I received the Thorfire PF04 today for review. It should be noted that I obtained it at no charge and that it’s expected that I write this review. Despite that, this review won’t be swayed. If the light is junk, I’ll be sure to let everyone know and if I think it’s good I’ll also mention that. It’s also my first review ( I warned Thorfire ) . I see that there are other reviews of this light and I must say that I did read them. But I didn’t change any of my review before copying it and pasting it here, other than to add these last 2 sentences.
This is the first penlight I’ve ever owned. My other small lights have been an inexpensive lensing light and the Thorfire TG06.
It was packaged in a tough polymer envelope and inside that was a corrugated box far larger that required for the actual light. The light was sandwiched between 2 sheets of approx’ ½” thick foam, so it was going to take a deliberate action on the part of the shipping company to hurt it. Mine arrived with no damage whatsoever. Inside, the light is in a bubble wrap sleeve, and comes with 2 extra o-rings, a card requesting a review and websites to go for service if required, and a brief owners manual/instruction sheet.
Initial impression of the light is that it’s a quality build. The LED end unscrews to allow one to insert 2 AAA batteries, and the threads are well cut and the tube appears to be anodized completely on the inside, including both the male and female threads. In keeping with it’s function (a penlight) it has a spring clip that appears to be able to do it’s job of clipping onto a shirt pocket. Not having a shirt pocket today I clipped it onto the neck of my shirt and it goes on easily and appears to hold sufficiently. The end cap that the clip is connected to has a nice spiral knurling it’s the end that would stick out of a shirt pocket, so it will look attractive as it sits in a pocket. A nice touch. The clip also acts as an anti-roll device and is sufficient for that. There is no provision on the light itself to attach a lanyard, but the clip has holes where a lanyard could be fed through for attachment. I don’t know why one ever would want a lanyard on it though. Maybe to prevent it from falling into machinery.
Physically the light is (all measurements approximate) 17/32” (14mm)at it’s widest point, at the tailcap (which isn’t removable that I could find). It’s 5 1/4” (133mm) long and it’s weight empty is 0.840oz or 23.8g. It’s a penlight and is about the same size as a pen.
I had some recently charged NiMH AAAs and opened the light up to put them in. The LED end unscrews and is approx’ 1 1/4” long (32mm). The O-ring was seated properly and the threads were lubed. The inside of the light tube is completely anodized, or at least as far as I could see into the tube, and I did shine a light in there to see. The LED end is the only end that screws off, and the fine threads appear to be nicely cut and the male and female threads are both anodized. The color of the anodizing is a satin black. It’s actually quite attractive and doesn’t appear cheap. The Thorfire logo and model number is printed on the side of the light as well as a symbol indicating that the led end can get hot. I intend to try it and see.
The LED is well centered and the reflector is smooth and shiny. The beam has a hot spot, but it has a very smooth transition into a flood type beam. I like this sort of beam for a working light. The tail cap contains the reverse clicky switch and the light has 3 modes, Low which is really low (1 lumen), medium (50 lumens), and high (210 lumens) in that order. The light will go to medium mode after the light has been on high for a few minutes (as I discovered). The switch has just the right amount of resistance to being pressed. If it turns on while in a shirt pocket you’ll never see it and you’ll run the batteries down.
As I write I have the light on high (but it turned itself down to medium unbeknownst to me). The light is warm but not hot. In fact the entire light is noticeably slightly warm, not only the LED end. It was warmer 2-3 minutes into the test. I just timed it and the light ramps down to medium after 3 minutes. It also has a memory but the instruction sheet says that it always starts in moonlight mode. Mine has a memory though, despite the instruction sheet telling me otherwise.
That’s it for now. Now I need to use it for a time. But my initial impression is that this is a nice light. Well suited for what it is and thoughtfully designed. I like it so far.
My older eyes need light for doing intricate work on small parts. I have nothing planned at this time, but next time I do have fine work like that I intend to use this light to test it exactly the way it’s designed to be used. One criticism of it that I have now is that I wish it had a brightness mode between moonlight and medium. I might change my tune on that as I use it though.
I also intend to use it around the house tonight after it gets dark. I might also take it outside, even though I don’t see that as being it’s primary function, but someone might press it into outdoor use. It is certainly bright enough for changing a flat tire. I think it’s actually brighter and with a better beam than the Thorfire TG06 lights that I specifically bought to put into the glove boxes of our vehicles for that sort of use. I have no idea about runtime. But I’ll be back here when I know more.