How to Make Your Own Flashlight at Home: 15 Steps (with Pictures)

2025 Author: Jason Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2025-01-23 12:04

There are many models of flashlights on sale today - shaken, cranked, rotated, clicked, and so on. If all the available models are unsatisfactory, or you just want a regular flashlight with no unnecessary functions, you can make your own flashlight from toilet paper rolls and other items in your home.

Step

Method 1 of 2: Quick & Easy Method

Step 1. Collect all the objects

Create a work area and invite the children to watch you manipulate electricity with your bare hands. You need:

• Blank toilet paper roll (or lightweight cardboard rolled into a small tube)
• 2 D. batteries
• Adhesive (Electric adhesive can also be used)
• 12.5 cm long cable (if you are using a speaker cable, use a copper cable)
• 2.2 volt light bulb (You can use other types of lights, but they probably won't work as well. String Christmas bulbs work well.)

Step 2. Adhere the cable to the negative (-) end of one of the batteries

Make sure the cable is tight and doesn't move, or the flashlight will flash.

You can use lead instead of wires, but it's less reliable and more difficult to work with

Step 3. Glue the bottom of the toilet paper/cardboard roll well so that it is completely covered

Don't let any light slip through it, this will lower the power of the flashlight -- and make it of poor quality.

If you've never used black electric adhesive before, now is the time to use it

Step 4. Insert the battery with the end of the cable first into the roll of toilet paper

Even if the end of the cable is facing the bottom of the spool that is glued together, the end of the cable should be sticking out of the open end.

If the cable isn't sticking out enough around the edge of the battery, you'll need to shorten the tube

Step 5. Insert the next battery, negative side first

The negative side will meet the positive side of the battery inside. This connection will conduct electricity from back to front, so that the flashlight becomes functional.

Step 6. Glue the bulb onto the battery

Make sure there is sufficient direct connection between the two surfaces (basically, make sure the bulb is sturdy). Make sure you can still see the bottom of the bulb.

Step 7. Turn on the flashlight

Touch the silver part of the bulb with the wire. If it doesn't turn on after a few tries, take a look at the tips below for troubleshooting. If the flashlight works, then you now have a flashlight with an on and off switch.

Method 2 of 2: Alternative Method

Step 1. Gather all the ingredients

Unleash the MacGyver soul within you and get started. You need:

• 2 D cell batteries (separate).

  

• 2 strands of insulated copper wire number 22 5" long (insulated at both ends exposed 1").

  

• The cardboard tube is cut 4 long.

  

• Flashlight bulb PR6, or number 222 is 3 volts.

  

• 2 brass fasteners.

  

• A 1"x3" piece of cardboard.

  

• paper clip.

  

• Adhesive.

  

• Small paper cups.

  

Step 2. Glue the brass tabs to the ends of each wire

Wrap it around to secure it. Thread the tabs through the same side of the cardboard tube, but with the wires coming out of different ends. The pointy end should stick out of the tube. This will work as part of the on/off button.

Step 3. Glue the 2 D batteries together

Make sure the positive end of one battery meets the negative end of the other battery. The two batteries are arranged lengthwise. Make sure the batteries are firmly attached to each other then insert the batteries into the tube.

Step 4. Glue the cable at the negative end of the battery

The negative end is the flat end. The tape is enough to glue it together.

Step 5. Cut a hole in the small cardboard strip

Place the wire on the positive end through the hole and wrap the wire around the bulb. Place the end of the bulb into the hole so that it can be supported by the cardboard.

• Place adhesive around the base of the bulb and cardboard to secure the wires. The bulb should now start flashing.

  

Step 6. Cut enough holes in the bottom of the paper cup for the bulb

Insert the bulb into the hole and secure the glass to the cardboard base with adhesive.

Step 7. Insert the can opening between the two ends of the brass tab

If the can opening touches the two, electricity will flow and turn on the flashlight. If the can opening is moved, the flashlight will turn off!

You can also use paper clips instead of can openings

Step 8. Done

Tips

• Want your flashlight to look cool? Draw something on a piece of paper and stick it around the toilet paper/cardboard roll. Ghost faces, for example. Or, you can cover the ends with masking tape and then draw on them.

• If the light does not come on, check the following:

  • Did the light bulb go out?
  • Is the bulb 2.2 volts?
  • Is everything connected?
  • Is the battery still available?
  • Is the battery position correct?

Warning

• Do this with adult supervision.
• Careful; the cable will be quite hot.