Best 85?

[donn_]

I got a bunch of 85s from Litho a week or so ago, and I've been trying them out in a variety of setups.

So far, this one has the best beam:

That's a 3 segment BigLeef with a Surefire T4 turbo head.

No fancy soft-start switches, or anything else, and so far, it puts out a better beam than:

Stock Mag head
FM3V
Delghi w/ 3" Carley reflector
SRTH

It's running with 3x AW C cells, and an FM bi-pin M series adapter, with two shims.

I wish I could do beam shots, but I can't. If you have the parts, give this one a try. The T4 even beats other SF 3" turbo heads I've tried. It looks better, too. The head is matte, and matches the matte knurling on the BigLeef tube perfectly.

A real light sabre!

 

[Patriot]

It's a beauty and I love the original formula. Very cool!

 

[Icebreak]

That's a beauty and I can't recall seeing that head used before either.

Could you describe the beam and maybe say why it's best for your purposes? One of my 85s uses an Otokoyama PMR which is heavily stippled. Great for night time photography. My favorites, though, are smooth reflectors pitching exaggerated artifacts of the filament with a tight spot and a tiny super spot dead center. My best 85 is a Mag 6C running 9 GP 2200 NiMhs. Runs almost flat just above 10.8V with no regulation. Sure do like DMs Leefy creation, FM3V and some of Mac's 85s.

Really nice looking torch there donn_. Its form appeals to me because it is following a defined function.

TurboLeef85? I dunno. Originals deserve some kind of unique name, I think. Thanks for bringing it no matter what you call it.

 

[EvilPaul2112]

What assembly do you use to hold the bulb?

 

[donn_]

What assembly do you use to hold the bulb?

This one:

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=199216

 

[donn_]

Icebreak...the beam is mostly throw, with a bit of usable sidespill. The throw comes from a perfectly focused, round hotspot which really reaches out. The reflector is very finely sputtered, or stippled, or whatever it's called.

 

[Icebreak]

Sweet. Now I want to try it.

 

[Illum]

you should talk to DM51, he has the more recent system built with a M6 bezel and the big leef components: Bigleef 3C-85
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=185079

I wonder if the older heads has beams that look better:nana:

 

[cnjl3]

Is your 3 segment BigLeef with a Surefire T4 turbo head better than a MAG85 using FM's 2" deep reflector? You listed other heads but not my favorite I really like the saber like beam you get with the FM 2" deep reflector.

 

[donn_]

Dunno..I don't own that one.

 

[DM51]

Here is a pic of the BigLeef 1185 light Illum mentions above, along with a 2-cell 1111 version and an M6.

The beam with the Millennium turbohead (KT4) is superb - hugely superior to a Mag beam. A T4 vs. KT4 comparison would be interesting - has somebody done one?

 

[donn_]

I guess I should try the 85 in my stretch M6 (3x AW C). I can't put it on the BigLeef, because the colors don't match.

 

[DM51]

I guess I should try the 85 in my stretch M6 (3x AW C).

Please do try that - it would be very interesting to see side-by-side comparison beamshots with the BigLeef/T4 combo, as the only effective difference would be the 2 reflectors.

 

[Illum]

Here is a pic of the BigLeef 1185 light Illum mentions above, along with a 2-cell 1111 version and an M6.

come to think of it... oo:
SRTH heads do look better

 

[M.S]

I just want to let you guys know that you made me spend ~$400 on a flashlight! :huh:

It started innocently after reading this thread, I noticed that fivemega had only 9 of the bulb holders left, so I ordered one "just in case".
Then I put a wtb for a turbohead on the marketplace because it usually takes a lot of time to find what you want. But this time I was lucky and scored a new crenalated head the same day...

After that it gets crazy, I was going to use the thing with 1111 on my 2x18650 body, but lighthound had just sold out the c-m adapters.
Then I figured out that you can see how much lighthound has stock by trying to add large number of items in the basket and lowering the number until it allows the amount to be put in basket. I really had no money left, but LH had 1 gray tailcap and only 4 c-bodies left. I HAD TO order 3 bodies, tailcap and m-neck for my bigleef 3C-1185.

But please don't tell my wife what all this cost

I can't really wait to put that thing together.

So I really ment to say thanks for all you incan-gurus on the CPF who make these thing available.

Mikko

 

[Illum]

I just want to let you guys know that you made me spend ~$400 on a flashlight! :huh:

DM51, show him your "M6 duffel"
perhaps we could get him to say

I just want to let you guys know that you made me spend ~$4000 on flashlights! :huh:

lol [j/k]

The first ones the hardest...after the first it doesn't hurt so bad.
I'm still on my first

 

[Patriot]

I was just curious donn if you had a chance to compare beams. I had always heard the the KT4 head provided a tighter beam and superior throw but have never seen it confirmed or viewed pictures of them together.

 

[Chongker]

M.S : So you're the one who bought the last of the gray bigleef bodies! Was going to buy some myself, too slow though . Gonna have to wait for Lighthound to restock again, anyone know how long it usually takes them?

 

[Illum]

PM leef

 

[M.S]

M.S : So you're the one who bought the last of the gray bigleef bodies! Was going to buy some myself, too slow though

There was one body and many necks left after my order... I hope they get more leef parts soon, I could still get the c-m adapter and round non scalloped c-clicky myself. Do you know what is the hex-nut shaped leef clicky that I have seen here on CPF in some pictures? It's not listed on LH site, but it looks nice and would prevent rolling?