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

[Umpi2000]

@Scallywag

@Umpi2000

Anyone thought of getting some Luxeon V’s in the FW3A? Or swapping to a quad with a 106xx carclo optic?

My Luxeon V triple board is waiting. I’m a bit concerned about the heat, as this light doesn’t have a thick shelf like my D4 does. We’ll see.

Please let me know the results, I have a triple board that I got for another mod but maybe it’ll be better in the FW3A?

[M3CSL]

@Umpi2000

Or swapping to a quad with a 106xx carclo optic?

I believe I have read somewhere on BLF that a quad would not fit; while the MCPCB for both triple and quads are 20mm, the Carclo quad optics are 24mm in diameter. Carclo triples are only 20mm.

From the schematics in the first post I estimated that a quad optic wouldn’t fit, at least not without extensive Dremel persuasion.

Maybe one of the early movers could do a quick check?
We would need the diameter of the inside nudge where the optics sit on and the inside diameter of the head that screws onto the light.

[Umpi2000]

@M3CSL

@Umpi2000

Or swapping to a quad with a 106xx carclo optic?

I believe I have read somewhere on BLF that a quad would not fit; while the MCPCB for both triple and quads are 20mm, the Carclo quad optics are 24mm in diameter. Carclo triples are only 20mm.

From the schematics in the first post I estimated that a quad optic wouldn’t fit, at least not without extensive Dremel persuasion.

Maybe one of the early movers could do a quick check?
We would need the diameter of the inside nudge where the optics sit on and the inside diameter of the head that screws onto the light.

Thanks for the info, I’ll need to measure mine when it arrives if no one else has already.

[Umpi2000]

@Neal

@ToyKeeper

So… a bit of FW3A news:

Neal will be offline and off work for a while. His wife is giving birth, like, right now. He texted me from the hospital to ask if I could let people know. So items which haven’t shipped yet might be delayed.

(the first post is updated with this info … not sure how long until he goes back to work, so I’ll leave the message up until he returns)

Thanks,we are all good, he is a boy.

And lumintop told me the 7A and 3D led both restock today,they start to assembly this week.

I will try to ship all the rest orders next week.

Awesome news for you and your Wife! Congratulations to you both :partying_face:

[M3CSL]

@Umpi2000

Thanks for the info, I’ll need to measure mine when it arrives if no one else has already.

The entire light is only 25.5mm - so if the quad optics were to fit, there would only be .75mm for the tube thickness including the head. So that probably wouldn’t work out.

But it is possible to reduce the quad optics in size, a diameter reduction of 2mm would cut into the reflector cups though.

[slimkango]

Congratulations Neal!!

[mbp]

Congratulations Neal! Family comes first, take care of your little one and your wife and don’t worry about flashlights for a bit…

So if Lumintop is restocking and building more XP-L HI FW3As right now and the plan is to get them shipped next week, I’m assuming the SST-20 version is probably at least a few weeks out?

I might have to just order an XP-L. I’ve never swapped LEDs before but maybe I’ll just go that route to get higher CRI. I prefer the LH351D over the SST-20 anyhow.

[yanya]

Congratulations Neal to all your family and big kiss to your brave wife.
I suggest a name Shaquille O

[Streamtronics]

I’ve seen some people mention how they added batteries to their order to make sure they get shipped fast… how does that work? Or did I misunderstand something? I’m sure there’s ways to ship batteries on boats or via train… so I don’t really get why adding a battery would “force” them to send it via air mail

[Sudsy]

@Neal

Thanks,we are all good

Congrats to you and your family! Glad to hear everyone is healthy. :partying_face:

[KawiBoy1428]

@M3CSL

@Umpi2000

Thanks for the info, I’ll need to measure mine when it arrives if no one else has already.

The entire light is only 25.5mm - so if the quad optics were to fit, there would only be .75mm for the tube thickness including the head. So that probably wouldn’t work out.

But it is possible to reduce the quad optics in size, a diameter reduction of 2mm would cut into the reflector cups though.

I fit Quads in Convoy S2+ no big deal…

[M3CSL]

Thanks, KawiBoy1428 - would you say it is a lot of work to reduce the optic diameter from 24mm to 20mm? Is the beam good enough afterwards?

Thanks.

[KawiBoy1428]

@M3CSL

Thanks, KawiBoy1428 - would you say it is a lot of work to reduce the optic diameter from 24mm to 20mm? Is the beam good enough afterwards?

Thanks.

Tedious if you do it by hand, like I did the first one, piece of cake on the lathe with a jig to hold the optic.

Worth it, only you can decide once you do one. But for me…now….I would only do it for the right host.

[M3CSL]

Thanks, KawiBoy1428. I did a quad build once in a Thorfire VG10 where the heat could escape.
While I do think this FW3A is a cool light and a good candidate for a quad build, the heat would be an issue.

Let’s see.

[Relampago]

@ToyKeeper

… and now Neal has a child.

That was quick.

I wonder what the child will become in life?

Anyway, I told Neal he needs to pay attention to his family now, not his phone.

In Spanish, to give birth is translated Dar A Luz, which means “To give light”
Feels appropriate.

[Henk4U2]

The eagle has landed. Twelve days from ordering. Regular shipping. Very well wrapped up. Good job, Neal.
What a beauty, in every aspect. Nice clip. No dings, blemishes or scratches. Just a fingerprint on the lens.
But that is no biggie, because I was planning to polish the optic anyway. And clean every part with alcohol. Hick!

[candor]

First, wow, congratulations Neal to you and your wife—what a blessing!

Second, after publicly fretting about something as relatively trivial as the possibility of having to wait a few extra days for a (surely awesome) light that I don’t even need, I got my tracking number last night. So, yay.

Again Neal, congrats. Savor every moment. It’s strange how time seems to slow down and still speed away.

[Helios_azimuth]

@Streamtronics

I’ve seen some people mention how they added batteries to their order to make sure they get shipped fast…

Not an expert, but in some circumstances the batteries come much slower than a flashlight alone. For the USA there are various regulations and policies and inspections that can be mind boggling and changeable, so suppliers use various ways to get them delivered. I just trust them and practice patience. UPS and FedEx might have their own strict limits, maybe. Perhaps an expert will chime in. Threads exist dedicated to this topic and here is an example from one:

Part of a post from 6/2018:

DMM (Domestic Mailing Manual)
Domestic shipment in part 10.20.6. Secondary Lithium Batteries up to 20WHr capacity, and packs up to 100WHr capacity can be mailed if packed with or installed in equipment, but only in the quantity required to operate the equipment, This applies to Domestic, and most International Shipments.
If mailed without equipment, the limit is 3 cells, they must be declared on the exterior of the package, and may be shipped domestically by surface or air.
Shipment of more than 3 cells is prohibited by air and surface.
This is summarized in the table in 10.20.8
Requirement/restrictions for International Shipment are covered in the International Mailing Manual, part 135.61

[neBstress]

Well, I almost got mine today.

After being sat at the local couriers depot (Yodel ) for almost a week I checked the tracking first thing this morning to find it was delivery day today!

I waited in all day with excitment building.
On the Yodel tracking site you can see the number of stops the driver has to make before yours and a map showing his location.

As it got down to 2 stops away and showed the couriers location as just a couple of streets away the tracking suddenly changed to “We tried to deliver your parcel but couldn’t access your property”

Which is obviously impossible as I had of course been watching and hovering around the front of my property in impatient expectation for most of the day and not taken my eyes off any coming and going for at least the last hour or so!

Spent 30mins on the phone waiting to speak to a human, they offered to deliver tomorrow but I’m away all day, managed to arrange a redelivery for Saturday, hopefully, fingers crossed.

[iamlucky13]

@M3CSL

@Umpi2000

Or swapping to a quad with a 106xx carclo optic?

I believe I have read somewhere on BLF that a quad would not fit; while the MCPCB for both triple and quads are 20mm, the Carclo quad optics are 24mm in diameter. Carclo triples are only 20mm.

From the schematics in the first post I estimated that a quad optic wouldn’t fit, at least not without extensive Dremel persuasion.

Maybe one of the early movers could do a quick check?

See Skylumen.com.

It appears VinH has already tested the necessary Dremel persuasion and is offering several quad options.