Burnt E2e KL1 -- RESTORATION COMPLETED!!!!!

[ja10]

Re: Burned E2e Body.. How to restore??

I would guess that taking it somewhere to get bead blasted would be more expensive than buying a used body at the market place.

You could try Muriatic Acid (you can get a big jug for $5 at Lowes - it's just diluted HCL). I don't know what concentration would be right for your application, but I've used it to burn galvanizing off of metal before welding. It leaves a nice clean surface without harming the metal (at least with the mild steel I use).

If you do go this route, wear gloves, do it outside, and stand clear. One whiff of that stuff and it'll make you cough for the rest of the night.

 

[skillet]

Re: Burned E2e Body.. How to restore??

Thank you everyone for you suggestions... I'm gonna ask one of the mods to merge this thread with the one about what happened to the light...

The reason for this...

Tonight I started cleaning it up with a brass brush wheel and a Dremel tool and it looks GREAT!!! The light will be the envy of the forum if I can take a good picture of the color... It's a bronzy, gold looking thing...

The KL1 is toast.. It did not separate at a seem.. It cracked open in a perfect circle near the threaded end. The only salvageable part would be the lense bezel and possible the emitter heatsink...

I'll get some pics up tomorrow if I can get the time..

 

[DM51]

Re: Burned E2e Body.. How to restore??

I'm gonna ask one of the mods to merge this thread with the one about what happened to the light...

Threads now merged. Looking forward to seeing how this goes!

 

[skillet]

Burnt E2e & KL1.. Body and T/C Restored!!!!!

Alrighty....

Well, I thought I would just buy a used tailcap and body.. But that didn't seem right.. So I dug up the "remains" and thought I would just see what could be done with it..

Upon closer inspection, the KL1 is not salvagable in its entirety.. The lens end of the bezel and probably the heatsink could be resurrected but not tonight..

So, next comes the work on the light which I started last night with my dremel to a couple of Brass brush attachments..

What you gonna be envious of is the Brassy Bronze color.. Everybody will be burning their favorite lights.. I can just see it now..

From there is was just some patience.. Finished up this evening, washed everything down, new O-rings, lubed threads, stole the guts out of "my" tailcap, couple o' batteries and a KX2 head...

I still need the keeper for the pocket clip another Kxx head and my some will back in business..

THANKS YOU FOR YOUR SUGGESTIONS, PM's, and the like...

Here's one photo from the 1st post just so you can keep it in you mind...

 

[buickid]

Re: Burnt E2e & KL1.. Body and T/C Restored!!!!!

Wow, that cleaned up really nice! Nice work!

 

[Toohotruk]

WOW! You're right, I am envious of the way that light turned out!

Too bad the head doesn't match...maybe you could take the guts out and burn it up too, then reinstall everything so it matches!

 

[GarageBoy]

So the HA is probably loaded up with brass now. If you give it a wash, I think it'll go back to clean HA

 

[Bruce B]

:bow: :bow:

 

[Toohotruk]

I wouldn't want it to go back to original color...I have my doubts whether it would anyway.

That's a real conversation piece as it sits.

 

[skillet]

So the HA is probably loaded up with brass now. If you give it a wash, I think it'll go back to clean HA

Yeah, cleaning with the brass brushes helped with the brassy look, but the heat of the fire has permanently discolored the HA..
I cleaned it with chlorinated solvent a couple of times then the final once over with the brass brushes and then scrubbed it with mild
detergent and an old tooth brush to remove any particles and left over "dust" ....

I also have to wonder if the heat has affected the strength of the aluminum.. Maybe degraded it somewhat...

 

[Braddah_Bill]

You need to resend the new pictures and the story about how it was restored.

They *have* to put the story on their webpage "True Stories" (?) and with the money get that KX2 head.


PK, are you reading this? someone send him a link.

Bill

 

[Monkiee]

Wow that looks great. I might have to burn my lights now >.>

 

[Illum]

I'll see if I can sneak an E2e into the campus autoclave....

I'm sure If I wrap it in clay they'll let me:nana:

 

[dudemar]

You did a fantastic job!:thumbsup: I'm jealous!

 

[Toohotruk]

Wonder if you'd get the same effect using a propane torch? I would try it on one of my Fenix lights, but I'm chicken!

 

[csshih]

I'll see if I can sneak an E2e into the campus autoclave....

I'm sure If I wrap it in clay they'll let me:nana:

that would be an awesome experiment.. but something would probably explode from the built up heat. :thinking:

don't break the sf! give it to me

 

[gsxrac]

That is one good looking light! What does your son think of the process? Someone needs to donate some type of lanyard to avoid any future occurrences:nana:!

 

[Toohotruk]

that would be an awesome experiment.. but something would probably explode from the built up heat. :thinking:

don't break the sf! give it to me

I'm thinking, remove everything that would be easily destroyed by high temps...the window, o-rings, electronics, switch and button, etc. It would be impossible to build up pressure without all that stuff.

Who's going to try it first?

 

[RGB_LED]

That is sweet! I can't believe that is the same light... I actually prefer the look of the light with all the charring over the replacement head...

 

[StarHalo]

Told you it'd be an awesome conversation starter :thumbsup:

It could be the start of a new trend, just as people buy jeans that are pre-worn..

"Surefire E2e, available now in Black, Satin Gray, and Inferno Scarred.."