I never liked the grip on the centre section of the IF25A, so I experimented with a piece of an old bicycle inner tube. This improved it quite a lot. Then I tried the same with the Wurkkos FC11, which has a ribbed grip section which is ok, not as weird as the IF25A's section that just doesn't feel right, but I experimented anyway and I think I will keep it this way, I quite like the rubber grip. Have a look at the pictures (from my page here: Pocket lights (torches) for travelling, and use at home )
Heat dissipation shouldn't be an issue, the FC11 on highest setting dimmed a bit after a while, but the head was still lukewarm and it seems some conservative regulation is going on there (which doesn't bother me for the intended purpose for this light for me). WIth the IF25A it's also no problem for me, and if the rubber didn't insulate the battery tube, then your hand would partially.
For the IF25A I used a tube with bigger diameter, it should it any case be such that it takes effort to get on, so it won't move/rotate in use.
Just take off the end cap from the torch and pull it over the torch’s battery tube. I have various size diameters of inner tubes from skinny road tyres up to MTB tyres, and I chose the ones that were just a bit smaller than the tubes of the torches, and then with some pulling effort you can pull them over the battery tube.
The ridges on the aluminium tubes also mean that even if the rubber tubes would slide a bit they should stay in that centre section.
No, the smell of new tyres, as you smell it when entering e.g. a bicycle shop, goes away after a while. Not just smell from a distance, but also from touching.
The ones I use are all old inner tubes that had too many repairs or that ripped in a long section, and some were for narrow tyres that I no longer use. I keep them all in a parts bin as they are always useful to glue onto or wrap around a part that you want to not get damaged such as handlebars, rear racks, etc.
That reminds me about brass lights: I can’t understand why anyone wants such lights as brass always makes my finger smell weird. Perhaps I have this effect more than others? (from skin acid perhaps).
Very cool, swhs. Nice upcycle for old inner tubes. Must provide a good grip in any kind of weather. I’m thinking especially with fleece gloves on.
Just curious though, over time and with use you’re not seeing the tubes crawl or twist?
Yeah… we all have different chemistries. Some react more than others to different metals and the alloys used. Some people actually develop skin rashes. This is a common discussion topic on watch forums, more-so than here.
No, it stays in place nicely. The sideways forces are small compared to what I needed to do to pull it over the battery tube so it’s likely not an issue even after a longer period, but I will see…
I kept your first comment in mind and so after handwashing my cycling clothes (trousers, shirt, jacket) which are made from Lycra and polyester, while they were all still wet and having made the FC11 wet, I wrapped each around my hand as a glove and held the FC11 with it, and pulled. It was stuck there as glued…
That’s a great idea, I use wrapped old bicycle tubes on a number of my striking tools and the grip is perfect but I never thought of using them on on lights.
I have used a few strategically placed rubber o-rings in the recessed milling of a few lights and it has made a big difference for the grip especially if the knurling is smoother or nonexistent.
