I assume in that case we are just talking about a the outer shell made from another material.
Other materials than aluminum may be difficult to anodise, and have a different coefficient of expansion.
For the time being I would be glad if a proper functioning FW3A was launched.
Flashlights are not known for having outer shells. These would be machined from a solid block of brass, copper or titanium. I doubt they would have any anodization.
I have some anodized titanium knives. Both factory ZTāS in bronze ano and others with custom design anodization by Whitty @ USAMadeBlades and the ano holds up very well. Iām definitely harder on knives than I am lights and have yet to see any signs of ano waring off after over a year of literally every single day carry.
Donāt knock it till you try it. Worst case, flame color it to bring the design back (albeit a different color) or send it back to Whitty for custom laser anodization (heāll do whatever, not just knives)
Ive decided that one of the lights Im ordering is going to go on the bench first thing. I want to convert one to a single emitter (Maybe XM-L2 U3-3D) with a TIR optic. I wonder if anyone makes an optic shallow enough to workā¦or even an orange peal reflectorā¦ Dont get me wrong, I like multi-emitter lights, but for daily tasks I DO prefer a single emitter (nevermind my D4 has been living in my pocket more than my 18350 S2+ with moonlight driver)
Anyone else have any thoughts on a single emitter version of this project?
I would have liked a round of FW3CA = CuAl but Aluminum Bronze has a bad thermal conductivity.
Yellow (gold-like coloration) like brass but has also a good corrosion resistance.
I donāt know how it smells in a sweaty palm, but i will prefere aluminum bronze over brass, despite a worst thermal conductivity, if it doesnāt smell funny.
Depending of the alloy, can be heat treated to be hardened.
I would like a single emitter version, far ahead in the future. For now i am just waiting for one of these. I do think it will be a great size and weight for one emitter though.
I must agree. Iām excited for the triple FW3A, but I have a preference for more usable outdoor beams and would be all over a more throwy version of this flashlight. A FW1A with a narrow-ish TIR and a single emitter (hopefully something like an SST-20 or XP-L HI) would be divine.
Of course, this is just a pipe dream and we need to get the actual FW3A released first!
Yes, this one first! I do think when and if it is a huge success, there will be a single emitter down the road though. I say this largely because, if I remember right, TK mentioned she would like one as well.
I'm # 1033 on list and had originally requested one, then asked to add another (2 total) a couple of weeks ago, looking at the 2nd "people" column I just see a 1 next to my name. So sorry to be a PITA, just getting excited for this one and want to make sure I'm down for two. :)
Thank you so much to whoever is keeping the list updated, that can't be a fun job. I'm drinking a beer in your honor as we speak.
A single emitter often delivers nicer tint at low levels, and it generally gives a very different beam pattern with more throw. Itās also generally cheaper, easier to mod, and less prone to heat issues. However, it may end up longer due to a deeper reflector, and the maximum output would be lower.
With triples and quads being so popular lately, I kind of miss single-emitter lights. Both are good, but in different ways.
I personally have always had a preference for single emitter flashlights. I can appreciate that flood is nice indoors, but I like my EDC to be capable of throwing a bit when Iām outdoors too. I love my Emisar D4, but in order to see a decent distance ahead of me outside I need to crank the output up to the point where battery life is terrible and itās uncomfortably warm to hold. Iāve actually taken to carrying a Convoy S2+ recently due to how much more throwy it is at reasonable output levels. The best balance I have ever found before is probably the TIR on the Olight batons. Wide enough for indoor use, but throwy enough for some basic outdoor use.
If the FW had to be made longer to accomodate a reflector, Iād be fine with that too. Narrow width is everything in an EDC light, and the FW3A is already very short in length. Even if the head couldnāt get any thinner with a single emiter, I donāt think a slightly longer head would have much of an impact on pocketability.