[Review after 3 years of use] Lumintop Tool AAA Clicky Review

[GeraldL]

@Jack Kellar

I haven’t yet needed to use the Low mode to not bother others, but I definitely agree that it’s a mite too bright for murk-adapted eyesight. I rarely use it as my sleep light, I prefer to use my Ti3 for that since its firefly is so gentle on the eye.

Since yours is a cool white XP-G2, there’s little to lose so I’d say go for it! Just update us with the results

Man, I wish I can get my hands on the Ti3 to compare it against the Lumintop Tool. That’s an awesome AAA light as well.

I used a tweezer to try unscrewing the pill earlier. It wouldn’t budge, and I all did was scratch the underside of the board accidentally. Welp. Is it because it’s 3 years old and set in place already? Or do I need to heat it up?

[Jack_Kellar]

@GeraldL

Man, I wish I can get my hands on the Ti3 to compare it against the Lumintop Tool. That’s an awesome AAA light as well.

I used a tweezer to try unscrewing the pill earlier. It wouldn’t budge, and I all did was scratch the underside of the board accidentally. Welp. Is it because it’s 3 years old and set in place already? Or do I need to heat it up?

You can: HKEQUIPMENT - 照明及戶外用品 HKe is legit, you can purchase from them with no issues.

Does your board have two little holes? Mine is red and does have them, so I figure it’s unscrew-able. However, yours is of a much older fare, so they may not be the same. If you could post a pic of the board, it’d go a long way.

[nvanlaar]

My preference is the Massdrop flat tail switch versions. They come on L-M-H and can tail stand. Otherwise internals are the same great stuff. By far my most carried light (brass version).

[GeraldL]

@Jack Kellar

You can: HKEQUIPMENT - 照明及戶外用品 HKe is legit, you can purchase from them with no issues.

Does your board have two little holes? Mine is red and does have them, so I figure it’s unscrew-able. However, yours is of a much older fare, so they may not be the same. If you could post a pic of the board, it’d go a long way.

Yea I’ve bought from HKE before. Was always a pleasant experience.

Photo link: https://photos.app.goo.gl/9SEuVC4Dr7TqKUwo8 (Does it not work if I use Google Photos to host the images and embed them here?)

What do you think? Should I apply more force to remove it? To be honest, I am already quite pleased with my light, and it’s my EDC so I wouldn’t want to risk ruining it haha

[Jack_Kellar]

Good stuff, Gerald. It looks very similar to mine, holes and all. But again, I was speculating, I didn’t try to open mine.

That’s the link to your album; you have to use the URL of the image itself, like this:

If you’re happy with it as is, well, that changes things. I’d only dedome lights I don’t exactly like as they currently are, so IMO it’s best to let sleeping dogs lie

[LichtAn]

@GeraldL

@dealgrabber2002

It was quite easy. I just use a needle plyer to unscrewed it. Then I used a heat gun to soften the dome and carefully peeled it off.

Sounds simple! Thanks for the instructions. I might try it to get myself a pocket rocket!

I almost broke my needlenosepliers trying his, it does move a bit, then it gets stuck. No way of unscrewing it any further. :person_facepalming:

[EDCba]

@LichtAn

@GeraldL

@dealgrabber2002

It was quite easy. I just use a needle plyer to unscrewed it. Then I used a heat gun to soften the dome and carefully peeled it off.

Sounds simple! Thanks for the instructions. I might try it to get myself a pocket rocket!

I almost broke my needlenosepliers trying his, it does move a bit, then it gets stuck. No way of unscrewing it any further. :person_facepalming:

Could it be reverse threaded?

[LichtAn]

Nah, battery tube also screws in regularly. It feels a bit like the threads got damaged in some place and it gets stuck there. Man this is so frustrating, this is the second light this week I can’t get open. And I tried!

[dealgrabber2002]

Ah sorry to hear that. Maybe tighten it and try unscrewing again. Mine unscrewed with minimal effort.

[LichtAn]

@dealgrabber2002

Ah sorry to hear that. Maybe tighten it and try unscrewing again. Mine unscrewed with minimal effort.

Check my post here regarding a similar style light: https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/49764/314

:person_facepalming:

[dealgrabber2002]

Oh man. I wish you could open it. It throws very well and the tint is perfect. I usually over think like what to take on a vacation. Need spill, throw, good tint, compact, easy access to battery, lightweight… After dedomed it; this light is THE light for traveling.

[LichtAn]

I mean there are definitely people who got it open. I wonder if the newer batches may have threadlocker now. I just got it delivered yesterday from Banggood. I really can’t imagine how anyone could open this up.

[LichtAn]

@EDCba

@LichtAn

@GeraldL

@dealgrabber2002

It was quite easy. I just use a needle plyer to unscrewed it. Then I used a heat gun to soften the dome and carefully peeled it off.

Sounds simple! Thanks for the instructions. I might try it to get myself a pocket rocket!

I almost broke my needlenosepliers trying his, it does move a bit, then it gets stuck. No way of unscrewing it any further. :person_facepalming:

Could it be reverse threaded?

Alright so you were right and I feel like the most stupid idiot on this planet. Vinh explained it to me. Although the head screws on regularly, the pill screws in a different direction. I’ve never in my life seen that before.

[Jack_Kellar]

@LichtAn

Alright so you were right and I feel like the most stupid idiot on this planet. Vinh explained it to me. Although the head screws on regularly, the pill screws in a different direction. I’ve never in my life seen that before.

Convoy does that, with the pills and tailcap switches. It’s a means to prevent accidental loosening with use.

[GeraldL]

@Jack Kellar

Good stuff, Gerald. It looks very similar to mine, holes and all. But again, I was speculating, I didn’t try to open mine.

That’s the link to your album; you have to use the URL of the image itself, like this:

If you’re happy with it as is, well, that changes things. I’d only dedome lights I don’t exactly like as they currently are, so IMO it’s best to let sleeping dogs lie

Thanks for the help with attaching the image here, Jack. I do like the light as it is (that’s why I labelled it the almost perfect EDC) but looking at the posts here, I am so tempted to get better throw and nicer tints! Argh conflicted.

[GeraldL]

@LichtAn

Alright so you were right and I feel like the most stupid idiot on this planet. Vinh explained it to me. Although the head screws on regularly, the pill screws in a different direction. I’ve never in my life seen that before.

So you managed to unscrew yours? Do I turn it clockwise or anti clockwise? I’ve turned it both ways and I’m afraid I might have just made it tighter for myself haha :person_facepalming:

[LichtAn]

@GeraldL

@LichtAn

Alright so you were right and I feel like the most stupid idiot on this planet. Vinh explained it to me. Although the head screws on regularly, the pill screws in a different direction. I’ve never in my life seen that before.

So you managed to unscrew yours? Do I turn it clockwise or anti clockwise? I’ve turned it both ways and I’m afraid I might have just made it tighter for myself haha :person_facepalming:

Yes, mine is a AA 2.0 though. It unscrewed clockwise. If you get the direction right it really isn’t THAT hard. It’s not lose but also not super tight, you can hold it by hand, there’s no need to clamp it. Try heating it up if yours won’t move.
I got a SST-20 4000K in and it looks really lovely. Next up is an Oslon version and maybe also a dedomed XP-G. So many possibilities. :sunglasses: :+1:

[GeraldL]

@LichtAn

Yes, mine is a AA 2.0 though. It unscrewed clockwise. If you get the direction right it really isn’t THAT hard. It’s not lose but also not super tight, you can hold it by hand, there’s no need to clamp it. Try heating it up if yours won’t move.
I got a SST-20 4000K in and it looks really lovely. Next up is an Oslon version and maybe also a dedomed XP-G. So many possibilities. :sunglasses: :+1:

Ohh ok. I heated it up to the point where it was too hot to touch (I wrapped a t-shirt around it), made multiple scratches to the pill, worked up a sweat, and still nothing. Doesn’t budget. I can see some traces of red underneath. Do you think that might be threadlocker?

[GeraldL]

@dealgrabber2002

Ah sorry to hear that. Maybe tighten it and try unscrewing again. Mine unscrewed with minimal effort.

Is your light the Tool AAA also? And is it the earlier version that came without the additional magnetic tailcap? I tried turning it to the right (clockwise) and I’m pretty sure I enlarged the 2 holes in the pill, but it still wouldn’t move.

[LichtAn]

@GeraldL

@LichtAn

Yes, mine is a AA 2.0 though. It unscrewed clockwise. If you get the direction right it really isn’t THAT hard. It’s not lose but also not super tight, you can hold it by hand, there’s no need to clamp it. Try heating it up if yours won’t move.
I got a SST-20 4000K in and it looks really lovely. Next up is an Oslon version and maybe also a dedomed XP-G. So many possibilities. :sunglasses: :+1:

Ohh ok. I heated it up to the point where it was too hot to touch (I wrapped a t-shirt around it), made multiple scratches to the pill, worked up a sweat, and still nothing. Doesn’t budget. I can see some traces of red underneath. Do you think that might be threadlocker?

So you tried both directions already? Red could definitely be threadlocker. Pray it’s not Loctite. :smiling_imp: