It's important that you have a working flashlight in your home at all times.
Not only does it come in handy during a power outage, but it can save you from personal injury when maneuvering around dark places in your home, such as basements and attics.
In a pinch, you should know how to make a homemade flashlight using nothing more than two D-cell batteries and some other materials. Jerry
is here to show you how to make a homemade flashlight that even comes with a switch. How to make a flashlight
Circular cardboard piece (about 1-1/2 inches in diameter)
Insulated copper wire (#22)
Paper-towel tube (5-1/4 inches in length)
This method requires you to use 2 D-cell batteries to create a workable flashlight that looks like a flashlight you would buy at a store.
Step 1: Cut the paper-towel tube. Start by cutting the paper-towel tube down its length and laying it flat.
Punch two holes lengthways in the middle of the paper-towel tube with the scissors, about one inch apart.
Step 2: Attach the brass fasteners and paper clips. Insert the brass fasteners into the holes you made in the paper-towel tube with the scissors.
In addition, attach the paperclip to one of the brass fasteners on the outside of the tube.
The paper clip acts as a switch. When you need to turn the flashlight on, just turn the paper clip so that it touches the other brass fastener. You can conserve battery life by turning the paperclip so that it is not touching the other brass fastener when not in use.
Step 3: Attach the copper wire. Cut two lengths of copper wire so they're each about three inches long.
Strip both ends of the copper wires, attaching one end of each wire to the brass fasteners on the inside of the paper-towel tube.
Cover each connection with electric tape. Extend the end of both copper wires out of the respective ends of the tube.
Step 4: Cut a hole in the circular piece of cardboard. Next, cut a hole in the circular piece of cardboard to hold the three-volt flashlight bulb.
Step 5: Wrap the copper wire around flashlight bulb. Wrap the copper wire, nearest to the end of the paper-towel tube that will hold the bulb, around the lower body of the flashlight bulb.
Step 6: Attach the D-cell batteries. Lay the two D-cell batteries in the paper-towel tube so that the batteries are in a line.
This includes laying the batteries so that the positive end of the first battery is facing toward the flashlight bulb. The positive end of the second battery should touch the negative end of the first one.
Both batteries should lay in the tube so that the negative end of the second battery is even with the end of the tube. Secure both batteries to the tube using electric tape.
Step 7: Secure the tube. Wrap the tube back around the batteries and secure using electric tape.
Step 8: Secure the light-bulb assembly. Place the circular piece of cardboard into the end of the tube.
Make sure the metal end of the bulb connects with the positive end of the first battery, and then secure the flashlight-bulb assembly to the end of the tube using electric tape.
Step 9: Attach the wire to the negative battery terminal. Attach the other copper wire to the negative end of the second battery.
Secure the wire in place using electric tape.
Step 10: Attach the small paper cup. Next, attach a small paper cup over the flashlight bulb to act as a shade.
You can do this by cutting a hole in the small paper cup big enough to fit the flashlight bulb through.
Finish by securing the small cup to the end of the paper-towel tube using some electric tape.
Making your own homemade flashlight saves you the trouble of having to stumble around in the dark to find the solution for your electric problems. A flashlight is among the most important home safety tools
, and one you should always have at the ready.