Chad Nichols SS Damascus Lights

[PhotonFanatic]

I've been working on this for some time and it is almost finished:





I have a WIP thread on another forum, if you want to see more. Only reason I started the thread there was that my customer asked me to do it.

I've posted photos of the 18650 lights, starting with post number 27.

[Light11]

Fantastic design
what are the dimensions?
which LED?
Is there an attachment point or landyard slot?
is it a clicky or a twisty?

[jch79]

It ain't right. It just AIN'T RIGHT! Those big grouped dimples are the good stuff. Fred, you gotta stop!

john

[Chauncey Gardner]

Just beautiful. One of the best looking lights I have ever seen.

I like the 17500 format too.

[PhotonFanatic]

Fantastic design
what are the dimensions?
which LED?
Is there an attachment point or landyard slot?
is it a clicky or a twisty?

Dimensions: 24mm diameter X 87mm long
LED: Not set in stone yet, but I'm leaning to a UV0E K2 driven at either 750mA or 1A.
Attachment point: None--would have compromised the design
Operation: Twisty

And I'm pretty sure the light is spoken for, sorry.

But I'm willing to make another SS Damascus down the road.

[gollum]

very very nice Fred

Chad is one of the best Damascus makers worldwide

I bought a couple of billets from him and they are very good

thanks for showing

[darkzero]

She's a beauty, awesome work Fred!

[PhotonFanatic]

It ain't right. It just AIN'T RIGHT! Those big grouped dimples are the good stuff. Fred, you gotta stop!

john

John,

Those dimples have turned out to be PITA to finish nicely--the etching affect both metals, so the shiny bands get a little matte and need to be re-sanded, but getting into the dimples wasn't easy to do--in the end I used a rotary hand piece to do the polishing.

[ninemm]

Wow. Amazing work. Can't wait to get my own custom Photonfanatic piece started.

[RedLed]

My God! That needs to be put under glass on a table all it's own!

[darkzero]

My God! That needs to be put under glass on a table all it's own!

Or better yet, the Smithsonian!

[fyrstormer]

John,

Those dimples have turned out to be PITA to finish nicely--the etching affect both metals, so the shiny bands get a little matte and need to be re-sanded, but getting into the dimples wasn't easy to do--in the end I used a rotary hand piece to do the polishing.

No doubt, but you gotta come up with a way to use grouped dimples like that in some of your more "production-friendly" pieces. They look great.

[RedLed]

Or better yet, the Smithsonian!

I will ask the President about that!

[PhotonFanatic]

Originally posted on Jerzee Devil Forum:

As with any journey, it has to come to an end sooner or later, and so it is with the Chad Nichols SS Damascus Light--it is now on its way to RNST.

I've enjoyed this WIP thread, and want to thank all of you who read it, offered advice, or threw compliments my way. More importantly, I want to thank RNST for giving me the chance to make this light, with complete freedom as to its design, and who also had such great patience while it was slowly being built.

You've seen enough photos already to know what it looks like, but here are a few more--just to show that it does work.





For those with a technical bent:

• LED: Luxeon K2, bin UV0E
• Driver: GD750, boost/buck constant current driver at 750mA
• Reflector: Khatod stippled 20mm
• Lens: 2mm thick mineral glass lens, beveled edges
• Battery: AW 17500 rechargeable Lithium Ion
• Sealing: O-ring sealed for waterproofness
• Operation: Twist
• Material: Chad Nichols Stainless Steel Damascus, 304 & AEB-L steels
• Surface treatment: Etched with MultiEtch and later with Ferric Chloride, rubbed vigorously between etchings with 0000 steel wool
• Final surface prep: Applied a layer of Renaissance Wax

[fyrstormer]

Is it edible? Because I want to take a bite out of it.

Props on using the Luxeon LED, too; I like them a lot. I don't think I've seen one with a crappy tint yet.

[jch79]

Gosh, I love how it looks instantly timeless. Damascus is truly a special metal - and Fred, you did it full justice here.

[RIDE]

That is beyond beautiful!!!! Amazing work as usual.

RIDE

[aikiman44]

Fantastic! Great work.

[RedLed]

Did you say you made two, if so...I'll take it!!!

[EricMack]

Nice as always, Fred!!

[AardvarkSagus]

Wow. I don't hang out here in the custom lights section all that often, just was drawn by the Damascus in the title, but Wow. That light is hands down one of, if not the most beautiful light I have ever laid eyes on. Amazing work!

[k13nz]

What in the hell... i cant believe my eye... is this a light!?
Fred please read your PM on marketplace... thanks...

[easilyled]

I can't believe that I only stumbled on this today.
What beautiful material to work with and what amazing execution to do it justice.
I always wondered about a spiral design in the body or cell-tube.
It looks very avant-garde combined with the dimples.
You have to hand it to Fred, he constantly amazes with his ingenuity and originality.

[cmacclel]

Awesome work as usual Fred. I have been searching for some Damascus for the past few weeks myself to play with

Did you heat treat it? Or just machine then etch?


Mac

[PhotonFanatic]

Mac,

I was told that etching Damascus that is not heat treated will yield poor results--murky, muddy looking greys/blacks.

I did have the light heat treated before etching.

[taewoopa]

I am Ti-Holic and also DamascusAddic .

This beautiful Damasteel stuff is still available ?

If so, I do want one .

[PhotonFanatic]

Yes, I still have some of Chad Nichols SS Damascus. One bar that I've begun work on will ultimately yield two 18650 lights:





The material always looks bad when you start working with it--the machining creates streaks which eventually disappear as the light gets heat treated and etched.

And, I still have another bar, that I have not turned down yet, so eventually I should be able to make a couple more lights from that bar.

[GLOCK18]

Any plans on making one to fit a 18650 battery.

[PhotonFanatic]

Sorry, I must have spaced out--these two lights will use AW's 18650 battery. So, if I stay lucky, there should be enough material in the next bar to make two more 18650 lights, too.

[taewoopa]

PM sent.

I know Damascus a little bit, because I am a Collector of Custom Knives and my favorite material is DamaSteel .

I wish I could have one , sometime very soon.