What to do?

[ACMarina]

As much as I always wanted to have an Aleph set (I, II, III and 19) I've fallen in love with the PD series.

I hooked into a PD at a great deal a while back. It's just a great little light, all the way around - really has made me rethink all of my lights. There are a lonely few exceptions that it doesn't handle perfectly for me, but it's so all-around perfect that it's put a lot of my lights on the shelf..

The problem is the wife's hobby - she quilts. Now, I know that quilts don't help you see when it's dark out (unless you wrap them around a stick and light them on fire) but it truly makes her happy to sit down and make a quilt.

Now, all my flashlight cash goes to fat quarters and charm packs.

When I look at the rest of my collection, I'm more-or-less down to the point where everything has a specific use that the PD doesn't work so well for - a dedicated car light, for example, in the form of a modified 4D Maglite. Stuff given to me by family or friends that may be useless as a light but contains that sentimental value that won't let me sell it.

Well, those and the safe queens.

I've only got a few, honestly, and they're in my sig. Not rediculously valuable, but rather pieces of art and history that I cherish in that regard. And this is where the battle begins..

The one that would be worth the most on the market is my Chrome Aleph III with a single CR123 body and a Seoul P4 emitter. Fantastic light, just like all of the Aleph line, but it doesn't see any use. I keep wrestling in my mind on trading it for a TiPD but just haven't had the guts to do it yet.

What would you guys do?? I know there's a lot of TiPD fans out there, but it losing part of your collection worth gaining another?

 

[Kiessling]

Maybe.

It all depends on your cash flow I guess.

I am in a similar situation like you are, and I think most of us can nod in agreement as well. Those who have the money to keep them all are a rare breed.

My solution is to keep very few lights that are truly special, and all the rest can be subjected to be sold in order to buy another. Those special lights must not be the brightest nor the most expensive ... they are those I value the most.

It always hurts to let one go though.

bernie

 

[ACMarina]

Would you trade a mint Aleph III, Chrome, with a Seoul P4 for a TiPD?

 

[Kiessling]

As I only have one Ti-PD ... no.
When looking at the prices of Don's ti lights lately ... I don't know if you'll find a partner for the exchange. Then again ... I am really not immersed in B/S/T and could be totally off base.

The real question though is if you wanna do it. Only after that the detaisl become important.

bernie

 

[ACMarina]

What about the other way around, Bernie? If you had the AIII and no TiPD, would you try to trade??

 

[jumpstat]

I got hooked on a PD when I had the chance to purchase one at around $300 (an aluminium PD-S). At that particular time, those HA Nat/Slate versions were no longer being made and the PDs that were available were in Ti which by the way is way too much money IMO for a first time buy. Nonetheless, i took the plunge and now its my most used light. Then I took another plunge and bought mule straight from the factory....also a wise choice. Due to these two lights, several of my used to be favourite lights were disposed of since under utilised.

 

[Kiessling]

Personally, I need a Ti-PD. Almost all other lights would need to go in order to obtain one. But that is just me, of course.

 

[AlecGold]

I don't have McGizmo's aluminium, just one old skool ti (McLuxIII-T, which is basicly a PD without the PD action, only twisty but I seouled it) and I really like it. I EDC it, use it without any question the most of all my lights and wouldn't want another.
Before this I used a HDS EDC B42XRGT as an EDC and it worked also good.
But before the HDS I had a XR19-C, very nice light an I still like it a lot, but I had to let it go. Shame on me and I missed it all the time I was using the HDS. I know HDS lights are very nice and they are certainly top notch in make and especially in electronics, but it just couldn't touch my XR19-C.
Now I have my T and I think it is even more brilliant build as the XR19. Smaller, more simple and still very usefull.

It is a pity that I can't compare the Ti to the Alu version, but all my other lights are alu and it works perfectly, most certain because the all have a HAIII-NA "coating" and that makes it even thougher to scratch as the Ti. I also have a Orb Raw NS but that is much more prone to scratching.
From a economical / pure user point of view a Al HAIII-NA light is more usefull for 90% of the user.
1. dissapates heat better
2. is easier to produce with better threading
3. matterial is more available/cheaper
4. HAIII-NA is less likely to get scratched
-1. alu is a bit more prone to dings
-2. alu is a lot less resistant to water/salt water
-3. alu is much less oooooh/wow effect.

If you are a pure user that want's a high quality light, buy an Aleph.
If you are a user that want's a high quality titanium light and/or uses it in a (salt) water environment, the ti-series are your thing.
If you are a safe queen collector, I would say buy something else, I suspect those people of paying enormous prices and pushing the prices higher than I like. (And I'm always much to late to hit the wave when it comes out )

I hope this helps you in the decision!
BTW, seeing your wife happy with patching/quilting is worth a lot too! Although I really don't like quilting, it is a wonderfull happy making thing seeing your wife being happy doing a hobby.

 

[ACMarina]

I guess the matter of the fact is that I can't really afford those "High-end" lights right now. The PD that I have really does everything I need it to do, so the only real reason to upgrade would be to be part of that exclusive club. And having an Aleph III is already in the club..

Should I upgrade my PD to a Seoul or Cree or something? Is that worth it?

 

[WTH]

What about selling the McLux-III PD Al to buy a Ti PD-S? If you buy and sell on BST the price difference should be less than $200, and then you have the upgraded emitter and Titanium.

 

[ACMarina]

Yeah, but I don't have an extra $200 laying around..

 

[WTH]

Sorry, I understand about the finances. The good news is your aluminum PD is an awesome light I have one myself). And practically speaking, its does everything the titanium version does, just slightly less shinyness.

 

[Oddjob]

What has helped since I joined CPF was I decided to be a user. If I am not using a light than I sell it. This of course is harder with certain lights but for me placing all the value of a light in its use makes selling one that is not being used much easier. When I first got my Al PD-S I wanted to keep my original Luxeon PD but I eventually sold it. I did not want to sell it for sentimental reasons but I am happy I did. I take comfort in that fact that someone else is enjoying it and I find all the new lights that come out make me forget about all the lights I have sold. Good luck with your decision.

 

[ACMarina]

That's a good point, too, Oddjob..

Man, so many things to ponder..

 

[AlecGold]

Nice said Oddjob!
I think I do the same, selling them as I need to cash or when I don't use it anymore I'll usually give it to wife or friends or sell it overhere!
But it isn't good for a collection, which I sometimes would like to build.