Why Cu?

[djmcconn]

@toddcshoe

I think it’s just looks. Why do some women like gold? There are much better materials to make jewelry out of but, the gold gets em every time.

I got rid of most of my copper lights. A Reylight, Olight and Maratac are all that remain. The Reylight is the only one that gets carried. The Olight and Maratac are in the wife’s purse. She could care less about flashlights but she sure does like the copper lights. You also can’t leave anything with aux lights laying around. They will find their way into her purse as well. I use to have a D4v2, now I only have visitation rights.

Love it!

[ChrisGarrett]

I don’t care for copper lights, either, but if we all liked the same things, it would be a boring world.

I personally never thought old pennies were attractive, to begin with.

Chris

[Andrew_Debbie]

3. Looks. Some of them are very nice looking. FW3a is outstanding in Cu.
4. Fit and finish. In my limited experence some Cu lights are better made than the Al version.

The clear coated ones don’t tarnish.

[Firelight2]

@Joshk

I haven’t looked it up, but I kinda suspect the copper needs to be clean and bare to kill germs. A patina or grime is going to prevent the virus from touching the copper.

The oligodynamic effect that kills germs works if the copper has a patina. It doesn’t need to be shiny.

However, I don’t think it can have a protective coating like Protectaclear on it. The copper metal must be exposed.

COVID-19 was tested to see how long it survives on various materials. Copper was one of the specific materials tested. These were the results:

• Airborne - 3 hours
• Copper - 4 hours
• Fibrous material like cloth - 24 hours
• Hard material (plastic, steel, etc.) - 3 days

The article I read didn’t test COVID-19 for it, but copper alloys like Brass also have self-disinfecting effect. It’s not as strong or as fast as pure copper though.

[xevious (Gary)]

Aesthetics is the only reason why I got myself a few lights out of copper. It’s a sexy material, the way it tarnishes. But it’s certainly not the ideal material for flashlight casings. Great for a driver pill. Excellent thermal venting in that application. But it’s heavy, dents easily, and it’s more expensive than steel or aluminum alloy.

It’s understandable why copper is still used so much. I have been very drawn to buying more flashlights made of copper, simply because it looks so great. Thankfully, I’ve been good at resisting. The only regret I have in getting one was the Astrolux A01. It’s like a small bone, heavy and kind of silly for its size.

[KawiBoy1428]

@MoreLumens

@Andrew_Debbie

The clear coated ones don’t tarnish.

Any examples?

The BLF Special Edition/KRONOS CUX5 is coated… almost 6 yrs old now…

[lumenzilla]

Copper flashlights are pretty, and prettier when the patina come.
But I keep mine as small as possible, I avoid bigger than 16340 flashlights.

[MascaratumB]

@KawiBoy1428

Now I’m jealous

Those are sweet looking lights :heart_eyes:

[raccoon]

"Why Cu?"

You shouldn't be able to see me...

That's not how the internet works!

[Omega_17]

To me they are heavy, smelly, expensive, and get tarnished and scratched.

This is the reasons people like me love them. They are luxurious items for collectors, not practical but beautiful.

[BurningPlayd0h]

@Omega_17

To me they are heavy, smelly, expensive, and get tarnished and scratched.

This is the reasons people like me love them. They are luxurious items for collectors, not practical but beautiful.

I’ve seen many people here and r/flashlights that carry 18650-format copper lights as EDC and that’s what’s puzzling to me and many others.

[SKV89]

It’s the best material against bacteria and viruses, including the COVID-19

Coronavirus can persist in air for hours and on surfaces for days: study

[grin]

Looks good, to me they seem to get hotter but I think that is because the heat transfers into the light quicker.

[ChrisGarrett]

@SKV89

It’s the best material against bacteria and viruses, including the COVID-19
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-study/new-coronavirus-can-persist-in-air-for-hours-and-on-surfaces-for-days-study-idUSKBN2143QP

Silver coins used to be dropped into drink cups for anti- bacterial reasons.

Chris

[kennybobby]

Because Old Lumens is a god on this forum and he built one from scratch by hand with his genius use of old tools in his garage, and it looked beautiful.

Everybody dreams of being able to build a light like that, but few have the skills.

But everybody can buy one and have the vicarious thrill of the master. just my 2¢

[CRX]

I only like copper for it’s thermal properties.
I tend to use them exclusively in the house, mostly these two hand made fellas.

I don’t really care for varying patina which happens when handling so a solid copper light with a little cf covering works for me. Keeps the light from feeling scalding hot on max while also conducting enough heat to the hand.

Bare Cu.

[grin]

@CRX

I only like copper for it’s thermal properties.
I tend to use them exclusively in the house, mostly these two hand made fellas.

I don’t really care for varying patina which happens when handling so a solid copper light with a little cf covering works for me. Keeps the light from feeling scalding hot on max while also conducting enough heat to the hand.

Bare Cu.

Now that is just showing off

[NeutralFan]

@raccoon city

“Why Cu?”

You shouldn’t be able to see me…

That’s not how the internet works!

Good one! I CU, you see me?

I’ve been eyeing up the Copper S2+ for quite awhile, but I just can’t justify the price or the weight. But it looks so good - must resist, must resist.

[jon_slider]

I like the hand worn look of shiny highspots, dark spaces between the knurling, of uncoated copper

I like having an alternative to black aluminium, that are so commonplace, even though aluminium is lighter and cheaper. One part of my interest in lights is as pocket jewelry. I imagine showing someone my copper light, and they say wow… that seldom actually happens, but I like the bling factor of copper

I like that copper kills germs, even though that is not relevant to my flashlight. I also have a copper water bottle, copper teacup, and kettle.

I have childhood nostalgia for copper and brass objects, that I inherited from my European father, where such things were traditionally valued, in the past.

the smell is a chemical reaction with oils on our skin, I disliked it until I reprogrammed my reaction to it as the smell of dead germs (not rational, the smell is on my hand, not on the light)

I agree copper lights are heavy, I only use Cu hosts in AAA
In a twisty copper has the benefit of very buttery threads, the exact opposite of titanium.

I sold my 16340 Cu S Mini partly because of the excessive weight in my pocket, though moreso I did not enjoy the LED, and it could not be modified easily.

If anyone needs a good home for a drop.com CuTool, please keep me in mind, I have a good friend in Europe seeking to adopt one. It will be well loved by someone with a traditional appreciation of the Noble Metals.

@NeutralFan

I’ve been eyeing up the Copper S2+ for quite awhile

resistance is futile
you deserve it
Its a cheap thrill, I paid more than that for my Cu Maratac

and as my father once said
first youre going to agonize about doing it, then you will go ahead, and be glad you did
the agonizing part is optional

[darosk]

They all look completely chintzy and tacky to me. Kind of like an extension of the ‘tacticool’ or ‘mall ninja’ aesthetic - just a bit more expensive and heavier. I don’t get the appeal at all, but hey, it’s your disposable income. Do with it what you want.