Here's my perspective...
As a manufacturer, I'd be very cautious about investing much in a solution dependent upon using existing Solarforce or other budget Chinese parts with a specific (modified) McClicky kit. I've got a number of L2 variants, including L2Ps. Knurling, assembly parts, and to some extent dimensions, vary with different production batches. It could be a customer service boondoggle if a significant proportion of customers turn out to have "out of spec" host parts.
I also question the need for a McClicky in most applications based on budget hosts, which are often available as a complete host (or even complete light) for less than the cost of a standard McClicky kit from Oveready. Yes, some folks will use the hosts for high-output light engines, but many of those folks will be prepared to be a little more ingenious than buying off the shelf solutions. Some enterprising individual members may be willing to assist with low-volume custom switch work, if needed.
What may be practical, for Oveready, or other volume sellers to offer, is a few low-cost washers and boots in various dimensions that would work as add-ons with the existing McClicky kit. The versatility and usefulness with many different manufacturer's lights would be beneficial to a greater audience and the risks fewer. Materials can be chosen for function and value - e.g. it may not make sense to do custom parts in brass etc.
If the qualities of the McClicky exceed the requirements for a specific application, then modifying existing tailcaps for forward operation, or supplying replacement switch assemblies based on the available switches used by other Chinese manufacturers, as Kostas has done :wave:, is a more cost effective solution. I don't see that as fitting in to the Oveready mandate, but that's just me.
I've changed the tailcaps on L2s and L2Ps to forward-clickies using McClicky switches and with modified Solarforce switch components. In each case using a McClicky so far, I've removed the McClicky because although I came up with working implementations, the switch action was far too light, and with the lack of reliable lockout in a Solarforce body, the chance of accidental activation was too great. Finding a stiffer boot might resolve that, but there's still the question of whether it makes any sense (to me) from a cost and function standpoint.
Lastly, the notion of making a bulk purchase of some inexpensive generic tailcap, that would presumably fit and function well with Solarforce, Surefire and other thread-compatible hosts, and coupling the tailcap with a McClicky, seems of dubious merit to me.
If I run a Surefire body, I'd prefer a (modified if necessary) Surefire tailcap, or one offering similar quality while giving me the features I'm interested in. If I'm running a budget host, we're back at the question of whether a McClicky makes sense in that application. There's also the very real question of aesthetic suitability - will the finish match acceptably, is the machining appropriate etc.
If Oveready could source or manufacture a high-quality inexpensive tailcap that was truly Surefire and Solarforce compatible, and load it with a budget version of the McClicky kit, there might be an acceptable market for that, but I'm skeptical about the economics, especially if matching finishes is desired. This also seems better suited to the business models of some of the general flashlight dealers that support the enthusiast market.
- Syncytial.
As a manufacturer, I'd be very cautious about investing much in a solution dependent upon using existing Solarforce or other budget Chinese parts with a specific (modified) McClicky kit. I've got a number of L2 variants, including L2Ps. Knurling, assembly parts, and to some extent dimensions, vary with different production batches. It could be a customer service boondoggle if a significant proportion of customers turn out to have "out of spec" host parts.
I also question the need for a McClicky in most applications based on budget hosts, which are often available as a complete host (or even complete light) for less than the cost of a standard McClicky kit from Oveready. Yes, some folks will use the hosts for high-output light engines, but many of those folks will be prepared to be a little more ingenious than buying off the shelf solutions. Some enterprising individual members may be willing to assist with low-volume custom switch work, if needed.
What may be practical, for Oveready, or other volume sellers to offer, is a few low-cost washers and boots in various dimensions that would work as add-ons with the existing McClicky kit. The versatility and usefulness with many different manufacturer's lights would be beneficial to a greater audience and the risks fewer. Materials can be chosen for function and value - e.g. it may not make sense to do custom parts in brass etc.
If the qualities of the McClicky exceed the requirements for a specific application, then modifying existing tailcaps for forward operation, or supplying replacement switch assemblies based on the available switches used by other Chinese manufacturers, as Kostas has done :wave:, is a more cost effective solution. I don't see that as fitting in to the Oveready mandate, but that's just me.
I've changed the tailcaps on L2s and L2Ps to forward-clickies using McClicky switches and with modified Solarforce switch components. In each case using a McClicky so far, I've removed the McClicky because although I came up with working implementations, the switch action was far too light, and with the lack of reliable lockout in a Solarforce body, the chance of accidental activation was too great. Finding a stiffer boot might resolve that, but there's still the question of whether it makes any sense (to me) from a cost and function standpoint.
Lastly, the notion of making a bulk purchase of some inexpensive generic tailcap, that would presumably fit and function well with Solarforce, Surefire and other thread-compatible hosts, and coupling the tailcap with a McClicky, seems of dubious merit to me.
If I run a Surefire body, I'd prefer a (modified if necessary) Surefire tailcap, or one offering similar quality while giving me the features I'm interested in. If I'm running a budget host, we're back at the question of whether a McClicky makes sense in that application. There's also the very real question of aesthetic suitability - will the finish match acceptably, is the machining appropriate etc.
If Oveready could source or manufacture a high-quality inexpensive tailcap that was truly Surefire and Solarforce compatible, and load it with a budget version of the McClicky kit, there might be an acceptable market for that, but I'm skeptical about the economics, especially if matching finishes is desired. This also seems better suited to the business models of some of the general flashlight dealers that support the enthusiast market.
- Syncytial.
