I didn't want to open a new thread since I really used this tutorial but since I didn't have exactly the same module and I don't have any lithiums that will fit I had to improvise a little.
First I'd like to talk about the module itself and why I chose to use it. I carry my laser everywhere. And I mean I feel naked without it now even though it's only been about a month now. So my girlfriend and I went down to the hot tub and of course I had my laser in my pocket. You can probably see where this is going... Yep, I had it in my pocket for about 20 minutes completely submerged. When I realized it was still in my pocket I got out and threw it in our pool bag. Knowing it was dead I wasn't too upset or concerned with trying to save it. Once we got back to the apartment my girlfriend suggested that I put it in a bag of rice. She had done it with success to her cell phone after a rafting trip. I told her it was pointless but humored her. Note that this is a cheap ebay pen.
When I woke up the next morning it worked!!! But only for a couple seconds and then died. So she suggested more time in the rice. Again I humored her.
Over the next few days I put it in the rice and it worked with varying reliability. I didn't want to use it in fear of the IR that was surely being emitted even **IF** it was working at all. After about a week it started working 100% again!
So now this is "Old Faithful" the name of my build.
First extracting the diode. While there are countless way to do this I found out that this one was particularly stubborn and so I used a can-opener method. I cut a small slit with wire cutters and then used pliers to peel back the case.
Until I got this
Then I followed the tutorial until I realized, I didn't have a lithium to provide the juice I needed. I had to extend the barrel. After some thought on how to go about it I decided to sacrifice this guy. The top of the rayovac flashlight.
I used the dremel to cut the threads off. I actually did this to the other one as well but didn't end up using it just yet.
I used this as a coupler for the two rayovac barrels.
And now I present to you, Old Faithful!
Beam shot, Proof of life:
If you've read this far I'd like to say thank you for looking through my FIRST BUILD! Special thanks goes to Pman for making it possible! You rock!