NI-AL-Bronze and 464 Naval Brass HDS going on sale...

[thermal guy]

Interesting...Jeff at Okluma seems to put out some very fine machined titanium yet finds al-bronze difficult...if that’s the case, maybe there’s some property of the stuff that makes it so. Any metallurgist out there?

Ya it’s mushy. Can’t really cut and machine it well. It just kinda deforms and moves around so detailed work can be tough. My machine shop at work had trouble with it till they got the right inserts.

 

[Johnnyh]

Wow, this crowd turns on you quickly, even people who haven’t seen one in person and didn’t buy one!

Yea, kinda thought this might happen. Should’ve kept my opinions to myself and just enjoyed. Really, I don’t give a rats a** about such things. Nothings perfect.
Mine has already begun to form a patina. Eventually it will turn brownish. To the uninitiated, it will look far less than perfect. Maybe even ugly. Eventually, it will develop a wear pattern that will be unique. I’ll be the only one who will appreciate its “imperfection”. The knurling will be even less of a concern than it is now. Which for me, is nothing.

 

[thermal guy]

That’s the Spirit!! Enjoy it for what it is. Like you say it’s not like people are going to say hey what’s with the light? I think they look good. Can’t wait to see the brass.

 

[archimedes]

I know a lot of machinists complain about many copper alloys being "sticky" to cut

 

[thermal guy]

I know mine did lol. Until they got there feeds and speeds correct I could hear them swearing from the other side of the shop.

 

[Hogokansatsukan]

and it was at this point, we were ready to say "phuque it" and give up. This is a photo I got from the machinist last year, but we worked through it, got new and different knurling tools, etc, etc. I was on suicide watch trying to talk the machinist off the ledge while considering eating a gun (I just find the metal parts so hard on the teeth and at my age, I prefer to keep the teeth I have, though anything taste good with Sriracha on it.)

There was a TON of scrap from this special metal run until the machinist figured out how to make the knurling work... and the bronze didn't turn out "perfect" by any means. The brass look quite good, and I think the titanium turned out the best.

Even on the aluminum lights, there are always complaints from folks. We even had one person say the current knurling was so sharp it cut up their hand... he obviously doesn't use his hands for the same things I do (my palms are all hairy and so protect them from cuts and abrasions.)

 

[Tejasandre]

LOL!!! Smh

 

[wacbzz]

Even on the aluminum lights, there are always complaints from folks.

I can honestly say that the aluminum lights being produced now are light years better than they ever were in regards to anodizing, part sizing, and overall machining quality.

If you have never owned an HDS light from 2011 or earlier (meaning the non-titanium v thread lights), you have no idea...

 

[Scribe]

Here's a pic in the sun

 

[klackey]

Dang! That is just golden! Almost wish I had one on the way....... Holding out for a Ti. Nice picture... great light.

 

[kaichu dento]

So expensive and not so perfect after all

Well, in all actuality, probably absolutely perfect for those of us who are actually getting one.

 

[thermal guy]

Very good point. You either get hds lights or you don’t. It’s funny because it’s almost as hard to get flashlights geeks to buy into the hds madness as it is to get non flashlight people into a good flashlight.if that makes sense. In my head it sounds good

 

[wacbzz]

Whether it’s true or not, perception = reality for everyone.

 

[troutpool]

I see pictures in this thread of the bronze lights, but not the brass. Hogo, can we see a photo of the Brass Rotaries before they go on sale again April 9?

 

[Hogokansatsukan]

I see pictures in this thread of the bronze lights, but not the brass. Hogo, can we see a photo of the Brass Rotaries before they go on sale again April 9?

Will get some next week and post them here. They are still getting put together.

Here are the brass heads...

 

[troutpool]

Thank you, Hogo, they look great!

 

[Hogokansatsukan]

Looks like Monday I will have pictures of brass lights put together.
We had to do some schedule finagling recently but just cleared Monday for production and shipping of the brass so I'll get some photos and post them here.
Worked this weekend on the titanium Rotary mechanisms, so we should start shipping those pretty soon as well.

We are also down a couple brass so the number going up for sale is 12 and not 14.

 

[JKolmo]

Great news hogo! [emoji122]

 

[Commodorefirst]

We are also down a couple brass so the number going up for sale is 12 and not 14.

Have all my alerts set and ready to go.

 

[WarriorOfLight]

The picture of the brass parts that Hogo has been posted looks very promising. The knurling is more clear in compare to the bronze parts that Hogo pictured.... Cant wait to see a picture of the complete brass light.

I am also surprised that only 3 CPF users posted pictures of the brass lights. I was expecting 90% of the lights were sold to US citizens, and 100% to CFP memebers. Therefore my expectation was a tons of pictures and descriptions about impressions. But most comments were only based from the pictures of the 3 bronze owners...

But when I have my bronze, brass and Titanium Rotaries I will take the time and do some cool Pictures. But currently I am waiting. Tracking says currently in customs...