Dorcy 1W Luxeon Metal Gear (3AAA)

[Backpacker]

I found these at the local Walmart for $5 each and was wondering if they were any good? I guess for that price I could just throw one into the trunk and toolbox?

 

[WadeF]

I think I have the same light in black. For $5 a piece I'd grab another. It's a solid feeling light. Mine has a ringy beam, but if you need light, it will work. I was thinking it would be fun to mod if I could ever get it opened up.

 

[Flying Turtle]

I've got an old black one that's really a pretty decent light. If this is the same (I've heard of differing versions of it) then it's certainly worth $5. The head on mine unscrewed without much trouble and it would be easy to mod. Check out the review at www.flashlightreviews.com.

Geoff

 

[PlayboyJoeShmoe]

The silver one I have had for at least 6 months has one of the nicest white tint of a 1W Lux I had yet seen!

I've since got other very nice white 1W, but this was the first really good one.

 

[mmmflashlights]

These are clearanced down to $10 here. Can anyone tell me A) if the LED star in these sit on/in an aluminum pill, or if they are sitting in plastic, B) if there is room behind the LED pill to put a common circuit in them, such as those sold at DealExtreme? They look like a potentially good modding light, I know people have swapped LEDs but I'm interested in if they have a decent pill for heatsinking and room to put a different circuit in them behind the LED.

 

[EugeneJohn]

I picked up one of these at Walmart for $7 yesterday. It seems a decent light for that price, nice white beam, very ringy though. A good light as a spare or a gift.

I gave it to my seven year old nephew as his 'first' flashlight. If he doesn't lose or abuse the light, I'll get him a better one for his birthday.

 

[Walt175]

I wanted to pick one up at a local Walmart today, but they were still $18 .
They had a whole lot of them too.:sigh:

 

[Pellidon]

The head is RTV (silicone) glued on. The star is kinda tabbed onto a metal disc that only passes for a heat sink in a dictionary. But it does handle direct driving OK.

The beauty is there is a huge chamber behind the led that houses the resistor and +battery contact on old ones. You can add a driver, bypass the resistor, insert a modded Dorcy AAA circuit and drive it with 3 NIMH. Good for any modding pre-versions a good deviant can think up.

Plainfield IN Wally World is the only local one I've seen them at discount so far for $7. Silver and black as of yesterday.

 

[Backpacker]

Photos of internals

mmmflashlights - Nitroz wrote a great article on how he modded his (including lots of pics like this)

 

[mmmflashlights]

Thanks, looks like I'll have to get one if they drop any lower in price here.

 

[Monocrom]

I have a black model. Works well. A bit heavy and thick, but well-made. The beam it puts out is nothing special, but no rings or dark spots from mine. For $5, it's a good bargain.

 

[Bror Jace]

There were a lot of these at the Amsterdam, NY Wally World for $7 ea.

I bought two ... and will probably give them away as gifts after I've fooled around with them a little.

 

[Flying Turtle]

Mine just sort of bit the dust. Somehow I managed to crossthread the tailcap and was forced to apply a vice and channel locks to get it open. Still works, but it's ugly now. I suppose I could spend hours filing down the gouges and eventually get the cap to fit, but it doesn't seem worth it.

Geoff

 

[Monocrom]

Mine just sort of bit the dust. Somehow I managed to crossthread the tailcap and was forced to apply a vice and channel locks to get it open. Still works, but it's ugly now. I suppose I could spend hours filing down the gouges and eventually get the cap to fit, but it doesn't seem worth it.

Geoff

If they're still $5 each, just buy a new one.

 

[Flying Turtle]

Cheapest I've seen them around here is $11. I might be tempted for $5, but I probably won't miss this light too much.

Geoff

 

[Oddjob]

For $5.00 pick up a couple and you can use them as loaners or leave them places like a shed, cottage, trailer etc. For $5.00 if it gets lost or damaged then no big deal.