BobAsh 582 Posted March 19, 2009 Report Share Posted March 19, 2009 (edited) So I made a little more progress on my shorty. I was going to wait until it's painted, but I'll post that later. Anyway, I wanted a bright spotlight, but I wanted a more "built-in" look. Here's what I came up with. First I had to find the right donor flashlight. Since it's experimental and I was going to carve it up, I didn't want to spend too much. Here's the one: a Husky from Home Depot. Rated at 145 lumens with a "thrower" reflector and Cree 3W LED. 25 bucks! So I turned down the head as small as practical and bead-blasted the body (I'm going to MolyResin everything later). The body will be used as a VFG and contain the batteries and the switch. The head will mount on the handguard right in front of the gas plug. Of course, I had to mod the gas plug since access to the front of it is gone. Position 1: Position 2: I put a spherical radius on the plunger and milled grooves in the back of the plug. No tools required to change settings, but it holds great and clicks back and forth in a very satisfying way. I'll take more pics when it's done and painted. Edited March 19, 2009 by BobAsh 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gunfixr 76 Posted March 19, 2009 Report Share Posted March 19, 2009 That gas plug mod is pretty cool. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dannyfantasy2000 68 Posted March 19, 2009 Report Share Posted March 19, 2009 I'm guessing you're going to run the wires up to the light? I believe this is the most creative and resourceful thing I have ever seen done to a weapon. Sheer genius. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mscottrogers 56 Posted March 19, 2009 Report Share Posted March 19, 2009 very nice, can't wait to see the finished product, keep us updated Quote Link to post Share on other sites
raidersfan_5544 57 Posted March 19, 2009 Report Share Posted March 19, 2009 It looks very nice and I cant wait to see the completed project. +1 on the creative and resourceful. I never liked the gap when using a full hand guard on the shorty but now that it is functional its very nice. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Raoul_Duke 113 Posted March 19, 2009 Report Share Posted March 19, 2009 (edited) Ah HA! I guessed the light when you alluded to an idea for that front space . . . but the VFG though, you got me there! Fuckin' SWEET Bob! Really fuckin' sweet!!! Oh yeah, and the plug, y'all could probably sell the shit out of 'em . . . Maybe clean it up a bit, but the idea with the "lever" is great! Edited March 20, 2009 by Raoul_Duke Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BobAsh 582 Posted March 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2009 That gas plug mod is pretty cool. Thanks bro! Similar to what you are doing, but only the original 2 settings of course. I never liked having to use a tool to change settings. I'm guessing you're going to run the wires up to the light? Yep. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BobAsh 582 Posted March 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2009 One thing that I didn't plan, but turned out very cool: notice how the grooves in the flashlight body match the SAW grip. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
madmax4x4 68 Posted March 20, 2009 Report Share Posted March 20, 2009 I like the skull. Any chance of that gas plug going up as an option on the S17? I was hoping to get a larger hand guard for mine when I get it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BobAsh 582 Posted March 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2009 I like the skull. Any chance of that gas plug going up as an option on the S17? I was hoping to get a larger hand guard for mine when I get it. The skull is going to be available both as an option and sold separately. The gas plug is is not currently being considered as a product. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Frost 0 Posted March 20, 2009 Report Share Posted March 20, 2009 You should consider the gas plug mod. I hate having to carry a tool to depress the plunger and another one to turn the knob. (yea yea I know key and a quarter but still...) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BobAsh 582 Posted March 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2009 Oh yeah, and the plug, y'all could probably sell the shit out of 'em . . . Maybe clean it up a bit, but the idea with the "lever" is great! I probably will turn a lever of some kind, that's just a thumbscrew from the hardware store. It has to unscrew so you can remove the plug for cleaning. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
WILLIEVEE 15 Posted March 20, 2009 Report Share Posted March 20, 2009 Now that is out of the box cool Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Alpha Kilo 42 Posted March 20, 2009 Report Share Posted March 20, 2009 THAT"S a kick ass idea!! looking forward to seeing the progress and end result for sure! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gunfixr 76 Posted March 20, 2009 Report Share Posted March 20, 2009 No problem, Bob, cool is cool. When Mike D and I were discussing getting the plugs mass-produced, there was some talk of a lever to assist in rotation. It just complicated the manufacture and would've raised the price enough to be left out. Who knows? Maybe one day. I'm still more after the self-regulating plug, as no adjustment is needed then. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
hallboss 1 Posted March 20, 2009 Report Share Posted March 20, 2009 Great job. It just shows that inginuity and quality are what keep you and Tony going as well as you do. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Raoul_Duke 113 Posted March 20, 2009 Report Share Posted March 20, 2009 Oh yeah, and the plug, y'all could probably sell the shit out of 'em . . . Maybe clean it up a bit, but the idea with the "lever" is great! I probably will turn a lever of some kind, that's just a thumbscrew from the hardware store. It has to unscrew so you can remove the plug for cleaning. You gonna put a skull on it? But of course, like pretty much everyone else, I'd love a self-regulating plug. But I've got some of Gunfixr's plugs on the way from Mike, and that would pretty much make those obsolete in comparison . . . But who cares? Keep on tinkering Gunfixr . . . Quote Link to post Share on other sites
blurted 0 Posted March 20, 2009 Report Share Posted March 20, 2009 You should consider the gas plug mod.I hate having to carry a tool to depress the plunger and another one to turn the knob. (yea yea I know key and a quarter but still...) I agree with Frost, twist Tony's arm a little and make those gas plug mods available. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gmorgan 2 Posted March 20, 2009 Report Share Posted March 20, 2009 (edited) You should consider the gas plug mod.I hate having to carry a tool to depress the plunger and another one to turn the knob. (yea yea I know key and a quarter but still...) I agree with Frost, twist Tony's arm a little and make those gas plug mods available. BIG +1, Put me down for two when ya get em done Bob and the skull on the top of the lever...just too cool for words lol, you guys been eating more fish lately ?? Edited March 20, 2009 by gmorgan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
hobbyshooter 59 Posted March 20, 2009 Report Share Posted March 20, 2009 Very ingenious! Instead of turning a knob for that adjuster, take a look at some knurled thumbscrews. There are millions of different things available. for literally pennies each. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
22_Shooter 1,560 Posted March 20, 2009 Report Share Posted March 20, 2009 That's pretty damn inventive! So what do you think about the light itself? Decent quality? Does it have a "clicker" on the bottom of the tube, or can you run it off a pressure switch? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gothchick 0 Posted March 20, 2009 Report Share Posted March 20, 2009 Very Niiice. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BobAsh 582 Posted March 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2009 That's pretty damn inventive!So what do you think about the light itself? Decent quality? Does it have a "clicker" on the bottom of the tube, or can you run it off a pressure switch? Yeah the light is amazing for the price, built very solid and it really throws a beam out there. It has a rubberized clicker at the end of the tube, but I've already removed that. Normally the batteries would load from the top, but I'm going to load them from the bottom through the tailcap. Up at the top of the tube I'm putting in a push-on/push-off switch. I don't care for the pressure momentary switches. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BobAsh 582 Posted March 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2009 No problem, Bob, cool is cool. When Mike D and I were discussing getting the plugs mass-produced, there was some talk of a lever to assist in rotation. It just complicated the manufacture and would've raised the price enough to be left out. Who knows? Maybe one day. I'm still more after the self-regulating plug, as no adjustment is needed then. Yeah, Tony and I have designed quite a few gas plugs actually. The self regulator would be the way to go. Our main problem is lack of time for R&D testing! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
22_Shooter 1,560 Posted March 20, 2009 Report Share Posted March 20, 2009 That's pretty damn inventive!So what do you think about the light itself? Decent quality? Does it have a "clicker" on the bottom of the tube, or can you run it off a pressure switch? Yeah the light is amazing for the price, built very solid and it really throws a beam out there. It has a rubberized clicker at the end of the tube, but I've already removed that. Normally the batteries would load from the top, but I'm going to load them from the bottom through the tailcap. Up at the top of the tube I'm putting in a push-on/push-off switch. I don't care for the pressure momentary switches. Sounds good. I'm gonna have to check this light out on the next trip to HD. Looking forward to finished setup. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BobAsh 582 Posted March 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2009 Instead of turning a knob for that adjuster, take a look at some knurled thumbscrews. There are millions of different things available. for literally pennies each. Yeah, if it was going to be a production item, I would just source a screw/knob. Actually a socket head cap screw looks pretty good in there! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
COS 0 Posted March 20, 2009 Report Share Posted March 20, 2009 Man that is going to be killer!! No pun intended... I even have a name for the gun "NIGHT TRAIN" then the skull could be KC JONES!! I love this build and keep us up to date with it... -COS Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Eric Pate 478 Posted March 20, 2009 Report Share Posted March 20, 2009 Damn, Bob. Thats one of the more creative mods I've seen in a while. Nice execution, can't wait to see the finished project. And yes, the gas plugs would sell for sure, if offered. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BobAsh 582 Posted March 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2009 Thanks to all for the kind words. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Biff Stroganoff 1 Posted March 20, 2009 Report Share Posted March 20, 2009 Now I want a lathe really bad. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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