Protecting Fenix keychain lights

[Saiga]

I'm kinda new around here, so forgive me if this has already been suggested. I noticed a couple small marks on my EDC, a relatively new Fenix P1 ce that i keep on my keychain,so i went out to the garage to my "bike station" and found an old road tube (700x23 bicycle tube) and cut off a few inches. Then i cut a piece about the lenth of the body and wrestled it on,then cut another peice the size if the head, and wrestled it into place, leaving a fairly wide gap at the brass heat sink. Now, my keys and pocket knife will no longer ding-up my light, it has kind of a functiona-cool look to it,and it seems very secure without having been a screaming ***** to put on. Standard road tubes should easily fit all the fenix 123 lights, and probably many other manufacturers',as well.
Also, i do realize this may impede proper cooling,but this light tends to be used often,but for less than 30 seconds at a time.

 

[jzmtl]

I use black electrical tape on mine, better color/texture matching.

 

[GarageBoy]

Kydex sheath it. You'll get holstering marks, still, but easy to detach light from it

 

[Germ]

Got pics?

Not to chastise, but this has been brought up before. Some people use shrink tubing. A lot of folks say just live with it since the protection often looks worse than the damage that would occur without it.

I'm still using my first black Fenix L0P (about 2 years old) and the finish is pretty beat up. I'm about due for a brighter replacement so I've been thinking of how to protect it.

The natural finish should show scratches less than black, so I'll try natural next time.

At ACE hardware I got some Hy-Ko plastic key caps and a cable key ring. The key caps cover some of the key to prevent scratching. The cable key ring has plastic over the cable and then I put colored electrical tape over the knurling on the twist connector.

I've tried different tapes over my LOP and P1D CE Q5 and none of them look very sexy.

What I wish more companies would do is put O-ring grooves on their lights. The grooves themselves don't look bad and you could put black or glow in the dark O-rings on if you wish to protect the finish.

What country do you live in Saiga? Does C.S.A. stand for what I think it does?

 

[Crenshaw]

What I wish more companies would do is put O-ring grooves on their lights. The grooves themselves don't look bad and you could put black or glow in the dark O-rings on if you wish to protect the finish.

What country do you live in Saiga? Does C.S.A. stand for what I think it does?

im confused, in what way would an O-ring protect the finish?
:thinking:

Crenshaw

 

[D-Dog]

I like the marks... they add character

Anyways if you covered the entire light with O-rings, it would protect the finish, and make the light a lot easier to hold

 

[PEU]

I dont really care about scratches in a flashlight, as long it works when needed... if you want a mint unit then buy two, one for your keychain and another for the shelf


Pablo

 

[Sub_Umbra]

I've been using bike tubes on small lights for some time. I just go to the bike shop where they fix lots of flats and take the size(s) I need from the trash for free.



I wasn't concerned about the finish. I started putting the tubes on to make it easier to hold them in my teeth. I also found the lights easier to grip when armored, particularly if the job is finished by cleaning the rubber with Armorall. It gives them an almost tacky, wet feel.

The tubes must be replaced from time to time but I find them very worthwhile.

 

[Splat_NJ]

That bike-tube idea ain't bad. :thumbsup: Just today I finally got my Fenix LOD Q4 from Fenixstore. I'm undecided on the red color. I may black Plasti-dip it or give it a coat of anti-slip paint. I like both but I think the anti-slip paint will hold up better.
--
Splat

 

[Glock40]

Scratch the heck out of them. Aint that why we buy good lights around here? They can take a beating and keep on working. I have a few that i try to take care of but not the ones that are on my key ring. I try to keep the key chain short enough so that the keys cant scratch the lens, but i dont really care about the body on my Fenix E1. But thats just me. If you want to protect them the bike tube seems to be like a good idea.

 

[Saiga]

It's not that i mind so terribly a little scratch or two, but WHY ? Why not protect the light from scratches if it's economical and easy ? If nothing else, it enhances re-sale value. As i said in my original post "forgive me if this has already been suggested", i realized there's a good chance this had already been done, but it turned out to be such a good solution, i figured it couldn't hurt to recirculate it, and i see it was a heads-up to at least a couple folks. After a couple days with it on,i like it and it's definately staying.
And hey " Germ ", CSA stands for "Confederate States of America", political correctness be damned !!!!!!:thumbsup: What country were you thinking of ?

 

[Germ]

Crenshaw, O-rings on the outside of a light's body would provide some protection for the finish.

Saiga, I don't mind you bringing up the topic again. I just mentioned it in case you wanted to search.

I had to noodle on it a bit, but I was thinking you meant Confederate States of America. It isn't something you see every day

 

[Saiga]

hey germ,you in columbus ?? small world, i am too ( or technically,will be in an hour )

 

[iTorch]

Just wondering if you could gun blue/mil spec the torch, or if you watned to keep it in original condition could you put clear nail polish on it?

 

[pipspeak]

This is hilarious... buy a mil-spec anodized flashlight to carry every day and worry about scratches? It's a tool, meant to be used and abused. Anyway, chicks dig scars!

 

[trapn1]

Well, I like to protect my lights for the resale value and the extra texturing helps grip. I used a combination of heat shrink and electrical insulating tape. I had to buy 3' sections to get the sizes I needed so I have some extra if anyone wants to try it, I have 3/4" reduce to 3/8" and 1" reduce to 3/4". If anyone wants some to try out let me know how much they may need and what size and I'll mail some out to you, at least while the supplie I have holds out. I have red and green colors. George

 

[datiLED]

I dont really care about scratches in a flashlight, as long it works when needed... if you want a mint unit then buy two, one for your keychain and another for the shelf


Pablo

:thumbsup: I like the way that you think. I do not have any shelf queens. If it doesn't get used, it gets sold.