Tip to smooth out beam of any flashlight

srvctec

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Feb 5, 2005
Messages
1,117
Location
Central Kansas, USA
Tip to smooth out beam of any flashlight-B&W PDA screen protectors

I apologize if this has already been suggested somewhere on this board.

My favorite lights are LEDs but I also have several incandescent ones I like as well. I have found that most lights, incandescent and LED, have to some degree artifacts in their beams. That is to say, the beams are not smooth and even.

What I do is to cut out the correct diameter of WriteRight Micro-Thin Screen Protectors (by Fellowes for PDAs) and stick it to the lens. This not only protects the lens from scratches, but also has the effect of smoothing out the beam without limiting light output. This particular screen protector is anti-glare- which means it has "micro bumps" on the surface. IMO, it makes any beam look better.

Hope this tip is of use to someone!


Gerber LX3.0 with screen protector on the lens
5897c33a.jpg



River Rock 2 aaa (rebranded Nuwai) with screen protector on lens
be9a6b72.jpg
 
Last edited:

DocArnie

Newly Enlightened
Joined
Jun 19, 2004
Messages
102
Location
Germany
There are many possibilities to make a beam smooth. I use a foil with an even smoother texture. It turns my maglites into surefires. The corona may not be as beautiful in front of a white wall, but practically it is just as useful.
 

picard

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Dec 31, 2004
Messages
1,298
thanks for the tip. I didn't know it is possible to use it on flashlight lens.
 

NelsonFlashlites

Enlightened
Joined
May 21, 2005
Messages
335
Thanks for the tip. I'll have to give it a try.

I have a hard time believing, though, that it has absolutely no affect on the light output. Maybe it's so slight that it's unnoticable.

Thanks again.
 

srvctec

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Feb 5, 2005
Messages
1,117
Location
Central Kansas, USA
NelsonFlashlites said:
I have a hard time believing, though, that it has absolutely no affect on the light output. Maybe it's so slight that it's unnoticable.

That's probably a more accurate description of the effect. I sure didn't notice any difference.
 

Hikaru

Newly Enlightened
Joined
Jan 18, 2005
Messages
92
DocArnie said:
There are many possibilities to make a beam smooth. I use a foil with an even smoother texture. It turns my maglites into surefires. The corona may not be as beautiful in front of a white wall, but practically it is just as useful.

What kind of foil? are you putting it on the reflector or the lens?

Thanks
 

Outrider

Newly Enlightened
Joined
Mar 3, 2005
Messages
141
Thank you for your post and pics! Would you please post the Fellowes part number or catalog number you used? Thanks!

Outrider
 

srvctec

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Feb 5, 2005
Messages
1,117
Location
Central Kansas, USA
Outrider said:
Thank you for your post and pics! Would you please post the Fellowes part number or catalog number you used? Thanks!

Outrider

The one I used is for the Palm Zire 98195 (at least this is the number below the Fellowes name in the upper left corner on the back of the package). There is another number at the bottom underneath "©2003 Fellowes, Inc." which is #859253, so I don't know which is actually the "part" or "catalog" number.

What I would suggest is to go to an office supply store or maybe Wal-mart or Target and get the largest sized ones (make sure they say anti-glare) so you can get more for your money, since they typically are the same price for different PDAs.

I've had these for a couple years (got the package from the local Target) and use them on the face of my watch to keep it from getting scratched and also to completely eliminate glare- I can read it from any angle.

 

sniper

Enlightened
Joined
Jan 7, 2005
Messages
630
Thanks for the tip! Cheap and simple, the way things are supposed to be!
I say after several hours of attempting to follow the manual, trying to hook up a new receiver and home theater sound system to our TV. AAAARRRRGGGGHHHHH!!! Snivel, whimper.
 

Outrider

Newly Enlightened
Joined
Mar 3, 2005
Messages
141
:thanks:
srvctec said:
The one I used is for the Palm Zire 98195 (at least this is the number below the Fellowes name in the upper left corner on the back of the package). There is another number at the bottom underneath "©2003 Fellowes, Inc." which is #859253, so I don't know which is actually the "part" or "catalog" number.

What I would suggest is to go to an office supply store or maybe Wal-mart or Target and get the largest sized ones (make sure they say anti-glare) so you can get more for your money, since they typically are the same price for different PDAs.

I've had these for a couple years (got the package from the local Target) and use them on the face of my watch to keep it from getting scratched and also to completely eliminate glare- I can read it from any angle.


Thank you:thanks: Yesterday I tried Office Depot (2 stores), Office Max (2), Circuit City and (2) Target stores. I tried calling several stores and lets just say - to avoid a long rant - that the response was not productive. With gas at ~ $3.00 gal. I went as far as i could. (God, I just love the gov'mt schools here Kailfornia!) Now - armed with a number - I hope to have better luck.

Again, Thank you kindly

Outrider
 

PlayboyJoeShmoe

Flashaholic
Joined
Sep 4, 2002
Messages
11,041
Location
Shepherd, TX (where dat?)
I still have some from at least a year ago.

A few notes. The "bumpy" Writeright is for the B&W Palms, which ain't being made in great numbers anymore. It has been somewhat scarce for sometime now.

But I've been using it for at least 2 years now, and on simple lights (like 3D with 4C) it can make the beam OH so nice!

On LED lights with magnifying lenses, it can turn a sharp edged "Moon" beam into a soft focused beam that doesn't bother me as bad.

Of course it is NOT usable on superbulb lights!
 

srvctec

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Feb 5, 2005
Messages
1,117
Location
Central Kansas, USA
PlayboyJoeShmoe said:
A few notes. The "bumpy" Writeright is for the B&W Palms, which ain't being made in great numbers anymore. It has been somewhat scarce for sometime now.


That's right, I forgot that the anti-glare type was for B&W PDAs. It may be pretty hard to find.
 

LarryC

Newly Enlightened
Joined
May 20, 2005
Messages
91
Location
Lakeland/Memphis TN
I had some of the old writeright that I had found at a thrift store. It worked good for me, but I have since used it up. I never found anymore. The newer PDA screen protectors are clear and do not diffuse the beam in any way. I did a quick web search on the Fellows #98195 and every place was showing out of stock or back order. Bummer.
 

srvctec

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Feb 5, 2005
Messages
1,117
Location
Central Kansas, USA
Here are several links I found by Googling "fellowes writeright".

http://www.laptopgalaxy.com/showroom/4268.cfm

http://www.tritechcoa.com/product/764996.html

http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=311393&pfp=BROWSE


Not the same number I have but may be the same type- it says reduces glare on each of these. I paid about $12 - $15 for mine a couple of years ago, so I'm a little skeptical of the $1.64 price of one of the above links at Amazon- maybe those are used.

Hope this helps!
 
Last edited:

wwglen

Enlightened
Joined
May 24, 2003
Messages
534
Location
NC
Fromm earlier threads make sure you use the screen protectors for Black and White PDAs.

The color ones are clear.

I first bought some color PDA write-rite but wasn't impressed. Saw the thread on the B&W and got that. Works great now.

wwglen
 

srvctec

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Feb 5, 2005
Messages
1,117
Location
Central Kansas, USA
LarryC said:
Do you guys think this stuff might be close to the same thing?
EXIM Protector Ultra Protect
www.pda-now.com/PDA_Accessories_Palm+Zire.php

I don't think the first one would work since it says 99% clarity which would mean almost perfectly clear instead of anti-glare. The second one listed may work but both of these are the stiff type and you only get one per package. I tried ones similar to these for my cell phone and they are quite stiff and very expensive.

Check out the links I listed above in post #15 :)
 

2dim

Enlightened
Joined
Sep 2, 2004
Messages
631
Location
Toronto, Can
Rats! This stuff is hard to find...if anyone can provide a few sheets, please let me know. Meanwhile, I'll keep looking and report back. Thanks.
 
Top