When I get a new light, it take it apart (as far as I can) for a full inspection.
Looking for loose bits and pieces, filing a bit, sanding a bit, cleaning a bit everything.
Put new new grease on the threads. Checking for loose rings, wires, et cetera.
Then I put it back together, give it a fresh battery and put it in a holster (or back in the box).
You might say, I like to keep my lights a immaculate as can. But that goes for all my tools.
I have some EDC lights, but I also have an “EDC pocket” in every coat.
Which means that dirty doggy toys go into other pockets, not in that one.
After use, I clean my lights before putting them back into where they came from.
Shit happens, and lights do fall (once in a while) but I try to avoid that as much as I can.
Same goes for all my other (power)tools, I clean them up before I put them back in the (tool)box.
Same goes for the interior of my car. Sometimes I eat in my car, or the dogs, or my wife
But I clean up the next day. The carpet has scuff marks, where my wife sits, but that’s about all.
Being a toolfreak, when I see something I want, I’ll try to take it from you or give something in return.
And I know I have a better chance (if I want to swap something) if my offer looks as good as new.
Also it has happened that I gave a light to someone who desperately needed a light, then and there.
I want them to realise they got a gift, not just being lucky because it was on its way to the dustbin.
I remember the first week I got my FW3C, I have a little drawer unit under my monitor 4 inches high, whilst reaching for something I knocked the light off and it fell 4 inches on to a metal object and put a small dent in the bezel…. this was while it was all shiny so it showed. Since the patina has formed you can’t see it.
I have this dilemma with my beautiful brass ft03 which I won, I feel like it should/deserves to be used, but if I dropped that I would literally cry! an everyday light/tool it is not.
At the moment it sits on my desk like a big shiny trophy. I kinda prefer patina, but there is no way I’m stripping it.
I never worry about cosmetic appearances on flashlights, guns, or even my cars. What I do care about is that they work as well as they should. It’s not as if the things I have are collectibles.
When I get a new light I tend to treat it with silk gloves until the first real bang. That’s the only one that really hurts. After it’s not factory new anymore, it joins the ranks of the regular collection. By this point, I pick based on beam pattern and tint, not host condition - minimal wear or battle scarred, it’s all the same for me.
A couple scratches in ano are fine but “patina” on shiny rose gold looking copper is disgusting. If i wanted smelly green shit on my hand id stick it in the lizzard toilet.
I agree it's that hard hit that leaves a big gouge that you can't miss and can feel even after you tried to smooth down the rough edge . I don't mind a worn down used or scratched look as long as it happens over time . But one that's been hard hit or like people have mentioned ,One that comes from the vendor pre-munched can be a drag .
For years my lights were on the top shelf of my desk all lined up in a row ....just waiting for the errant toe stubbing or an accidental knee jab to send them all into a domino death spiral ..Shelf queens beating each other for time at court or the greater place of honor .
In real life I'm more concerned with my edc's screwing up my phone
I like most stuff to look used. Don’t care if my iphone get scuffed up and scratched. I think things like that look more beautiful the more used they look.
