Why do people collect flashlights?

[manithree]

@richbuff

I recently spent a few weeks shopping around via phone for a bigger safe for my lights;

That’s hilarious, and this just keeps getting better. Now I get to update another meme:

Sorry, officer, I don’t own any guns, I lost them all in a tragic boating accident. Just a safe full of flashlights, now.

[hank]

My “collection” is mostly flashlights that would be problems in the hands of uncautious people, either due to flaky drivers, tricky switches, or untrustworthy batteries or poor QC on hosts I bought expecting better placed screw holes and better cut metal shelves, and so forth.
Sometimes you just can’t even give this stuff away. At least without investing a lot of time in repairs.

[Bob_McBob]

@whiteheat1963

“….so I sometimes find myself ordering a dozen of the same one at a time.” Young man, go seek professional help.

You have no idea how weird it felt the first time I ordered a dozen Zebralights at once.

[tatasal]

It’s the “kick” of having a new one…then kept…then a new one… it’s all there is to this hobby.

[whiteheat1963]

@richbuff

@manithree

@Lightbringer

Definitely. Everyone knows you need at least 2 dozen to make-do.

So instead of the saying “One is none, two is one” now it’s “One dozen is none, two dozen is one.” I’m gonna need a bigger gun safe.

I recently spent a few weeks shopping around via phone for a bigger safe for my lights; NY metro area has lots of the countries’ biggest stocking dealers. When I inform them that I need a bigger safe for my flashlight collection, they automatically think that I am just saying that in order to not mention various valuables. When I begin to describe, yes, flashlights, really; they just chuckle and laugh at what they think is my silly sense of imagination. I settled on a used UL rated TRTL30x6 3,235 pound ISM safe.

This may sound stupid, but why do you need a safe to store flashlights in? Why not a regular box, drawer, cabinet, etc? Are your torches made of very special, rare, exotic or otherwise precious metals, e.g. gold?

[whiteheat1963]

@Bob_McBob

@whiteheat1963

"....so I sometimes find myself ordering a dozen of the same one at a time." Young man, go seek professional help.

You have no idea how weird it felt the first time I ordered a dozen Zebralights at once.

Having just heard it from you and knowing it wasn't a bulk buy to fit out a platoon, yes, I think that be tad strange.

[whiteheat1963]

@Petr Sixta

I don’t think my collection is any big. Nor does it contain any rare and expensive types. Some old ones from the 30th maybe, but I don’t have enough.

".........but I don't have enough." Seriously, seek help. How can 300+ torches not be enough? OK, how many would you need before you felt you had enough?

[whiteheat1963]

@tatasal

It’s the “kick” of having a new one…then kept…then a new one… it’s all there is to this hobby.

For some people, sure. I may have one foot in that camp. But for others, it seems to be down to a myriad of other reasons. I too have other reasons for "collecting".

[Petr_Sixta]

@whiteheat1963

@Petr Sixta

I don’t think my collection is any big. Nor does it contain any rare and expensive types. Some old ones from the 30th maybe, but I don’t have enough.

“………but I don’t have enough.” Seriously, seek help. How can 300+ torches not be enough? OK, how many would you need before you felt you had enough?

I don’t care about quantity. It’s not about use. I use Lumintop Tool AAA Cu together with Leatherman Surge and DQG 18650 in my pocket. I like lamps. In my collection I have bad lamps, I like interesting lamps, but also ordinary. I never sell any lamps from my collection. One day it will be an overview of what was produced. My collection of lamps has no rational reason. I just like it and have it at its disposal.

[snakebite]

a firearm wont fail with a vent with flames.
i would only agree that flashlight collecting is cheaper.
i have never had any type of dangerous failure with a firearm.
and i do my own reloading.
i have had 2 flashlights melt down and threw them out in the yard to burn out.
and 1 was a surefire.

@xevious

@SIGShooter

Way cheaper than collecting guns.

And safer!

[raccoon]

@snakebite

a firearm wont fail with a vent with flames.
i would only agree that flashlight collecting is cheaper.
i have never had any type of dangerous failure with a firearm.
and i do my own reloading.
i have had 2 flashlights melt down and threw them out in the yard to burn out.
and 1 was a surefire.

I'm glad you weren't hurt, but what injures and kills more people worldwide each year, firearms or Li-Ion batteries?

Spoiler alert:

The answer is firearms, even though there are far more Li-Ion cells than firearms around the world.

[WalkIntoTheLight]

@snakebite

a firearm wont fail with a vent with flames.
i would only agree that flashlight collecting is cheaper.
i have never had any type of dangerous failure with a firearm.
and i do my own reloading.
i have had 2 flashlights melt down and threw them out in the yard to burn out.
and 1 was a surefire.

You’ve had two flashlights melt down? One, I would consider bad luck. Two, you’re cursed. Someday, you’re going to accidentally fatally shoot yourself, probably twice.

[Lightbringer]

Ooooh, I can see it now… Ultrafirearm!

As shown, with 9900 round magazine!

[xevious (Gary)]

Bad batteries can be a risk, but so can cheap ammo. Nobody puts cheap ammo in a quality gun. Bad can happen.

[pennzy]

Put a light on a gun and you’re really have a dangerous weapon.

[Rayoui]

@raccoon city

@snakebite

a firearm wont fail with a vent with flames.
i would only agree that flashlight collecting is cheaper.
i have never had any type of dangerous failure with a firearm.
and i do my own reloading.
i have had 2 flashlights melt down and threw them out in the yard to burn out.
and 1 was a surefire.

I’m glad you weren’t hurt, but what injures and kills more people worldwide each year, firearms or Li-Ion batteries?

Spoiler alert:

The answer is firearms, even though there are far more Li-Ion cells than firearms around the world.

The difference is that a flashlight might do it while it’s sitting there and nobody is touching it. It’s unlikely, but it happens often enough to warrant concern.

[riffraff]

@Rayoui

@raccoon city

@snakebite

a firearm wont fail with a vent with flames.
i would only agree that flashlight collecting is cheaper.
i have never had any type of dangerous failure with a firearm.
and i do my own reloading.
i have had 2 flashlights melt down and threw them out in the yard to burn out.
and 1 was a surefire.

I’m glad you weren’t hurt, but what injures and kills more people worldwide each year, firearms or Li-Ion batteries?

Spoiler alert:

The answer is firearms, even though there are far more Li-Ion cells than firearms around the world.

The difference is that a flashlight might do it while it’s sitting there and nobody is touching it. It’s unlikely, but it happens often enough to warrant concern.

^ This.
I once left my FAL on the porch all day. Nothing happened. No one was injured (or worse). Funny things, these inanimate objects. :innocent:

[OKCOREY]

@Phlogiston

Virtually every light I buy has an intended use (although some of those purchases don’t measure up and never get used). The “collection” part is an accidental consequence of upgrading my lights from time to time

this!!!
I get one thing something better comes out I get another thing something better comes out repeat….

[Ironhorse]

I have many tools. I don’t collect tools. I have many flashlights. I consider them tools.

I have been told that I collect garden tractors.

[Hank33]

I joined over a week ago. Before joining I was just glad I had a good flashlight with me. I only had a keychain light. Ordered it 2 months old too. After joining BLF, I now have 7 other flashlights on order!
Come on Postman!…hurry up with my pkgs please!!