Virtual Tour of HDS Systems

[Mr. LED]

It has always been like that. Except PJ wasn't PJ, he was Glen (another really great guy... haven't seen him for awhile... I need to call him.) A different place (actually an individual guy) with a pick and place machine did the electronics. When his machine broke and he didn't fix it, we moved to the small shop in Tucson for that. The original machine shop used changed owners and management and we switched from them as they suddenly forgot how to machine parts.

HDS fulfilled the government contracts the same way we fill orders now... except now we don't have to boil the lights. That was part of the production process on the first lights. I've seen photos of Henry and Glenn boiling them (it was a temperature sensor thing). Thank goodness we haven't had to boil them for years... though I heard the broth created was good.

What Novatac did after leaving Tucson is in no way part of how business at HDS is or was done.

Is HDS still supplying lights to the government?
What’s with the boiling?

 

[WarriorOfLight]

What’s with the boiling?

Guess boiling is not necessary anymore, due to the global warming... (sorry could not resist)

 

[thermal guy]

Heaven forbid people ask reasonable questions about their order status or wonder why their estimated ship time of weeks has turned into months with no explanation. They’re “whiners” who should “STFU”, according to some guy who’s bought a whopping two-point-five lights, has experienced a delay himself, and you don’t see him complaining about it, no sir. Ignored

That said, updates like the one that Hogo provided are indeed helpful to illustrate what is going on behind the curtain.

Absolutely this! Spot on john.

 

[thermal guy]

Save the shipping box.😁

 

[KITROBASKIN]

Hogo has become so downright diplomatic compared to a few, scant episodes in the distant past. Can’t help wondering if a certain 7 year old played a significant role in that turnaround. Too bad too many of us continue to find it so difficult pulling out of adolescence.

 

[klackey]

Thank you Hogo for your "tour". So, lately I have begun to "sour" a bit on my HDS lights (bit more than 2.5) .. I have a light that need to go back for some work, feeling like outward progress is stalled (not much visibly newt) [the shape is nearly perfect, hard to improve] ).. love the new SS tail cap upgrade.... and the price increases... No need to respond to my grumps.......

My intended point is this, today I grabbed my newish 18350 body in a nice hi cri warm glow. I carried it with PRIDE knowing it was a unique superior product made by mostly small companies here in the USA. This felt like a real win/ win..... I have many great HDS lights and it feels good that I am supporting small batch USA manufacturing. HDS are not perfect, but dang close...... size, power, general reliability, internal build quality and the control the rotary allows is unchallenged. They really are my most trusted lights when I really need a light to work.

Looking forward to the future iterations..... Really would LOVE to see a rotary triple wall of light. I am sure new stuff is coming ..... after the next ice age.

Appreciate HDS lights for what they are, or move along.

 

[wweiss]

This virtual tour was pretty good, but left me wondering why the Dog won’t work. Seems a lot of paws handle the parts, why not the Dog’s?

 

[WarriorOfLight]

I guess after that tour, everyone understands now why things last sometimes that long.
It was also not clear to me that HDS is that less people. Only 3 people are assembling the lights (if I was counting correctly).

But the good point is we got GTID reflectors, special metal lights, 18350 and 18500 tubes, and also different LEDs over the time... With a big company this is all not possible!

 

[Hogokansatsukan]

This virtual tour was pretty good, but left me wondering why the Dog won’t work. Seems a lot of paws handle the parts, why not the Dog’s?

Photo from yesterday... dog going into abandoned mine with HDS light.
I make her do the dangerous work.

 

[desert.snake]

Photo from yesterday... dog going into abandoned mine with HDS light.
I make her do the dangerous work.

Where is her second flashlight?

 

[Hogokansatsukan]

Where is her second flashlight?

In her jacket pocket.

 

[Hogokansatsukan]

Hogo has become so downright diplomatic compared to a few, scant episodes in the distant past. Can’t help wondering if a certain 7 year old played a significant role in that turnaround. Too bad too many of us continue to find it so difficult pulling out of adolescence.

No! No! No! That wasn't me with the sudden seven. LOL!
I see the complaints about delays as quite legitimate. Not being able to give an accurate timeline upsets folks and understandably so. It upsets me. Just figured it might be good to "give the tour" so folks can at least understand some of it as opposed to wild speculation and rumor.

 

[Hogokansatsukan]

I should probably add here that NovaTac did not run this way. People often think of NT as the same as HDS, and that is NOT the case at all.

 

[wweiss]

Photo from yesterday... dog going into abandoned mine with HDS light.
I make her do the dangerous work.

Noice…. I am still of the opinion that if the pup spent less time fooling around in dark mines and more time fetching parts, scheduling would be much smoother. She must be Union….

 

[kj2]

Nice insight. Gives me a better understanding why these lights cost around €500 now here in Europe.

 

[thermal guy]

Nice insight. Gives me a better understanding why these lights cost around €500 now here in Europe.

Ouch!

 

[speckacuda]

I love this post, and all that's behind it. Lovely to see all the small shops y'all help pay the bills!!

However, I think it's a lot more fun if you're the hold-hands-watch-a-movie type of partner to boot - vetos get interesting.

 

[desert.snake]

Nice insight. Gives me a better understanding why these lights cost around €500 now here in Europe.

Dealer's margin, maybe taxes or something else. We have winter jackets that are made and sold in the USA for 150, they sell for 400-500 and other goods the same.

 

[WarriorOfLight]

Nice insight. Gives me a better understanding why these lights cost around €500 now here in Europe.

I do not think the prices @K&T has something to do with the K&T prices. My try to explain it is here:

HDS - HDS Systems #23

That is a nice HDS, and I would not take a chance on accidentally touching the reflector. There is no amount of cleaning that can be done to take it off. The reflector does not need to be touched, only the diode. Seem to be I didn't write exactly, you don't need to open the reflector, but...

www.candlepowerforums.com

 

[KITROBASKIN]

I love this post, and all that's behind it. Lovely to see all the small shops y'all help pay the bills!!

However, I think it's a lot more fun if you're the hold-hands-watch-a-movie type of partner to boot - vetos get interesting.

This post is so funny!
speckacuda is the machinist for Fraz Labs flashlights. They make homegrown illuminators like no other, right over yonder in Arkansas, USA. Seems like HDS would admire their path as well.