your circular circuit board to see how they fit.  Then trim the LED leads and leave the longer lead slightly longer.

STEP 4: Solder the LEDs

First solder the LEDs to the circuit board.  Then solder all the positive and all the negative LED leads together.  Test your LED board with a 3 volt power source to make sure you have soldered the LEDs correctly.

STEP 5: Create a Spring

Create a spring for the flashlight.

STEP 6:

Screw your LED board into the steel adapter.  Leave an uninsulated wire connected to the negative connection of the LED board hanging so it makes contact with the steel adapter when screwed in.

Test your connections.  If it is working properly make a contact with a washer and some solder.  Fill the area behind the contact with hot glue.

STEP 7:

Cut some foam spacers that go between the battery and the contact point.  The spacers create a switch that is on when the adapter is tightened.

STEP 8:

Tweak the number of foam spacers so that the flashlight turns on only when the adapter is tightened.

35 Comments

Nemesistant 11 years ago

Working on making one of these out of copper pipe and then reacting it with zinc to give it a nice brass layer and more of a steampunk look.

tyler303047 12 years ago

YAY something that can show you path AND maim someone.
jk a very very useful instructable.

Nyanman 13 years ago

sweet!
both a flashlight AND a holdout weapon.
seriously, how much does it weigh?

Wasagi 13 years ago

Nice, I was toying around with the idea of making something like this with a shower head, but I never go around to it. Nice work!!!

DaPope 13 years ago

Very cool, I picked up the pipe yesterday. Just gotta get some LEDs and we're in business. My wife also thinks it's really cool and wants me to make her one to keep in her car!

rossjima 13 years ago

I'm constantly crushing, breaking flashlights on the farm. I have to make one of these. What about extending it so it holds more batteries? Would that make it brighter. It would up the voltage for sure but I don't know much about how leds behave and are speced.

omnibot 13 years ago

Sweet flashlight, it would really come in handy in those dark nights when someone is following you. A bit of blackpaint and it's done.

bombmaker2 13 years ago

OW. Could you imagine how much it would hurt to get cracked over the head with this thing?

djdole 13 years ago

Just like a maglight beat-stick... only more brutal.

bombmaker2 13 years ago

What sucks the most is you could weld on spikes to this one if you wanted to!

junits15 13 years ago

just what i was thinking!

swinfos 13 years ago

sorta looks like a lightsaber
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