limited production :: hand crafted :: high performance :: rechargeable :: premium flashlights

This is my blog about creating a startup LED flashlight business. I'm a designer, fabricator, and strategist and I'm passionate about making ideas real. I believe that products are about people, that they should be built to last, deliver real value, and that we need to do a better job than we have in the recent past.

Most of my career has been contract or freelance work and I've crafted products and strategies for both big international companies and startups. I also used to work in the "industry" fabricating special effects for film and TV, along with the occasional hot rod. Bottom line, I love making things.

I'm starting this blog so you can follow along, from day one, and see what it's like to start a business, or fail in the process. Only time will tell, but I hope you find this interesting enough to stay tuned, comment, link, like, tweet, and (most importantly) participate in turning this idea into something tangible and valuable.

For a good place to get started with general info about who, what, why, etc., check out the "Stickies" on the left side of the page. Thanks for stopping by and please don't hesitate to ask questions and get involved!

Please sign up for my email list to get updates and notifications for contests and giveaways!

Friday, December 4, 2015

Lambda Solid Brass [S-BR] is up on the site now!

Hey folks,

Sorry I haven't had tops in a while. I have been working on something new but the holiday rush has put me way behind schedule on just about everything. However, I'm ready to start shipping new tops! These are currently in production so there might be a 1-2 day delay in shipping orders. Just follow this link to my website for more information and to purchase a top (link). 

Monday, October 26, 2015

I'll be running production on Burnley's Kickstarter project!

Hey folks, hope you are well. Just wanted to give you a heads up on a friends (and famous knife maker) Kickstarter project. I'll be doing all the CNC production in my shop. Please have a look and share, if you'd be so kind :)


BRNLY SlingPop: Pocket Slingshot & Bottle Opener Kickstarter

Albuquerque, NM (October 21, 2015) – Lucas Burnley of Burnley Design is excited to announce his first Kickstarter project for the BRNLY SlingPop. Inspired by the lighthearted mischief of youth, the SlingPop is a modern take on a classic childhood staple with a grown-up twist. Designed for your back pocket, the SlingPop combines the fun of a slingshot with the practicality of a “bar key” bottle opener.

Help support the BRNLY SlingPop: Pocket Slingshot & Bottle Opener on Kickstarter: http://www.burnleyknives.com/slingpop

About Burnley Design (www.burnleydesign.com)

Using the experiences gained from over a decade of knife-making and as a designer for Böker and Columbia River Knife & Tool, Lucas Burnley started Burnley Design as a platform to explore, experiment and create products outside of the knife industry.

If you would like more information about the BRNLY SlingPop: Pocket Slingshot & Bottle Opener, please contact Lucas Burnley atbrnlyd@gmail.com





Thursday, August 20, 2015

New in the store: 302 Stainless Split Rings

Hi all,

I get a lot of requests for split rings so I finally got some on the site and also have a selection of 3 different sizes! Don't thank me, thank you :) Click the link below!

302 Stainless Steel Split Rings (link)


Friday, August 14, 2015

Tungsten Top Lottery Sale!

Hi all,

So I'm trying out something new for the tops and for the sale format. I will have 10 tungsten tops with blue anodized titanium spindles up for lottery. You can get all of the details and sign up through the link below!

Registration opens today at 4PM Pacific and ends 10AM Pacific on Monday, August 17th

Lottery Link

Special Edition: 10 pcs

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

The EKO Kickstarter is finally 100% shipped!


This is a little fixture I laser cut to hold the key blanks for engraving. Ended up making about 750 of these for the campaign. That was A LOT of hand work filing, sanding, and grinding. Not looking forward to the next batch. 

Jason

Follow me on Instagram?

Hey folks,

I'm sure you can tell my blog momentum has fallen to about zero. Sorry about that! I like to post general musings and goings on, but I've been soooo busy I just haven't been able to find the time. Of course I find time to post things like my latest Kickstarter campaign, and then I beat myself up because the blog starts feeling way too commercial. My story is about the journey as much (or more than) what is for sale at the moment. At least that's my hope.


As a result, I've started using Instagram a lot. It's a super easy way to let people know what I'm working on "right now" and that works well for me. So, two things:

  1. Please follow me on Instagram: @prometheuslights
  2. I'm going to be pushing some of my Instagram content to the blog for those of you that can't/don't want to follow me on Instagram. 

Trying out some new aluminum-specific carbide inserts.


That's a pretty awesome mirror finish right? I've been wanting to try these polished inserts forever and I finally found a good (great) deal on a box of them on eBay and had to pull the trigger. Turns out they work really well on stainless and titanium too...as long as you don't care about tool life. The sharp edge is really fragile and breaks down quickly under tough cutting conditions.

Jason

Sunday, February 15, 2015

Awesome Kickstarter Wallet: Ending Soon (not mine)

Hi all,

Sometimes I like to share cool things from other makers. Jens Anso is a very famous knife maker from Denmark. As expected, his work is clean and elegant. At auction, his knives go for thousands of dollars. If you want to buy one, expect to fork over a lof of money on the secondary market, or wait...and wait (don't forget to wait). He's also designed knives for two of the largest knife manufacturers on earth, Spyderco and Boker. I'm impressed. Like me, Jens likes to dabble in other things as well.

I'd like to introduce you to his new titanium & carbon fiber credit card holder, which is currently live on Kickstarter and ending in 4 days on February 20th. (link to the KS campaign and video)! 



I know Jens from the "makerverse" because we like to make things and there aren't that many of us doing unique work with an obsessive focus on quality. Notice my Alpha pen in the photo above? This cool credit card holder is (of course) made from titanium on the front, carbon fiber on the back, and holds 1-6 credit cards. The colored inserts are made from "G10" which is a reinforced fiberglass composite commonly used to make knife handles. I'd personally use it as a business card holder and impress the pants off anyone I give my card to.


Ah but where is it made? Jens makes most of his knives in his own shop, but this project is being contracted out to the same US company that waterjets all of my pocket clips. See, small world. In case you missed the first link to the Kickstarter campaign, here it is again! Even if you aren't interested yourself, please forward this on to someone that might. Us makers live by word of mouth. if you don't spread the word, we don't eat, so just take a second and click your mouse on one of those share buttons :)

If you want to check out his knife work, here is the link for his website and a photo below to wet your whistle. This is my favorite, and of course a one-off. I like how it arches its back like an angry shark when it's open. Sadly, I don't own it. Probably couldn't afford it either :)





Cheers,

Jason