[Review after 3 years of use] Lumintop Tool AAA Clicky Review

[deleted-200707]

I have the Cu version (3ea), they all have 10440 batts in them from the get-go and are in my daily use. Why does Lumintop deny the compatibility in the face of common knowledge?

[Boaz]

For years this light has been in my " top 10...must have lights" list.

[GeraldL]

@dealgrabber2002

It was quite easy. I just use a needle plyer to unscrewed it. Then I used a heat gun to soften the dome and carefully peeled it off.

Sounds simple! Thanks for the instructions. I might try it to get myself a pocket rocket!

[GeraldL]

@mrmatt

It’s also my favorite aaa light, perfect light for function/quality and price. I have the flat magnetic tail cap too so I’m always torn between the tailstand/twisty and the nice click.
The nichia version is an amazing tint, I gave away my cool white and bought a nichia to replace it

Hi Mr Matt, thanks for dropping by! I would love to have that option but I bought my light much earlier and it didn’t come with the magnetic tailcap option. That would have been extremely handy for sure. Enjoy your nichia tint! Cheers!

[Boaz]

Pretty sure bangood still sells the magnetic tail cap ..

Yep here it is >>

Banggood Sitemap - Wholesale Sitemap - China wholesale

[GeraldL]

@Boaz

For years this light has been in my ” top 10…must have lights” list.

Hey Boaz! Does this light rank in the top 3? Just curious

[Jack_Kellar]

I hear ya on all those points, Gerald, excellent review. But I have to emphasize even more the utility aspect from starting in Mid mode with a tail clicky: the Tool is a tiny keychain-ish light, but it puts in work, just like a bigger torch. Unless you need the extra brightness or extended runtime (like a lot of night use), you can easily have this as your only flashlight.

In fact, if you ask me, this tiny light that could outclasses the CR123-size lights I have :laughing:

@GeraldL

@thisnameisvalid

Nice review! Yours is in remarkably good condition for 3 years of carry. I’ve barely had mine a year and the anodisation is wearing off all over the place :person_facepalming: Guess that’s what I get for putting it on a keychain… Great light though, only wish it came with a NW xpg2

Thanks for the kind words, Sir! I do put it in my pocket, but separate from my keys, which explains why the anodisation holds up.
I agree that there should be a NW option - hopefully they hear us and give us an option when they launch a new version

There already is a NW version: the CRI one with the Nichia 219B. Which, incidentally, is my own AAA EDC and one minitorch I wouldn’t swap away for any other model in the world as of today

P.S.: I was monkeying around with a few lights of mine (especially a Thrunite T10 and a Ti3), and I think you can unscrew the Tool’s whole pill with a set of watchmaker tweezers like you can with the Ti3. That’s only speculation, though, I haven’t tried it myself.

[GeraldL]

@chinooker

I have the Cu version (3ea), they all have 10440 batts in them from the get-go and are in my daily use. Why does Lumintop deny the compatibility in the face of common knowledge?

I’m thinking they are being cautious, in the case of the layman (non-flashlight enthusiasts) letting the light overheat too much and damaging the internals. I use the High mode in 15 seconds bursts, and drop it back down to Medium after to increase the longevity of my light.

[GeraldL]

@Jack Kellar

I hear ya on all those points, Gerald, excellent review. But I have to emphasize even more the utility aspect from starting in Mid mode with a tail clicky: the Tool is a tiny keychain-ish light, but it puts in work, just like a bigger torch. Unless you need the extra brightness or extended runtime (like a lot of night use), you can easily have this as your only flashlight.

In fact, if you ask me, this tiny light that could outclasses the CR123-size lights I have :laughing:

There already is a NW version: the CRI one with the Nichia 219B. Which, incidentally, is my own AAA EDC and one minitorch I wouldn’t swap away for any other model in the world as of today

P.S.: I was monkeying around with a few lights of mine (especially a Thrunite T10 and a Ti3), and I think you can unscrew the Tool’s whole pill with a set of watchmaker tweezers like you can with the Ti3. That’s only speculation, though, I haven’t tried it myself.

Thanks for the kind words You’re absolutely right! When I’m outdoor, coming on in Medium mode works perfectly. I only wish for the moonlight mode when I’m in the cinema looking for my seat, or using it to go to the washroom at night. That ruins my night vision, and that of others around me LOL.

You’re tempting me to remove the pill and maybe dedome it!

[Jack_Kellar]

@GeraldL

Thanks for the kind words You’re absolutely right! When I’m outdoor, coming on in Medium mode works perfectly. I only wish for the moonlight mode when I’m in the cinema looking for my seat, or using it to go to the washroom at night. That ruins my night vision, and that of others around me LOL.

You’re tempting me to remove the pill and maybe dedome it!

I haven’t yet needed to use the Low mode to not bother others, but I definitely agree that it’s a mite too bright for murk-adapted eyesight. I rarely use it as my sleep light, I prefer to use my Ti3 for that since its firefly is so gentle on the eye.

Since yours is a cool white XP-G2, there’s little to lose so I’d say go for it! Just update us with the results

[GeraldL]

@Jack Kellar

I haven’t yet needed to use the Low mode to not bother others, but I definitely agree that it’s a mite too bright for murk-adapted eyesight. I rarely use it as my sleep light, I prefer to use my Ti3 for that since its firefly is so gentle on the eye.

Since yours is a cool white XP-G2, there’s little to lose so I’d say go for it! Just update us with the results

Man, I wish I can get my hands on the Ti3 to compare it against the Lumintop Tool. That’s an awesome AAA light as well.

I used a tweezer to try unscrewing the pill earlier. It wouldn’t budge, and I all did was scratch the underside of the board accidentally. Welp. Is it because it’s 3 years old and set in place already? Or do I need to heat it up?

[Jack_Kellar]

@GeraldL

Man, I wish I can get my hands on the Ti3 to compare it against the Lumintop Tool. That’s an awesome AAA light as well.

I used a tweezer to try unscrewing the pill earlier. It wouldn’t budge, and I all did was scratch the underside of the board accidentally. Welp. Is it because it’s 3 years old and set in place already? Or do I need to heat it up?

You can: HKEQUIPMENT - 照明及戶外用品 HKe is legit, you can purchase from them with no issues.

Does your board have two little holes? Mine is red and does have them, so I figure it’s unscrew-able. However, yours is of a much older fare, so they may not be the same. If you could post a pic of the board, it’d go a long way.

[nvanlaar]

My preference is the Massdrop flat tail switch versions. They come on L-M-H and can tail stand. Otherwise internals are the same great stuff. By far my most carried light (brass version).

[GeraldL]

@Jack Kellar

You can: HKEQUIPMENT - 照明及戶外用品 HKe is legit, you can purchase from them with no issues.

Does your board have two little holes? Mine is red and does have them, so I figure it’s unscrew-able. However, yours is of a much older fare, so they may not be the same. If you could post a pic of the board, it’d go a long way.

Yea I’ve bought from HKE before. Was always a pleasant experience.

Photo link: https://photos.app.goo.gl/9SEuVC4Dr7TqKUwo8 (Does it not work if I use Google Photos to host the images and embed them here?)

What do you think? Should I apply more force to remove it? To be honest, I am already quite pleased with my light, and it’s my EDC so I wouldn’t want to risk ruining it haha

[Jack_Kellar]

Good stuff, Gerald. It looks very similar to mine, holes and all. But again, I was speculating, I didn’t try to open mine.

That’s the link to your album; you have to use the URL of the image itself, like this:

If you’re happy with it as is, well, that changes things. I’d only dedome lights I don’t exactly like as they currently are, so IMO it’s best to let sleeping dogs lie

[LichtAn]

@GeraldL

@dealgrabber2002

It was quite easy. I just use a needle plyer to unscrewed it. Then I used a heat gun to soften the dome and carefully peeled it off.

Sounds simple! Thanks for the instructions. I might try it to get myself a pocket rocket!

I almost broke my needlenosepliers trying his, it does move a bit, then it gets stuck. No way of unscrewing it any further. :person_facepalming:

[EDCba]

@LichtAn

@GeraldL

@dealgrabber2002

It was quite easy. I just use a needle plyer to unscrewed it. Then I used a heat gun to soften the dome and carefully peeled it off.

Sounds simple! Thanks for the instructions. I might try it to get myself a pocket rocket!

I almost broke my needlenosepliers trying his, it does move a bit, then it gets stuck. No way of unscrewing it any further. :person_facepalming:

Could it be reverse threaded?

[LichtAn]

Nah, battery tube also screws in regularly. It feels a bit like the threads got damaged in some place and it gets stuck there. Man this is so frustrating, this is the second light this week I can’t get open. And I tried!

[dealgrabber2002]

Ah sorry to hear that. Maybe tighten it and try unscrewing again. Mine unscrewed with minimal effort.

[LichtAn]

@dealgrabber2002

Ah sorry to hear that. Maybe tighten it and try unscrewing again. Mine unscrewed with minimal effort.

Check my post here regarding a similar style light: https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/49764/314

:person_facepalming: