Titanium 18650?

BlueSwordM · 2019-06-27T19:09:31.000Z

Yeah.

Fully titanium lights would not be a good head.

Since titanium has lower thermal conductivity than aluminium and lower mass per volume than aluminium, it has very poor thermal characteristics.

You’d probably kill the LED on turbo mode without you even feeling it.

Firelight2 · 2019-06-27T20:48:32.000Z

I have a fully titanium 18650 light I got from CN Quality Goods years ago. I don’t remember the brand name.

It’s quite small. Looks like a slightly longer DQG Tiny 18650, made entirely out of titanium and with knurling on the head but not the body tube. I plan to mod it someday since unlike the DQG it does not use an integrated driver/star.

fogus · 2019-06-27T20:37:37.000Z

I’d be perfectly fine with a copper head. I do NOT want heat issues. I want slim and durable. Not too pokey (comfy in pocket). Knurling or no knurling. Trit inserts preferred.

I don’t want aluminum though. I have several good aluminum lights, but for my EDC, I want to spring for titanium.

I would like the initial turn on mode to be moonlight, or at least programmable to moonlight.

I’m interested in building my own, but I’ve never done that for a flashlight. I’ve done a lightsaber before though, so that’s somewhat similar, I think.

The Mechforce looked perfect until I realized it was only an 18350. And then there’s the heat issue, but it says it’s on a copper PCB and has a “radiator”, so maybe that’ll help? But I want the more substantial 18650 feel in my hand.

I really do want to be confident that I won’t burn the light out. Whatever protection is available to prevent that: I want it.

Firelight2 · 2019-06-27T20:55:11.000Z

For what you’re looking for I think your best option is to wait for the titanium FW3A. It hit’s all the bases:

copper head with rest of the light titanium
shortcut to moonlight for initial turn-on.
up to 2800 lumens output
Very small and compact for an 18650 light with a great UI.
Looks gorgeous.

It’s not out yet, but I’m keeping fingers crossed that hopefully it’s available in a month or two. Here’s one of the pictures that was posted in the FW3A thread of the prototype:

BOO5TED · 2019-06-27T22:04:30.000Z

That looks great besides the copper section, maybe if the knurling on the tail was copper it would look better.

fogus · 2019-06-27T22:09:52.000Z

That looks fantastic as far as specs. I’d prefer a stone washed appearance, but that’s just me.

What do you think the trit options are?

Firelight2 · 2019-06-27T22:14:35.000Z

fogus:

That looks fantastic as far as specs. I’d prefer a stone washed appearance, but that’s just me.

What do you think the trit options are?

The FW3A has no built-in trit slots on the outside of the body. However, it can use a Carclo 10507 optic, and I know that Neal is selling such optics with 3 trits pre-installed for $30 each.

Some people have also modded the tailcaps in their aluminum FW3As to add room for a trit. That’s probably the only other place to put one.

If bezel trits aren’t bright enough for you, Lexel has prototyped an aux led board. When installed, you get a colorful glow behind the bezel when the light is off from 12 tiny colored LEDs. These are typically much brighter than any trit.

Firelight2 · 2019-06-27T22:18:26.000Z

BOO5TED:

That looks great besides the copper section, maybe if the knurling on the tail was copper it would look better.

The copper section is the head. It’s a single piece that contains the shelf for the star (the board with the LEDs on it), and the driver.

Titanium is a relatively poor conductor of heat. It’s common for titanium hot-rod lights like this one to use copper for the section with the star on it for just this reason. Copper is an excellent conductor of heat and helps remove the heat from the LEDs.

The FW3A is quite a small light for producing around 3,000 lumens. It is 25mm wide at the head and 92mm long. It’s one of the most compact available 18650 lights.

BOO5TED · 2019-06-27T22:21:01.000Z

I get that, it just looks out of place with that being the only copper part of the light. Rear tail section or possibly a copper pocket clip would make it more visually appealing to me.

fogus · 2019-06-27T22:29:48.000Z

That LED idea sounds cool. As long as it doesn’t run down the battery too quickly and isn’t so bright I can’t sleep at night… Do you have a link to it? How can I learn more?

emarkd · 2019-06-27T23:21:29.000Z

There are titanium lights out there with copper heads (for heat) and matching copper tail (for looks). Here’s one of mine, a FocusWorks Eryx F1.

I also have the ReyLight Dawn already mentioned, solid titanium. Its a great light, but it does not shed heat well. In fact one fateful evening I wasn’t paying close enough attention to how hot the head was getting that it melted its own polycarb optic. Luckily its a $2 part…

That’s not to discourage you from the ReyLight, its a great flashlight. But it does require some careful handling. Its not one I’d hand to my kids…

BOO5TED · 2019-06-27T23:26:44.000Z

I’ve wanted a Dawn for a while but interested in the new Gemini coming out more.

fogus · 2019-06-28T01:16:00.000Z

I’m going to have a hard time justifying going much over $300, but I’m glad to see options above that.

For the FW3A, what price range should I expect?

Waiting a few months is no big deal for this purchase. I’m looking for a light that really hits everything I’m lacking in the S41S, so I’m willing to wait for that.

Enderman · 2019-06-28T01:24:12.000Z

AIRAYLAND TC8 Titanium XP-G3 18650 Flashlights

Just saw this and thought it looked pretty cool… [image] … [image] 18650 powered, XP-G3, metal “1288” tail switch, USB charging, Titanium. Must have been a lower price recently, when google’d it still shows ” US$31.50” Here’s some more eye candy: [image] [image] [image] I don’t know much about XP-G3 though. Better than XP-G2 I suppose?

fogus · 2019-06-28T01:41:16.000Z

The price on that makes me a tad nervous. I’d expect to pay at least $150, but I won’t say no to keeping my money. Not a huge fan of the design. I’ll be watching to see what people say about reliability for this one.

fogus · 2019-06-28T01:43:36.000Z

BOO5TED:

I’ve wanted a Dawn for a while but interested in the new Gemini coming out more.

I searched for this but did not find it.

Also, that FocusWorks Eryx F1 looks fantastic. A bit out of my price range. I’d take a simpler stone washed exterior to save money if possible (hoping to keep below US$300).

moderator007 · 2019-06-28T03:57:09.000Z

Sunwayman makes a titanium 18650 light, I dont own one, so I couldn’t tell you much about it. Doesn’t look like it has a moonlight though.

batteryjunction.com

Sunwayman C25C TI Thrones Titanium LED Flashlight

Sunwayman C25C TI Flashlight - CREE XM-L2 U2 LED - 856 Lumens, Uses 1 x 18650 or 2 x CR123A Batteries.

.
There’s a Reylight triple dawn on ebay also.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/ReyLight-Triple-Dawn-Titanium-Stonewashed-Cree-XPL-HI-6000K-LED-Flashlight-NEW/383024343964?

BOO5TED · 2019-06-28T03:53:57.000Z

fogus:

BOO5TED:

I’ve wanted a Dawn for a while but interested in the new Gemini coming out more.

I searched for this but did not find it.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BzEMRY5nPI2/

https://www.instagram.com/p/By67qtiH8LY/

fogus · 2019-06-29T01:18:14.000Z

I found the Sunwayman C25C Ti Thrones, but it has no moonlight mode, same for the Sunwayman M25C Ti Titanium, and for the Luckysun 18650. Moonlight is my primary use.

I also found the https://intl-outdoor.com/emisar-d4ti-high-power-flashlight-p-927.html light recently. Looks fantastic, but no stock.

Why does it seem like the whole world is out of stock of titanium 18650 flashlights?

BOO5TED · 2019-06-29T01:30:39.000Z

fogus:

Why does it seem like the whole world is out of stock of titanium 18650 flashlights?

Because people want them lol.