Why would anyone want a Stainless Steel Flashlight?

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→Formerly d1live←, Flashaholic
Joined
Feb 22, 2009
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Iam very curious why anyone would buy a stainless steel flashlight, stainless steel is heavy and will rust in time. Titanium or aluminum is a much better choice in my opinion, neither will rust and both are light-weight compared to stainless steel. Someone with a SS light please fill the rest of us in on WHY they bought one (besides looking nice), thanks
 
I don't own a SS light, but...

  • It's shiny!
  • It's more satisfying when you hit someone with it!
  • You can pretend the SS in the model number stands for Secret Service!
  • If you have flint, you can strike sparks on the knurling!
But seriously, there's the greater durability of the finish, and while it weighs a lot more than aluminum, I think that does translate into more thermal mass for heat management, like the previous poster says. And maybe its greater mass can stop a bullet more effectively, too! But in the AAA size I prefer for EDC, it would have to be a very precise fluke of a shot...

Like you, though, I just don't see why it would have enough appeal to be marketable at significantly higher prices than the equivalent aluminum models. Especially considering the electrical problems some SS models have... since there is no ano, the entire flashlight body is conductive, and some switches don't work as well with that, apparently.

The only thing I can guess is pure "eye candy" appeal. I've been admiring the Maratac SS, and if I bought it, that would be the reason. But it would probably be a "shelf queen" most of the time due to the weight difference.
 
d1live said:
Iam very curious why anyone would buy a stainless steel flashlight, stainless steel is heavy and will rust in time. Titanium or aluminum is a much better choice in my opinion, neither will rust and both are light-weight compared to stainless steel. Someone with a SS light please fill the rest of us in on WHY they bought one (besides looking nice), thanks
Click to expand...

SS looks very nice, it can handle being in a keychain and I do not expect it to rust in the next 20 years.

DSC_7310.jpg
 
Even HA coated aluminum flashlights get beat up pretty good on key chains. Some do better than others, but most look pretty worn and beaten after not much time. Some people like that look, but a SS light will fair better on a key chain as far as keeping it's good looks.

Unless the LED is being driven real hard, heat management shouldn't be much of an issue, especially if the light is only used occasionally.

The extra weight the SS provides in a small AAA light makes it feel more solid and robust.
 
d1live said:
Iam very curious why anyone would buy a stainless steel flashlight, stainless steel is heavy and will rust in time. Titanium or aluminum is a much better choice in my opinion, neither will rust and both are light-weight compared to stainless steel. Someone with a SS light please fill the rest of us in on WHY they bought one (besides looking nice), thanks
Click to expand...

Bold added by me. Although aluminum doesn't rust, it can and does corrode if it is bare of a good anodize film. In addition to oxidizing which some alloys are good at avoiding (7000 series I believe) there is an issue of galvanic corrosion in any salt water environments. I don't have any stainless steel flashlights because I prefer Ti. However, if I couldn't have a Ti light, I would seriously consider a 316 stainless steel flashlight; especially for the environment I subject most of my gear to. The premium for Ti over Stainless steel is not so great that I wouldn't opt for Ti. I have my reasons but I don't consider them typical or mainstream.
 
@ HKJ

Yep! Eye candy! :drool:

@McGizmo or anyone...

I never thought about the anti-corrosive factor.

What happens inside stainless steel if, say, an alkaline battery leaks? Does it not corrode as badly or quickly as aluminum?
 
It's way way tougher than aluminum. Try dropping your aluminum light onto the ground, especially those aluminum lights WITHOUT STAINLESS STEEL bezel versus pure stainless steel lights. And as someone mentioned, use an aluminum light and a stainless steel LD01 as keychain carry, the former will end up looking like it's been molested by sandpaper. And it being STAINLESS steel, I don't expect it to "rust in time". :shrug:

Besides, like you said, they're beautiful. :rock:
 
Simplicity05 said:
Anyone know which three lights these are?
Click to expand...

They should be the Jebeam E3P, Peak Baltic and Peak Eiger 10440SS.

Edit: I saw others' reply different from mine, I based them on the light the arrow head touches.
 
Last edited:
After a flash of googling, I think I and you guys aren't on the same wavelength here. I think you guys are seeing where the arrows are pointing to and not where they are landing. Lets try this again:

sslightsabc3.jpg


Are they still:

A - Peak Baltic
B - Peak Eiger
C - Fenix LD01 SS

Sorry for my confusing confusion :laughing:
 
I have only one, a cheap DX Ultrafire C3. Sure it is heavy, but it feels very solid too. I only bought it because I did not have a SS light in the collection and sometimes I can't help myself from buying a little junk food from DX. . . .
 
Then my guess on where the arrows were pointing is right. Check my post above. 🙂
 
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