G`day Folks, Well I probably gave it away in the heading!!!! Yes grinding, filing, sanding LED`s to change their shape, reduce their length.....whatever takes your fancy, but please bear in mind we are talking about the 3mm variety and bigger. This process is fraught with danger if you try and do it with the mini LED`s as they are already nearing the minimum size that will work effectively. I tried this method in the 1990`s when I built some platform signals from brass tube and brass plate. The LED`s I was using were too long so I simply filed the ends off and reduced their length. The method was successful so I stored it in the grey matter for future reference. Some of you guys may have already done this so it`s nothing new for you, but it may be of use to somebody out there. Anyway have a look and see what you think??? The Black Art Of LED Modification on YouTube http://www.clickGormo
Nice video Gormo and the tester looks handy, might get one of those When you were talking about using the red LED for signals or brake van lights, I kept thinking buffer stop lights. Could work straight from the track on DCC. Ed
Good idea Ed. The ground down version would work well for that. I have a similar tester, they are excellent. Cheers Toto
G`day Ed & Toto, Yes Ed.....the tester is brilliant and very cheap. At this point in time, I don`t think I`ve found a dead LED in all the ones I`ve used, however the little gadget comes in very handy quite a lot when you`re not sure which leg of the LED is positive and which is negative.????.. Almost in every case I trim the legs down because usually they are too long, so the tester has become my handy tool for those situations. Now buffer stop lights???......brilliant!!!! ......of course. You see that`s the benefit of sharing information on forums like this. You think you`ve explored all the possibilities, and then somebody who has been lateral thinking, like yourself, comes along and expands the possibilities. I`ll take ten Ed, when you go into production mate......do you take Visa.???? http://www.clickGormo
Another great video Gormo. If you paint them with Matt Black paint, then just file off a small section of paint to reveal a small light section. Or file it square to form a tail light with a red LED or front light with a white or yellow. Paul
