Maratac AAA Cu tarnish progression

[mhphoto]

Here's mine after a few months.

I can't wait until mine gets to that stage! (You know, without peeing on it…)

[kaichu dento]

I can't wait until mine gets to that stage! (You know, without peeing on it…)

If you ever want to try it I'd be willing to bet that getting the dog to pee on it would make it change really fast!

[Toohotruk]

That, or bury it in the cat box for a week or two...

[Monocrom]

Depends if you want tarnish or tarnish + smell.

No one wants to be the crazy, pee-smell, guy in the neighborhood. If you're homeless, it's at least understandable.

[stonehenge69]

Here's mine after a few months.

I achieved this natural looking patina by using a special solution of only two ingredients......


A 50/50 mixture of time and patience

[Toohotruk]

Depends if you want tarnish or tarnish + smell.

No one wants to be the crazy, pee-smell, guy in the neighborhood. If you're homeless, it's at least understandable.

You may be crazy, and you may smell like pee, but you'll have one cool looking flashlight!

[Monocrom]

You may be crazy, and you may smell like pee, but you'll have one cool looking flashlight!

One thing's for sure . . . No one who knows how it got that way will ever even attempt to steal it from you. Much less want a very close look at it in person.

[Acid87]

I love these lights. I have one that is coming along nicely and just bought a new one to keep for now. Love how distinctive these lights are.

[Sparky's Magic]

Yesterday, I joined this elite Brotherhood, purchased a Maratac CU from Mike Stair's Survival Shop. He was the only seller willing to ship to Australia (or the only one I could locate) and, now, the long wait begins; 10+ days is normal, 30 days not unheard of.

What I do when I'm having a long wait is to buy an interesting light locally; 2-3 days normal for Australia. This is a very disturbing practice, even more so when 2 or even 3 lights are purchased to relieve anxiety. To tell the truth, I've got an ARC Mania AAA micro 111 somewhere in the Australian system at this very moment...

I don't qualify as a member yet but when the Maratac CU. arrives, I'll post some pics. though some of those already posted would be hard to beat, especially those by mhphoto, bobjane and not forgetting stonehenge69 and calipsoii...Brilliant!

[Flying Turtle]

This one is looking better and better. I think I've waited about long enough.

Geoff

[Toohotruk]

One thing's for sure . . . No one who knows how it got that way will ever even attempt to steal it from you. Much less want a very close look at it in person.

See? The benefits of using this method just keep adding up!

[mhphoto]

Day 16:







Compared to Day 1:

[Sparky's Magic]

@ mhphoto,

Thank you for the great shots! I guess mine is somewhere over the Pacific - Can't wait to play.

[mhphoto]

Thanks! I should also mention that I've been carrying mine in my pocket everyday and it spends nights on my dresser. So other than sweat and air it's not getting much in the way of tarnish inducing substances.

[sunsoar]

Gorgeous!

[egrep]

Mine arrives tomorrow! I've managed to figure out how to get to work late and try to get the package before I go in. I considered the Copper Embassy Pen, but I opted for Titanium. I love County Comm Package days...

[nein166]

Aw wow I've got one of these in one of my bags now I gotta take it out and see about keychain carrying to keep it tarnishing.
Great thread I can't wait to contribute

[TyJo]

There are some great photos in this thread. I've had mine for 6 months or so I think. It has not been carried and its only been fiddled with a few times, other then that it stays next to my stereo so I can check the progress occasionally and to possibly make visitors ask what it is. Forgive my terrible pictures but I only have a cell phone as a camera and my expendable funds go to lights, not cameras. I think a buddy of mine has a very nice camera... I might try to get him to take some pictures.

[Zeruel]

That's nice, it's almost like custom anodized.

[Zeruel]

I hope you guys are happy.... making me went off to get one and join in the fun. It arrived today....







Tarnish Progress: Day 1

[Sparky's Magic]

That looks great out of the packaging: It's probably a good idea to have 2 of these; one that does not get handled at all. And there is an electro polished 300 SS.version that is pretty 'spiff' as well. CPF is a great source of ideas (read, 'How to spend money')!

[TyJo]

OK here are the better shots that my buddy took.

[Toohotruk]

Nice!

[mhphoto]

Great pics guys! Can't wait to see how yours progress.

[Sparky's Magic]

Fresh out of the foil...



More than a few spots and what appears to be hand prints on the knurling. Disappointing? A little! It would have been good to see it pristine, however having a head start in the corrosion stakes is OK! The spring fell out of the battery tube - Pushed it back in firmly with a twist and a very firm shove with a AAA cell; it seated OK & nicely centered - Hope it stays there!
View large on Black: Click on image then click on Flickr image once.

...to be continued,

[Sparky's Magic]

There are some great shots of the Maratac CU on this site but very little mention of just what a great little performer it is as a useful flashlight!

Mine was a little gritty out of the packaging but with spirit (Ethanol), a toothpick and some kitchen towel, the threads soon cleaned up beautifully: Then a thorough lube, incl. rolling the O-ring in lube between thumb and forefinger and the Maratac became my 'light with the smoothest action. One handed activation is a breeze!

The light levels are well spaced and on my sample the tint is a rather attractive cool/neutral with absolutely no artifacts, rings, holes or discoloration of any kind, just pure neutral light with the type of excellent & seamless transition from hotspot to spill that one would hope to see in a 'light costing four or even five times as much...Hope to, but quite often be disappointed with!

Value for money at about $37.00 is very hard to beat. I love this 'light already; and it loves Eneloops which is a big plus.

[Toohotruk]

They are definitely VERY nice little lights! One of the things that really impressed me, was the total invisibility of the PWM...it's at such a high frequency that at least for me, it's undetectable.

[Cypher_Aod]

my Maratac CU arrived today from SurvivalDEPOT (finally a source of CountyComm gear in the UK!)

Gonna pee on it later, hopefully it'll go a beautiful shade of reddy purple like bobjane's

[mhphoto]

Day 40:

[TyJo]

Nice.