starting from scratch D36 26650 SST-50 or SST-90

Ok so Im still in the planning stages for ordering a
Fivemega 1x26650 host and a Nailbender SST-50.

I was going to save up for a bored out C2 in gray (wanted one for ever)
but the 26650 seems like a better way to go for the SST-50 and the
Fivemega is a little cheaper and Id like to have over an hour runtime
on high since this will see DH MTB use.

BUT.... I already have a charger for 18650s and am not sure how much
a charger for 26650s will cost or which one to buy or where etc.

since Im starting from scratch I was hoping to get some opinions on
which direction to head with this - 26650 fivemega or 18650 +C2

gona be a KOOL light either way!!!:thumbsup:

Re: starting from scratch D36 26650 SST-50set up or C2?

FM D36 host with regulated SST-50 by nailbender is a killer setup. With the right spacer, you can use your 18650's or even CR123's if the driver allows. It is going to be a bigger light to carry around however.

Check out the battery section for a good hobby charger setup.

Re: starting from scratch D36 26650 SST-50set up or C2?

Go for FM's D36 and nailbenders drop in. You will not regret it, I have the same set up and its one of my fav's. And yes like bighonu says with the right spacer you can even use 18650's, if you go with a smaller LED like a XPG R4 I think nailbender has or is getting new drivers that can handle 8.4V so you can even use 2 RCR123's.

Re: starting from scratch D36 26650 SST-50set up or C2?

Ok I posted in the batt section on the charger.

looks like Ill go with the D36 then:naughty:

someday Ill get an elcectronguru bored C2 in gray...

maybe when the next gen LEDs come out next year and
when I have some $$$

Re: starting from scratch D36 26650 SST-50set up or C2?

I have several Nailbender's and would go for a SST-90 with the 26650, it's the shiz.

Re: starting from scratch D36 26650 SST-50set up or C2?

Im leaning towards the sst-50 beam profile for downhill
mtb which Ill use the light for in addition to backpacking/hiking.
maybe Ill get both eventually
the flood of the 90 must be pretty insane!

Re: starting from scratch D36 26650 SST-50set up or C2?

psychbeat said:

the flood of the 90 must be pretty insane!

Click to expand...

The D36 SST-90's hotspot is about the same size as the D26 SST-50. But if the SST-90 was in a D26 then the hotspot is huge.

need help deciding btwn Nailbender D36 SST-50 and 90

Going to go in a fivemega 1x26650

NB suggested the 50 since Ill be using it for downhill mountain bike
mostly but will use it backpacking sometimes when weight isnt an
issue to supplement my headlamp.

Im leaning towards the 50 but the 90 sounds more massive...
hope these decision threads arent too annoying- its just
a lot of $ for me so Im getting OCD on it. I know most people
here would buy both but Im pushing it spending 200$ on a light
already!lovecpf

thanks doods! (and doodettes if there are any here?)

Re: need help deciding btwn Nailbender D36 SST-50 and 90

I have the same light with NB's 3 level SST-50 very happy with it one of my favourite lights.
Can't comment on the SST-90 sorry.
Norm

Re: need help deciding btwn Nailbender D36 SST-50 and 90

There was no need to start a new thread on this. I'm merging it with your previous one.

Re: need help deciding btwn Nailbender D36 SST-50 and 90

The SST-90 will be more floody than the SST-50.

I personally like to see what's in front of me farther out when doing something like biking so I would go for the 50.

Re: starting from scratch D36 26650 SST-50set up or C2?

ooops sorry about that- didnt think people would be looking on page 2 much
and didnt want to bump it.
thanks again for the help.

For me, the bored C2 with Z58 click on and Nailbenders SST-50 DD three mode (or Malkoff M61) is my favorite carry. It is not that it has the most throw, or runtime, or OTF lumens. Sometimes there can be an undefinable attraction that makes you want to carry something. Kind of like your favorite hunting rifle. It may not be the hardest hitting, best looking or most expensive, but there is just something that says "take me hunting". It is like that for the Surefire C2.

If you want any usable throw at all, get the D36 sst-50. I had the D36 sst-90 and the throw was negligible. As I said in the other thread, the d36 sst-50 is one of the best all-around beams. Throws almost as well as a D26 XR-E/XP-E but the output is much brighter. Definitely falls under the "if I could only have one flashlight" category. My only concern for you is mounting due to D36 body size. I'm not sure if Nailbender still has one available but he had a couple of FM 18650 'C to M' turnkeys for sale. Probably perfect if you don't want to get a new battery setup. Didn't realize you were still looking.

Ok so I pulled the trigger on the bored out C-2 since
Id have to get a bezel etc. for the D36 - Ill probably
get the D26 fivemega 26650 body next month for
more runtime etc.

this is my first drop in style light and I didnt know some hosts
dont come with a lens n bezel and didnt realize the D36 had the
shock system etc. since I dont need a buncha throw the regular
Nb sst-50 should work fine for me.
thanks everyone for all of the help!!

psychbeat said:

Ok so I pulled the trigger on the bored out C-2 since
Id have to get a bezel etc. for the D36 - Ill probably
get the D26 fivemega 26650 body next month for
more runtime etc.

this is my first drop in style light and I didnt know some hosts
dont come with a lens n bezel and didnt realize the D36 had the
shock system etc. since I dont need a buncha throw the regular
Nb sst-50 should work fine for me.
thanks everyone for all of the help!!

Click to expand...

If your refering to FM's D36 26650 host then no you dont need to buy a bezel. It comes with its own bezel and lens(plus $10.00 for a McClicky and $13.00 for the battery at check out with FM). So all you have to buy is a drop in, but if you really like the look of the C2(I hate pocket clips) and your happy with it then thats all the matters.

oh shoot- I didnt realize it came with a bezel n lens. got a little overwhelmed
with having to get so much stuff at once since this is my first "drop in" style light and is a little more involved than a quark..

Ill probably get the fivemega D26 1x26650 soon and just stick the C2 head on it. I was reading up on the D36 vs D26 beams and it seems they're not drastically different in many cases...
Im also going to add some aluminum strips from a printing plate I cut up (i own a small print shop) for extra heat transfer. similar to the coke can strips I saw somewhere on here. Not sure if Ill really need to since its the regulated 3mode one. kinda want to upgrade the lens to a sapphire or UCL tho I heard they can crack if they get too hot..
I got a buncha PMs and help from lotsa nice people here and have
learned more than I thought I would have wanted and am excited to get out on the trails with my new light.
thanks again!

psychbeat said:

I was reading up on the D36 vs D26 beams and it seems they're not drastically different in many cases...

Click to expand...

If you want a flood light only, then sure, both the D26 and D36 can do flood well.

If you want a light for throw, there's no comparing the D26 to D36; the D36 is the clear winner, and the difference is quite drastic. For example, the difference between a Nailbender D26 SST-50 and D36 SST-50 is like night and day. The D26 (even at ~500 lumens OTF) was outthrown by my little 120 Lumen NiteCore SR3. The same exact Nailbender module, but in a D36 reflector throws better than anything I own except for my JetBeam M1X.

You do pay the price though; the head size of a D36 is substantially larger than a D26 and isn't what I would call a pocket light.

good to know for down the road-thanks!
I have a few conflicting PMs that kinda turned me off
to the D36 heads:thinking:- maybe Ill get one next time.
Id def like to get the 26650 body still when I have more $
to spend on lights.

I've been on a quest for throw in a Surefire C2/6P/D26 type host for a couple months now. So far I've tried:

-LightHound Cree drop-in
-Surefire P60 & P91 lamp assemblies
-Tried my buddies Malkoff M60
-bought (and then sold) a Malkoff M61
-Lumens Factory HO-9 (EO-9?) on 2x IMR cells (insta-flashed it after very short use, but still saw it in action)
-Nailbender SST-50 D26
-A newer XPG chinese made (could have been an XPE? as this was a couple weeks ago)

...and my little NiteCore SR3 still outthrew all of them somehow (how, with the massive lumens my C2 has been putting out I just don't know), it's hotspot was just brighter pure and simple (not by much on some setups, but I wanted something that would crush it in a similar size).

All that's left is to try in a D26 size host is a Deerelight drop-in with smooth reflector (said to be an ugly beam but is supposed to throw well), and a FiveMega Bi-Pin adapter with 1,030 Lumen Carley 1794 bulb (which I've been waiting for 3+ weeks to come back in stock).

I just fear the D26 is just too small to have the amount of throw I want so I highly suggest you use a D36 size module for something like mountain biking when you want to see a ways in front of you so you can stop/turn in time. There are cheap heads like the Seraph D36 you can put on a Surefire as well.