Sub_Umbra
Flashlight Enthusiast
Quick \'N Dirty Armored Flashlights
I actually started thinking about armoring lights when I became interested in INOVAs. I really like them but they can be a little slick.
I went to the bike shop and they gave me an assortment of tubes that were blown beyond repair. The outsides of the tubes have weird ridges and the like so I cut to the rough size and turned them inside out. I cleaned what was then the outside with Armor All.
The first one I did was an old Infinity with a green LED. I used a 700 x 18/23c tube which is an insanely small 'suicide' tube. It was a VERY tight fit but I did get it into place. Perhaps there is a larger tube that would be easier to work with. The INOVA/tube combo was MUCH easier to work with.
EDIT: A day or so later I covered another Infinity with the same sized 700 x 18/23c tube. This time I squirted some alcohol on the inside of the tube and I was able to slip it into place in just a few seconds. Quick and easy.
SEE pics below.
Above and below: Armored INOVA XO-3, INOVA X5THA from CountryComm, CMG Infinity
The two INOVAs are covered with pieces from a 26 x 1 3/8 tube. I used no adhesives on any of the lights.
The last step was to clean the rubber again with Armor All. The grip afforded by the tube is interesting. It is improved over the stock light. It seems to have an almost 'wet and sticky' feel. On the straight sided lights like the Infinity and the X5THA, it pretty much protects the whole length of the light from scratches when setting it down, etc.
I like it. It's not perfect but it is an improvement -- in addition to being free and reversible.
I actually started thinking about armoring lights when I became interested in INOVAs. I really like them but they can be a little slick.
I went to the bike shop and they gave me an assortment of tubes that were blown beyond repair. The outsides of the tubes have weird ridges and the like so I cut to the rough size and turned them inside out. I cleaned what was then the outside with Armor All.
The first one I did was an old Infinity with a green LED. I used a 700 x 18/23c tube which is an insanely small 'suicide' tube. It was a VERY tight fit but I did get it into place. Perhaps there is a larger tube that would be easier to work with. The INOVA/tube combo was MUCH easier to work with.
EDIT: A day or so later I covered another Infinity with the same sized 700 x 18/23c tube. This time I squirted some alcohol on the inside of the tube and I was able to slip it into place in just a few seconds. Quick and easy.
SEE pics below.
Above and below: Armored INOVA XO-3, INOVA X5THA from CountryComm, CMG Infinity
The two INOVAs are covered with pieces from a 26 x 1 3/8 tube. I used no adhesives on any of the lights.
The last step was to clean the rubber again with Armor All. The grip afforded by the tube is interesting. It is improved over the stock light. It seems to have an almost 'wet and sticky' feel. On the straight sided lights like the Infinity and the X5THA, it pretty much protects the whole length of the light from scratches when setting it down, etc.
I like it. It's not perfect but it is an improvement -- in addition to being free and reversible.
