Review: UniqueFire F12-A

starfish

lmao@chicago. I just threw up in my mouth a little.

Dang, that little light looks very nice!

Daaaaaaayum!! CX,that’s crazy funny,jokes aside,cool light and slick looking.I might just buy this light sans the cat-butt switch.

I had forgotten how horrendous that tailcap was.

On my F12B (the 2X16340 version), I ordered THESE to go with it. Fit perfectly on mine.

I have been EDC’ing the F12B since I got it, and I am anxious to hear your thoughts on this one.

I finally broke down and got my first 14500 light, and may have to complete the set.

My only real complaint was the purplish tint of the emitter.

Great photos, as usual. Hope the knee is doing well.

What was the brand of light that used the cat butthole tailcap? Something like Fierie or FierieFire. FannyFire would be about right.

Yeah, like I said once before in a brief impression after receiving this light, it feels like I'm fingering a starfish on a blown out pink sock (if you know what I mean ). Truly weird tailcap assembly on this light. Now that I have the pics I need to replace the rubber boot with something a little less...erotic...in a really disturbing, skeevy way.

Review completed

Thanks very much for the detailed review with all the photos! Well done. Frontpage’d and Sticky’d.

Nice review, nice light. It looks like an HDS clone. Tempting.

Keith

Thank you for the review JohnnyMac.

This does not sound like a winner to me. Nothing like your Z8.

Another awesome review and pics Johnny!

Glad you're feeling better.

Nice review JohnnyMac! Thanks! I've had this F12-A a few months and desperately need to replace that button. I bought this for the looks and the "U2", thinking it would be a pocket rocket, but no way, glad you revealed the cause - 1.4 amps. Wonder if Eric could do up a nice driver for this thing because I really like the look and feel of this light. Stock, it's brighter than my Romisen RC-29 or Sipik Sk68, which isn't saying much, I realize.

Questions:

JohnnyMac: for the outer shell of the switch insert shown above with the 2 holes, mine came without any holes. Did you drill those or did it come that way? They look hand drilled, just wondering. I think I'll have to go ahead and drill them - not sure how else to get it apart to replace that butt ugly tailcap boot.

Sharpthangs (or JohnnyMac): will the replacement tailcap boot/button from manafont (link above) allow the light to tail stand?

Very nice pics !

JohnnyMac, do any of the parts (tailcap, body) from the Z8 fit on the F12-A ?

Tom E.

Unfortunately, the new GITD boots don’t really change the wobbly tailstanding on my F-12B.

I’m with you, a driver change would make this top shelf.

I really like the clip, and it just feels solid.

Unfortunately, the new GITD boots don’t really change the wobbly tailstanding on my F-12B.

I’m with you, a driver change would make this top shelf.

I really like the clip, and it just feels solid.

Hi - that's ashame - I may try another boot then, but these look ok and there's a bunch of them. when you changed out the boot, did yours have the drilled out holes in the switch insert? Also, I looked at the driver board in mine and it's a different board - looks like same chips, different layout, and exposed copper around a lot of the edge. It's still a TF board though, but a different # - couldn't quite make it out.

I ordered mine at manafont, got by July 27th. Maybe mine is an older batch. Mode switching is really annoying because up until 1-2 minutes with it off, turn it on and it's to the next mode. That state is usually 1-2 seconds, not minutes. This is another big reason for a driver upgrade for me.

Nothing except the switch boot are interchangeable. Threading is completely different.

I installed a blue 14x6mm boot from CNQG and it is very much recessed. It really transforms this light into a solid tail stander (unlike the Z8’s narrow tail) and makes the light an all around winner in looks and feel.

Tom, mine had the holes already in it. If yours does not have them you should just drill them yourself. The plastic is at least 1/4" on mine so feel free to go 1/8" deep.

As for a new switch boot, one that is 14x6mm will fit perfect and allow solid standing. The normal 14x8mm caps may stick out a hair and keep it wobbly. I got mine from CNQG.

Thanks guys! Ordered the 14x6's from CNQ, plus a few other things. For $22 in items, the shipping w/tracking was $11 but still a good deal. There discount prices seem very good. I have this light and two others (SmallSun ZY-T624, UF NH-T60) that seem to have a need for a driver update. Maybe I'll try contacting E1320 (Erik) if he woud be interested in doing all 3.

Tom E.

Let us know how that goes. Would be very interested in that myself.