Introduction: Turn a Laser Into a Powerful Flashlight

I will show you how to easily turn a laser pointer into a flashlight.

Step 1: Step 2: Materials

you will need:
-a laser
-an old camera film container
-an old pair of prescription glasses that magnify (you could use a magnifying lense)
-a set of very small screw drivers
-a drill
- a drill bit that size of the width of your laser
-glue (i used tacky glue but i wouldnt recomend it. i would recomend super glue or epoxy glue, something that holds strong and drys fast but i used tacky glue because my super glue ran out)
-a cleaning cloth

Step 2: Step 2: Drill the Hole

if you look on the bottom of the film container you will see a small indent or a small circle. this will help you mark the center of the container. Make sure you get a drill bit the width of your laser. Drill the hole right in the middle so that you can stick your laser pointer through.

Step 3: Step 3: Glue the Laser In

Take your glue and put a little bit on the edge of the hole you drilled. put your laser in so about a quarter of an inch is inside the film container. you want to make sure the laser is pointing straight because if its not the project wont work. I suggest standing the film container on the opening so that the hole you drilled it facing up and the laser pointer can go directly straight down. Once you have the laser pointer aligned glue around the hole you drilled where the laser pointer and the film container meet. make sure you glue it good because you wont be able to get into the inside of the film container as shown in the last picture.

Step 4: Step 4: the Lense

After you have glued you can leave it to fully dry. If you need to you can put some tape to hold it in place for the moment but i didn't encounter a problem with fast drying. In this step you will take the glasses and find the screw the hold the lense in place. Take your screw driver kit and find the right screw driver head that fits the glasses screw. take the lense out and clean from any finger prints or dust  with the cloth.

Step 5: Step 5: Glueing the Lense

After removing the lense you want to place it so its caving out like the lense of a binocular. When you place it you want to place it so that the lense is directly in the middle of the opening. this is critical because the laser has to it the lense in the middle so the light will be bent equally on each side. This will magnify the size of the small laser dot to a bigger flash light circle when shined. Once aligned, place a little glue on the ring of the opening of the film container where the lense and the container meet. Hold there until it starts to dry and then leave it so it can fully harden.

Step 6: Step 6: Test It Out

Once it is fully dry you can shine it anywhere and it will work as good as a very powerful flashlight if not better. Shine it in the dark and amaze yourself at how great this actually works. Its gread for getting into dark hard to reach places where bigger flashlights cant fit and smaller ones can't light up. Have Fun!

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