Given that a machinist would have to start with many times the weight of silver to begin with as raw stock, I’m guessing the proposed D4V2 would be more like $1,300+ than the $130 estimated.
Would certainly look nice though.
Here’s are a couple of smaller lights I silver plated -
I agree. I would love a silver flashlight. Maybe a silver KR4. There is also Argentium silver. Higher silver content than sterling and more durable. They use it in some men’s rings.
This topic comes up every now and again (I think, maybe I also like the technical properties of silver), that said, after a bit of googling, I couldn’t find anyone who’s made one, which is a bit odd…
I guess, apart from bling-factor, you could keep costs down by making only certain parts of silver, and the rest out of aluminium.
I think to keep costs reasonable, AA or AAA form factor would be place to start? Maybe Reylight special edition?
I present my 3D Printed Silver (Ag) Torch Project.
This is the main body section with serial number 002.
The finished light's specifications are:
An LED-Tech Cree XM-L U2 mounted on a 16mm copper MCPCB,
Shining through a Carclo 10003 20mm TIR lens,
Driven by an uprated 3.04A 8xAMC7135 multi-mode driver set to low/medium/high with memory,
Powered by an AW IMR 16340 high discharge cell,
Controlled by a tail mounted McClicky switch and extra sprung silver switch cover. The switch cover holds 6 off 2x6mm tritium vials.
> Pure silver has almost the same physical characteristics as copper but it’s as silver and shiny as it can gets, and sterling silver (92% silver + other metals), is harder and doesn’t gets patina.
This is wrong. Silver oxidizes but the bigger problem is Silver sulfide (the reason why you should not eat eggs with silver spoons). Unfortunately sulfides are also in your sweat.
Silver is also a soft metal, drop your shiny silver flashlight once and it will look a lot worse than e.g. aluminum which already is not a very hard metal.
but silver plated copper is uniquely beautiful and practically achieved
Since this seems to be borderline silliness and earlier the superlative properties of diamond were mentioned, why not consider inexpensive lab grown synthetic diamond? A Cinderella slipper flashlight?
How about a Prince Rupert's drop optic mounted to an LED?
While .999 silver has a slight edge in electrical properties and thermodynamics, it is neither practical or offers any remarkable advantages over copper or aluminum. Same with titnaium. It’s diminishing returns vs. cost and availability and usability. Would you pay $1000 or $2000 or more for a .999 silver flashlight that would only be a showpiece/paperweight? Sterling silver may be more viable, really cool and exclusive for a collector though, like a piece of jewelry. Something like that would be relegated to one-off and very limited edition pieces made to order for $$$$.