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

If you guys think it’s good, it’s good enough for me. I will just clean it up and be happy.

The biggest thing is the LED domes really. The soldering can look ugly and still be perfectly fine.

2 out of 3 of my lights had something pretty big on one of the LEDs that had to be wiped off. No damage cause I always check for it but a few turbo blasts will really start cooking anything left on there.

I had a glob on one of mine too, which I picked off. Is alcohol good to use on the domes too?

Yep I use isopropyl on everything.

Yup just make sure it’s a high proof like Wild Turkey or something! :smiley:

Yeah, Wild Turkey for me and isopropyl for my flashlight. We’ll both be happy.

Good strategy. Plus, since you won’t be soldering, you can use the Wild Turkey before during and after.

PSA: Wild Turkey and soldering do not get along.

I TOTALLY don’t have a small scar from where a soldering iron burned me to attest to that. Nope, not a chance that happened. :smiley:

Hello all. I’m new to blf. I found this forum through Matt Smith’s YouTube channel and his video about this flashlight. I watched his video, read a little bit on here and ordered one that day from Neal. I just got mine in the mail and I couldn’t be happier. This light does everything I could want and the build quality seems great. I’ll be sticking around and checking out the mod thread. Thanks for a great light.

Welcome!

I've been following this thread for about 6 or 7 months now. But it has been going on for a long while. I think the work and the patience of the ones involved and those of us following have been well rewarded. It is a great light!

Thanks for the hearty welcome. I really don’t think I could be happier with this light. I own quite a few lights, all production models from many companies, foursevens, olight, klarus, etc. This light is small, powerful, and packed with great features. My thanks to all involved.

I received the two FW3A, standard dark gray aluminum and the copper. The copper is drop dead gorgeous! The finish is very shiny, almost mirror like. It is the most beautiful copper light I’ve seen yet. Below are my test results:

Copper SST-20 4000K w/ stock Carclo and glass lens
lumens: 1,974
CCT: 3972
DUV: –0.0012
CRI: 95.2
R9: 83.8
Rf: 93
Rg: 102

Copper SST-20 4000K w/ UCL lens
lumens: 2,051
CCT: 3960
DUV: –0.0024
CRI: 95.6
R9: 86.0
Rf: 93
Rg: 103

Gray aluminum with stock non-Carclo optics (no glass lens)
lumens: 1,819
CCT: 3898K
DUV: –0.0025
CRI: 95.8
R9: 86.9
Rf: 93
Rg: 103

Gray aluminum with Carclo 10509 optics (no glass lens)
lumens: 1,767
CCT: 3982K
DUV: –0.0031
CRI: 96.2
R9: 88.6
Rf: 93
Rg: 103

Gray aluminum with Carclo 10509 optics (w/ UCL glass lens)
lumens: 1,802
CCT: 3904K
DUV: –0.0029
CRI: 96.3
R9: 87.7
Rf: 93
Rg: 103

Gray aluminum with Carclo 10509 optics (w/ UCL glass lens) at low output (first blink)
lumens: 99
CCT: 4052K
DUV: 0.0014
CRI: 96.4
R9: 93.4
Rf: 89
Rg: 98

E07 SST-20 4000K FB4 tint bin for comparison:
CCT: 3822K
DUV: 0.0028
CRI: 93.7
R9: 76.5
Rf: 93
Rg: 101

The tint is really, seriously, great on my SST-20. I think all tint junkies would love it, and I do too. I’m just underwhelmed by the lumens difference vs the XPL-HI. I knew this, but tried anyway. I honestly prefer the XPLs.

Yea the tint on this SST-20 4000k tint bin (likely FD2) is surprisingly good on higher output modes considering how this emitter (FB4 tint bin) is known for ugly green tint. On turbo, it looks as good as some of the Cree 5D and 5A tint lights I own. But the majority of the 5A/5D lights are rosier on high output and less green at low output. But given the high CRI and R9, I would choose this over 5A/5D for an EDC flooder like the FW3A.

so the tint on sst20 is better then nichia tint ?

No. SST-20 FD2 is about 0.0028 duv at low outputs showing hints of green, whereas 219B is slightly below BBL even at low output. At high output, the 219B 4000K and 4500K ranges from –0.004 to –0.009 DUV giving it a more white/rosy appearance whereas the SST-20 FD2 is only about –0.002 to –0.003 at max on the FW3A.

What about the Nicia 219C 4000K?

ah okay, i bought the sst20 anways as i like it more the emitter then nichia, excited to get this in copper either way.

SKV only comparing turbo to turbo? Throw in some more regulated modes

SKV89, what hardware/software are you using to get that awesome data?