(Posted this on CPF also. Got no comments there... what do you all think of this mod?)
One of these days I'll use the "real" camera and do some good pics outside during golden hour when it's not freezing out. These are quick shots.
Here's a new favorite! 1st generation KL3 with an M bin MC-E, Shiningbeam 2800ma driver, L2x body and tactical clickie.
I filed the reflector down from a retired Pelican I had here. Then I stippled it with Krylon crystal clear followed up by matte clear coat. Enlarged the original Surefire rubber ring around the reflector. Added a glow ring. The cosmetic piece around the emitter is a filed/sanded washer epoxied in place.
If you think that reflector was easy, guess again! I have no machine shop facilities and it's all done with hand tools. Took hours.
I opened the KL3 by heating it with a heat gun until the housing broke loose. (searched old CPF threads) Scrapped the original guts; had to gouge out the old driver anyway. Now, this sounds half-assed but I stuck the new driver in with hot glue to get it secure and keep it from shifting; then squeezed thermal compound around it-not gonna be open to the elements anyway. Glued it off center so that at least one edge makes contact with the head circumference so there's some kind of thermal relief into the head assisted by the compound.
I stripped out the original soldering pads for the LED and Arctic Alumina'ed the MC-E star in. (got it from LED Supply)
It's not a professional job by any means but I think she turned out pretty good! I love this thing!
I didn't measure current yet but I use an IMR 18650 and I get a huge ~100deg. flood that has a very mild, non-distracting hotspot, no artifacts at all in the very smooth flood that lights up houses a couple hundred feet away. The MC-E is my favorite emitter so far since I've modernized over the last couple of months-no bad tint issues at all-just nice white. I set the driver up for high, low and strobe.
Let me know what you all think-comments-and more KL3's!-welcome!
Front of the Death Ray. >)
Solarforce clickie also.
Semi-hack job cosmetic washer, scratches exaggerated in pic.
Too cold, and I'm too lazy to do beamshots. Enjoy!
Rich