sign me up for 2 please 
Please count me in for 1.
Just an FYI but the reason the throw distance is bad is because the individual reflectors are so much smaller when there are 12 of them so they donāt capture very much light in the beam. It also wouldnāt surprise me if the drive current is only enough for just one of the emitters.
MAN! I can already smell the thermal grease cooking Come on BLF Q8 :sunglasses:
Anyone know? Days, weeks, months? I'm genuinely curious. :)
They work faster on Second Tuesdayās of a given week, so itās difficult to put an exact number on it. 
I know itās completely natural to really feel the need to see an end goal here, but we have to remember that first things first the light just simply has got to be right. There is no go ahead until we know for a fact that theyāre getting it right, only then can a forward progress even be considered. So itās one thing at a time, for the best result big picture. 
Patience is supposedly a virtue, but it sure puts a dent in the wallet buying other lights waiting for the treasured onesā¦ lol
I just ordered $140 worth of materials to build a light I drew up, a big triple with a massive copper pill and triple designā¦ should be in the 7,000 to 10,000 lumen or more range but wonāt know til I build it. All this waitingā¦. :confounded: But soās yāall can understand how special this deal is on the Q8, Iāve got some $60 worth of metal, $80 worth of emitters, reflector, driver materials, and then the time spent designing and going out to the lathe to actually create it. Itās not cheap, so I donāt have a clue really how the manufacturerās in China keep prices so low. Bulk and previously set up machinery accounts for a lot, I suppose.
Well we DO know that the actual production of the Q8 requires a lot of planning because it was said this is not something to be squeezed in between runs of other lights.
But what the production capacity actually is of the factory ia something I do not expect to ever know.
T18 once told me to check taobao and see sales of different brands there to get a better idea how much is made and sold, but I am not so skilled as he is and get lost on that site despite translation tools.
Iāve seen vendors on Taobao showing between 10,000 and 100,000 units a month, so once they get the Q8 slotted in Iād expected a couple of weeks turnaround, just a matter of breaking into the queue as it were.
The economy of scale is something to behold. Living in the retail world and having a general idea of how much items āshouldā cost is a world apart from manufacturing and ordering in tons or in thousands of units. Just take a look at the Mouser catalog and see how prices drop when you compare ordering a single part vs. ordering 1000. When you order in the tens of thousands, youāve got a lot of buying power. Add to that the reduced wages and cost of running a company in China and it makes more sense.
Bottom line, we are really lucky to have this project in the works.
Well itās not even a full year since this project started and look at all the fun we have had reading all the posts either on or off topic
But I think everyone has learned a lot about flashlights, how they work and parts needed to assembly one.
The main point is how long it does take start a project until that first little Widget comes off the assembly line and passās QC.
It will them be followed by another 10M units at a amazing speed.
If you ever watch āHow itās Madeā on TV the speed of some of the machinery is staggering.
So Iām sure DB Custom will/can add some Whit to this
One last note, try to build something starting out with a blank piece of paper or a blank mind, which is my method I prefer and see just how long it takes and how many Dead Ends you come to before you even get half wayā¦ā¦
So do I drop the Mike now ??
Haha great post!
Thanks for all your time and effort on this great Flashlight build and all the others involved also .
My Son goes to Burning Man and Iām sure I need to up my order or mine will be among the missing.
Hi,
Sorry donāt mean to mess you around but Iād like to cancel my order please.
I am number 873 on the list, thanks.
Miller, please add that one just lost to my two, for a total of 3 for me.
I have too many people with wants and too little money in my bank account. If theyād hand me $40 when they say āI wantā¦ā then Iād probably be getting 10 or something. lol
Yeah will update list, no worries Dr F, Dale got your back (thanks!)
Did some readup on Burning Man, sounds interesting.
Some of the projects they build at Burning Man are impressive by any standard.
The only thing they sell is Ice and Stamps.
Burning Man has itās own Zip Code.
So I might not get a Christmas Card but I do get a Post Card from Burning Man.
On a side note he Volunteers to work in the Control Town at the landing strip to help the Air Traffic Controller.
This will get you to the head of the line for a Airplane ride that takes up the Parachutists.
The line wait is many hours if you have to wait.
He is a āMaster of the Gameā
Donāt forget money for batteries and chargers 
15-25$ for 4 high drain batteries and 20$ ? for a quad charger
OK, Iām being very indecisive but after looking at other soda can sized lights, I think Iād like back in please. Sorry for this, please donāt shoot meā¦.
Please add me in for one on this list too good sir.
I am 885/886 on list. Add me in for a 3rd. Pretty certain my dad will be stealing one from meā¦
Thanks