The Malkoff Front Porch

[F89]

Sounds like it'll be worth the time and expense.
The ANSI FL1 does sound pretty weak but I can see its validity as you've suggested.
1m isn't much so increasing it to ~1.5m beefs it up a little, particularly considering your specific use patterns at around that height.

Will you be using a Malkoff head?
Something with a bit of heft would be preferable like a Malkoff or Surefire E1/2D LED etc.
Perhaps Lumens Factory could even supply you with a couple of E2 samples for testing?

After you've finished the FL1 test (which I'm guessing it'll pass) will you give it hell until failure? I know I would.
Put some grippy gloves on and try and snap it in half with your monkey grip. Hammer fist it into a solid wooden board at gradually increasing rates.
Send one to someone for some independent (considered) rough treatment or even hand one to a buddy after a couple of beers and see what he comes up with.

I'm getting a bit out there but there's plenty of (practical/sensible) tests that could be thought up that would expose the light to higher stress than the FL1 that wouldn't be unreasonable to occur in use. Then keep moving up until failure.

I reckon I could probably engineer a hard boiled egg to pass the FL1 standard but jokes aside if that's the standard to meet for lights then it's worth registering.

The guys at HDS did all kinds of crazy things to their lights with shotguns and so on. I'm not sure how that went for them regarding marketing collateral (pretty good?), entertaining and compelling at least.

I hope you get a good result and some worth while content.

 

[NH Lumens]

Having worked in product management the last 15 years for a publicly-owned plumbing valve manufacturer, I understand the value of destructive testing as part of the NPD process. We'll take a new stop-valve design and pressurize it until it fails, heat sweat connections to failure, etc. Of course, companies that develop new products have the resources to do such things.

I will most likely use this light with an E2 18650 body for the test. My goal with the test is to subject the light to the kind of hard use and stress an EDC light might be subjected to in real world use, stopping short of the absurd.

The ultimate test is field testing. Having the product used by many different people over a period of time is the most credible way to reveal any deficit in design or manufacture. "Field testing" through sales of the lights I have assembled has been going on for over a year, and this does not include any of the same by Malkoff for their E-series heads or Lumens Factory for the tailcaps and bodies I use.

To date, I have zero complaints of failure, including some hard use by LEO customers. I too suspect that the sample light will pass my elevated ANSI FL1 impact testing, and the cosmetically beat up light will remain a useful EDC tool.

 

[md17]

Any idea how similar the output would be for an m91bn in an md2 body with an 18650 versus the m61SHO in the same setup?

 

[thermal guy]

So I wanted to see how my M91 ran in my mag 3D with 3 D cells. It started out damn bright and gradually very gradually got dimmer. I'm at 56 hours and the thing is still going strong and putting out enough light to totally light up a 15 foot hallway. Way too bright to look into it.Nice to know in a pinch D Cells are definitely an option.

update! 95 hours 😂😂😂 still chugging away.

ok after 7 days i shut it off and would not come back on so that's that. I really need a hobby😁

 

[paulyg]

I have a 2C Incandescent Maglite that I want to upgrade with the adapter. I need the throw of an M91 to go with it. What batteries should I be getting to use that drop-in?
Thanks in advance

 

[thermal guy]

A 2-C won't give you full output with the 91. you could run 1X 18650 with an adapter but you still won't get full power. With a 2-3 D you can run 2X21700 or 2X 26650 for full power.

 

[thermal guy]

Any idea how similar the output would be for an m91bn in an md2 body with an 18650 versus the m61SHO in the same setup?

Well the M61SHO Should give you full output with a single lithium."750" The M91 if memory serves gets you around 600 with a single lithium.

 

[paulyg]

A 2-C won't give you full output with the 91. you could run 1X 18650 with an adapter but you still won't get full power. With a 2-3 D you can run 2X21700 or 2X 26650 for full power.

I'm clueless on this stuff... If I use the 1x 18650, how much less power will I get? The M91N and M91W list a 75-100 yard throw at 950 lumens and 8500 candela. Can I expect >75% of those numbers?
Or would it make more sense to get the M61W or M61N that has the same throw but fewer lumens and candela

 

[NH Lumens]

I'm sure they're ok. I have a bit of LF stuff and it's quite nice, I wouldn't say the machining and finish is better than Surefire or Malkoff though.

Finally grabbed a few comparison photos to circle back to this discussion.

I know which one looks better to me.

 

[thermal guy]

Finally grabbed a few comparison photos to circle back to this discussion.

I know which one looks better to me.

View attachment 55182

View attachment 55183

OMG are they really that thin?

 

[thermal guy]

I'm clueless on this stuff... If I use the 1x 18650, how much less power will I get? The M91N and M91W list a 75-100 yard throw at 950 lumens and 8500 candela. Can I expect >75% of those numbers?
Or would it make more sense to get the M61W or M61N that has the same throw but fewer lumens and candela

Honestly if you want to go the maglite route I'd grab a 2-3 cell D and your good to go.

 

[NH Lumens]

OMG are they really that thin?

The purpose of my post was to address the comment on the quality of machining. I think the photos tell the story.

Wall thickness: as you already know, Mark addressed that here.

 

[thermal guy]

I was aware yes but never saw a picture showing exactly how thin Not bashing anyone I just never saw one in the wild.

 

[Whistler24]

FWIW, in my dealings with LF I've had zero issues with these bodies.

Yes, the wall is thinner but it's also made of 7075-T6 which is a very strong alloy. In combination with Malkoff heads (which complete the circuit through the threads, not on the front edge), these bodies have operated flawlessly. The machining and finish on these bodies is as good as anything from Malkoff or Surefire. If you need to use your flashlight as a hammer these are not the best choice, but they are WAY strong enough to handle the rigors of normal flashlight use.

The 2-cell E2 body is long enough to accept an 18650 protected button top. The critical dimension is the inside diameter and cells with an O.D. greater than 18.5 mm will drop into the body. That said, I have used both Keeppower and Orbtronic 18650 3500 mAh protected cells that fit and operate without issue. Any IMR 18650 (single wrapped) will drop right in.

The E1 18350 has the same 18.5 mm I.D. but the length is a bit short for use with a protected cell. But once again an IMR 18350 flat top fits perfectly. I use these and have found them to be excellent.

If you're looking to maintain the classic E-series format but would like longer run time (or greater current capacity vs. a 16340 or 16650), these LF bodies are IMO a great way to accomplish that.

View attachment 54487

Going to give these LF bodies a shot. I have an MDC v2 but just not a fan of the texturing on the malkoff bodies, would prefer knurling like that.

Odd question, but what lanyard is that? I've seen pictures of it on some surefires but don't know the specific brand, I would love to purchase a few.

Thanks

 

[md17]

So I have purchased 4 Malkoff lights since october

M61W
M61hot V2
Hound Dog XPL cool white
M91Bn

The m91bn is my favorite so far on an md3 body with a cloud defensive deep carry pocket clip and tricap. Having the definitive spill that it offers versus the TIR lens is preferred.

Is there anything similar, but even brighter? How does the Wildcat's spill compare?

 

[F89]

The Wildcat is a flood light with lower lux than a M91B. They both have about the same output lumens wise.
I imagine that the M91B has a more versatile beam.
The Wildcat would be a great light, pretty versatile. Some guys on here use one with the diffuser removed which by the sounds of it reduces the flood and increases the lux by around 4x, with a big hot spot.

 

[md17]

Well then, I think I have found the one. Now if there was a way to get that output (950 lumens 8500 lux) in an md2 size, that would be perfect.

 

[fulee9999]

Well then, I think I have found the one. Now if there was a way to get that output (950 lumens 8500 lux) in an md2 size, that would be perfect.

2x16340 in an MD2 body would do that, though with limited runtime

 

[md17]

2x16340 in an MD2 body would do that, though with limited runtime

I have some of those but is there any concerns with the draw ?

 

[fulee9999]

I have some of those but is there any concerns with the draw ?

they draw 1400ma according to the official specifications and if I remember correctly we measured somewhere around that while testing, so li-ions should be able to handle that and more, easily