First time modding help, no idea what I'm doing

Polynikes

Newly Enlightened
Joined
Jan 2, 2017
Messages
56
I've been struggling to get an Astrolux S41S to work right. Pretty sure there's something wrong with the driver...
So I just bought another one.
Second one works great, no issues at all.
Now I have a two, one I can play with so I can learn more about flashlights! Win win!
I disassembled the old one (kept the 18650 tube on the working one) and did a little heat anodizing on the stainless. The bezel came out way darker than the tail cap and 18350 tube but, I kind of new that would happen because it's so much thicker. But I'm still pretty happy with it.
(I've never done any anodizing before)

Next I want to do a forced patina on the copper. Also I'd like to put an amber LEDs in this, and I need a new driver, and would like a new switch (this one is reverse clicky, and I'd prefer forward) but quite honestly I don't know anything about drivers, switches or LEDs so if you guys could help me by making suggestions as to what ones I should get, and what kind of batteries I should run (I don't have any high quality 18350s)
Here's a couple pictures to show you guys what the heat anno came out like.
Before
dd8fe99c284b7384ae82a46add3d3ab6.jpg

After
68ad64003fe8d8ea212c9b430ee97bf5.jpg

Any advice is greatly appreciated, I literally have no idea what I'm doing. This is the first time I've ever attempted to mod a flashlight, and I'm not very knowledgeable about lights in general so please take my noob-ness into account lol
Thanks in advance fellas
 
Last edited:

DrafterDan

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Jul 28, 2013
Messages
1,317
Location
Phoenix, AZ
I like your photos (hobby photographer here), and your heat-treating! I've got one of these models myself, with the 18350 tube. Let me pull it apart over the weekend to see what guts we have to work with. I am not a great modder, but I've got a decent amount of experience. Plus, there are tons of people on here that specialize in one or more facets of torch modding, so I'm sure you will be covered.

What is your end goal? Just to replace LED and driver to get your feet wet?

For sources, these are the ones I use most
Richard at Mountain Electronics is a great guy, very helpful.
https://www.mtnelectronics.com/index.php

Illum (short for illumination supply) has some good stuff as well
http://www.illumn.com/flashlights/flashlight-bodies-bezels-parts-and-dropins.html?___store=default

if you are feeling brave, and can wait two weeks, get an LED lighted tailcap for your Astrolux. You will almost certainly have to put a "bleeder" resistor on the tail of the driver board, but it's much easier than it sounds.
https://www.banggood.com/Astrolux-S...ng-Switch-For-DIY-p-1102279.html?rmmds=search
 

Polynikes

Newly Enlightened
Joined
Jan 2, 2017
Messages
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PS: if you are really, really brave, you can find out how the LED lighted tailcap idea got started.
The image of the 18350-based SolarForce with the cutters in the background is mine.

http://budgetlightforum.com/node/37851

Lots of reading in your future, I foresee
~D

I would really appreciate you pulling yours apart to see what's in there it'd help me a great deal. Thanks for the compliments as well! Means a lot :) and yeah just trying to get my feet wet and learn some more about a new hobby. Although I may have to look into the lighted tail cap [emoji848]
Lots of reading I agree lol
 

DrafterDan

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Jul 28, 2013
Messages
1,317
Location
Phoenix, AZ
Okay, mine refuses to come apart. From your above photo, it looks like you have one apart already. Measure the driver, it should be 17mm. Knowing that, you can decide what to replace it with
 

Polynikes

Newly Enlightened
Joined
Jan 2, 2017
Messages
56
Mine came right apart without any issues...
totally forgot I had it apart for a few days lol been preoccupied with knives
 
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