Question for Wolf Eyes AND Surefire HA-III owners

[325addict]

This is a question especially for the owners of both SureFire Hard Anodized lights, and Wolf Eyes lights.

I read it over and over again: WE lights should have a type III HA-finish... but, although I handle them with even more respect and cautiousness than my SureFires, I notice a fairly quick degradation of the finish... on all sharp edges, (tailcap and bezel) I can see shining, bare aluminum!

On the other hand, my C3 (the very first SF I bought) got more than once a fairly rough treatment, and until now has a few scratches, but NOWHERE so bad, that I can see the metal shining through!

What's your opinion? Is SureFire really better in this point?


Timmo.

 

[jugg2]

Well. I guess I don't really fit your description because I don't own any Wolf Eyes lights, but I can say that SureFire HA is not indestructable.

I use all my lights and they get dropped and banged around, just about any kind of punishment you can imagine. The SureFire HA is very tought, but it does get worn off around the edges. I have not had a problem on flat surfaces, but it does wear slightly on the edges; enough that you can see the aluminum through it.

It is much tougher than reagular ano though. I built a 3P clone that hangs on my keychain, and the ano on it is wearing pretty bad, but i work in a construction enviroment so that is expected. It really doesnt matter to me anyways cause ultimately all my lights are tools not shelf queens, so I see all the wear and tear as character marks haha.

I hope all that helped, I think I started to ramble a little towards the end...

 

[FlashKat]

Wolf Eyes finish does wear off easily. I have the Rattlesnake and the Raider where the finish has been rubbing off even when handled carefully.

 

[LEDAdd1ct]

Some of the finish on my Guider has worn off.

 

[Search]

My E2DL is my duty light and I can see quite a bit of bare aluminum. I would hate to see how bad it would be without the HA-III finish.

My E1B is on my side 24/7 as long as my pants are on and it's the same way. Again, without the finish I would not be happy.

This is why my gunmetal 6P is treated like a new born. It doesn't have the finish and it looks too good to destroy.

Boy, I'm going to be sad if anything happens to my single-mode E2DL. It's the best light I've ever owned

 

[DimeRazorback]

Boy, I'm going to be sad if anything happens to my single-mode E2DL. It's the best light I've ever owned

Buy another :naughty:

 

[Search]

Buy another :naughty:

It's one from the original batch that came single-mode.

I'm not sure where to buy another. Even if I did find someone willing to sell one, I don't even have 5 dollars to give

Bad situation.

 

[Toohotruk]

How old is it?


BTW, I'm curious as to the durability of the HA on WE lights as well...

 

[DimeRazorback]

It's one from the original batch that came single-mode.

I'm not sure where to buy another. Even if I did find someone willing to sell one, I don't even have 5 dollars to give

Bad situation.

Ah!
Sorry man!

The two mode ones are still nice though!

 

[Owen]

Yep, huge difference. I don't know what makes HA spec-wise, but I don't consider any of the Chinese lights to be "hard anodized". Look at American HA. It's thin, it doesn't scratch easily, and you can actually dent the flashlight without "breaking" the ano.
Now look at any of the Chinese brands. They look like they're powdercoated, with a thick coating that doesn't penetrate the surface, wears easily and chips or flakes on impact.
SF's black type II ano is more durable than what they call type III.
I hope my Zebralights turn out to be the exception!

 

[325addict]

I know enough... indeed, the Surefire HA-III anodizing is very tough. Someone once dropped my L1 on a concrete floor, right upon the tailcap. A small dent was in it, but anodizing was still in place!
On the other hand, I took a Wolf Eyes MC-E Sniper with me in a camping trip, and although it never contacted hard stuff, I now have numerous blank spots.
The Surefires came back as they were before the trip

EDIT: I have a second Chinese brand: Fenix! And, honestly I must say: although my P1D was my very first serious light, there's not a singles scratch or blank spot in it, and it has seen some use, I can promise you
Looks like this ano is much better than Wolf Eyes' ano.

Timmo.