HELP !!! NEED "Fire~Fly" ADVICE

[Dr_Joe]

HELP !!! NEED \"Fire~Fly\" ADVICE

I'd love to build a Fire~Fly with all the parts available from the Sandwich Shoppe, but my build experience is negligible, and there are so many choices in sandwiches and two stage switches, I'm not sure what to order. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

I sent a message with my dilemma to Wayne and he suggested I start a post here for varied and unbiased advice.

So forumites, how would you build your Fire~Fly, and why ? Tell me so I can figure out how to build mine !
Thanks ! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[koala]

Re: HELP !!! NEED \"Fire~Fly\" ADVICE

I am in the process of buying/building one.

Read this A Firefly Read Me *Parts List*

Has anyone built a complete firefly from the sandwich shoppe? Got any pictures? Reason I ask is because there are a few versions of ff.

 

[GJW]

Re: HELP !!! NEED \"Fire~Fly\" ADVICE

I haven't built one from the Shoppe but I've completely disassembled a few.
Not much to them.

The Parts list you linked to appears to be missing the body o-ring.

The bezel o-ring goes between the bezel and the head but the body o-ring goes between the head and the battery tube.

And instead of an optic you might want to consider modifying your own 17mm reflector..

There's quite a few threads with the instructions for modding one for a Fire~Fly.

Good luck.

 

[modamag]

Re: HELP !!! NEED \"Fire~Fly\" ADVICE

Parts list - in order as shown in photo
+ Anodized FF Bezel Ring
+ FF Bezel o-ring
+ 17mm UCL glass or mineral glass lens
+ Cutdown NX05 or Fraen
+ FF Copper head
+ Drop-in Sandwich
+ Retaining C-Clamp or Oring
o 2-stage switch
+ Anodized Firefly CR123 or CR-2 body

*Photo courtesy of Larry

* FireFlyII CR123 Complete

 

[turbodog]

Re: HELP !!! NEED \"Fire~Fly\" ADVICE

Is that a standard sandwich like would fit an aa minimag?

 

[modamag]

Re: HELP !!! NEED \"Fire~Fly\" ADVICE

Most of my sammies made from the Shop works both in a MiniMag & the FF2.
I believe the FF2 sandwich just have tighter height tolerance since it does not have the spring like MiniMag to accomodate for the height variation.
My FF2's sammies heights are 7.6mm +/-0.1mm. For us backward Americans it's 0.3000" +/-0.0050".
If it still doesn't work just increase the + solder blob size /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[GJW]

Re: HELP !!! NEED \"Fire~Fly\" ADVICE

Ah yes.
Also missing from the Shoppe's parts list is the circlip for keeping the sandwich inside the head.
Some people substitute an o-ring but I don't know the size.

 

[dasfx]

Re: HELP !!! NEED \"Fire~Fly\" ADVICE

[ QUOTE ]
GJW said:
I haven't built one from the Shoppe but I've completely disassembled a few.
Not much to them.

The Parts list you linked to appears to be missing the body o-ring.

The bezel o-ring goes between the bezel and the head but the body o-ring goes between the head and the battery tube.

And instead of an optic you might want to consider modifying your own 17mm reflector..

There's quite a few threads with the instructions for modding one for a Fire~Fly.

Good luck.

[/ QUOTE ]
Do you have any links to those threads? I searched, but didn't really have much luck. Thanks.

DasFX

 

[GJW]

Re: HELP !!! NEED \"Fire~Fly\" ADVICE

Here's one

 

[Doc]

Re: HELP !!! NEED \"Fire~Fly\" ADVICE

Just got done with one CR2 body Fire fly Mad Max WO lite sammie. Leave the two stage out! all i had to do was make solder blob bigger and sand down the brass head so the fraen would sit down on the led. Works great! The CR2 body works better with the nurling down on the bottom of the body. Also you could try the NG500 sammie I would not go any bigger with CR2 so to save some run time. Doc

 

[Doc]

Re: HELP !!! NEED \"Fire~Fly\" ADVICE

FYI mine came with the clip too! to hold the sammie in. Doc

 

[Dr_Joe]

Re: HELP !!! NEED \"Fire~Fly\" ADVICE

Many thanks to Koala, GJW, Ensig (great breakdown pics !), and Doc for all the advice.

I think I want to build a CR2 body. What do you all think about 'sandwich' selection (too many options !) and 2 stage switch selection ?

I know there's alot of controversy regarding optic -vs- reflector, and I've read the threads regarding reflector cut-downs. (sound like something I would screw up for sure!) Any advice here ?

Joe /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/help.gif

 

[coyote]

Re: HELP !!! NEED \"Fire~Fly\" ADVICE

clip vs o-ring-

i haven't had any luck with the o-ring. i just don't like the fit. the clip holds it tighter and can't fall out.

on the other hand, if you use the metal clip, be careful that you don't let any if the exposed contacts on the back of the sandwich make contact with the tips of the clip. if you do, you might fry the sandwich.

good luck with your FF project.

 

[Roy]

Re: HELP !!! NEED \"Fire~Fly\" ADVICE

If you use the "C" clip, make sure you position it like this before you attach the battery to avoid a short circuit.

 

[Dr_Joe]

Re: HELP !!! NEED \"Fire~Fly\" ADVICE

Thanks ! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif

 

[coyote]

Re: HELP !!! NEED \"Fire~Fly\" ADVICE

roy is correct. that's the right position for the clip.
thanx for the photo roy!

 

[koala]

Re: HELP !!! NEED \"Fire~Fly\" ADVICE

Thanks Wayne for updating A Firefly Read Me *Parts List* /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif

I don't get it... if FF Bezel o-ring(optional) is optional, why it is not in the below optional list?

What does this o-ring do? Is it the same o-ring that comes with Anodized FF Bezel Ring with bezel o-ring ?

 

[Dr_Joe]

Re: HELP !!! NEED \"Fire~Fly\" ADVICE

What's up with the "better fit" O-ring ? Why sell a poorly fitting one at all if a better fit is available !

 

[PKT]

Re: HELP !!! NEED \"Fire~Fly\" ADVICE

I'm also putting an order together for the firefly and I'm also having difficulty with part selection.
I assume if you put together the CR2 Power Pack (premium), Bezel Ring, Copper Head that these three
Parts make up the main body.
My biggest dilemma is what sandwich to use as well as which optic.
I was considering the Madmax Lite WO TXOJ…but I’m guessing at this guys.
I conceder bright first runtime second, but too bright in a light this size may have too much heat right?
Oh yea the 2 level switch 16 ohm kit ??? I won’t have to solder anything will I ?
I own a number of lights but have never tried to put one together, thanks in advance for any advice
Phil

 

[dat2zip]

Re: HELP !!! NEED \"Fire~Fly\" ADVICE

The better fit is a legacy on the FF1. The oring on the power pack side originally was a tad too fat and made putting the power pack onto the head a difficult operation. Reducing the oring fixed this on the FF1. On the FF2 I believe Doug made some adjustments to the oring depth, cut or diameter to make the oring fit OK. I've screwed on a few power packs to heads now and the current setup is fine. There is no need to modify or use the better fit oring.

Koala, the bezel oring is still listed at the top. Since this oring is soo small, I've left it on the list since I would suggest you get a spare. It is easy to loose, drop or mangle the first time you put the light together. Getting a 2nd is small insurance you can still assemble the light the first time.

I haven't decided the final parts list configuration on what's correct or not. Any feedback is appreciated. I haven't decided if the bezel oring should be separated from the bezel and listed as separate item or not.

My recommendations for Sandwiches goes like this:

The MM Plus is a good general purpose with good light output.

The MM light while not as bright as the MM plus, by itself is plenty bright for an EDC light.

the BB400/BB500 was the ideal constant current regulated light driver. I would recommend the Nexgen 400/500 for a Sandwich.

The Nexgen runs cool like the MM and at the 400/500 will be fully regulated. Since it runs more efficiently you get a two fold improvement over the Badboy. First, less heat means more photon efficiency out of the LED and two higher efficiency means longer runtimes and better battery performance.