After installing the Versalux 2cell LED in the TEC 20, with the original narrow beam reflector, I found the distorted beam not to my liking at all. I then borrowed the wide beam interchangeable reflector from my TEC 40, and found it made all the difference in the world. I immediately ordered a wide beam reflector for the 20. I mentioned to my wife that it would be neat if I could coat the present narrow beam reflector with sparkle, and make my own wide beam reflector. She suggested, "sparkle fingernail polish would coat it". Dummy me, I'd never heard of it. Since I was going to replace the reflector anyway, I figured I'd give it a go. I stopped at the store, and bought a small bottle.
I applied the first coat of polish to the reflector. It didn't look like it sparkled enough, so when it dried I applied a second coat, and then a third. The reflector now had a pretty good coat of sparkle, with a bit of the original reflector showing through. After it dried thoroughly I placed it back into the TEC 20 with the Versalux LED. I went out to the garage, shut off the lights and turned it on. The beam had improved and was much smoother. But, the beam was not as brilliant as I had expected. I noticed that the surrounding corona had become brighter from the light lost from the main beam. Then my faceted wide angle reflector arrived. I removed the sparkled reflector and installed the new wide angle reflector.
A few days later, still considering the brightened corona,along with the still exposed specks of the original reflector, I decided to see what a total coating of sparkle would do. I added another three coats, bringing the total number of coats to six. The reflector was totally covered with sparkle. The results surprised me.
I now had a flashlight unlike any I had ever seen. The beam had become smooth and filled the entire area where the surrounding corona had been, about 130 degrees coverage. The light was pleasantly bright, but not over bearing. It reminded me of the light of a full moon, illuminating things softly, but sufficiently. I now had what seemed to be the perfect walking light. It doesn't have the threatening offensive beam to flash into the eyes of onlookers, or the appearance of one shining intrusively into windows or cars. I grabbed the newspaper and headed to the garage. I unfolded the paper to the front page, and illuminated the full page enough to read it, with no shadows or bright spots.
I don't know how it would do with other lights, or if just the dimensions of the TEC 20 reflector are ideal. I don't know how it would do with an incandescent and its heat. The LED though, is ideal. Every night is a moonlit night, and 2 AA cells will give hours of moonlight walks.
I applied the first coat of polish to the reflector. It didn't look like it sparkled enough, so when it dried I applied a second coat, and then a third. The reflector now had a pretty good coat of sparkle, with a bit of the original reflector showing through. After it dried thoroughly I placed it back into the TEC 20 with the Versalux LED. I went out to the garage, shut off the lights and turned it on. The beam had improved and was much smoother. But, the beam was not as brilliant as I had expected. I noticed that the surrounding corona had become brighter from the light lost from the main beam. Then my faceted wide angle reflector arrived. I removed the sparkled reflector and installed the new wide angle reflector.
A few days later, still considering the brightened corona,along with the still exposed specks of the original reflector, I decided to see what a total coating of sparkle would do. I added another three coats, bringing the total number of coats to six. The reflector was totally covered with sparkle. The results surprised me.
I now had a flashlight unlike any I had ever seen. The beam had become smooth and filled the entire area where the surrounding corona had been, about 130 degrees coverage. The light was pleasantly bright, but not over bearing. It reminded me of the light of a full moon, illuminating things softly, but sufficiently. I now had what seemed to be the perfect walking light. It doesn't have the threatening offensive beam to flash into the eyes of onlookers, or the appearance of one shining intrusively into windows or cars. I grabbed the newspaper and headed to the garage. I unfolded the paper to the front page, and illuminated the full page enough to read it, with no shadows or bright spots.
I don't know how it would do with other lights, or if just the dimensions of the TEC 20 reflector are ideal. I don't know how it would do with an incandescent and its heat. The LED though, is ideal. Every night is a moonlit night, and 2 AA cells will give hours of moonlight walks.
