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Re: Shining Star...this is a sweet picture!

Question for everyone who bought a reflector and stuck into the VIP: Do you lose any brightness against the stock Fraen?

Thanks,

Brian
 
Re: Shining Star...this is a sweet picture!

MrBulk,

It would be impossible to "overblow" the faith those who have purchased one of your mods have in your ability to come up with new, unique, and extremely functional lights.

As yet, no major manufacturer makes anything to compare with the SNII, a light that has been around for well over a year if I remember correctly.

So far as your integrity, the way I remember it is that even though you had stopped making SNII's you happily stepped up and said, "Sure I think I have all the stuff to make one if you can live with Pewter!"

I haven't got my VIP yet, but my SNII is my favorite light and will stay King of the Hill among the Luxeons, at least until the VIP is able to wrestle it off! From the early reports, it sounds like that may happen.

Thank you for your courage in pushing the envelope!!

Bill
 
Re: Shining Star...this is a sweet picture!

I got mine yesterday. I turned it on high for about 2 seconds and replaced the fraen with the Chop reflector. I really like that reflector. Great sidespill, useful spot. Medium is great, low is real nice and high is nice and bright. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif

I was a little disappointed because there is spot on the tail cap where the HAIII is missing. I kinda like having a pristine light for at least 2-3 days. Black is beautiful but it really shows the flaws. But it's just gonna get knocked around in my pocket anyway. I don't baby any of my lights. No trailer queens around here!
 
Re: Shining Star...this is a sweet picture!

Well said, Bill. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif
 
Re: Shining Star...this is a sweet picture!

[ QUOTE ]
Wolfen said:
I was a little disappointed because there is spot on the tail cap where the HAIII is missing. I kinda like having a pristine light for at least 2-3 days. Black is beautiful but it really shows the flaws. But it's just gonna get knocked around in my pocket anyway. I don't baby any of my lights. No trailer queens around here!

[/ QUOTE ]

I know the feeling. I was also a little disappointed to find two very small, but visible, places where the black HA-III finish was scratched off the switch on my VIP when I got it out of the package. I figure the switch along with the tailcap will see the most wear anyways, so it isn't a big deal with me.

Charlie, are you going to keep HA-III body parts, switch knobs, etc on hand for replacement use if needed?

-Keith
 
Re: Shining Star...this is a sweet picture!

Dang it, wanted my VIPs to be perfect in every way but try this - touch on the spot with a black Sharpie and when dry, lightly buff with terrycloth or similar. Won't show you ever even had it...but I do apologize!
 
Re: Shining Star...this is a sweet picture!

Oh yeah one more thing - when all is said and done if there are any spare body parts (kind of unlikely though), I'll offer'em up. Sorry again.
 
Re: Shining Star...this is a sweet picture!

Charlie,
No need to apologize /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif the light is really something else!
 
Re: Shining Star...this is a sweet picture!

yeppers this light is way cool, cant wait for dark tonight .but i hate the street lights on my street
 
Re: Shining Star...this is a sweet picture!

Very nice light, Charlie! A little big for pocket carry, though. With baggy jeans..maybe. Time to get a good pouch. It's not the length as the thickness. Not a complaint, though...I wouldn't change a thing, except the Fraen for Chop's reflector. I'm a sucker for spill. The hotspot is larger and more useful than my Arc4 second's(maybe that's why it's a second, though). I thought the Arc4 had a white beam, but it looks a little yellow now by comparison. The VIP beam is like new snow.

You know, with the BH and on its head it's going to look like a chess piece!
 
Re: Shining Star...this is a sweet picture!

I is lovin the posted first impressions/reviews of all you ppl receiving your lights!! I received my SO17XA reflector from Chop the other day & was just wondering wether you that are using it have a Lens to accompany it, if so where from?
 
Re: Shining Star...this is a sweet picture!

narom, I kept the ultra clear lens that came with VIP. As much as I love the reflector I could see there being somewhere a better fitting one. But this one is darn close. It does the job /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif
 
Re: Shining Star...this is a sweet picture!

[ QUOTE ]
Radagast said:
narom, I kept the ultra clear lens that came with VIP. As much as I love the reflector I could see there being somewhere a better fitting one. But this one is darn close. It does the job /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks Radagast - If the VIP comes with one - great!! For some reason I imagined it woulda just had an optic held in by the bezel.
 
Re: Shining Star...this is a sweet picture!

Off topic:

My SNII is a rockin' light! I keep it in the car. It is one of my lesser used lights because I mainly require wide beam task lights but it is the light that impresses people the most. I have told Charlie via email more then once that I think he should make more of them and possibly consider going commercial with that light if possible. In that type of light, I still don't see much competition yet.

Still off topic...But concerning reflectors. One of the best mods I have done to date is have chop modify my KL1 with a Lux III and reflector. I like the output much better then the original KL1 but also better then the E2 stock MN03 lamp.

Back on topic: I did replace the cell on my VIP with a fresh Sanyo one but it didn't take much burn in for it to exhibit the double click ultra-dim syndrome again. A question for Charlie is that in ultra dim mode is the light even more efficient then in normal dim mode or is power wasted by support electronics in this ultra dim mode?
 
Re: Shining Star...this is a sweet picture!

Come on guys. I would think that there would be many beamshot comparos by now. I KNOW you guys gots lots of lights to compare to. Bring on the pics.
 
VIP, not EDC

Well, after carrying and using my VIP for a day and a half I've come to a couple of conclusions. First, I like this light, overall it is a high quality light with several innovative features, and very good in the runtime and brightness departments. Second, it will likely never be an EDC light for me. In one day of carrying it in my jeans pocket and in the pocket of my sweatpants, more of the HA-III finish has come off of it than in a year of EDCing my ARC LSH-P (or numerous Surefires I carry on occasion). It isn't a big spot where the finish has worn through, but I can now see the bare aluminum in several small spots on three different ribs. I don't want to risk carrying it unprotected anymore, I'd like to keep it looking good.

It seems like the knurling is very susceptible to having the finish rub off if it comes in contact with any other metallic objects like keys, a leatherman, coins, or a pocket knife, things I also regularly carry in my pockets. I'm now wondering if smooth ribs rather than knurled ribs might not have been a better choice for overall finish durability? I think I'll keep the light, and maybe even accesorize it with some of the great stuff that is coming out, but to protect the finish, I'll need to carry it in a sheath, and I don't regularly EDC anything that is required to be in a sheath or case. I usually even carry my cell phone unprotected in a pocket.

I'm not overprotective of any of my lights, I buy them to use as tools, not just to decorate a shelf or show off. I do however like to keep my lights looking nice, and to do that with my VIP will require a sheath, probably a Ripoffs C0-30.

-Keith
 
VIP Anodizing

[ QUOTE ]
NeonLights said:
Well, after carrying and using my VIP for a day and a half I've come to a couple of conclusions. First, I like this light, overall it is a high quality light with several innovative features, and very good in the runtime and brightness departments. Second, it will likely never be an EDC light for me. In one day of carrying it in my jeans pocket and in the pocket of my sweatpants, more of the HA-III finish has come off of it than in a year of EDCing my ARC LSH-P (or numerous Surefires I carry on occasion). It isn't a big spot where the finish has worn through, but I can now see the bare aluminum in several small spots on three different ribs. I don't want to risk carrying it unprotected anymore, I'd like to keep it looking good.

It seems like the knurling is very susceptible to having the finish rub off if it comes in contact with any other metallic objects like keys, a leatherman, coins, or a pocket knife, things I also regularly carry in my pockets. I'm now wondering if smooth ribs rather than knurled ribs might not have been a better choice for overall finish durability? I think I'll keep the light, and maybe even accesorize it with some of the great stuff that is coming out, but to protect the finish, I'll need to carry it in a sheath, and I don't regularly EDC anything that is required to be in a sheath or case. I usually even carry my cell phone unprotected in a pocket.

I'm not overprotective of any of my lights, I buy them to use as tools, not just to decorate a shelf or show off. I do however like to keep my lights looking nice, and to do that with my VIP will require a sheath, probably a Ripoffs C0-30.

-Keith

[/ QUOTE ]

Interesting points about the anodization. Is it feasible to have a VIP re-anodized when/if the anodization wears off? If not, I guess I can keep it covered with ink from a Black Sharpie. Guess I could always paint it primer black too.

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Re: VIP Anodizing

Guys, what about some sort of black enamel for touchup? My previous car came with a little sample size jar of black paint, including a tiny paintbrush built into the underside of the lid. That sort of thing might take care of minor anodizing damage pretty nicely! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thinking.gif
 
Re: VIP Anodizing

Something else I just thought of, if I can find some black heat shrink tubing that is big enough, I could cover most of the exterior of the VIP with black heat shrink. Should protect it enough for pocket carry.

-Keith
 
Re: VIP Anodizing

HA-III should last years without rubbing off in normal wear and tear situations like in pocket with keys. Witness Arc and SureFire HA-III lights. They are really durable. You could chew up a MagLite with an HA-III Arc or SureFire. Must be something else going on. Anodize didn't take? I do know that integrety of anodize can be affected by impact, like dropping on concrete floor, etc. Strange.

Bill
 
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