Suggestion for Professional Mechanic Flashlight

[SC300TWINTURBO]

Hey there

I'm new here, I decided to join Candle Power after looking at over dozens of CREE Flashlights. As a full time Mechanic, I've been using a Streamlight Stinger DS C4 Flashlight that I bought from Snap-On Tools. Over the months, it has gotten a little dimmed. I spend $160 ish on the unit back a few months ago.

Doing heavy engine/transmission swaps daily, I'm in the market for a really super bright flashlight.

I'm willing to spend a maximum of $500 dollars on a really super bright flashlight that is drop resistance of at least 6 feet, water resistance as well. I'm not looking for HID lights.

I've been looking at these flashlights below as far as choices..

1. Olight SR91 Intimidator Rechargeable SST-90 1,500 Lumen
2. Led Lenser X21 1,000 Lumen
3. Fenix TK70 XM-L 2,200 Lumen
4. JETBeam RRT-3 SST-50 1,200 Lumen

Any inputs, suggestions? Feel free to give negative inputs as well.

 

[tricker]

I don't think really bright would be the best application in the dark confines under a truck......


I would look at the surefire G2x Pro(polymer to take drops better)

200 or 15 Lumens is plenty bright for the short distances you'll be working at, most of the lights you mentioned are for field viewing at 100yrd distances and would likely cause blindness everytime you turned them on

 

[xul]

a really super bright flashlight that is drop resistance of at least 6 feet, water resistance as well.

Dropping it 6' puts pretty high G forces on the gizzards, probably thousands of Gs if the housing is hard. You'll need a case that is spongy.

"Drop tests have been . . .performed in accordance with MIL-STD-810G, Method 516.6, Procedure IV (Transit Drop Test). The drop surface is 2" thick plywood over a steel plate over concrete. . . .While MIL-STD-810G allows up 5 samples to be used, Panasonic only used one unit for the Toughbook 19, 30 and U1. Even more noteworthy, the same unit was used for the 26 drops at 4 feet, then the same unit was dropped again 26 times from a height of 5 feet, and then the same exact unit was dropped 26 times from a height of 6 feet. So 1 unit survived 78 drops between heights of 4 to 6 feet."

 

[wrencher]

As a heavy equipment mechanic working in the field and shop. I bought the Jetbeam PC40.
Working indoors and out I find it covers most on my needs. More than bright enough. Although
I have never needed high. Only complaint is that it don't tail stand. The lights you listed I'm sure
Are good lights but to large and way to bright. 50 lumens in a shop under a truck is more than
Enough light. In the shop I use a led cordless drop light.

wrencher

 

[jorn]

You will need to use both hands just to hold the monsterlights you mentioned:devil: And most of them are very throwy. Most of the lights you mentioned are overkill for the job, (unless you change engines from a 200 meter distance). You will end up blinding yourself at close range, and then youll be needing even more light just to see anything..

Buy a Zebralight h31/h51 (headlamp series), then you can use both your hands for working. 200 lumens is plenty bright for close up work. And as long as you wear it on your head, there will be no dark spots in front of you.

 

[xul]

300 lux should be plenty.

 

[mrlysle]

I'm with jorn on this one. I don't know why a lot of guys want to ignore headlamps. Maybe some thinks it makes them look goofy or something. But a good headlamp is EXACTLY what you need, and you won't need to spend anywhere near $500 for it. I have several headlamps, and my favorite and most useful by far is my Zebralight H51Fw. More than enough light on high, with super run times and PERFECT light for working at the medium levels. It's very small, very light weight, and very easy to use with one hand. Anytime I'm working, I have to have both hands free, and despise looking for a place to "prop" up a handheld light, and the location is usually less than ideal. A good floody headlamp ALWAYS puts the light where you are looking, and that in and of itself makes it the best tool when working with both hands. The warmer tinted lights also make everything much more pleasant to look at and would more accurately show colors from fluids, etc. You've got to try a headlamp! :)

 

[Robin24k]

As a full time Mechanic, I've been using a Streamlight Stinger DS C4 Flashlight that I bought from Snap-On Tools. Over the months, it has gotten a little dimmed. I spend $160 ish on the unit back a few months ago.

You may need a new battery. There is a 1-year warranty on the battery, so check with an authorized service center near you or contact Streamlight. Ideally, you should recharge the light when the battery is depleted, as NiCd battery lifetime depends on charge cycles.

http://www.streamlight.com/support/authorized-service-centers.aspx

Any inputs, suggestions? Feel free to give negative inputs as well.

I would recommend against a light that bright. There's no need, and handling such a large light is not practical when you're working. 200 lumens should be adequate, is the Stinger DS LED not bright enough?

 

[MichaelW]

You were planning on using a diffuser when you putting out over 500 lumens, right?

otherwise you'll just shoot your eye out

 

[Chevy-SS]

I was a mechanic for almost 20 years. Owned a couple of service stations and did almost every kind of repair imaginable. But I've been out of the business for about 20 years now. I'm still a hot-rodder at heart though.

Anyway, I have some friends who are currently mechanics. One of these buddies is a custom hi-performance tuner and trans builder. Not long ago I gave him a Preon 2 flashlight and he absolutely LOVES the light. It's a small light, using 2 AAA batteries, not much bigger than a Bic pen. But this little bugger puts out 160 lumens! The nice thing about this light is that it can be in your pocket every single second, so it's always handy.

I've also given the Preon 2 to maybe four other mechanic buddies. And again, they are all just flat-out awestruck over the light.

So, if you're looking for a terrific, small, general purpose professional mechanic flashlight, then you can't do any better than a 4Sevens Preon 2. :thumbsup:

Here's a pic, showing sizes of other lights and the Preon 2 (2nd from left):

-

 

[mrlysle]

[QUOTEotherwise you'll just shoot your eye out[/QUOTE]

ROFL!! Been in stitches for the last five minutes over that one!!!!:crackup:

 

[bansuri]

With a nice budget like that get a headlamp AND a flashlight.
I work on machinery and always strap on the headlamp, however there are times when working in tight spaces that I need a flashlight to put light someplace that the headlamp won't.
I've got a Zebralight H31 and it works great. Flashlight is my HDS Rotary unless it's a really grubby job, then I grab something else.

 

[MichaelW]

I don't know who has the best diffuser (maybe it is time for a Selfbuilt diffuser shootout?)
but I was thinking the Eagletac M3C4, or T20C2, P20C2, P20A2, which all have an optional diffuser.

 

[calflash]

I am in the heavy duty truck repair business also. I use a zebralight h51 headlamp and an sc51. The headlamp works great when I need both hands. The sc51 is used for everything else - especially diagnosing leaks and doing safety inspections. I've used other lights but I find a big problem is many lights' switch boots are not oil resistant. I haven't had that problem with my zebralights yet. The only other lights I've liked are the preon II, HDS clicky, and zebralight sc600. I find the small sizes much more useable under a vehicle, easier to get into tight places, and they are a little more forgiving when dropped because of the low mass.

If you need more output, pick the sc600. You compromise in the size category a little but you get quite a bit of light.

Once you get one of these, use the rest of your budget to buy one of those big lights anyway - for fun.

 

[Obijuan Kenobe]

This sounds right to me. You want an 'always there' light. None of those you mentioned are close to shirt pocket handy.

And yeah, 500 Lumens will require your eyes to adjust after 'on' and 'off', which is not probably what you want.

obi

 

[davidt1]

Hey there

I'm new here, I decided to join Candle Power after looking at over dozens of CREE Flashlights. As a full time Mechanic, I've been using a Streamlight Stinger DS C4 Flashlight that I bought from Snap-On Tools. Over the months, it has gotten a little dimmed. I spend $160 ish on the unit back a few months ago.

Doing heavy engine/transmission swaps daily, I'm in the market for a really super bright flashlight.

I'm willing to spend a maximum of $500 dollars on a really super bright flashlight that is drop resistance of at least 6 feet, water resistance as well. I'm not looking for HID lights.

I've been looking at these flashlights below as far as choices..

1. Olight SR91 Intimidator Rechargeable SST-90 1,500 Lumen
2. Led Lenser X21 1,000 Lumen
3. Fenix TK70 XM-L 2,200 Lumen
4. JETBeam RRT-3 SST-50 1,200 Lumen

Any inputs, suggestions? Feel free to give negative inputs as well.

I don't have personal experiences with these lights. However, may I suggest a hand-free light such as a headlamp as an addition. I am a mechanic wannabe and work on my own cars. I carry and use only one light, a Zebralight H51W. This is a single AA angle light that puts out about 172lm on the highest setting. The advantages of this light is that it is small, bright and very versatile. It can be used as a headlamp, flashlight, shirt light, wall light, etc. I have some pictures to show you what I am talking about.

Here is my H51w with the heandband/lanyard and extra batteries in a Smalls can.

Here I used it to look inside the throttle. Car was in the driveway in the middle of the day.

It can be used as a neck light: very useful for tasks such as reading manuals/instructions while talking one the phone and writing with both hands. It's also great for cleaning or working with small parts in front of you.

Use it as headlamp when you need to work in tight spaces like under the car or in crawl spaces.

It's bright for a small light. Here I used it as a headlamp on medium in the attic.

Here it is used on high to simulate a tactical situation.

The Smalls can houses 2 AA batteries and can be carried in your pocket or clipped on the belt. A total of 3 batteries will easily last you all day.

It's so small you can take with you at the end of day. Either leave it tucked behind your shirt on the lanyard, or clip it in your pocket like this.

I am very happy with this light for car repair (and many other) uses. I know you will be too.

 

[SC300TWINTURBO]

Thanks for all the suggestions and comments. I read all of them and to a point it does make sense to not purchase any of the lights I listed on my list.

I'm actually a lead Mechanic Technician. Engines and transmissions swap daily. I'd just like to have nice well made stuff that last.

With the Streamlight Stinger DS C4 that I've been using, at first it was great but it got dimmer over the months. Not counting years yet. I have bought 4 extra Streamlight batteries as well (from a Police website). I'm pretty sure it's not the batteries that are causing it to dim out.

I was looking at Goinggear website on the JETBeam RRT-3 SST-50 1,200 Lumen. It's fairly small, easily can be held with one hand.

I work under cars all day mainly. With my current Streamlight Stinger DS C4 flashlight, I was able to purchase a Magnetic Holder from Snap-On Tools that makes the product geared towards the Streamlight Stinger C4 flashlights.

I drop my flashlight alot, within a month I could count about 12 times at most. Work on all types of cars, trucks and big rigs as well.

I don't mind purchasing a battery charger and batteries as well if the flashlight doesn't come with a rechargeable unit.

The Olight SR91 Intimidator Rechargeable SST-90 1,500 Lumen, Led Lenser X21 1,000 Lumen and Fenix TK70 XM-L 2,200 Lumen might be a overkill due to massive size and all.

I will do some research on the ones you've mentioned here.

Greatly appreciated. Any more inputs and comments welcome.

 

[Lou Minescence]

Remember if you are a mechanic looking for evaporative emission leaks with a smoke machine, cool white is by far best for spotting the leaks. Neutral and warm tints do not show the smoke you are looking for anywhere near as well as the cool tint lights. I post this from experience.