I do use a dremel for a bit of the work, but I actually use a good set of files more. The emitter for example, was filed by hand.
I don't have an LD15 for comparison, but later on I'll measure it in the I.S. to give an idea of output.
Mine E07 also came with a poorly cut slot in the brass screw in the base. I just never used it enough to hurt any cells. I did file it flat first before cutting the notches, filling with solder, and attaching the qtc. (Just noticed that pic isn't showing up....will have to fix that later).
Jekostas, I've thought about doing what you did with the qtc a while back except I would use 3M super tape for the foam insulator, but can't figure out where to get copper, brass, or even aluminum disks. All I can find are washers and obviously that won't work. :D I could cut my own out of sheet stock but the resulting imperfect roundness and/or time shaping the disks is a real put off. I'm sure open for suggestions.
Filing Emitters by hand - hahah - last time I did this I used a file that was too coarse and it bit into the aluminium and I lost grip and filed the dome of the emitter of my neutral XM-L! Good to see yours is still nice and tidy (hehe!!)
Lovely mod with the XP-G! and a beautifully bent clip.
The little brass screw. Yup, kind of a pain, since it has a very shallow slot. I used a thin hollow ground flat screwdriver and A LOT of pressure to keep it in the slot, then slowly turned. Also, make sure the cap is screwed in, and not in the "lockout" position. Once it's out, I performed the above mod to make it much easier to install/remove in the future.
Sorry about your cap. One fix would be to make a new one out of brass. I may try this anyways because I think it would look pretty sharp.
No worries. I was already digging through my random parts bin looking for one to match the snazzy ring near the head. I've lost the lockout feature, but otherwise no big deal.
That said, I don't know if I'd buy it again, given the choice. They did NOT make this little sucker to come apart easily, and the off-center emitter is driving me nuts.
Off center emitter...yup, that's what finally caused me to mod it. The head will come apart easily enough if you use a propane torch. Remove the O-rings first, then apply heat to the black aluminum above the threads. It doesn't take a whole bunch, but it has to be hot. I have two sets of pliers that I've made leather covers for the jaws so as to not gall the flashlight. Heat it up, and give it a light twist (standard threads). If it doesn't break loose with medium effort, heat it up some more.
Even without doing an emitter swap, you can center the original OSRAM which will improve the beam quite a bit. (and replace that awful glue they use as thermal compound!).
As anyone who knows me well can attest, I'm an extreme advocate of excessive force whenever possible. Lately though, I've come to appreciate how a bit of heat in the right spot makes everything much simpler. That, and it really cuts down on the scratches from the accidental slip from the pliars/vice :) (my poor skyline II pill looks like it was shoved head first in the garbage disposal for a few minutes )