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WIP: Tungsten Flashlight

PhotonFanatic

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BlockofW_zps2060cb27.jpg


That little block of Tungsten, which is 1" x 1" x 2 3/16", weighs 1 pound, six ounces.

Question is, what should I do with it? Make a not-pocket-friendly flashlight, or cut it into a couple of 1" squares and make two decorative paperweights?

Maybe I'll go see how good W is at conducting heat first, before deciding. :confused:

EDIT:

Not that bad:

W: Thermal conductivity 173 W/mK−
6061AL: Thermal Conductivity 167 W/m-K
 
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Moddoo

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Re: Tungsten Flashlight, or something else?

"1 pound, six ounces."

Very exciting man,

My vote is for you to make a light out of it.

I will be watching this for sure
 

tjswarbrick

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Re: Tungsten Flashlight, or something else?

Hi Fred,
Paperweights would be such a waste...

I think you have your conductivities backward. My sources tell me it's slightly lower than AL, not slightly higher - though, realistically, they're within experimental error of each other. Still just under 1/2 as good as copper, and 10 times better than 300-series stainless or Titanium. All of which have been used successfully in flashlights. So I think you're covered there.
I've seen a thread where a couple people requested a tungsten light - you'd probably have no trouble selling it.
With W's intrinsic hardness and strength, you could make it barely larger than the battery it surrounds. Which would keep weight down a bit, and could be its claim to fame.
Any idea how hard it is to mill?
Looking forward to seeing what you come up with.
 
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PhotonFanatic

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Re: Tungsten Flashlight, or something else?

I'll let you know re the machinability real soon--I think I'll turn it down to a cylinder tomorrow.

I pulled those thermal conductivity numbers from Wikipedia--usually fairly reliable, but certainly not the authoritative source.
 

StarHalo

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Re: Tungsten Flashlight, or something else?

You'd probably get more profit from it making bezels, but the advertising power of a solid tungsten light can't be denied..

And it has just fine thermal characteristics, bearing in mind Al is always coated in something which reduces its heat conductivity:

hardnesstu.jpg
 

sledhead

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Re: Tungsten Flashlight, or something else?

How about an area lamp along the lines of the Jillite Constel or Maratac TLL? I see a nice clear white dome on it with some great machining designs on the sides of the cube. Maybe a pressure switch on the bottom to activate it. You could keep the most mass, that's for sure. :D
 

archimedes

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Re: Tungsten Flashlight, or something else?

I'd be very interested, depending on price ... :D

My vote would be for a "Tungsten CR2 Fatty" - :thumbsup:

Weight is not a concern :devil:
 
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KuanR

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Re: Tungsten Flashlight, or something else?

I am pretty excited to see this one evolve, would be cool if it took 18350 cells and aleph light engines. That would give power and upgrade ability in the future
 

PhotonFanatic

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Re: Tungsten Flashlight, or something else?

I am pretty excited to see this one evolve, would be cool if it took 18350 cells and aleph light engines. That would give power and upgrade ability in the future

Not a bad idea--but it might have to be a mule since the bar is only 2" long. I think that I might already have an Aleph LE on hand, too.
 

Mattaus

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Re: Tungsten Flashlight, or something else?

Looking at those numbers tungsten seems like one hell of a metal. Harder to machine than titanium? Or am I reading it wrong?

Make a mule...I saw an interesting design around here somewhere ;)

lol
 

persco

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Toronto, ON
Re: Tungsten Flashlight, or something else?

Make me a La Petite Killer with it...:twothumbs

[edit] oops... Shado and I think alike, obviously.
 

TEEJ

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Re: Tungsten Flashlight, or something else?

Too bad milling wastes a lot of material. Maybe make several small square (or long cube) lights.

:D
 
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