I made an LED campfire because fire is beautiful and cozy during the winter months, but fire isn't safe to be left unattended in our homes. This LED campfire allows the maker to have this warm energy available at any time, day or night.

Supplies

Supplies Needed:

1 Harbor Freight flashlight

Any LEDs that fits the current of the flashlight, I chose red and yellow.

Tissue paper, the color of fire. I chose various shades of red, orange and yellow.

Clear plastic, I used plastic from a recycled juice bottle. The plastic must be flat, not rounded.

Soldering Iron

A 3D printer is needed to create the base for the flashlight.

Step 1:

The first step is opening up the Harbor Freight flashlight by removing the screws on the back. Make sure to not damage any of the wiring inside.

Step 2:

Next, remove the small LED panel from the larger one by snipping the red wires. Be sure to label the two blue wires with the positive and negative signs so that when you solder them back together you can do it correctly, otherwise you will fry the LED panel.

Step 3:

Remove all the clear LEDs by desoldering them from the board. Then re-solder your new colored LEDs to the board. When you are doing this make sure that you are putting the anode and the cathode into the correct holes on the board. Also make sure that your LEDs fit the amperage and the voltage of the old LEDs. Then re-solder the wires to the power supply.

Step 4:

Re-screw the board to its case. Then add the reflective housing that goes around the LEDs but do not put the clear plastic screen on again! Reassemble the blue plastic case. You can then insert batteries to check that everything is working correctly. Please note, because you removed the small LED panel it will now take three clicks to turn it on. Your LED flashlight unit is now done.

Step 5:

Next you will 3D print the outside case for the fire pit. Make sure to set your 3D print settings to 20% infill and add supports. I have attached the needed file.

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Download View in 3D

Step 6:

After printing the file for the fire pit case, remove the support material. Use a plastic bottle with a flat side to cut a rectangular shape that can slide inside the 3d print. Use a hot glue gun to attach it to the top, inside of the fire pit print. This will be used to attach the paper flames in the next step. Insert the flashlight and make sure that it fits correctly.

Step 7:

Take tissue paper, tear it into small pieces and crumple it up. With a hot glue gun, attach the pieces of tissue paper on top of the clear plastic to make it look like fire. Use your own imagination and personal preference to make it look the way you like best. A good tip is, every once and a while turn on the flashlight to see if you like how it looks. Adjust as necessary.