TK20 testimony wanted

[CPFer]

Hello, looking for a better solution to my dollar store/costco lights. I use a flashlight daily for work, elevators, and sometimes I put them down and they roll off the top of the car 15 to 20 feet down to concrete as well as smaller drops too. I've broken two of them in 2 years, one from a 3 foot drop another from top of the car.

Been looking on this site and info and feedback on the Fenix TK20 keeps attracting me. Tube thickness, lumens, modes, switch, battery type. One thing I can't find specifically is whether it would survive this kind of fall and still function. Is the anti-roll enough? Any thoughts/testimony?


Thanks
Bill

 

[Stress_Test]

To my mind, any light with a glass lens falling long distances onto concrete/hard surfaces is iffy as to whether it'll survive without cracking the glass.

Some people have put the TK20 and other lights through such drops and abuse without the glass breaking, but I suppose some of it has to do with luck and how the light hits. Note: for this reason, my "beater light" at work is a SureFire G2 with an led drop in. With the nitrolon body and polycarbonate lens, I have no worries about drops and major impacts.

That being said, the TK20 IS a great light. I bought a second one recently, after owning one for about 1.5 yrs, because I was afraid they'll be discontinued soon and I wanted a spare.

One thing to be aware of, the beam profile is a tight-focused spot, with decent spill area around the spot. If you're doing mainly close-up work with this light (arms' reach work), this may not be the right light. I've used it for such purposes, but it's not ideal. It's more of a medium to far distance light.

As far as anti-roll, it's not real secure in that regard. If drops are a concern/problem, you'll probably want to tether the light to yourself somehow. I think tool/safety stores sell tool tethers for workers who will be overhead above others. Our guys at work are required to use them (it may be an OSHA requirement...)

Anyway, you might want to look around a bit more at various lights and consider what your specific usage will be.

Me, if I were doing close work at arms' reach, I'd probably go with a Quark Mini AA, and hang it from my belt by a lanyard (probably a break-away lanyard if working around machinery). It's very lightweight, good flood beam for close-up. You could probably wrap some type of grip tape around the body to allow holding the light in your teeth on occasion too.


You'll probably get plenty more suggestions around here

 

[mcnair55]

Most decent lights will suffer a drop test to the industry standard and beyond,you are dropping yours even further,could I suggest either wearing it on a lanyard or perhaps one of those retractable key chains or super glue a tiny magnet on the body of the light.Those tiny neo magnets are super silly magnetic.

 

[jugornot]

I have 3 tk20s. Other than my 2 javelins, it is the only light I own multiples. The Javelins don't really count as they have different P60 drop ins. Having said that the tk20 is a great zombie light, but since you are so rough on lights you could do as I did and buy some beater light. I have tried the romisen rc-n3 but ended up giving those away to friends. My beater light is an itp c8. Its no longer available but itp offers several lights of good quality at good prices. One further comment about the tk20, if you want to increase the roll resistance then just screw on the pocket clip.

 

[Hitthespot]

The Fenix TK series of lights will most likely withstand any normal abuse you can throw at them. However in my opinion the TK20 is a little large for everyday carry. If you can take the size I think you will be pleased with its performance and durability.

Bill

 

[Locoboy5150]

I recently dropped mine from a waist high table onto concrete. It landed on the tailcap and though it took a bite out of the aluminum, the light still works perfectly.

The anti-roll bezel on the TK20 is there merely for looks. The TK20 is a heavy, durable light, but that heft does have its disadvantage in terms of making the light too massive for EDC (in my opinion) and also pretty much rendering the anti-roll bezel useless. Once the heavy TK20 gets a head of steam going on a slanted surface, it goes like a runaway locomotive unless the pocket clip is attached.

The pocket clip can get in the way of removing and installing the TK20 in its included belt holster too, so it's a catch 22 "solution" to a runaway TK20.

Despite all that, I still love my TK20. I'm probably going to buy another one too since I like it so much.

 

[longboat]

If most of your work is up close, I would recommend a Zebralight (w/ headband). Then you always have your light and won't drop it - it's about the most efficient light out there so it will be tough to beat for output/runtime ratio.

Of course, you can also get the TK20 for when you have to inspect cables, etc. far up the elevator shaft. I love both my ZL and my TK20, for totally different reasons!

 

[calipsoii]

If most of your work is up close, I would recommend a Zebralight (w/ headband). Then you always have your light and won't drop it - it's about the most efficient light out there so it will be tough to beat for output/runtime ratio.

Of course, you can also get the TK20 for when you have to inspect cables, etc. far up the elevator shaft. I love both my ZL and my TK20, for totally different reasons!

+1

TK20 is an amazing light for mid-long range work. It throws like nobody's business (further than you think a 2xAA light should possibly be able to). It's built like a tank, it's easy to use and it's colorful if you get the yellow one. It's the light I loan to friends and buy for family. That said, it's not all that great for close-up work. It's got a very tight hotspot built for distance, and even on low, it'll blind you if you shine it a few feet or closer.

The Zebralight h501w is amazing for close-up work. I painted a poorly-lit bedroom this weekend with it strapped to my head and it did amazingly well (except it took 30 minutes for the red marks on my forehead to disappear afterwards :laughing. Nice, smooth, even flood with absolutely no hotspot. Once you adjust it to illuminate where your eyes are focusing, you can go a whole day without fiddling with it once.

Highly recommend both (can you tell?). Good luck!

 

[RedForest UK]

+1 from me as well on the comments above. ^^^

The zebralight and TK20 is a practical and useful combination of AA lights that I find pretty much impossible to beat. I would also heartily recommend both lights, and would be very impressed if you managed to break a TK20 even if you tried to!

 

[CPFer]

Wow, thanks guys. Talked to my supervisor today about this and out of the blue he said that maybe I could get $25 towards a light in the name of safety. :thumbsup: So TK20 looks like a go, with clip for added anti-roll and I'll give the Zebra a looking into too. I'm currently using an Energizer 9 led headlamp I got somewhere a long time ago, it does the job if I'm 1 foot away or less. :candle:

Bill

 

[B0wz3r]

Wow, thanks guys. Talked to my supervisor today about this and out of the blue he said that maybe I could get $25 towards a light in the name of safety. :thumbsup: So TK20 looks like a go, with clip for added anti-roll and I'll give the Zebra a looking into too. I'm currently using an Energizer 9 led headlamp I got somewhere a long time ago, it does the job if I'm 1 foot away or less. :candle:

Bill

Get one of the newer Zebras that have come out, the H51, and they'll probably have a neutral white version out soon too. (What I'm waiting for.) It will be bright enough that anything within arm's reach won't require anything more than the medium setting. And on high, it might even work for shorter distances that you'd be using the TK20 for, although it'll eat batteries at the highest setting.

 

[Locoboy5150]

Wow, thanks guys. Talked to my supervisor today about this and out of the blue he said that maybe I could get $25 towards a light in the name of safety. :thumbsup: So TK20 looks like a go, with clip for added anti-roll and I'll give the Zebra a looking into too.

If you're getting $25 per light, that's not enough for a TK20. The lowest TK20 price that I've seen is about $48 with the CPF discount code at 4Sevens.

 

[Stress_Test]

If you're getting $25 per light, that's not enough for a TK20. The lowest TK20 price that I've seen is about $48 with the CPF discount code at 4Sevens.

I'm sure he'll be willing to chip in the extra to make up the difference!

If you're supervisor is willing to fund safety equipment, ask about tool tethers also. Aside from the light, you wouldn't want to drop your hammer or wrench on somebody 20ft below you either!

 

[CPFer]

Yeah only $25 from company, but hey, I was just talking flashlights and he mentioned the money contribution, so all good. Will order this weekend. I think.

Really interested in the Zebra after reading up on it too, nice brightness and battery type. I have lots of Eneloops for my current lights plus remotes etc. so I can pack a few in car.

I can see spending some $$$. Thanks guys.
Bill

 

[WadeF]

Let us know how you like the TK20 and how it performs on the job. It's a great light and I keep mine in my vehicle and load it with 1.5v Energizer lithiums so it's ready to fire up in the dead of winter. Running it on Eneloops will work out great. If you have plenty of Eneloops go for an AA Zebralight, they are great.

 

[jhc37013]

Glad to hear your getting a Zebra I really can't imagine not having one now.

Guy's I'm not sure when the OP plans to place his order but when is the LD25 and LD40 coming out, I see them at Fenix Outfitters with the 'coming soon" tag.

I took a look at them in the thread linked below and read comments about this being a updated TK20 possibly, I think that reference was to the LD25.

Anyway if I was about to order a AA light from Fenix I may want to see if I can find out more about these and how soon they are going to be released. The release may be way longer than the OP is willing to wait but I thought I'd throw that out there, I hate when I order a light only to find a improved model two weeks later.

https://www.candlepowerforums.com/threads/285749

 

[Federal LG]

Hello, looking for a better solution to my dollar store/costco lights. I use a flashlight daily for work, elevators, and sometimes I put them down and they roll off the top of the car 15 to 20 feet down to concrete as well as smaller drops too. I've broken two of them in 2 years, one from a 3 foot drop another from top of the car.

Been looking on this site and info and feedback on the Fenix TK20 keeps attracting me. Tube thickness, lumens, modes, switch, battery type. One thing I can't find specifically is whether it would survive this kind of fall and still function. Is the anti-roll enough? Any thoughts/testimony?


Thanks
Bill

Here it goes: https://www.candlepowerforums.com/threads/212657

I have two TK20! It´s a perfect light for rough/outdoor use!

 

[Jash]

First thing I did when I bought my TK20 was to try and kill it. To test it's 'Tankness' so to speak.

Here's what I did:

About a dozen drops onto concrete from 3-7 feet.

Threw it as far as I could onto gravel.

Threw it down onto gravel as hard as I could.

Jumped on it on concrete.

Threw it hard against a tree.

Used it to hammer in 32 tent pegs.

The result: PASS.

It only stopped working once because the tail cap came loose. Tightened it up and away it went for some more torture.

It then spent a few months in the tool box in the back of my car until I decided it would be best used as my BOB light.

 

[abarth_1200]

Im not letting you anywhere near my torches!

 

[Locoboy5150]

Man, I sure wish that Jash had gotten one of the TK45 test lights. Then the durability reviews would have been a lot more interesting. The "durability tests" that we did get were... :tired: