I finally did it, i took a hacksaw to my HP550
my coast lights (I have a HP550 and a HP7) have been ticking me off for quite some time now.
I LOVE the solid build quality, and the 1000 lumens of the HP550 out of the box? But REALLY ticks me off how the zoom lens will not focus up to the emitter.
its such a “teaser” to have a 1000 lumen light, that wont go the distance because of the way they do the lens.
=
after realizing i am never going to use it because of this? i decided its just SITTING there, collecting dust… why not!
i gave it ONE last try… anvil vise… channel locks… some heat…
aw, screw it… i just broke out the hacksaw and some wd40, LMAO.
it wasnt as easy as i thought to just hacksaw it apart. I tried making a “cut” below the head threads, ended up going just above the threads, finally got thru.
STILL couldnt get the lens off, the head was getting stopped up on the knurling of the body? screw it, came this far… took a hacksaw right above the knurling on the body.
it was STILL being a complete pain in the @##, could not even with anvil vice and channel locks, get the big pill out… had to turn it upside down in the anvil vise, and cut a “channel” into the little bit of body left… and use a 3 foot wide piece of metal rod to get enough oomph to unscrew the pill, LMAO
finally happy (sort of, anyways, lol) ended up with about a “d-cell” sized chunk of body with the big pill screwd into it…
i figure, i am going to try to make a “scratch” type dedicated thrower. Might go with a 2-lens or 3-lens design… cant decide whether i want to go single 18650 for the battery, or, maybe “3D” with it for runtime…
breaks my heart to chop up a 50-60 dollar flashlight? but really, its just sittng there collecting dust… when i am done it will get some use…
it’ll probably look like hell, when i am done? but… at least it will work like i want it to…
