Opening a Cree L1 head

[foxtrot824]

I have been working at this for some time and have ended up taking a vice grips to my L1 head to get it open with no results. I have heated it with a hair dryer and used some rubber strap wrenches and am still having no luck. At this point I would be glad to ship it to some one and pay them to open it. Any advice or one willing to open this head?

 

[nanotech17]

i have open my E2L but i leave my L1 head alone because the beam is so nice ( sold it though )

 

[manoloco]

I have been working at this for some time and have ended up taking a vice grips to my L1 head to get it open with no results. I have heated it with a hair dryer and used some rubber strap wrenches and am still having no luck. At this point I would be glad to ship it to some one and pay them to open it. Any advice or one willing to open this head?

Heat it higher, at first i had the same problem and it was because i was too careful with the temperature, it has to be at a point were it really hurts to touch. you dont need to worry, the drivers are in the body, not the head.

DO NOT use the vice grips, its very probable that you will scratch the head, even if you cover the head with rubber.

just heat it more, good luck.

 

[foxtrot824]

Thanks for the advice, after using more heat i.e. a torch very carefully I had success.

 

[manoloco]

:thumbsup:

please, can you tell us what are you putting in there?

there are a couple of hurdles you will encounter with the L1 head inside maybe this thread can help you:

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=212711

 

[foxtrot824]

I left the emitter alone and fitted a BB Nexgen 1000mA .55" board in the bottom for the head for use on a single cell body. I was thinking about using a http://tncproducts.com/hp_zencart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=4&products_id=36 in my next project, I am wondering if it is designed for limited use only of it that is just with Seoul LEDs

 

[nanotech17]

that flupic is fine on the Cree and you can use it on burst mode with no worries on the Cree.

 

[bluecrow76]

Thanks for the tips... I'm thinking of opening up my L1 and putting in a reflector. I'm not a huge fan of the beam produced by the TIR optic... I don't like the sharp transition from spot to spill.