Says it all! Yes!! :+1:
On this forum you’re free to provide any link as long as it’s not spam. 
Come on, sharing knowledge has nothing to communism. By sharing knowledge you don’t have it less. But you’re in the loop, enabling you to get more of it. In Vinh’s case - he was late to the Black Flat party and the reason was simply that nobody told him about it.
And actually…
Vinh,
I notice that you’re offering more and more stock lights. Or simply different CCTs. It seems there are more and more stock lights that are so close to modded ones that they have little potential for improvement.
I’d like to know what do you think about this situation? Why is it so? How does it affect your business? How do you see the future of this trend?
Since you quoted me there too, I said specific knowledge, such as spending a grand or two experimenting on emitters & driver combo’s like he did with the CFT90’s.
You could not expect him to spend that sort of cash plus the time to figure out the balance there, then just share that with everyone when it’s your bread & butter.
But maybe he does/ would, I cant say.
Vinh,
I notice that you’re offering more and more stock lights. Or simply different CCTs. It seems there are more and more stock lights that are so close to modded ones that they have little potential for improvement.
I’d like to know what do you think about this situation? Why is it so? How does it affect your business? How do you see the future of this trend?
I simply want to add more varieties to include more customers of different budgets. In the end all decision made are financial business decisions. Example. X70vn only gets LEDs mods. However I do “ONE-OFFs” custom version with Scylla Driver and DriverVNX3 UI for more output and program-ability. Same goes with the X80vn.
I also build many lights as “ONE-OFFs” that never make it to my store for custom order. Currently working on a Sirius V2 which is based on the BLF GT host. Has 72 “W1” LEDs behind quads!
Most of the lights that I sell 100% as stock are relatively low cost lights and I want to keep the value aspect high.
Lights I have on Sky Lumen are usually not the most “exotic” version of their kind. Customers have to send in their email custom order for those. They are mostly version I can mass produce with acceptable margin and are appealing to the general public.
I got no clue what the future holds. The flashlight world has move forward rapidly since I started in 2008 and the pace only seem to get more rapid. Who know we can have 2Mcd at over 5000 Lumen from a single LED light now.
Thanks for the description of what you do with the ToolVN copper. Glad you could pop in and answer yourself, this thread turned more into a thread about you rather than what mods you actually do to the lights.
To the contrary, I believe it would be beneficial to him as long as he could expect to learn back similar combinations that others found to work or not to work. Dumping a piece of knowledge is not beneficial. Collaborating with others is. And on BLF one can learn that Lexel has built a one-off 40A driver for CFT-90 that works great according to the owner…$400 but I believe that it included R&D and that a small batch would be way cheaper than that.
Though I do see lack of time as a major impediment.
Thanks for the answer. I didn’t realize that you were doing so many one-offs. BTW, how about W2 in that Sirius? 
Vinh, you sound like a gentlemen to me, it appears you do business correctly and fairly so I’ll tip my hat to you for sure!
Only ever bought one light from Vin 3 or 4 years ago, was great to deal with him and no problems.
Vinh,
If you were sell stock lights and they are simple to open up; if you can just open up to check QC. I would gladly buy from you directly and exclusively instead of buying for anywhere else as you give me a piece of mind that this stock light will not fail unexpectedly due to bad QC. How many time have we seen lights DOA, joints loose, one drop and it’s dead. etc… then have a major headache getting in touch with manufacturers/shipping/ taking video this, take a picture that… Your truly hassle-free is worth every penny.
I have never bought a vinh light.
I have bugged him on several occasions with questions. Every account was positive.
Thank you Vinh
What a fine example of some of the best this hobby has to offer. I’m glad he stopped by. BLF is a better place becuz of people like him.
Well answered and said Vinh . I as a BLF member somehow feel ashamed knowing there are still some members keep the same bashing at you over and over again.
Just the other day I and SKV89 had a conversation about you ;). You answered most of my questions up there.
A person who buys modified stuffs doesn’t always means he can’t do it him/herself. It’s just convenient for the person to do so. I can spearfish but 99% of the time I buy the fish from local market. Paid much higher price than if I get them myself. Fishes are plenty here, you can just park your car and fish next to the road if you want to. But I have many other things to do in life. I never cuss or jealous to the fishermen. If they put too expensive pricing I just move to another stall or…. get the fish myself. If you cant afford lobster then go with the shrimp. Too cheapo for the price? Grow the lobster yourself, it’s easy to do yet a dedicated activity.
- Clemence
This customer goal is Max throw.
Vinh,
If you were sell stock lights and they are simple to open up; if you can just open up to check QC. I would gladly buy from you directly and exclusively instead of buying for anywhere else as you give me a piece of mind that this stock light will not fail unexpectedly due to bad QC. How many time have we seen lights DOA, joints loose, one drop and it’s dead. etc… then have a major headache getting in touch with manufacturers/shipping/ taking video this, take a picture that… Your truly hassle-free is worth every penny. Thumbs Up
I think this is a good idea. I have started to sell several stock or close to stock lights at close to retail but also offer Sky Lumen Warranty on it for peace of mind. I do have to cherry pick models that I think are well built and in high demands of course. Actually I do that with all models. Some lights are definitely built better than others which are not apparent as first form just performance alone and anodization alone. TM10K for example is a wonderful light in every way aside from the fact that it wasn’t properly heat sink. I had such a high demand for that light but unfortunately have to decline.
Well answered and said Vinh Thumbs Up . I as a BLF member somehow feel ashamed knowing there are still some members keep the same bashing at you over and over again.
Just the other day I and SKV89 had a conversation about you ;). You answered most of my questions up there.
A person who buys modified stuffs doesn’t always means he can’t do it him/herself. It’s just convenient for the person to do so. I can spearfish but 99% of the time I buy the fish from local market. Paid much higher price than if I get them myself. Fishes are plenty here, you can just park your car and fish next to the road if you want to. But I have many other things to do in life. I never cuss or jealous to the fishermen. If they put too expensive pricing I just move to another stall or…. get the fish myself. If you cant afford lobster then go with the shrimp. Too cheapo for the price? Grow the lobster yourself, it’s easy to do yet a dedicated activity.
- Clemence
Exactly my sentiment. Thank you!
China is releasing a world of budget lights that is very fun, high performance, and relatively affordable. I say relative because even a budget $30-50 light is still expensive to the non enthusiast. There is definitely nothing wrong with that. Almost all of the lights on my store are Made in China. Budget brand or not. Most things we use are made in China. Weren’t for China efficient and low cost production the world couldn’t afford most of the things they have now. Imagine how much the IPhone XS would cost if made in California. Likely won’t start at $1000. If all our lights were made in USA or Germany then we will have to expect HDS and Lupine pricing. Fortunately, there are plenty of options to fit every budget. As we stand I see there is no competition with the overwhelmingly dominating China budget/value aspect. Therefore it makes me very happy to see smaller brand like Texas Lumen to be building USA lights. Sure its more expensive than Solarforce but its a very welcoming alternative to me personally that is scare at the moment. I too would like to invest in a USA made project. Yes 100% is not made in USA such as the rubber boot but as I would like to choose the highest quality parts where there are no alternatives. Why? because I simply cant compete with China when it comes to price and more importantly it’s nice to behold a higher quality alternative (Or at least that’s the goal) every now and then. This post is not intended to bash on budget lights in any way. I enjoy every light! Well, may be except for anything that is **Fire. How hard it is to come up with a name? Even MicroBlueBear is more original. I simply just want to commend brands such as HDS, Lupine, and Texas Lumen for being brave and different so we have more options.
I would have to spend a lot of money to figure out the ins and outs of a driver. Now guns for me, anything and everything. Funny, I like lights better now.
But I would love to have one of Vinh’s 1 mile “water tower” beam shot lights.
I take my hat off to you vin with the success you have had and making a living from something you enjoy doing though at times I guess there is a lot of frustration .
Well done and all the best for the future.
Hello Vinh
Good to see you here!