Dropping a "mint" new light... Doh!

[PoliceScannerMan]

Hanging with the wife tonight on the pool deck in the back yard. Had the NASCAR race on, drinking a few cold ones. Nice night, baby was asleep. :naughty:

Had my new SF LX2 just messing around shining it to and fro. Put it in my lap, this was my downfall. I watched the race for another 15 minutes, it was over. Wife askedme if I was ready to go in, I said sure.

Stood up with the LX2 still in my lap, and CRACK, my LX2 bounces across the pool deck. :mecry:

My light went from mint, PERFECT, to having a terrible gash on the bezel. And it just had to be right where it says "CAUTION HOT SURFACE".

Anywho, its a user now, time to get dirty!!! :rock:

 

[JCD]

That's actually the best thing that could have happened. The first ding is always the hardest (I know, I have a mint C3-HA, C2-HA, and E2d, and they all get treated too carefully because of their present condition). Now you won't be afraid to use it as it was intended. Congratulations on your new found freedom!

 

[knightrider]

That sucks! I have that happen from time to time with different things. I leave them in my lap and stand up or get out of a car - and they hit the ground.

Now you can do whatever and not baby it. Too bad it had to a new light and not an older one.

 

[Mettee]

always happens to me with lights, AND cell phones

 

[737mech]

I know the feeling for sure. I don't like to own shelf queens but it always makes me mad with the first few drops on a new light.

 

[BigHonu]

So, when you tell the story again is it going to be 'using the light to break through a window to save kids from a burning building' or 'battle scars from spelunking in Borneo'? :naughty:

I have a habit of dropping a light at least once. Most of the time rocks, gravel, or sand is involved. :green:

 

[Moka]

I did that the other week with my Malkoff Wildcat... Not a bad gash, but a little bit of a scratch... Lost it's minty freshness, but oh well... Definitely a user this one :thumbsup:

 

[computernut]

That's happened to my E2L and L4, oh well "character marks". In a few years the lights will have some awesome looking wear. :twothumbs

 

[HIDblue]

Don't sweat it. It's just like getting the first door ding on your car. It sucks, but all the worries and concern over keeping it mint are now ka-put. Besides, IMHO, lights are meant to be used...not sitting on a shelf in pristine condition gathering dust.

The best lights are actually the ones that show the most signs of use...i.e. have nicks, scratches, dents and dings. :thumbsup:

 

[kelmo]

Bummer PSM!

I used to put my most dinged bezels and tail caps on my EDCs. Then I thought, whats the point? At some point the light will have anodizing failure, maybe catastrophic as in your case. Then what? You really don't see the marks in the dark when you're using your light. This mind set saves me money because I now buy used lights that while not perfect cosmetically, are still perfect functionally.

Don't sweat the small stuff. Every things small stuff...

 

[Essexman]

Hanging with the wife tonight on the pool deck in the back yard. Had the NASCAR race on, drinking a few cold ones. Nice night, baby was asleep. :naughty:

Bad luck with the dropped light , the lack of sleep can cause these things to happen.

On the other hand - It could have been worse, you could have had the baby on your lap!!

 

[sjmack]

I don't worry about dropping them, because I use all of them - EXCEPT when I dropped my Patriot Edition D10 a few days back, I almost screamed.

 

[FlashKat]

It's ironic how we buy the best flashlights for the quality and performance we require, but we are afraid to use them in fear of scratching the tool we rely on to keep us safe.:thinking:

 

[ninemm]

I have definitely done the same thing with cell phones and other stuff. If one my users (mostly surefires) gets a ding I won't be too upset. However, if a light that was custom finished and hard to replace got it's mintiness taken away I would be pretty unhappy.

 

[Walterk]

If it is an EDC so what then... live and you get brused !
And its proven worth some of your trust in your EDC, seeing that in can endure a 2ft free fall.

 

[Tomcat!]

It's ironic how we buy the best flashlights for the quality and performance we require, but we are afraid to use them in fear of scratching the tool we rely on to keep us safe.:thinking:

Absolutely right, but I still can't help an irrational fear of denting a lovely pristine light. Maybe the first accident is God's way of saying "Come on get over it, I did you a favour!"

I howled a bit a few years ago when I dropped my brand new Romisen RC-T5 into the bathroom sink and dented the bezel the day after I got it. And more recently I was pretty upset when I dropped and dented my Legion II only 5 hours after it arrived. :shakehead

 

[BIGLOU]

Since drinking was involved you should of had added insurance and had a lanyard on it. +1 al least you didnt drop the baby or you beer. This happened to me a couple times when I jumped out of my vehicle at work. I do the same and it becomes a "user" then you buy aftermarket bezels or use a black sharpie or black nail polish to try to conceal scratches. I once dropped my mint SF M3T I put it in my hooded sweater front hand warmer pocket thing and bent down to pick up my doggie's poop and heard a drop sound. I scratched the crenelated bezel and the SW02 tailcap. Deciding if I should take out my MD2 M61 and my Ra EDC-T out in fear that I'll drop them.

 

[jp2515]

Had a L4 that fell outta my pocket and got some dings front and back. Then again I shouldn't worry bout the rest of the lights so much, most were bought used so they already have marks and scratches on them already.

 

[Locoboy5150]

I'm the same way in that the first ding hurts the most. Usually my lights manage to make it longer, ding-free, than other things that I own and look after. I just dropped my Fenix LD20 for the first time and put a tiny nick on the tailcap. It's no big deal though since I dropped it while it was in the holster and it was on a hard wood floor. It actually made more damage to the holster than the light! It poked a hole in the holster, hence I'm shopping for a new one.

I have yet to drop my Fenix TK40, by far my most expensive light. When I inevitably do, it will be very painful.

The things that I hate dinging up the most are new watches. Well, my classic car tops the list but since I hardly drive that, I haven't had any accidents with it...so far.

 

[PoliceScannerMan]

It's ironic how we buy the best flashlights for the quality and performance we require, but we are afraid to use them in fear of scratching the tool we rely on to keep us safe.:thinking:

Very well said. It is very true, most hobbyists would like to keep them like new so the resale value isnt shot. I really dont become bothered by dings/knicks, but the first one always hurts...