Sorry OuchFoot but you really need a set of decent tweezers. Do not listen to gords especially if it has 1001 after it. Modding torches does not pay and if your into pain well maybe your in the right place BUT. I will leave it there. I'm not trying to give you confidence in continuing along this line of insanity but you have built a very nice flashlight.
Congrats on the build! I have yet to build an actual flashlight yet, I just seem to be acquiring more and more parts that I will eventually use. (Or so I say)
Quick tip: to bridge the mode-select star, just tin the end of a piece of wire (I have some old single-strand telephone wire that works perfectly) and solder that between the star and the outer ring, then just trim the excess. It makes a very neat, clean, and solid connection, and is a lot easier than trying to bridge a solder glob.
Hey Ouchyfoot, great job on the build! I’ve always loved the F8 gold version. But after purchasing the F12 and having issues with battery fitment, it turned me off to the purchase. But looking at yours, it’s got my eye again and may just pick one up.
I have a 5A ramping driver from FT in the mail. I was thinking about the EDC Plus TorchLite host, but I haven’t asked anyone if it will be suitable for that host with an XM-L, or XM-L2 yet.
I also forgot to mention that the Roche F8 manages heat extremely well.
I was thinking of the 5A FT ramper because of the 10mm height, as compared to the IOS one that is 17mm. I haven’t got my host yet, so I haven’t measured anything. I figured the lower profile would save a bite of headache for installation. I also am thinking that a ramper might be easier to manage and control heat…but what do I know.