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

[GeraldL]

@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

Thanks for the help with attaching the image here, Jack. I do like the light as it is (that’s why I labelled it the almost perfect EDC) but looking at the posts here, I am so tempted to get better throw and nicer tints! Argh conflicted.

[GeraldL]

@LichtAn

Alright so you were right and I feel like the most stupid idiot on this planet. Vinh explained it to me. Although the head screws on regularly, the pill screws in a different direction. I’ve never in my life seen that before.

So you managed to unscrew yours? Do I turn it clockwise or anti clockwise? I’ve turned it both ways and I’m afraid I might have just made it tighter for myself haha :person_facepalming:

[LichtAn]

@GeraldL

@LichtAn

Alright so you were right and I feel like the most stupid idiot on this planet. Vinh explained it to me. Although the head screws on regularly, the pill screws in a different direction. I’ve never in my life seen that before.

So you managed to unscrew yours? Do I turn it clockwise or anti clockwise? I’ve turned it both ways and I’m afraid I might have just made it tighter for myself haha :person_facepalming:

Yes, mine is a AA 2.0 though. It unscrewed clockwise. If you get the direction right it really isn’t THAT hard. It’s not lose but also not super tight, you can hold it by hand, there’s no need to clamp it. Try heating it up if yours won’t move.
I got a SST-20 4000K in and it looks really lovely. Next up is an Oslon version and maybe also a dedomed XP-G. So many possibilities. :sunglasses: :+1:

[GeraldL]

@LichtAn

Yes, mine is a AA 2.0 though. It unscrewed clockwise. If you get the direction right it really isn’t THAT hard. It’s not lose but also not super tight, you can hold it by hand, there’s no need to clamp it. Try heating it up if yours won’t move.
I got a SST-20 4000K in and it looks really lovely. Next up is an Oslon version and maybe also a dedomed XP-G. So many possibilities. :sunglasses: :+1:

Ohh ok. I heated it up to the point where it was too hot to touch (I wrapped a t-shirt around it), made multiple scratches to the pill, worked up a sweat, and still nothing. Doesn’t budget. I can see some traces of red underneath. Do you think that might be threadlocker?

[GeraldL]

@dealgrabber2002

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

Is your light the Tool AAA also? And is it the earlier version that came without the additional magnetic tailcap? I tried turning it to the right (clockwise) and I’m pretty sure I enlarged the 2 holes in the pill, but it still wouldn’t move.

[LichtAn]

@GeraldL

@LichtAn

Yes, mine is a AA 2.0 though. It unscrewed clockwise. If you get the direction right it really isn’t THAT hard. It’s not lose but also not super tight, you can hold it by hand, there’s no need to clamp it. Try heating it up if yours won’t move.
I got a SST-20 4000K in and it looks really lovely. Next up is an Oslon version and maybe also a dedomed XP-G. So many possibilities. :sunglasses: :+1:

Ohh ok. I heated it up to the point where it was too hot to touch (I wrapped a t-shirt around it), made multiple scratches to the pill, worked up a sweat, and still nothing. Doesn’t budget. I can see some traces of red underneath. Do you think that might be threadlocker?

So you tried both directions already? Red could definitely be threadlocker. Pray it’s not Loctite. :smiling_imp:

[GeraldL]

@LichtAn

So you tried both directions already? Red could definitely be threadlocker. Pray it’s not Loctite. :smiling_imp:

I definitely did. Banged it on the floor a few times out of frustration too. I can attest to the manufacturing quality of this light. No loose parts for sure hahaha.

Can you share some photos of the pill fob unscrewed? That might shed some light.

[LichtAn]

@GeraldL

@LichtAn

So you tried both directions already? Red could definitely be threadlocker. Pray it’s not Loctite. :smiling_imp:

I definitely did. Banged it on the floor a few times out of frustration too. I can attest to the manufacturing quality of this light. No loose parts for sure hahaha.

Can you share some photos of the pill fob unscrewed? That might shed some light.

Haha I can feel you man. I also get to a point where I just can’t hold my anger in anymore. :smiling_imp:
I’m at work right now, I can take pictures when I get home. What do you mean by “fob”?

[GeraldL]

@LichtAn

Haha I can feel you man. I also get to a point where I just can’t hold my anger in anymore. :smiling_imp:
I’m at work right now, I can take pictures when I get home. What do you mean by “fob”?

But at least you got success in the end.
I just meant the pill. My bad.

[GeraldL]

@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).

Man the flat tail switches should probably come as standard. I would love for my light to be able to tailstand. Love your collection there! Especially the brass one.

[EDCba]

@Jack Kellar

@LichtAn

Alright so you were right and I feel like the most stupid idiot on this planet. Vinh explained it to me. Although the head screws on regularly, the pill screws in a different direction. I’ve never in my life seen that before.

Convoy does that, with the pills and tailcap switches. It’s a means to prevent accidental loosening with use.

Yeah the Convoy S2+ is the only one I’ve disassembled, and that’s all I know haha.

[dealgrabber2002]

@GeraldL

@dealgrabber2002

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

Is your light the Tool AAA also? And is it the earlier version that came without the additional magnetic tailcap? I tried turning it to the right (clockwise) and I’m pretty sure I enlarged the 2 holes in the pill, but it still wouldn’t move.

Yes. Mine is the AAA tool. I believe it unscrewed by twisting counter-clock.

[GeraldL]

@dealgrabber2002

@GeraldL

@dealgrabber2002

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

Is your light the Tool AAA also? And is it the earlier version that came without the additional magnetic tailcap? I tried turning it to the right (clockwise) and I’m pretty sure I enlarged the 2 holes in the pill, but it still wouldn’t move.

Yes. Mine is the AAA tool. I believe it unscrewed by twisting counter-clock.

Thanks for letting me know I tried both directions and it still wouldn’t budge. Gonna leave the light as it is so I don’t damage my EDC.

[g_damian]

I recently got mine tool aaa cu and the pill unscrews counter clockwise. There was a bit of something grey/blue on threads. Cleaned easily with alcohol.

[nvanlaar]

@GeraldL

@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).

Man the flat tail switches should probably come as standard. I would love for my light to be able to tailstand. Love your collection there! Especially the brass one.

Yeah, it’s my favorite. I’ve actually expanded the collection:

[264]

One of my favorite little lights. I have the black version with a nichia emitter and magnetic tail cap. Nice review.

[wle]

i liked mine a lot but i let an alkaleak leak into it and it made the switch somewhat unreliable

plus i lost one too

neither is the fault of the light, but i decided not to buy another one because

a. i hate alkalines
b. i don;t like that it starts on M instead of L
c. i wish it would tail stand
d. price went up

wle

[Jack_Kellar]

@wle

i liked mine a lot but i let an alkaleak leak into it and it made the switch somewhat unreliable

plus i lost one too

neither is the fault of the light, but i decided not to buy another one because

a. i hate alkalines
b. i don;t like that it starts on M instead of L
c. i wish it would tail stand
d. price went up

wle

Point A is simple to address: don’t use alkaleaks.

Otherwise, the Tool AA v2 ramps up, has mode memory and tailstands. And you should be able to get it pretty darn cheap at Lumintop’s AE store; got mine from there and it was worth every nickel.

[wle]

i think the tool AA still does M-L-H — right?

there also seems to be a 2nd version with a turbo mode
what is its mode order?

i also thought the AA did NOT have mode memory - which is good, i hate that too
does it?

how come there are 2 versions?
[at least on aliexpress]

wle

[264]

@wle

i think the tool AA still does M-L-H — right?

there also seems to be a 2nd version with a turbo mode
what is its mode order?

i also thought the AA did NOT have mode memory - which is good, i hate that too
does it?

how come there are 2 versions?
[at least on aliexpress]

wle

I have the Lumintop Tool AA V.1. It’s mode sequence is L/M/H. Purchased from Amazon. Version 2 is currently the only one sold on Amazon. Many 1 star reviews about the light there. Seems poor QC at the moment.