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

Thinner o-ring :slight_smile:

I really don’t think so. Unnecessary, and other aspects that I have observed on this image are troubling.

For starters, putting an o-ring into a rough bead-blasted groove with some shonky anodising is really not cool. If you want to create a seal, do it competently, or don’t bother. That means precise machined surface finish and materials selection. Slathering it with grease may also help. If you dive, you might understand this a little.

But since this is what it is, it probably doesn’t matter at-all to most customers.

It’s not as if we have even seen these supposed double o-rings in-situ. Well if two are better than one, why not three, or four where do you stop ?

Do it properly and one is enough. Two maybe for a dive torch, but that comes with downsides too. Double the maintenance, and you never really know whether either, or both, are serviceable. A bit like flying twin-engine planes.

Is that a piece for sale?
What do you want for thirty odd dollars, rocketship precision?

You could maybe take it diving with double O-rings… :stuck_out_tongue:

Btw, talking about double O-rings in non-dive lights:


Lot of maintenance there…

I heard back from Neal: “this is not the final verison, they are test the color”

Also, I hope this answers some questions:

(before anyone asks, this is one light photographed twice, not two lights)

What sorcery is this???

Really. I highly recommend looking through maukka’s reviews to see graphs of the exact path the LED tint takes through color space as the power increases. In great detail, he has published quantified measurements of many different types of LEDs. It’s very useful information, well beyond what the manufacturers provide.

Needless to say, looks great. We are all waiting to throw cash at somebody.

I think that’s a lot of the problem. If that is still the target price (though we have been warned it could be $6 more for Cree emitters (Samsung not yet sourced), then a Paypal tax on top, and the distribution method is unclear, etc. and Neal’s history of getting his ducks in a row and getting stuff out in a timely manner is a little iffy)

I’d probably pay 10 or maybe even 20$ more to get what was originally promised, with some surety, if it still comes under the radar at Customs.

But really losing interest. I’ve vacillated I know and made myself a bit of a nuisance here. Still watching this space.

It really boils down to a communication thing, or the complete lack of it, which seems so unnecessary, and disappointing to those who are still trying so hard.

These sneaky pictures of possible work in progress just raise more questions than they answer. Perhaps that is the intention, to try to keep a buzz going, and keep us chattering. Not sure that is really helpful, some solid information, technical updates, posited timescale and professionalism would be more confidence building.

As well as actually sending some proto4s to those who matter.

Here is a paste of a separate rant that I decided not to post. But now have.

Of course this has to be producible, and compromises needed to meet a (very tight IMO) selling price target.

Surface finish is a really big one. It really does cost, to do it right, and everyone has their own opinion (though few will know just how well things can be done) . Sending it down the line with a known standard mediocre process is the easy way forwards, and maybe not such a bad decision.

Creative “tension” between the designer, and the manufacturer and distribution people is to be expected, but it’s how that gets sorted out behind the scenes that separates the dogmatic , maybe a little bit arrogant, perfectionist (who may have little if any experience of of a big project) from those who are just trying to get on with things and doing their best, having been asked for their help, and considerable skills and experience, gratis, and to open this up to the important BLF audience.

TBH I’d rather spend $10 or even $20 more and get something closer to the original concept. But time’s arrow continues to move forwards, and other things seem increasingly more interesting, and I don’t like to encourage desultory communication, disdain, and general disrespect for key team members, exemplified by not arranging to send them prototypes, and clamming up. Nor bothering to wake up and procure the requested emitters in good time. An attitude of indifference. And not a good omen for when a couple of thousand of us just want them delivered, cleanly and efficiently, and swiftly

What’s to hide ? An ego-trip is one thing, pulling off something like this is quite another, and perhaps better to step aside and just let the pros finish it. E.g. quibbling over a requested 1mm dimension change (the man said no, perhaps he was right), for example.

Lumintop do know how to make torches, and there are competent and concerned people still sticking with this. Not sure why.

This was supposed to be really special. Now I doubt that.

Rant off. I promise to be nicer, for at least a few days. Please don’t press the re-named “Whatcha” button, no matter how tempting. But if you do, I’ll know what you did. That’s still the way it works.

5708 posts on this thread at the last count. Since May 4 2017. That’s a lot of interest, and time, committed by many people to it, no matter how you measure it. Hopefully not all just wasted because a few people, well, maybe over-promised, or just got out of their depth.

Here’s a suggestion. Fritz, or Cawi, just send TK your proto3 (or 4) and let her assess it. Then listen to what she has to say.

You might not like it, but better than just gathering dust on your shelf. Or gloating, Gollum-like, over “your precious” that may never happen, the way that this seems to be endlessly running on.

Well, maybe not all… myself and Tom Tom may not have the cash out and ready to throw just yet. :wink:

Yeah yeah yeah, I know, right? Me and Tom Tom on the same page… sometimes stuff just happens.

And then tatasal torture’s me with pics of that sweet old MaxToch SN6X-2X! :person_facepalming:

Speaking for myself, I’m on the interest list for one light, but I’ll more than likely be buying 2-3 more after the initial rush. Plus, I’m quite sure all my friends are gonna want one when they see mine. I think you could figure on 5-6x more demand than what has been voiced here. Not to mention other retail sales from recommendations on reddit or wherever else. I hope that’s motivation enough to get this into production ASAP. This flashlight will be a gold mine for those selling them.

55 posts, many of them tense, in about 12 hours because, after bemoaning the lack of photos or other updates, we (collectively) didn’t recognize a thread relief when a photo was finally posted.

I’m starting to think this thread should be locked until the light is ready to ship.

I don’t think these don’t look like the same bodies/tubes… where did the first image come from?

Oh well, sorry for that.

The torture’s going to end my friend. Let’s make a deal: PM me your mailing address, and my MaxToch SN6X-2X(Vn) will be on its way to you.

Everything’s on me, Merry Christmas!

Please add me for one! :slight_smile:

P.S.: The light looks great!

Agreed, quite different. Yet more questions than answers. Again.

Guessing that is only TK’s proto2. It seems we are now up to at least 3 , or even 4, and so it still seems to keep on evolving, at least in some people’s dreams.

Yeah but that wasn’t all i wrote:

So it seems the warmest tint is somewhere in the middle of the range (from very low to very high).

Okay, i’ll look for that among the esoteric graphs i’m not initiated for. :wink: :smiley: