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

I know I’ll find a way to mess it up w/o visual instructions. LOL… I am special.

Pro tip: Buy spare optics :slight_smile:

Yep, that picture certainly does make the D4 look huge.

EDIT: It is huge compared to the FW3A after all. The picture is of a D4S…. a 26650 light. See POST BELOW by iamlucky13 for explanation.
Except for length the FW3A is closest to the size Convoy S2+ no doubt.
And without the bezel & head of the D4 it probably would be closest.

That picture is a huge optical illusion.

D4

Bezel diameter: 28.0 mm / 1.102 inch
Head diameter: 30.0 mm (widest point) / 1.181 inch
Body diameter: 23.9 mm / 0.941 inch
18650 length: 93.7 mm / 3.689 inch

28.0 x 30.0 x 23.9 x 93.7 mm
…….

FW3A

25.5 mm x 92.5 mm
1.004 x 3.642 inches
…….

S2+

24.13 mm x 121.92 mm
0.95 x 4.8 inches

I have so many triples without frosted optics. Is there something about this flashlight that distorts the beam that much more than a D4, Oveready Boss, my modded triple Eagletac D25C, or other random triple mods?

^ Those dimensions are for the D4 (18650 powered). The picture shows the larger D4S (26650 powered).

For a comparison with the D4, see the photos of the 2nd prototype on page 1 of this discussion.

OK…. that explains the picture then. Thanks for the heads up on that… :+1:

I do not have any of the D4’s, so nice to know the picture was not that much of an optical illusion after all.

Commodity LED optics being relatively inexpensive, this is wise.

That’s a very nice, elegant light! :person_with_crown: :+1:

Thanks again… this looks more like it. :wink: Below is the picture iamlucky13 is referring to.
.

I would assume some rubbing compound, like for automotive paint/plastics, and a rag would be sufficient to make the optics clear. Even tooth paste might work.

Is the frosting on the lens so deep that you actually need to sand it with sandpaper? That’s more extreme than what I was thinking.

With 1000 to 7000 grit Wet-Dry paper… you are not removing much. Mainly polishing once you get to about 3000 - 4000.

Please put me down for one more. This will be for a total of 3.

Thanks!

If I recall correctly, it’s primarily a matter of polishing, not sanding. It may be sufficient to rub it against denim or newspaper or something along those lines.

Toothpaste or a paste of baking soda and water are both common recommendations for removing the haze on automobile headlight lenses that develops over the course of multiple years of sunlight aging and/or driving through the gritty spray kicked up by other cars when it is raining out. I suspect they would also work for Carclo optics.

Last time I polished one of these optics (which was several years ago), I mounted a triple star onto a bit and then put the bit in a hand drill. I then put the drill pointing upwards in a wood vise.

I then placed the optic into the star. To polish I used one hand to hold the drill button down and the other to place the cloth against the optic.

For the actual polishing I used jewelers rouge on terrycloth.

Please put me in for one in XPL HI

Thanks!

Add me too. Xpl hi cw

Please put me on the list for one with LH351D. Thanks!

Will this light be mod friendly?

Only in the sense of changing leds, optics and maybe reflashing a new UI. The driver will be unique and not easy to replace.