Non-flashaholics using your lights.....

[325addict]

I always had some lights on my desk, just because I need them regularly, to see what numbers are on opamps, transistors etc etc.
These used to be bulky, cheap plastic 2D-cell lights made by Panasonic. I bought six of those monsters because we had no flashlight at all at the company. No one would ever use one. They are just not sexy enough :whistle:

Now, the last month I take my better lights to work, so regularly some SureFires, Wolf-eyes or Fenix lights are within reach on my desk.

Of course, it didn't take long, and my colleagues spotted them.

What happens then, when they start to use something, that just looks like a "flashlight" but in reality is some very high power incan light, or a two stage LED-light?

First, the incan: one of my colleagues asked, if he could use the C3 centurion "just for a moment". So I gave him the light, knowing he would just use it briefly. After all, three expensive primary lithiums are in.....
Half an hour later, some yell across the place: "AAUWWW, that thing is BLOODY HOT!!!"
By then, I instantly realized he must have had it on all the time :(
Half the batteries down the drain :( :( :(

Then, another colleague using the L1 LumaMax: "is this it, are the batteries empty or.....?" Well, just TURN that cap, it will be brighter then....
"Ohh, that's better!"
He was servicing an Apple G5 computer, and to see how much dust was in, he shined into it.... just for a few seconds, then he put the light down, on its head.... and forgot to switch it off. This, you can imagine, I only saw an hour later. Another primary lithium nearly depleted :( :(

I stopped taking the M90 rattlesnake with me, and put it on my desk, as it has UNPROTECTED 18650s in it. I know, it has a runtime of about 90 minutes, my colleagues won't know this and promptly run the batteries flat.

I'd better buy that simple Fenix 2AA light with around 100 Lumens, this is a bullet-proof single stage light with no "extraordinaries".
I suppose, anyone can handle this one :confused:
AA batteries we have more than enough, or I take some NiMHs....


What's your experience with your colleagues.... never used a light, until they found yours, and then use it in a very, hmmm, wrong way?

Timmo.

 

[Oddjob]

I never let anyone use my lights. Some people will just never appreciate some of my lights so I don't even bother trying to explain how they work etc.
I have loaners which wouldn't kill me if they get broken or lost. I have a Fenix L1T Luxeon that I let non-flashaholics use. It is still a good light and would serve the average person well but for me it has been relegated to loaner status. I also have minimags with drop-ins as additional loaners.

 

[HKJ]

My colleagues has gone from "Do your have a flashlight I can borrow" to "Can I borrow a flashlight".

Some of them think my lights are very bright, but not all, once one of them told me that my Fenix L0D was just about as bright as her maglite Solitaire :crackup:.

I do not really worry about batteries.

 

[Illum]

I think by now you've realized the logic in why businesses don't stock flashlights in their inventory for safety. Its to minimize work hazard.

Rather than bringing and showing my lights to individuals I've modded the company's 2D evereadys from a 3V lamp to a 9V lamp. Mdocod's 2D-6AA holders are cheap and very very reliable...even if one gets snagged under the mop cart and jerked around the office it still works!

Some odd reason we have plenty of AAs in our store room but no extra Ds [that I'm aware of] for those evereadys. So that turned out kinda nice:grin2:

 

[dilbert]

:caution: I keep a decoy on my desk. :caution:

It's a Garrity 9 x 5mm LED 3 x AAA type.

I keep my good work light in my desk drawer and my EDCs in my backpack and coat pocket.

 

[jp2515]

:caution: I keep a decoy on my desk. :caution:

It's a Garrity 9 x 5mm LED 3 x AAA type.

I keep my good work light in my desk drawer and my EDCs in my backpack and coat pocket.

Have people come and tried to use the "decoy"?

 

[ackbar]

Oh hell no. Most people don't respect the items they own. No way am I loaning my stuff to them.

 

[276]

I had a friend borrow my Pelican nemo and never he lost it. Never again will i let that happen.

 

[skalomax]

Same thing happens to me, I really don't like it when they leave my lights on when they're not using it. :sick2:

 

[hiluxxulih]

My Dad used my Surefire M6 once to work under a car a lets just say he let it roll around on the concrete and scuffed the bazel a bit , I think it was pay back for all the stuff of his I ruined when growing up , or mabey it was for the time I ran into him with his Jeep

 

[NonSenCe]

now that i have shown and taught non holics how my lights turn on i confuse them with my new light..

hah.. i taught them that my lights on off button is on the tail. press it and it goes on..

and today a nonholic friend of mine (filled with alcohol thou) just needed "bright light" to see whats in the shed in his backyard.. so i gave him my new x2t twisty..told him its only few days old and i put it on for him and off he went..

and when he came back i saw him stopping at the door and just kept pressing the tailbutton and getting more and more nervous as the light did not turn off..

then he looked at me and the light and me again.. then kept tapping the button.. with gringe in his face.

and just as he begun to say he is sorry that he broke my light, i took it from him and relieved his worries..
"first its a cheap light, and see its actually my first twisty light with momentary button only, it works fine.. it works like this.."

guess i have taught him well already..

You can loan it, but DO NOT BREAK IT!! hahahh

 

[angelofwar]

I let a co-worker use my my G2l once...wondering around aimlessly with it still on...I took it from him a few times, and showed him "this is how you turn it off...ahem". then he dropped it, and came back and BS'ed about "It just quit working". Never again...

Now, every-one knows I'm a flashaholic and how much my lights cost (I only EDC my SF's)...so they gently handle them and google over them for a few seconds...I tell them "Turn it on and try it out", and they say "No thanks, I don't want to break it":twothumbs

 

[Gunner12]

Doen't even get a Fenix, get a decent budget light for a beater/loaner.

Most of my friends know how much the few lights I have cost. They are still cheap compared to what most have but pretty expensive for my friends.

 

[Burgess]

Never loan out yer' flashlights.


Keep a Fauxton in yer' pocket, for the "leeches".


:shakehead
_

 

[Chrontius]

I only loan it to the people I live with. They know how to use 123a primaries safely, and know how much they cost. :D Normally, I use rechargeables for loaners, even then.

 

[dilbert]

Have people come and tried to use the "decoy"?

People have asked to borrow my light a couple of times, but as far as I know no one has just taken it.

 

[Masteroffajitas]

I'd get pretty ticked, those are pretty nice lights.

 

[ackbar]

Never loan out yer' flashlights.


Keep a Fauxton in yer' pocket, for the "leeches".


:shakehead
_

I got one that is better than that!

"Sorry bud.. I don't have what you are looking for."

I ain't no supply depot. You want something, bring your own. Can't you tell that I've spent way too much time chasing down items I've loaned out :P

 

[jasonck08]

Yea I always have to give people special instructions when using my lights...

HID's - don't turn the thing on and off all the time. Only switch it on when you need too...

 

[Search]

I loan a few out on training nights and know the battery is going to be gone and it's going to get roughed up for 4 - 5 hours but all I can do is forget about it and remember we are all the good guys.

I can't carry regular lights with me to work but when I find the right explosive approved on I'm sure the mechanics will borrow it once they know I've got it.

I'm going to try to find a decent on and the ones they have are crap.

On topic though, I hide mine! I don't want anyone holding my lights.

It's like my car, my computer, and really everything of mine. It's mine, not yours, stay away, don't ask to play with it or drive it, go buy your own.