McL4/ Blade-Tech EDC

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Atomic6

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Aug 15, 2003
Messages
1,551
McL4.jpg


"McL4" - Long Throw 1-Cell: I have not seen this little flame thrower talked about here. I have heard that one or two are out there amongst the CPF crowd. If it was discussed-then I missed it. This has got to be one of the the hottest 1-cell lights going to date. I have limited experience with custom flashlights, but I recognize a hot light when I see one. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif I have a TW4, and L4. The McL4 kills the TW4 and out-throws the L4. The McL4 is in a class by itself I suppose. Hidden in the palm of your hand, this light will get anyone's attention with just a flick of the clickie. I have been using the McL4 for escort duty on my daughter's evening dog training runs. I can easily light-up the nooks and crannies of yards from across a street. I gotta keep on the lookout for attack cats, since Mica is only 11 pounds /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif The McL4 will light-up the transformers on the top of the power poles.

EDC1.jpg

It's no PM6 McModule, but then again the McL4 fits within the hand and carries in a small Gerber Knife Pouch.

EDC.jpg


The Blade-Tech 2-Cell Belt Pack makes a complete EDC rig. I'll bet this rig will provide three hours of blazing intense spot and enough flood to get me through most situations.

BP1.jpg


BTW-Another carry rig that is likely to provide a lot of light for a long time is the TW3/KL1 3-cell and a 3-pack refill from Blade-Teck. Can anyone guess how much runtime the KL1 will have with six batteries? The Long Holiday Weekend Carry?

McGizmo-Thanks for the great McL4 /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif
 
That's a cool set-up! You got any beam shots? I'd really like to see it compared with a known control light, like a TWL4, McLux PR w/1 watt HD, or other reflector based light. Thanks!
 
[ QUOTE ]
ufokillerz said:
those battery holders look nice, what is their website? Thanks

[/ QUOTE ]

Try Blade-Tech.com You may have to call them and order these.

Sonic-I have been thinking about taking some beamshots. I'll give it a go tomorrow eve...
 
ah ... the 1-watters! they still rule IMHO!
I use 1 DB750 R2H in a PM6 as a McModule, and this one blows every other 1W light I have out of the sky handsdown AND kills the L4 on brightness of hotspot and throw as well as beam quality.
Kudos to our modders!
bernhard
 
Atomic6 :

- It is a "MC-Gizmo creation" ? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

MC-Gizmo :

- Do you think that is possible, for you, to make another flashlight like that ? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

thanks
 
[ QUOTE ]
Miciobigio said:
Atomic6 :

- It is a "MC-Gizmo creation" ? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes-Who else defies the laws of Photon-physics on a dailey basis /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Hi guys,

I missed this post. Thanks A6 for the kind if not deserved words.

I had mentioned sometine ago in a few threads, I think, that the KL4 retro-fit with a 1W and appropriate driver was a great performer. For its size I think it is really the winner, hands down. The McLux-PR will stomp on it in terms of a tighter and more intense spot beam but you also have more volume and mass of flashlight to contend with.

I have made a fair number of these for some CPF folks but frankly the mod is a PITA and too labor intensive to actively pursue more. If I wanted to make as much $ as I could selling burgers at Micky D's, the mod would need to sell for $125. I think that this is a bit too steep for most folks. I suppose for others, the results of this custom package is well worth it; price be danged. Those who already got some of these I think are pretty happy with them as I haven't seen any for sale in B/S/T. These were sold at a more reasonable price and my *loss* was their gain. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I must say though that chucking up a perfectly good KL4 PCB in a lathe and then boring through SMT components in the need of a new hole for a BB or DD is a bit out there! Perhaps someone like CM could approach this mod from a gentleman's perspective and re configure the driver for use on a 1W with 1x123 cell? I seem to recall initially trying to just a swap out of LED and the results weren't there??

- Don
 
[ QUOTE ]
McGizmo said:
Thanks A6 for the kind if not deserved words.

[/ QUOTE ]

The pleaseure was/is mine. Thank you again!

[ QUOTE ]
If I wanted to make as much $ as I could selling burgers at Micky D's, the mod would need to sell for $125
- Don

[/ QUOTE ]

IN-N-OUT pays better and they have the snappy hats and those cool bumper stickers /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

And I would recommend the McL4 for your asking price to anyone because nothing will touch it. How much is the best worth? Plenty. The McL4 is worth way more than the cost of a mid-priced bottle of wine...., or front row seats to Sig and Roy...........- well Sigfreid anyway /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
McGizmo :

I would like to contact you ... you don't accept PM, can i send you an email to the address in your profile ? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
I really need a small thrower like the McL4 /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Excuse me for my poor english and best regards.
 
Miciobigio,

You are kind for asking. I'll excuse your poor english as a second or third language if you'll excuse my poor english which is my first and only language. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Please send me an e-mail. I am overwhelmed with stuff to do right now but what's another mod? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

A-6,

Your bent humor is refreshing! Shall we meet at Sasha's pool for some banter? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

- Don
 
Ok-Some Beams as requested. Some test info: The lights shown are 1)McL4 by McGizmo, 2)TW4, and 3)McE1e-Cyan by McGizmo. These are all LED lights using a single 123 battery. The batteries used for this test have been in these lights for quite awhile and are not fresh. The distance of the shot is aprox 39 inches and the lights were hand held and shown against a dirty white wall in a stairwell. The camera used was a Kodak DX3600 with flash defeated and everything else on auto. The photos were cropped in photoshop and downsized for the web. No filtering was performed. Here we go:

McL4b.jpg
TW4.jpg


McE1e-Cyan.jpg
Note: The Cyan has the SF E-Series reflector(Right Don?). It is so very bright. The side spill is huge and could not be imaged from the 39 inch distance.

In general these three lights are what I consider 1-cell wonder lights. The Arcs and some other specialty lights that I have seen, such as tvodrd's little one cell torches are also very cool. You just have to bow to these designers. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bowdown.gif Man oh man.........
 
Charlie,

From some simple comparisons I did, I think the Fraen will edge out the KL4 reflector on a 1W HD in lux but not by a large amount. The beams are two different animals of course. The PM6 reflector is easily the king for lux alone.

A-6,
The cyan is a SE using the stock E reflector, yes. The textured reflectors are more friendly in artifact removal of the colored LED's. In fact, on your latest red PM6 module, try one of the earlier PM6 reflectors. The latest batches of reflectors from Pelican have much smoother reflectors which are less forgiving on any flaws in the light source.

- Don
 
Well I got my an L4 and E1E from Dan at TW and have had some time to play with the various configs. I also obtained the MN03, MN02 and KL1. This I can tell you, I'm quite a bit more partial to the LEDs than the incans. The L4 is just phenomenal. Regarding the E1E/KL1, were it not somewhat blue, I would rate it better than my Arc SLH-P. However, the Arc has its place (better run time) and I will not part with it. For my hands, the E1E is better suited since it is a little longer than the SLH-P and fits just right. I'm most curious about your mod McGizmo. I really like the E1E/KL4 config and was quite excited to read about your mod as I'm now interested in an LED w/more throwing power. What is the run time on this little monster?

larpaul
 
lsrpaul,

I don't really know what the run time is. I don't do run time tests cause I'd forget or be doing something else. Obviously it's a function of what the curent is set at in the BadBoy. I would expect anywhere from 35 minutes to 1.5 hours depending on BB. Fortunately I have been building these with R2H's and the low Vf is an aid to efficiency. I think others could give you a better guess if they will pipe up here. I prefer using either a BB400 or BB600 on 1x123. One could use a MM+ in this mod if all they were after was max brightness I would suppose; haven't built one myself.

- Don
 
[ QUOTE ]
McGizmo said:
A-6,
The cyan is a SE using the stock E reflector, yes. The textured reflectors are more friendly in artifact removal of the colored LED's. In fact, on your latest red PM6 module, try one of the earlier PM6 reflectors. The latest batches of reflectors from Pelican have much smoother reflectors which are less forgiving on any flaws in the light source.- Don

[/ QUOTE ]

BINGO-I swapped the new smooth PR for the textured vintage PR on RedBoy and wow what a difference. Now there is a mere hint of a darkspot. The light is throwing flames now. Thanks for the tip. Hell, thanks for the whole damn light /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Wow, all those terms were bit over my head. I did find the Sandwich Shoppe web site and was able to learn a bit from that and some other threads. However, I can tell this is way over my head as a first mod. What kind of a project do you guys recommend starting as a beginner? Regarding the McL4, I would assume that the $125 charge would include your labor and mod parts but not the KL4, right?

A6 - those are awesome photos! Great for comparison.

larpaul
 
[ QUOTE ]
McGizmo said:
.....I must say though that chucking up a perfectly good KL4 PCB in a lathe and then boring through SMT components in the need of a new hole for a BB or DD is a bit out there!....

[/ QUOTE ]

I must say I'm glad I don't have a lathe and just ripped out the circuit board by hand... I wonder if it still works...
 
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