Newbie here. I own a BLF A6 for my daily carry and love it but i wanted to pick up a nice pocket thrower. Bought both a Lumintop GT Mini and Astrolux C8. The difference in throw between the two was nearly impercievable to me so considering the price difference, i stuck with the C8. Love the thing!
I wouldn’t mind having a little more brightness or a little more throw, though. I’ve read many things here about bypassing the springs or switching the LED with a dedomed LED so i wanted to come straight to the source and ask. Can you guys/gals recommend anything worthwhile or direct me to a place where i may be able to further research such things?
Ok i have some questions about these things because i see them a lot.
Does the C8 have an aluminum reflector stock?
What is the benefit to changing out the switch?
What is involved in bypassing the springs?
Finally, it seems as though the XG-L2 LED’s aren’t the same anymore? Is there another LED out there that will throw further/brighter with the driver that comes in the C8?
Gotta mod your Astrolux? The C8A and C8T are really nice right out of the box.
The C8F also kicks arse, but it’s just Überbright, not necessarily a thrower. I’m pretty sure I got at least one of every version of the C8F, from the earliest ones right through to the 21700 version.
For a thrower, though, the C8T is hard to beat. It’s designed to be a thrower.
Sure, you can mod your Astrolux, but it’s time-consuming, there’s always the chance of accidentally hosing it, and the LED you swap in just might not be a good “fit” for the reflector (ie, need shaving or shimming to “fine tune” the focus). Or maybe I just got lazy…
I have that LED in a BD06 with a 8 chip biscotti driver. It throws something wicked. Not much spill at all. It’s all throw all the time. If you want usable spill, don’t get it. I need to pop it into a C8 but haven’t gotten around to it yet. I don’t really use throwers much but, when I need one the BD06 with that LED in it gets put to use.
Like you Lightbringer.
I have the old girls from the first Ultrafire Q5’s.
My latest are the Astrolux C8T
alongside a Convoy C8+. Latest model.
That one does throw a little further. Maybe.
Dedome MAY help a bit?.
Spring is already bypassed. But thicker wire wouldn’t hurt.
I used the mesh Soldering wick wire for that.
And drop a Samsung 30Q cell in there.
C8+ = Cleaner looking body.
Combining a tad more spread with the throw basically.
Either.Iether. Take your pick.
with me it’s the looks.
I just pick up my Imalent DN35 when I want a decent small thrower. WITH a stack of spread. Chuckle.
Unlike you, I go straight from a 18650 to the 26650’s Can’t see the use of the 2100’s. Still skinny.
Maybe i should throw a couple other things out- I’d prefer keep it as an 18650 battery and i already have 30Q batteries.
Im fairly mechanical so I’m not too worried about tinkering with things.
I’d like to not make it any spillier- keeping as a thrower if i could increase the overall briggtness or improve throw that’s preferable. I’m down with a tighter hotspot but would prefer not to give up all spill.
Also, love the U shape tail cap on the Sofirn C8T. Can that be bought independantly? I looked but can’t find it
I’d prefer to stick with an 18650 thrower as i have a BLF A6 and mechanic work light that take 18650’s also.
I know the Emisar D1s+ never hit production but the beam shots on that light were exactly what I’d want to get out of my C8. Basically just a little less flood and a brighter hotspot. Can this be obtained by simply a different LED? Or an updated driver? I’ve looked for general info on this stuff but can’t find much