I just received a Fenix E28R V2.0. That light ticks most of the boxes for my EDC needs, except for the throw: I’d prefer to have a SFT40 in there, instead of the SST40.
Unlike many other lights, this one doesn’t have a tailcap per se, it’s the whole body that unscrews from the head.
Now, look as much as I can, I don’t see any further separation line on the head, except around the bezel. It’s like everything was fitted in from there.
Does anyone know how to take that apart? Is the bezel just glued in, or is it screwed-and-glued?
The only alternative would be that the contact plate is screwed in after everything else, and that the plier holes are under the black insulating pad, but this would leave a hole much smaller in diameter than the head…
I modded my E28R with 519A 5000k. Unfortunately, the bezel is a stainless piece which is pressed into the head and taking it apart is pretty destructive.
I suggest you look at Youtube videos of people taking some Olight model apart which involves the same process of taking knife blades and insert them into the bezel slit and use wood pieces to lightly knock them in. If you go too hard you will warp the bezel ring and leave big gashes on the head.
My E28R is pretty scuffed up after the process but since the beam is so much prettier than before I’m not complaining. But if I were to choose again, I wouldn’t be modding a Fenix. They are very mod unfriendly. The E28R gives a balanced beam, v2.0 uses reflector instead of TIR but the principle is the same. If you need throw, you should have bought a different model. I tried many emitters in my E28R, including 519A, 519A dedome, LH351D and SFT40 and I ended up settled on the domed 519A since the SFT40 makes it too throwy and not suitable to close range works.
The secret to avoid deep scratches is do not angle the knife relatively to the bezel. I’m using 519A sliced on my E28R, but still has some tint shift, so I’m thinking about SFT40 5000K for better beam and more output. How do you describe the beam in terms of tint shift and artifacts using SFT40?
I only tried the 6500K one because that’s all I had in hand. There is almost no tint shift which is good. However the beam has a really narrow hotspot with a defined edge, basically a small, hard edged circle instead of a diffused hotspot. The tint is okay but color render is really bad. Throw on the other hand is a lot better when used outside. In the end it just didn’t suit my need for this light so I switched back to a domed 519A.
I checked closely, the bezel is pressed in with an interference fit, there is a very slight bulge in the head’s circumference at that junction.
I have half an idea on how to go about it… Thermal expansion of aluminum is about twice that of stainless steel, if I can get a momentary difference in temp of about 100C between bezel and head, there will be a 0.2mm difference in circumference. I know how to hold the bezel without marring it (nor the head). I’ll give it a try when I have some time on my hands. If it works, I’ll get that SFT, I really need the throw…
