*NEW* Maratac AAA Titanium

[Dknight16]

Lube it. Not a problem.

 

[geokite]

Is it possible/advisable to apply some heat to add some color to the body of this light? On the countycomm website, they have a titanium container that can be heated to add some color. I suspect the o-ring needs to be removed before hand.

Steve

 

[jon_slider]

Is it possible/advisable to apply some heat to add some color to the body of this light?

possible yes, I have no experience though
advisable, not to me as I dont have the skills to strip the light of its electronics, but you could do just the bottom half I suppose

you can see pictures and read more about the inconsistent color concerns Vinh went through when he offered torched titanium, as well as some hints on process steps he did, that did not work. For additional education google:
How to anodize titanium with a torch

 

[bartko09]

Hmm that confirms my thinking then, the emitter would probably need to be reflowed onto the original led star or the thicker one sanded down to match the original.

So I haven't had time to circle back around to my Maratac AAA Ti, but I did finish my Surefire Titan upgrade.

The build included a XPL HI V2 1A (6500-7000k tint), driven by a MTN-10DD FET and 1 Efest 10440 (sorry, AW doesn't make 10440s).

Basically, the 10mm driver was way too small for the light engine's aluminum pill so I fabricated a rubber "spacer" to hold it in place while the driver was epoxied.

Overall, I'm highly satisfied with how it turned out. I wish I took "before" beam shots to compare to what was taken last night but I have a feeling that I'll be building more of these one day 😉

As soon as I satisfy a large order for a customer I'll knock out the Maratac AAA Ti







Beam shots. The first dark photo is a control shot showing conditions last night

 

[bartko09]

More pics from last night



I dinged up the reflector a bit trying to open it up converting it from XPG to XPL HI but luckily I figured out which company in Finland makes them

 

[thealien]

I bought the TI Maratac at the introductory price. I also have a few of their SS and the brass one. I have one in every vehicle and carry one everyday. Decent little light. Too bad CountyComm is always out of stock. Plus it costs me $100+ every time I log into their site.

 

[kreisl]

Titanium material is overrated as demonstrated in this shooter's clip:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3fBkNIROg4

😉

 

[Thetasigma]

Titanium material is overrated as demonstrated in this shooter's clip:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3fBkNIROg4

😉

Cool video.

As a flashlight material it is an odd choice since a flashlight won't test any of Titanium's strengths such as tensile strength, good temperature resistance, and good resistance to fatigue. Corrosion resistance is good except for some odd chemicals you don't see in normal environments, and Titanium's oxide is electrically conductive unlike Aluminum oxide. Some are allergic to aluminum oxide so there is that.
When it comes down to it though, Titanium is a neat material with a pleasing appearance regardless of whether it is the best material for a light.

 

[jon_slider]

allergic to aluminum oxide

the only feature of Aluminum that I like is its light weight, but the material is toxic, so I usually buy Titanium or Copper instead.

Titanium is non toxic, copper is antibacterial. My titanium light is only 25% heavier than my Aluminum one, and my Copper light is more than twice as heavy as the Aluminum.

Tradeoffs.. Aluminum is light and toxic, Titanium is almost as light, and non toxic and does not oxidize, it stays shiny. Copper is heavy and is both antibacterial and antifungal (there are rumors it also has magical spiritual properties and may also provide relief from arthritis), it oxidizes and does not stay shiny unless it rolls around in my pocket daily 🙂

 

[ronniepudding]

Does using an aluminum flashlight present a toxicity risk? Presuming one doesn't grind it into powder and ingest it, I'd think it's pretty safe to handle aluminum - especially when anodized.

... Or were you referring to risks associated with machining aluminum?

 

[jon_slider]

I'd think it's pretty safe to handle aluminum - especially when anodized.

can you share any evidence of that?
the quick google I did had lots of toxicity info, nothing I saw said anodizing made it safe.. but, yes, its a question of degree of exposure and manner of ingestion.. If you dont put the light in your mouth, and the oxide does not wear off on your hands before eating, that would possibly be a low exposure rate.

otoh, apparently antacids and buffered aspirin is a really good way to raise the body load of Aluminum… wasnt president reagan a victim of Alzheimers, and isnt that related to Aluminum toxicity.. I dont suppose he carried an aluminum flashlight though, so, dont worry about it 🙂

some studies show aluminum bioaccumulates in the bones, liver, and brain

heres the result of a quick google of alzheimers and aluminum
"Aluminum (Al) is the most abundant neurotoxic metal on earth, widely bioavailable to humans and repeatedly shown to accumulate in Alzheimers Disease susceptible neuronal foci."

 

[chillinn]

Tradeoffs.. Aluminum is light and toxic, Titanium is almost as light, and non toxic and does not oxidize, it stays shiny. Copper is heavy and is both antibacterial and antifungal (there are rumors it also has magical spiritual properties and may also provide relief from arthritis), it oxidizes and does not stay shiny unless it rolls around in my pocket daily 🙂

Aluminum also has antibacterial properties, and should only present an issue to those allergic to it, its toxicity is low, takes a high dose to cause any concern. I do not like Al for smaller flashlights, personally; my experience is that it is flimsy and brittle with heads breaking, threads stripping. But I think it does have some decent properties for full sized lights, such as its light weight and acceptable thermal properties, electrically conductive, its smooth Al to Al threading action, and it is inexpensive.

 

[Thetasigma]

Specifically I was referring to people who are allergic to contact with aluminum oxide. Allergies aside, risk is minimal unless you grind it up and snort it or leave your flashlight in your water pitcher for some reason.

 

[ronniepudding]

can you share any evidence of that?

the quick google I did had lots of toxicity info, nothing I saw said anodizing made it safe.. but, yes, its a question of degree of exposure and manner of ingestion.. If you dont put the light in your mouth, and the oxide does not wear off on your hands before eating, that would possibly be a low exposure rate.]

The bit you quoted was me explaining why I was asking the question, -- so no, I'm not going to go gather scientific evidence to prove that holding an anodized flashlight doesn't lead to significant toxic exposure to Aluminum 🙂

However, here's some anecdotal evidence that AL isn't deadly to most people under normal circumstances: folks handle and wrap food in aluminum foil all the time, and a lot of food is cooked in aluminum pans.

I was just surprised to read that you don't buy aluminum flashlights (in part) because they're toxic, and I wasn't understanding why you were worried about it.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to assert that consuming AL is great for you. But we're exposed to it all the time. I was under the impression that for most healthy people, it's a non-issue.

 

[jon_slider]

I was under the impression that for most healthy people, it's a non-issue.

I agree. I even have an anodized aluminum pot I use to boil water when camping. And I dont think handling a flashlight is a significant exposure risk.. apparently the main culprit of aluminum accumulation is not cooking utensils, its antacids and buffered aspirin.
Anxious About Anodized Aluminum? - Dr. Weil:
"Anodized aluminum shouldn't react to acidic foods, so you can theoretically use these pots and pans for preparing rhubarb and sauces with tomato, wine or lemon juice - ingredients that you shouldn't cook in traditional aluminum pots."

so, very minor risk, just something an old hippy would think about. given the choice, and Im lucky to have the opportunity, I would rather hold a Copper Maratac in my mouth than an Aluminum, but.. Im not like most people, I have facial hair, im old, and I spend too much time online, which leads to shopping for objects with specific features and materials 🙂

in terms of flashlight use, I feel slightly more reassured that the germs from my mouth will die on my copper flashlight, than on my Titanium or Aluminum Oxide coated ones, but Im not really afraid of those germs either way really. I agree aluminum oxide is low risk, barring ingestion.

otoh, some people get a rash from touching aluminum, thats weird, even though it does not happen to me
apparently nickel does that too, though also not to me, one more excuse for me not to spend money on a Surefire Titan Plus, its Nickel plated. One of my children is allergic to Nickel.

for a twisty, I do think Aluminum makes a smoother thread, Titanium Thrunite lights I had were very gritty to twist, made me think Ti lights would be best as clickies..

ps, Im going shopping, this time for a non aluminum pot, probably Titanium, to boil water in when camping… I blame this thread.. LOL!

 

[ronniepudding]

I try to do most of my cooking in cast iron -- which I believe is healthy, even if you were to grind it up and eat it. 🙂

Of course, cast iron isn't great for acidic foods like marinara sauce, so I also use stainless steel pots and pans in my kitchen, and when camping. Camping utensils are a compromise ... Steel is relatively heavy, but I would rather carry the extra weight than cook on a non-stick coated aluminum pan.

Ive looked at Titanium cookware... The weight savings is great, but it is really expensive and doesn't conduct heat as well as other metals. There must be a better solution. Nonetheless, if you're mostly just boiling water, I don't think the poor conductivity of Ti makes much difference.

Back to flashlights, I just got my first CU light, and I'm really impressed with how beautiful a material it is for that purpose, at least in small lights where weight isn't an issue.

 

[jon_slider]

Back to flashlights, I just got my first CU light, and I'm really impressed with how beautiful a material it is for that purpose, at least in small lights where weight isn't an issue.

I also share your feelings about cooking pot metals.
And agree that small lights is where coppers weight penalty is less massive.
really curious what you got and how you like it.. will watch for your posts in more relevant threads

I do think Titanium is a very nice material for a clicky flashlight. Not sure I buy into it being called God's metal though.. but I digress, again 🙂

imo the Titanium Maratacs are beautiful, and they stay shiny. Shiny is good!

btw, I also do not own any Black flashlights. I want to be able to see them in the bottom of my bag or pouch, some of which are also black inside. I dont use pocket clips on my pockets, I reverse them for use on my hat. Maybe Black Aluminum is a better match for clipped to the pocket carry applications… applications vary

The Titanium Maratac makes a good keyring light imo. The clip has a hole in the tip, and if that is put on a keyring, it creates an alternate quick detachable option, thereby recovering the ability to tailstand, which the Maratacs lack, due to the extra long tip on the clip.. I actually ground one of mine down.. tailstanding is such a high priority for me.. anyway.. pics are more fun than words:

btw, the TiMaratac will Lego with a Copper, making the threads smooth and non galling in combination

and fwiw, that little glow diffuser gets a thumbs down for my application.. it blinds me more to have it in my line of sight, than it helps me to see. I tend to prefer ceiling bounce to diffuser..

note thats actually a Ti Thrunite head, the light whose threads I love to hate for galling on itself. note also the indented little holes in the maratac knurling, indicative of one of the earlier modes with PWM.. Im as superstitious about PWM as I am about Aluminum, I dont own any PWM lights anymore, and the new TiMaratacs are happily PWM Free. They also have a different knurling, without the little divets in the diamond faces of the knurls.. the faces are just flat, can you see it in the following pic?
(from page 3)

Merry Christmas to me!

 

[sabre7]

Looks nice might have to place an order

 

[bartko09]

I might have missed it going through the thread but does anyone know what kind of driver is in the Maratac AAA Titanium? I pulled it the other day to install a MTN-11DD FET driver and was just kinda curious about the stock.

 

[bartko09]

No one knows what driver comes with the Titanium Maratac?