Fenix E01 HA Durability

[max6166]

I have kept my gold E01 in my pocket with 2 keys and a SAK for the last 3 weeks and the E01 is starting to get pretty scratched up.

The scratches are mainly on the knurled areas with some on the the sharp edges of the tail. It is not too bad at this point, but it is going to look pretty beat up in a couple of more months unless I do something.

I don't think it is a matter of my keys coming off on the coating, as the damaged areas don't come clean.

I don't know a lot about type 3 anodizing, but I thought it was a little more durable than this?

 

[TONY M]

I have had the same problem with the E01. The knurled areas loose their anodizing quite quickly in a pocket with keys.
I think the olive color will look best when it starts to come off, it just won't last forever.

 

[spgrk]

Type III anodising has a Rockwell hardness of 60-65, which is harder than most steels. However, it is very thin, so it will wear off if rubbing against softer materials, especially at edges. Another problem is that the aluminium underneath remains soft and the coating cannot protect against deformation. If you don't want your keychain light to show wear the best solution is to get one made of a solid material such as brass stainless steel or even plastic: my Photon Microlight looks as new after years of carry, while my expensive Arc AAA looked like crap after only a few months.

 

[jirik_cz]

I have E01 Olive and after 4 months on keys it still has only couple of tiny scratches. Probably the olive anodization is more durable.

 

[jzmtl]

Colored HA will be weaker than natural, the dye weakens the coating.

 

[TONY M]

Colored HA will be weaker than natural, the dye weakens the coating.

The same natural anodizing that Fenix used to offer?

 

[LukeA]

The same natural anodizing that Fenix used to offer?

OD = natural

 

[lengendcpf]

I have E01 Olive and after 4 months on keys it still has only couple of tiny scratches. Probably the olive anodization is more durable.

I have the olive L0D on my keychain for 3 months. Still looks new. The only part where the coating is gone is at the split ring area(tail).

 

[spgrk]

I have the olive L0D on my keychain for 3 months. Still looks new. The only part where the coating is gone is at the split ring area(tail).

Well, you must have much softer keys than mine. After only a few days, my OD L0D started showing wear at the edges. And I even attached it to my keys with a short length of cord rather than a split ring, hoping that this would be gentler on it.

 

[Crenshaw]

the thing is, we all begin to expect arc level coating, what people fail to realise is that arc has a special secret magical coating that only loses one durability point every few months, and reduces damage level by 99%.

:tinfoil:

I dont have an E01 now, i have given two away already though.

Crenshaw

 

[Illum]

before we expect the premium quality lights, take your soltaires out and compare them...I think I'm feeling better already

 

[lengendcpf]

Well, you must have much softer keys than mine. After only a few days, my OD L0D started showing wear at the edges. And I even attached it to my keys with a short length of cord rather than a split ring, hoping that this would be gentler on it.

:wave:

 

[max6166]

Are protective sleeves available or has anyone ever tried making one?

Some sort of stretchy material around the body would probably help a lot. Something rubbery would be even better, but I don't have any idea where you would get something like that...

 

[LED-holic]

Why bother? Anything that is anodized that you put on your keyring is going to get scratched up.

The E01 is only $15. The wear on the HA will not affect performance or other durability. The wear will show that it has been a constant and valuable companion.

Just buy another E01 to keep as a shelf queen if you want a mint specimen to show off.

 

[carrot]

What's the point of keeping your user lights looking nice again?

 

[TONY M]

before we expect the premium quality lights, take your soltaires out and compare them...I think I'm feeling better already

Yep +1.

Is the durability of the E01's anodizing really any worse than the Arc's?

 

[phosphor]

Why bother? Anything that is anodized that you put on your keyring is going to get scratched up.

The E01 is only $15. The wear on the HA will not affect performance or other durability. The wear will show that it has been a constant and valuable companion.

Just buy another E01 to keep as a shelf queen if you want a mint specimen to show off.

Exactly !......everything, sooner or later, shows some age. Isn't the most important thing that the light works when one turns it on ?

Otherwise, you might try giving your E01 a Botox injection to see if that helps. :wave:

- regards

 

[NeonLights]

Is the durability of the E01's anodizing really any worse than the Arc's?

Yes, it absolutely is. I've had Arc AAA's that I carried for several years on my keys that looked better than my Fenix E01 that has been on my keys for less than six months. I still like the Fenix and think it is good for the money, its finish just isn't as durable as Arcs. Doesn't bother me for lights that I use, and I'll probably buy a couple more E01's in the future.

 

[Confederate]

The idea of throwing anything into one's pocket with keys and expecting it to come out looking new is unrealistic. Even Arcs will show wear if exposed to keys and coins. Even hard chrome plating on guns will streak on impact with other hard objects. It takes a lot to get through that plating, true, but nicks do appear on almost everything that goes into a pocket with keys.

If you want to do some testing, take a new E01 and throw it into a jar of pennies, dimes and keys. Then shake it up and down and side to side. The "olive" color will do the best because the underlying aluminum color is closer to that than say, purple or gold.

I never carry a knife or a flashlight in the same pockets as keys and coins. I do have a little LED knife that I keep in a small pouch in my pocket. It also has a spare key, but nothing that would mar.

Some of those little Inova lights are so thick and heavy that I think they'd survive a nuclear weapon.

 

[kramer5150]

does it really matter? its $15, and made to take the abuse. Beat/trash on it and enjoy its vintage appearance, knowing no one else has the exact same light.