How to Build a Gas System Illuminator
Page Under Construction
Until recently, a company called Xtreme Effects offered a great tool called the “Gas System Illuminator”. They had some supply issues so we sat on our hands waiting. After waiting a while, we decided to build one ourselves. After using the tool, we recognized that it is an indispensable tool for visual gas block alignment. So, we recommended this tool to accompany our recommendation to perform visual alignment of the gas block using a gas system illuminator and a borescope in our build instructions.
Then Xtreme Effects went out of business.
We are providing our plans for this tool, in the hopes that it will support your decision to practice visual gas block alignment.
Components:
You will need the following components. All can be purchased from Amazon. It will cost about $25 per illuminator (around $45 total because some components come in multi-packs).
Tools:
- Phillips Head Screwdriver
- Wire Strippers
- Heat Gun (optional)
- Soldering Iron (optional)
- Solder (optional)
Assembly Instructions:
The following assembly instructions are to build the gas system illuminator the way we have. You are free to make the connections however you please.
- Cut the snap connector off of the fiber optic illuminator. Separate and strip about 3/4″ of the insulation off of the wires.
- Separate and strip 3/4″ of insulation off of both wires of a female barrel connector.
- Slide a 1.5″ length of 1/8″ heat shrink tubing over each barrel connector wire. Slide a 1.5″ length of 3/16″ heat shrink tubing over both wires (this will hold the wire connections together for added strength).
- Twist the corresponding barrel connector and fiber optic illuminator wires together (red-to-red, black-to-black).
- Melt solder onto the twisted wire connections and let cool. This step is recommended to ensure a good electrical connection and to prevent separation of the wires.
- Slide the heat shrink tubing over each soldered wire connection. Heat the tubing with a heat gun (or lighter) until tight. Slide the larger heat shrink tubing over the individually heat shrunk wires to further stabilize the connections.
- Loosen the plastic set screw on the fiber optic illuminator with a Phillips head screwdriver. Insert an 18″ length of the 2.0mm side glow fiber optic cable into the mouth of the fiber optic illuminator and tighten the plastic set screw to secure the fiber optic cable.
- Plug the barrel connector of the illuminator into the rotary dimmer switch male connector.
- Plug the power supply barrel connector into the rotary dimmer switch female connector.
Instructions for use:
- Separate the upper receiver from the lower receiver. Remove the charging handle and BCG.
- Feed the fiber optic cable into the open end of the gas tube (from within the upper) as far as it will go.
- Plug the power supply in. Turn on the illuminator by rotating the rotary dimmer switch.
- Observe the alignment of the gas block using a borescope fed down the bore of the barrel. Adjust the light intensity using the rotary dimmer.
Get Social - Share This Page!
Tell Us What You Think!
Your feedback is really important to us. Our goal is to provide the highest quality content possible to help you on your AR journey. If anything isn’t clear, is missing, is incorrect, or otherwise needs our attention, we greatly appreciate you letting us know. It will help us continuously improve our content for the firearms community.