Cheap recoil thrower cheap ($7.95) via slow blimp from China

eas · 2018-06-17T22:24:14.000Z

I’ve seen some chinese recoil throwers in various old threads here, but I don’t think I’ve come across any for sale until now.

Here we have what the seller calls New C12 Q5 LED light lamp Waterproof Zoomable Flashlight Torch 5 mode camping. It’s not zoomable & the pictured light is clearly a recoil reflector.

I think this host has also been known as the UltraFire WF-008. This one has the “E-Smarter” “brand.” The venerated OldLumens reviewed a very similar light in 2013.

There was a similar light available (with a larger reflector?) branded with GoRead and Sipik.

I just ordered one to try out.

ImA4Wheelr · 2018-06-30T02:58:24.000Z

I ordered one because I need to have at least one recoil thrower in my collection, but received a weird traditional reflector light. The battery tube says Ultrafire Z11. Probably just an innocent mistake. Contacted the vendor.

staticx57 · 2018-06-30T03:29:35.000Z

I offered 4 for it. Looks interesting

eas · 2018-06-30T04:21:08.000Z

Looks like my order could be here tomorrow. We’ll see if I get what I ordered.

Redlyne22 · 2018-06-30T06:20:05.000Z

Wow, I never knew somthing like this existed in a portable flashlight form. I ordered one. Thanks for sharing this.

eas · 2018-07-01T03:49:47.000Z

I didn’t get what I ordered. I got a ultrafire z11 thingy, too. I’ve requested a refund.

Update: And the refund was granted, along with a pre-paid shipping label to a US address.

ImA4Wheelr · 2018-07-05T04:01:20.000Z

^

Did you file a dispute or just PM the seller? I PM'd the seller and was offered a $1 refund. Have you actually been refunded yet?

eas · 2018-07-05T06:33:16.000Z

I just did a return request. They issued a mailing label. No refund yet, it looks like they should receive it tomorrow.

I see that the listing has been updated to show the light I received, though the light in the photos is branded esmart, rather than Ultrafire.

ImA4Wheelr · 2018-07-05T15:26:38.000Z

^

OK, thank you eas. :)

djozz · 2018-07-05T18:43:02.000Z

The only recoil thrower that I managed to buy in the last few year, although it really was one, had a miserable 15mm diameter reflector instead of one that went all the way to the edge like the original WF-008.

Agro · 2019-03-13T08:06:04.000Z

Another similar but different light on Ali:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Recoil-Thrower-Q5-3-mode-LED-Flashlight-Torch-Outdoor-LED-Lamp-18650-Flashlight-Focus-Torchlight-Recoil/32949812921.html

djozz · 2019-03-13T09:15:26.000Z

Agro:

Another similar but different light on Ali:
17.14€ 20% OFF|C2 Highlight LED Taschenlampe Weiß Licht L2 1200lm 3 modus LED Lampe Tragbare 18650 Taschenlampe LED Fackel|Taschenlampen| - AliExpress

It is a gamble, but i bought one. The pictures show a mirror that covers the whole diameter, but last time i bought one, the actual flashlight had a much smaller mirror. Let’s see how this one goes, I do not have high hopes.
Thanks for the heads-on Agro!

LouieAtienza · 2019-03-13T21:11:15.000Z

I believe Pelican manufactures a line of recoil flashlights…

djozz · 2019-03-27T17:59:48.000Z

djozz:

Agro:

Another similar but different light on Ali:
17.14€ 20% OFF|C2 Highlight LED Taschenlampe Weiß Licht L2 1200lm 3 modus LED Lampe Tragbare 18650 Taschenlampe LED Fackel|Taschenlampen| - AliExpress

It is a gamble, but i bought one. The pictures show a mirror that covers the whole diameter, but last time i bought one, the actual flashlight had a much smaller mirror. Let’s see how this one goes, I do not have high hopes.
Thanks for the heads-on Agro!

Bingo, it is the real deal, cheaply made just like the old Ultrafire, but with the full size mirror of seemingly good quality (although with dust and a bit of dirt.

Always wanted to check one of the new leds in one, let’s see if it can be modded!

Scallywag · 2019-03-27T18:56:56.000Z

Cool! What advantages does it offer over a normal reflector? I know cooling will be the big disadvantage.

gchart · 2019-03-27T19:03:51.000Z

Interesting… keep us updated! Now we need some tests/numbers.

Firelight2 · 2019-03-27T19:11:22.000Z

Scallywag:

Cool! What advantages does it offer over a normal reflector? I know cooling will be the big disadvantage.

In theory, it should have much better throw than a conventional reflector of the same width. Supposedly it is possible with a recoil thrower to produce an image of the die like an aspheric light, but with no light loss into the sides of the bezel.

djozz · 2019-03-27T19:15:15.000Z

Scallywag:

Cool! What advantages does it offer over a normal reflector? I know cooling will be the big disadvantage.

The correct question is: what advantages does it offer over a aspheric lens, because optically that is much closer. And the answer is: in this size that is not clear, although it looks like this mirror is optically better than the aspheric lenses commonly used in flashlights.
In larger lights it becomes a major advantage that mirrors are more lightweight than an aspheric lens, and optically superior over a fresnel lens.

But for me it is about the :sunglasses: factor, it is a type of flashlight that I have not fiddled with as yet.

djozz · 2019-03-27T19:19:00.000Z

In this light it does have a lot of light loss at the side btw, it seems to catch less than a 100 degrees cone, not unlike an average aspheric flashlight.

Firelight2 · 2019-03-27T19:23:53.000Z

You should compare it side-by-side with an aspheric light with a lens the same diameter as the reflector using same emitter and driver and see which is brighter!

It would be nice if someday, someone made a modernized better quality recoil thrower. I think the key would be to make the LED arm out of solid copper for much better heat transfer.

It would also be nice if it were made with 2 leds on the arm. A high-intensity one facing backwards for throw and a floody one facing fowards for close-range use as a mule.