FW3A, a TLF/BLF EDC flashlight - SST-20 available, coupon codes public

Thank you for the 4 clicks to go to config Toykeeper!

And also thanks for the detailed explanations!

Sorry to drag up this arcane point again, but it seems to me that the cross-section in the first post at http://i.imgur.com/AVSmLGN.jpg shows the current path through the outer tube is only through the square cut threads at the head. There is a clear gap shown between the end of the outer tube and the driver retaining ring. Only the inner signalling connection would be broken by unscrewing the head a little.

This is why I concluded that the square cut threads must be un-anodised. Hence mechanical lockout of the power connection would not happen.

This makes sense to me, and alleviates my concern about the precision of tolerances and assembly that would otherwise be necessary if the only contact was at the faces on the ends of the tubes.

Unless the design has changed ?

Edit: it should be simple enough to verify whether this is the case with a continuity check on one of the prototypes. Or simply unscrewing the head a little whilst the torch is on, it might keep on shining, assuming that the tail switch is a normally-open variety, and that there is no detection of it’s presence.

Hi! Sorry, hope this isn’t a pain, but please put me down for another 2 lights (currently #1025 and #1026) for a total of 4. This light looks awesome - gotta stock up!

Big request here that I dont think has been asked yet…

Can we machine a trit slot in the tail switch? Considering this will be nearly impossible to light the switch up a trit slot would be very handy to find this thing in the dark. I’m currently in the same boat with my black convoy s2+ metal switch. I wanted to use the light as a night stand light but nothing gets through that switch and I am going to experiment drilling my own trit slot adjacent to the switch.

Edit:

Lumintop has done this on several lights already so it’s in their wheelhouse for sure. Picture from giorgoskok’s Elfin review. I dont think the trit should be included. Just the slot…

Please make sure that the head is NOT glued. I’m fine with having no host option available, but would like the option to upgrade the LEDs myself in the future.

Also… is the clip removable? For those of us who don’t use clips, it’s just extra weight in the pocket.

Please put me down for 2 of these.

Great work, thanks.

Larry

Probably not. Every part of this light, including the button, is thinned down enough that a trit slot would likely go all the way through the metal. The only place I know trits could fit is under the optic. It’s also possible that some might fit in the thick part of the tapered body tube.

Most lights have a lot of extra material to drill into, but this one does not. It opts to be smaller rather than unnecessarily thick.

TBD.

The first prototype’s tail end was glued, so no. Not sure if later units will be glued too.

The quoted text is a measurement, not a theory. And yes, the parts are pretty precise.

That’s too bad because it’s very practical all things considered and similar lights with a focus on machining tend to have them.

Where there’s a will there’s a way. Just glue a magnet onto the tailswitch with a trit slot in that and get 3 mods in 1: proud tailswitch, magnetic tail, trit. I’m sure a few people will find space somewhere to carve out a slot if that’s what they really want.

Actually, a very neat idea! :crown: :+1:

Given a choice between no trits or making the entire light larger and heavier, I’d rather go for no trits. That’s a matter of personal preference though. I have other lights with a focus on machining, and they feel like bricks in comparison.

I don’t have any lights which are truly similar to the FW3A. The Emisar D4 is closest, but it’s significantly heavier. Otherwise, the only lights I can compare it to are designed for AA/14500 or 16340/18350. For example, a Convoy S2+ with 18350 tube is only a few millimeters shorter, and about the same weight when both lights have a battery installed. My Rey Ti has trit slots, but it’s heavier even in 18350 form. The FW3A is pretty close to the same size and weight as a SK-68, but it uses an 18650 cell instead of AA.

The BLF X5 and X6 are excellent for this. Factory lighted tail switches.

Yeah, definitely prefer this to be as minimalist as possible. Comparable to a ZL SC64 without the triple?

FWIW, Fritz successfully replaced the button with a rubber one. This makes it stick out, but it can also allow light through if it’s a clear rubber boot. I’m not sure if that really helps though.

Fritz made a new render showing the latest model with a tapered tube.

This is what Lumintop is working on right now, if I understand correctly.

As for the comparison to a ZL SC64, that’s probably pretty accurate. Here are some measurements:

  • FW3A proto1: 92.6 mm x 25.5 mm (length x head diameter)
  • ZL SC64: 92.5 mm x 24.5 mm (measurement doesn’t include extra thickness for the button area)
  • SK-68: 92.1 mm x 26.3 mm (99.2 mm long when zoomed)
  • Emisar D4: 94.4 mm x 28.1 mm (with SF L2 clip) (30.2 mm at widest part of head)

Wow , I love it.

FW3A Team:

You can disable PMs for this team account. People won’t even have the option of PMing the account and wondering why no one responds.

Mr.Scott

This render looks to have a grain type finish to it. Like it was spun and someone held some fine sand paper or scotchbrite to it. I think it is nicer than the bead blasted finish.

I agree. And it looks AWESOME!!!

When can we buy this again?

It is a render.

But, lets face it, this has become too big a run to have a very fine machined finish, that would require frequent re-sharpening of even the best carbide cutters, the best free-cutting alloys, slow cuts, and even then there might be moans about it not being quite perfect.

If it was made of e.g. SS it could be electro-polished, but that would defeat the whole point of this very fine minimalist torch, cut down to the minimum. It seems like a “Swiss Watch” construction, definitely not ordinary.

It looks good to me, preferably tumbled in ceramic media rather than crude bead-blast.

Please keep the anodisation top-quality.

Looking good.