It’s actually a bit less expensive directly on www.sofirnlight.com
EDIT: L4M4 found even a better deal !
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Thank you!!!
I always go direct to Sofirnlight.com, Wurkkos.com and Convoylight.com rather than dealing with Aliexpress if possible. Better deals, reliable companies, easy to navigate returns, better customer service.
One of Simon’s (Convoy) complaints was that the AliExpress returns process doesn’t return the light to him. He never sees that return and he’s out of pocket.
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Do you think this is a good product https://it.aliexpress.com/item/1005003092164967.html? Better than the Sofirn SC33. This one is also on the store for 33 euros.
Can you help me understand how I understand if one or the other is better?
IF22 is a small and very impressive pencil beam TIR thrower with a single emitter.
Cheaper, at least in UK, on the Sofirn site. It’s become one of the classics, much loved by all.
https://www.sofirnlight.com/products/sofirn-if22a-thrower-flashlight-2100-lumens
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The IF22A is indeed a very nice light. A compact thrower, because a TIR is smaller than a traditional reflector. Keep it on your “radar” because every once in a while it’s for sale (€25 or less) for a short period of time.
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The lights are shaped very differently. I do not own the SC33 but I suspect this style of light will be more ‘pocketable’ than the IF22(A).
The IF has 42mm head and the SC has a 32mm head. I love the IF22.
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Thanks guys. Not sure I totally get what a TIR thrower is haha, but the IF22A looks cool
I think we all like the old Skool form factor of the IF22, it has that classic flashlight shape.
TIR means Total Internal Reflector, and is basically a lump of plastic designed to bounce the light around internally and then throw it out the front efficiently. This is as opposed to the cone shaped mirror we’re used to.
Here’s a Fireflies X1 that I bought as the reflector version but also have a TIR for it.
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While I wait for my first Sofirm to arrive, I’d like to ask you what you think of this one https://it.aliexpress.com/item/1005006341224905.html which is on sale today at 29 euros. Is it a good price?
Are you looking at a sale price? What can I see in NL is € 32.99 -/_ € 3, but that’s a welcome price for new buyers. If you have bought from Ali before you pay the full price.
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just ordered an if22a with a discount code giving 35% off on the Sofirn website
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Thanks for the heads up, did the same.
I know I’ve got way too much lights, but I could not resist the temptation of finding out what the bottom line was.
Edit: my bank statement is € 19.72 down (incl. free shipping). I wonder if somewhere in the calculation Sofirn swapped an “x” with an “÷”
The if22A ends up at $ 20.79 before shipping etc . After using the 35% off coupon
https://www.sofirnlight.com/products/sofirn-if22a-thrower-flashlight-2100-lumens
Includes a Free 21700 battery . Gotta love andruil ramping . Given the price I’d recommend this light over the commonly suggested Wurkkos Fc11c any day of the week . A very solid $20 choice .
Just ordered last week (received yesterday).
aliexpress.us IF22a, with tax us$22.74.
Comparing if22a to fc11c is like comparing a spotlight to a reading lamp.
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Currently a 200x200mm 700 watt hot plate (shipped from Germany, so probably Europe only) as an ‘Early Bird Deal’ for € 35,79!
https://aliexpress.com/item/1005012332104421.html
Given that it’s an Early Bird Deal, it could be gone quickly.
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That thing is a beast, 20x20cm. Not sure it works well for small MCPCBs. You’d definitely want a hand rest. Also very mixed reviews. Needs 4 minutes to reach 250°C, half an hour to cool down again, questionable electrical safety. 35€ appears to be the regular price, at least I can find it on Amazon (fulfilled by Amazon) for that price.
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Good to know! I couldn’t find it any cheaper on Aliexpress currently and I can’t remember having seen it for this price in the past there.
I didn’t think of looking for a lower price on Amazon, but will do so in the future! (Was it on Amazon.de?)
I’ve got the 10x10cm 350(?)watt version of it. It isn’t the fastest to heat up indeed. Slow to cool down doesn’t bother me all that much; I just put it aside/out of the way and let it cool down whilst doing something else.
In terms of the electrical safety; I haven’t opened it yet to check out the inside, but I have tested if it was (properly) earthed; tested it at the powercord socket and checked several places on the outside. The powercord socket is also fused, but to be honest, I haven’t checked yet if there is an actual fuse in there and what spec it has.
So far I’ve only used it twice.
The first time was to desolder a damaged LED from a 85mm (5mm thick) copper MCPCB which weight 240 grams, which it handled perfectly fine.
The second time was today, to heat the head up (to 60-70 degrees centigrade) of my Haikelite HK90S, to soften up the glue so I could push the driver out and make some modifications. Luckily it worked, otherwise I wasn’t sure if I could get the driver out without damage. (And modding the light was the whole point of buying it. 
)
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