swsccassidy
Newly Enlightened
- Joined
- Aug 31, 2009
- Messages
- 45
Ok, so let me start out by saying that I know many of you have high end lights that can handle much abuse. I know I do, and they take their fair share of abuse, but I try to avoid it if possible. Who wants to try and destroy a $100 light, let alone a $30 light (hey, I'm in college, I'm allowed to be cheap!). I got curious, what can a light really handle? I tried to think of the most extreme situation that calls for a light, and I tried to replicate the pressure exerted on that light by ten fold. Need a light in the rain while changing a flat? Need a light to walk the dog with? Need a light the dog can chew on? 
oo: Well it happens at my house...
So I had a pack of Husky lights from Home Depot that I got last year for like $5. I didn't think much of them at the time, but I got curious. First I epoxied the head on, no modes or anything, so tried to keep it as waterproof as possible. Then I added a blob of grease on the threads of the tailcap, tightened em up, and went to work. Keep in mind the only thing changed during these tests was the battery (once after it got ridiculously dim). No more grease added to threads, nothing else changed.
Heres a beam shot at 1 meter
http://i308.photobucket.com/albums/kk321/swsccassidy/DSCI0035-1.jpg
http://i308.photobucket.com/albums/kk321/swsccassidy/DSCI0027.jpg
(one on top is after initial tests, bottom is untouched minus the paint)
First thing I did was left the light turned on in a water filled planter box during a rain storm. I left in in there for the better part of 3 days until the dogs found it. It wouldn't turn on after that, I figured it was busted. Put a new battery in and it lit up! Next I dropped it out of my window on the second story (tile roof) and let it hit the driveway, then the street. No problem there. I threw it up ~15-20 feet and let it hit both asphalt and concrete (tried to get it to land on body, head, and tailcap, but its hit and miss). Tried this at least 10 times. And lastly, I left it in a bottle of water for a week, took it out and the thing lit up...
http://i308.photobucket.com/albums/kk321/swsccassidy/DSCI0025.jpg
I have another type of Husky light that I'll be testing:
http://i308.photobucket.com/albums/kk321/swsccassidy/DSCI0030.jpg
So far, it's passed the water tests and I'll be throwing it at things when I get a chance.
I know the output isn't much...but I was quite surprised to see what these little lights could take. I'm sure some of the higher end lights could take this and more, but I never would have expected it from a $2 light. They can tail stand (lopsided) and can put out enough light to make your way around a descent sized dark room. I babysat a 3 year old a couple weeks ago and he always wants to play with my lights...he got this one and we went for a walk in the dark. Just for kicks, just his light was used to see around us. It was fine, left a little (ok, a lot) to be desired, but it did what is was supposed to even after all of these tests. Just thought I'd put this out there for kicks. Enjoy!
BTW: The paint used is Krylon Fusion for plastic, it really sticks to metal. I've got a M@g painted with this too and its holding up just fine after a year. Has a nice grippy texture to it as well, almost feels like little bits of sand. Easy to hold on to.
oo: Well it happens at my house...So I had a pack of Husky lights from Home Depot that I got last year for like $5. I didn't think much of them at the time, but I got curious. First I epoxied the head on, no modes or anything, so tried to keep it as waterproof as possible. Then I added a blob of grease on the threads of the tailcap, tightened em up, and went to work. Keep in mind the only thing changed during these tests was the battery (once after it got ridiculously dim). No more grease added to threads, nothing else changed.
Heres a beam shot at 1 meter
http://i308.photobucket.com/albums/kk321/swsccassidy/DSCI0035-1.jpg
http://i308.photobucket.com/albums/kk321/swsccassidy/DSCI0027.jpg
(one on top is after initial tests, bottom is untouched minus the paint)
First thing I did was left the light turned on in a water filled planter box during a rain storm. I left in in there for the better part of 3 days until the dogs found it. It wouldn't turn on after that, I figured it was busted. Put a new battery in and it lit up! Next I dropped it out of my window on the second story (tile roof) and let it hit the driveway, then the street. No problem there. I threw it up ~15-20 feet and let it hit both asphalt and concrete (tried to get it to land on body, head, and tailcap, but its hit and miss). Tried this at least 10 times. And lastly, I left it in a bottle of water for a week, took it out and the thing lit up...
http://i308.photobucket.com/albums/kk321/swsccassidy/DSCI0025.jpg
I have another type of Husky light that I'll be testing:
http://i308.photobucket.com/albums/kk321/swsccassidy/DSCI0030.jpg
So far, it's passed the water tests and I'll be throwing it at things when I get a chance.
I know the output isn't much...but I was quite surprised to see what these little lights could take. I'm sure some of the higher end lights could take this and more, but I never would have expected it from a $2 light. They can tail stand (lopsided) and can put out enough light to make your way around a descent sized dark room. I babysat a 3 year old a couple weeks ago and he always wants to play with my lights...he got this one and we went for a walk in the dark. Just for kicks, just his light was used to see around us. It was fine, left a little (ok, a lot) to be desired, but it did what is was supposed to even after all of these tests. Just thought I'd put this out there for kicks. Enjoy!
BTW: The paint used is Krylon Fusion for plastic, it really sticks to metal. I've got a M@g painted with this too and its holding up just fine after a year. Has a nice grippy texture to it as well, almost feels like little bits of sand. Easy to hold on to.
