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Flashlights?

大馬伕

Familiar Face
Messages
74
Mag Lite offers plenty of replacement O rings for its AA Mini Mag Lites but not for its full size torches. At least I have been unable to find any.




Boeing has them.



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大馬伕

Familiar Face
Messages
74
That's not a flashlight. That is a ******* and muzzle flash. That cop is shooting the driver. Look at the other cops to the left. Just standing around casually like it's normal.



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Fifty150

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,787
Location
The Barbary Coast
The threads were dry, as was the one O ring at the head cap.




Weird. The same thing just happened to me. In my parts bin, I had 4. I just used 1. Now I have 3 left. I used wheel bearing grease this time. It was the closest thing handy.





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@Fifty150 suggested Vaseline as an alternative to O ring grease. I actually used Vaseline a few days ago when my silicone grease wasn't handy. It works. But I doubt it will last as long in the light as O ring grease. That stuff lasts for decades, if the O rings are intact.


A lot of things around the house could be used....... if you had to. My little tube of first aid ointment in my first aid kit, lists the inactive ingredients as mineral oil and white petrolatum. If I needed a simple thread lubricant, and I didn't have anything else........

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With as many Mag-Lite flashlights as there are in this world...... every part, is available...... somewhere. Somewhere, somebody, has it, and they want to sell it. My search for pricing and availability was all resellers. Everyone from aviation supply, Rubbermaid parts, police supply, etc. I'm willing to bet that Mag-Lite would be the best source. Just call them. They must have the part, as they are still manufacturing the flashlight. I don't know if they'll sell direct, or refer you to one of their resellers.




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Peacoat

Bartender
Messages
7,075
Location
South of Nashville
Below is a link to ZDBB silicone O ring grease. Three tubes for $10. Single tubes are available for $8 or $9, but might as well get three for almost the same price.

I have a tube in my shop in the tractor garage, a tube next to my workbench in my garage downstairs, and a tube in my tool bag upstairs with tools used mostly for plumbing work. In that bag I also have a tube of plumber's grease I use for the threads on all plumbing fixtures I get into. Ensures they are easy to get into the next time as they won't corrode with exposure to water and age.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0DN...d_r=880f7cb7-e0bb-47c9-b59a-b0160076fe92&th=1
 

Peacoat

Bartender
Messages
7,075
Location
South of Nashville

Peacoat,​


I read your post about ****mers. I assure you, that I'm not a ****mer. Let me know if you can't find the Mag-Lite gasket seal and you want one of mine. I have 3 left.
Thank you.

What I need is the face cap O ring that seals the lens against the head of the light. Part # 108-026 They are difficult to find. I am going to call Mag Lite in the next day or so to see if they have them.

I know you aren't a ****mer. Suzie vouches for you.
 

Fifty150

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,787
Location
The Barbary Coast
Feit Electric

I first became aware of this company about 10 or 15 years ago.. When LED light bulbs were first coming onto the market. Their products work. Install a light bulb, you expect it to turn on and off. What more do you want. It doesn't flicker. It stays bright over time, as opposed to slowly dimming. I haven't seen one short circuit or start a fire....... yet.

They also have flashlights. I found this one which is rechargeable, uses a lithium battery, or could default to AAA.

So far, it seems okay. Time will tell, of course. I won't be able to report back until it fails. Or enough time has passed that I can say it's a good light. I like all the specs. It appears to be durable. It was priced at about $11.

It appears that unless someone is looking for a professional or industrial tool, from a company which has decades of proven reliability; an average person could get reasonable quality flashlights for a very low price. And in today's world, we are talking about spending less than the hourly wage. I'm basing that on my local area, where fast food jobs at McDonald's start their hourly wage at $20. Compared to 1979, where a Mag-Lite was 8 hours pay (@ $3 an hour), or a day's wage.








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Fifty150

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,787
Location
The Barbary Coast
Here is a look at the Pelican 7060. This is from a recent incident. Not all officers on the street use a weapon mounted flashlight. You can see flashlight in the officer's left hand. You can see the beam.







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Fifty150

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,787
Location
The Barbary Coast
I got a 4 pack of 200 lumen bulbs. Not nearly as bright as what I could have gotten, but more than bright enough for my uses. Also, an inexpensive way to bring a good flashlight into the 21st Century.




These were about $12 for the 4 pack. @ $3, I don't expect much. The brand name was GLGYCB. This led bulb is P13.5S and PR2 socket. LED Bulb for : DC 3V 4.5V 6V. Color:Nature White 6000k​
  • Power: 3Watt Bright level: 200LM​




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There's an old flashlight in the garage. It's brand new. Never used. I've never seen it used. I just know that it's there. May belong to Dad or one of my Uncles. Nobody admits to having any memory of it. Same way that there are random screwdrivers, pliers, etc., that nobody knows anything about. They're just kind of in the garage.

Since I had those LED lamps handy, I decided to see what I could do with that old flashlight.

It's plastic. There must be some advantage to plastic. Impact resistant? Lighter weight? Resistant to chemicals? Won't rust, pit, or corrode like metal? It's designed so that it doesn't roll away. There's a sliding switch held by a metal rivet. Fixed beam. Made in USA. This was probably the best over-the-counter flashlight that you could get in the 60's & 70's, before Mag-Lite came along in 1979. Just like those old 3 D cell Mag-Lites, it had a Krypton style bulb.

It's not for everybody. In today's world, everyone wants the brightest lights with the highest lumens. Fulton is still selling incandescent lights, with a 50 Lumen LED option for their 2 cell lights. Some tactical situations require dim lighting, so that you don't give your position away. And it's their 2 cell lights, which are their bread & butter. Somehow, they have had a military contract for over 50 years, supplying antiquated technology. They supply the crook neck lights, and those flashlights with cones that are used to waive at planes. There has to be crooked politics, for the government to keep buying these old flashlights, and making this company rich.

For me, this will be a good light when I don't need a blinding light. Not every situation is a tactical situation. I really like the lighter weight. I also have AA to D battery adapters which allow me to use 1, 2, or 3 AA batteries per adapter. A plastic light, with 3 AA batteries, putting out more light than a 3 D cell incandescent Mag-Lite is an attractive option. Not a bad solution to refresh an old tool in the garage, and put it back into service.

The more I handle it, it's growing on me. I kind of like it. I might even try carrying it around to see how practical it is. I will just have to turn a blind eye to the fact that there are brighter, more efficient, smaller, lighter flashlights. I'll ignore people laughing at the old dinosaur with the 60's flashlight. Same way I ignore people laughing at the old man riding a motorcycle with a carburetor. I've learned to stop paying attention to people pointing and laughing at me, for driving an old car with manual rolling windows and no air conditioning.






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Fifty150

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,787
Location
The Barbary Coast
In real life, you don't have the luxury of adjusting your adjustable flashlight. You just have to hope that whatever setting it defaults to, you can see. 50 feet away to a guy in the bushes. 15 feet away to a guy on a roof who is close enough to jump on you. 5 feet away and you can see the weapon in his hand. None of these guys are using a low light setting or strobe. When you're under stress, you don't want a flashlight with a bunch of different settings to cycle through.​








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Messages
14,357
Location
Germany
That's funny!
The last weeks and months, I was always watching out for a better, practical solution for my book reading.

Now I seemingly found one!
In our smalltown's central supermarket, they had these foldable multipurpose LED worklights, you can either use by hand or have them standing on a surface or using the magnetic foot wherever you want.

The runtime is marked 3 (300 Lumens)) to 6 hours (150 Lumens). 1.000 mAh accu battery. "Neutral-White" 5000K. USB-charging. Charging time 4 hours.

No gadgets, just 150/300 Lumens setting, that's it.

Now charging, I'm looking forward to use it!!
 

Peacoat

Bartender
Messages
7,075
Location
South of Nashville
I came along before the advent of tactical lights, so I never received training on them. Mag Lite was it for me. But if I were a patrol officer, I think I would want my default position on a tactical light. set to strobe. It is totally disorienting. Plenty of time to go to the taser without having to resort to deadly force. If I needed a light in the darkness, easy enough to temporarily change the setting.

In my rural community, the LEO response time is up to 15 minutes. So, essentially, I am the Sheriff. By my bed I keep a tactical light set to strobe. The Mag Lite is for those times I need to light my way in the dark.

Will I ever need the strobe? Doubtful as we have no crime in our community. In fact, during the day, we don't lock our doors, even when we are gone for extended periods. But, one never knows about the night and darkness. Thus, the strobe by the bed.
 

Fifty150

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,787
Location
The Barbary Coast
I came along before the advent of tactical lights


I came along in the age of Streamlight. In my area, that was the professional light. Law Enforcement used the SL-20X. The chargers were mounted into patrol vehicles. The stations had bank chargers. Mechanics, service techs, and industrial workers had the smaller Stinger models. This was decades before LED flashlight technology.


Mag-Lite was still the standard for most people. As most homeowners, or anyone who had to buy their own flashlight, was not spending upwards of $200 for a Streamlight. Mag-Lites were about $20. I had Streamlight for work. Mag-Lite did everything else.


When Surefire came along with the 6P & 9P, a lot of people switched over to them. Size & weight were huge factors. Finally, a small light, with a lot of power. I tried them. I still have them. I don't use them anymore. The batteries were too expensive. More than once, the tailcap switch turned on while I was in a car. The light was in a belt holder. The tailcap was accidentally pressed against my body or the car seat. The lamp heated up. Luckily, I was wearing soft body armor, so I didn't get burned.



Today, there are many options. Some agencies issue these "tactical" lights. Some agencies expect you to buy and maintain your own. Every agency has a different way of issuing uniform and equipment.
 
Messages
14,357
Location
Germany
On tactical lights:
When you watch out for the Fenix TK16 and there's only its successor TK17 available, remember, that the TK17 not more offers the highly economical 150 Lumens setting!

TK17
-3.600 L Turbo
-1000 L
-350 L
-30 L
 

Fifty150

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,787
Location
The Barbary Coast
when they appeared in TV shows!!



I have no idea what they used on television. TV production probably used Mag-Lite. I doubt if a television show producer cared about the actor carrying the correct flashlight.


I'm fairly certain that a lot of people started their careers with Mag-Lite. It was the most affordable option. Not every department pays their officers enough money to be able to afford a $200 flashlight. Not every department has a budget for equipment. You would be surprised by what an agency issues, and what they don't issue. You would also be surprised by what equipment the officer is responsible for buying and/or maintaining.



Look at this list of what an officer in uniform is supposed to have. Notice that most things are "department issued". Which means that the department paid for the item. If not issued, you are responsible for buying and maintaining the item.



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I came along at a time when soft body armor was just becoming a mandatory item. Back then, the issued firearm was a .38 caliber revolver. ***s which had been in service for over 20 years. If you wanted to carry a different sidearm, because you wanted to stay alive...... you had to pay for that out of your own pocket.


In my area, what they issue is a political hotbed. There are lawyers, commissions, county boards, and other elected officials who get to decide a) if it's good optics, & b) if there is additional exposure to liability. After an item is approved, there are more layers of bureaucracy to fund the purchases.


Necessity is not a consideration. What's important is that it looks good to the voters, and if they can get sued over having it or not having it. The department authorized body armor and semiautomatic *******s, after enough officers were killed in the line of duty. Lawsuits were filed because those officers should have had more than a decades old, small caliber revolver, and soft body armor. The funding came from public donations. Police officers were literally asking taxpayers and voters to donate money because the bureaucrats at City Hall were unable to allocate funding.


On the other hand, I'm lucky to have a job at all. Mechanics buy their own wrenches. Carpenters buy their own hammers. And I'm the guy who complains about paying for my own dry cleaning and buying my own flashlight. I'm just bitter about facing decades of bureaucracy. The same bureaucrats who put it in writing that supervisors are supposed to inspect your tattoos. So angry, that I am almost ready to get blue eye shadow and red lip liner tattooed on my face, just to be in compliance with the policy. How many billable legal hours were spent to craft this sort of human resources policy? Did Sheriff Andy have this problem with Barney Fife?




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Peacoat

Bartender
Messages
7,075
Location
South of Nashville
Your Miranda warning cards aren't issued?

The ones incased in plastic are less than a dime a dozen. They last forever. Should be given to every officer.
 

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