Glowring Photos

[lightbox]

I had trouble finding real pictures of glowrings before I ordered mine so here's some pictures of the two I received recently. They're both from Merkava. You can get them here (original) or here (X2)







the original style is purple and the X2 is ice blue. The original style comes with a keyring too, but I took it off so it would sit flat. Here's a few impressions. . .

1. The original glowrings are easy to open. I couldn't get the cap off of the X2 even though some people have reported it falling off.

2. The tritium vial in the original style looks smaller than it is. I assume it's because the plastic acts like a lens.

3. There are machining marks on the X2 on both the inside and outside of the tube which gives the tube a fuzzy look. I'm not sure if i like this or not. I'm tempted to give one of them a matte finish to see how it looks.

4. The X2 plastic is tinted the same color as the tritium tube. The original plastic is clear.

5. They both jiggle a little in the case, but it's not noticeable on a keychain.

These things are really cool. I'll probably be ordering a few more. Thanks Merkava [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]

[Xrunner]

Very nice pictures. Are the ends on the X2 attached pretty securely? Thanks

-Mike

[lightbox]

Thanks Mike. I've been trying really hard to pull/twist the ends off the X2, but haven't been able to. I think I'll have to use some tools to get it open. With the original, you can pry apart the sides with a small screwdriver, then snap it back together.

[Bouncer212]

hey LIGHTBOX-
what is that cool little flashlight lookin thing?
thanks,
ethan

[GJW]

The caps on the X2 are not really caps as they don't seal anything in.
They're really only decorative and if removed, you'll still have a sealed piece of plastic.
My lower cap fell off after about a week and I reaffixed it with some silicone.
The top cap has never budged.

[flashlight]

Here's my pic [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[lightbox]

ethan - it's a cheap ($1-2) flashlight that I picked up in hong kong about half a year ago. I saw a post about this and other similar lights not too long ago but couldn't find it. I did come across this though, which looks like the same light.

GJW - Thanks, I'll stop trying to pull apart my X2 now [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img] btw, the giant tritium tube I got from you is awesome. I may add a few pictues of it too.

flashlight - Nice Photo! I also really like the photo you took of the leica binoculars. How do you get that white background effect? I saw a tutorial here, but despite my name, i don't have a lightbox [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

[flashlight]

[ QUOTE ]
lightbox said:
ethan - it's a cheap ($1-2) flashlight that I picked up in hong kong about half a year ago. I saw a post about this and other similar lights not too long ago but couldn't find it. I did come across this though, which looks like the same light.

GJW - Thanks, I'll stop trying to pull apart my X2 now [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img] btw, the giant tritium tube I got from you is awesome. I may add a few pictues of it too.

flashlight - Nice Photo! I also really like the photo you took of the leica binoculars. How do you get that white background effect? I saw a tutorial here, but despite my name, i don't have a lightbox [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks. I used a Supersoft Tent from www.sell-it-on-the-net.com. I just bounced the on-camera flash up or to the sides. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[TrueBlue]

[ QUOTE ]
lightbox said:
ethan - it's a cheap ($1-2) flashlight that I picked up in hong kong about half a year ago. I saw a post about this and other similar lights not too long ago but couldn't find it. I did come across this though, which looks like the same light.

GJW - Thanks, I'll stop trying to pull apart my X2 now [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img] btw, the giant tritium tube I got from you is awesome. I may add a few pictues of it too.

flashlight - Nice Photo! I also really like the photo you took of the leica binoculars. How do you get that white background effect? I saw a tutorial here, but despite my name, i don't have a lightbox [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

The little flashlight is indeed a China item. It uses 3xAG13 button batteries. The on/off button is on the side of the case. The button is two stage with a momentary and an a constant switch. The ones I have have little holes on the side of the case and gives the little lights a nice star effect when they are lit.

They come in a nice black gift box. I have eight of them now still in the boxes and I give or sell them to friends (it depends on how friendly the friends are)... [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif[/img]

[Bagheera]

GJW,

I have to correct you, the upper aluminum cap with the split-ring really seals of the glowtube. The colored plastic outer tube is really a solid piece of colored round plastic rod which is cut to length then a hole is drilled from one side, probably on a lathe and the plastic rod is turned at the end a little (recessed) so the end-cap can be slipped over it with some force. The same is done with the other side of the plastic rod, there were the bottom cap is glued on.

This drilling/turning is the reason the hole were the glowtube fits in is not clear but a little opaque.
When the glowtube is inserted the cap with the split-ring is glued on with superglue and the same thing done with the lower endcap.
So the upper part of the plastic rod has a hole were the glowtube is slipped in.

I (we) have had several X2 Glowrings fall of the end-cap with split-ring and losing them, we also had the "non vital"lower end caps fall off. This happened to my own X2's when I was on holiday in Austria in the snow, it was freezing and I lost 1 l,ower end-cap and one dropped off the split-ring end-cap as was lost altogether.
At over $15 an X2 that hurts.

Also because of the free play of the glowtube in the X2 drilled channel there are more then normal breakages and as you know broken glowtubes are not covered by H3 products warrenty [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

That's the reason our Scouting group isn't selling the X2's for fundraising anymore, there are just to much failures with the X2's.

We reported this to H3 Products and received an answer that they are trying to solve the freeplay of the Glowtube in the X2 glowring as that according to us is the main reason for the Glowtubes breaking.

Best Scouting wishes from Holland,

Bagheera

[wiredgargoyle]

Here's an alternative to the glowrings.

http://www.glo-toob.com/

[lightbox]

flashlight - Thanks! I'll have to look into getting one of those. I've been rather [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/broke.gif[/img] since I've found cpf.

Bagheera - Thanks for the info, I finally managed to pull mine apart . . .



and here's a picture of the tubes compared to the ones sold by GJW:


I pulled out the tritium vials and put them in acrylic tubes from tap plastics. I built the new casings because I wanted something smaller, but hopefully it makes them a little more rugged too.

the glo-toob is too big for my keychain, but i'd like to get a pair of glo-toob fx's for my surfboard and underwater camera. last time i went out, i used one of the countycomm mini strobes in a 1oz nalgene polyethelyne bottle. it worked pretty well, but the lanyard attachment wasn't very secure.

[Xrunner]

lightbox, I like the new casings... can they be purchased online? Thanks

-Mike

[lightbox]

Thanks. They're made from plastic tubing from tap plastics. It's really cheap (around 1-2 dollars for 3 feet), and easy to make. Unfortunately, the casings are starting to crack where i drilled a hole so maybe it wasn't the best idea [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jpshakehead.gif[/img]

[jashhash]

Which one of these glow rings has the biggest Tritium Tube? Where did you get the 3 tubes in the picture?

[Ken_McE]

>We reported this to H3 Products and received an answer that
>they are trying to solve the freeplay of the Glowtube in the X2
> glowring as that according to us is the main reason for the
> Glowtubes breaking.

A dab of silicone at either end of the tube and it would stay put.

[4sevens]

I took some picts too [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[Voletix]

If you can't find the X2, buy them here:

http://www.glowrings.tk/