I scoured the CPF database and could not come up with much that talks about this topic. Why are most flashlights these days still mostly made of metal instead of plastic like some of the Surefire lights? I want to get your opinions on this topic. Modern handguns and assault rifles are made of as many plastic polymer parts as they can. At first the gun advocates shunned the 'tupperware' guns. But history has proven, polymer has become the 'standard' of which most guns are made of now. Why not flashlights too? Here is my take.
I think the integration of polymer or Nitrolon (I guess they call it) into the Surefire G2X type lights are close to what what the future flashlights will look like. The tailcap, and battery tube are made of polymer plastic, the head may still be made of aluminum to dissipate heat, and the bezel is also made of polymer.
1. Polymer does not scratch as easily as aluminum. The type of aluminum all of my lights are made of has no malleability at all, the smallest force that causes it to deform is permanent. Polymers 'bounce back'. A light that has plastic will absorb much more shock than a light made of aluminum. And that's not to say that there would not be aftermarket stainless steel bezels, tailcaps, whatever. Or if the light comes with metal parts that you could get plastic aftermarket parts.
2. When a polymer is scratched, it does not expose the natural color of the material because the surface color of the polymer is its natural color. So no worrying about scratching off the finish or paint. Aluminum, even with the type III hard anodizing still scratches. Every one of my metal lights has a ding exposing the bare aluminum. It is hard to avoid, unless it spends most of its time on the display shelf. For those of us who use our lights every day, it is hard to avoid. All the dings and scratches give the light a beat up look, or a nice patina depending on how you look at it. Either way it does not look factory new after a few months of use.
3. Polymer lights are much lighter than aluminum lights.
4. I am speculating, but I am guessing that manufacturing plastic light parts has to be cheaper than turning an aluminum part on a lathe or machine.
5. Battery rattle in a plastic light will not be nearly as noticeable as in a metal one.
6. Do threaded plastic parts need O-rings to be water tight? This one I do not know but am trying to stir up more support for my theory.
Again, I know the idea or plastic polymer lights might seem like blasphemy to a lot of people who simply cannot imagine a 'tupperware' flashlight. It is just some food for thought/discussion. I personally like the metal light for reasons that echo some of the same reasons gun owners might prefer metal over polymer. I like the feeling of the metal in my hand. It feels solid. A lot more craftsmanship goes into making metal parts.
Does polymer plastic dissipate heat as well as metal? Do you think if an all polymer light was made (besides the electronics for all you jokesters), would the head still need to be made of metal for heat dissipation? I Think because of that and because polymer is malleable it will deform under pressure and might not protect the circuitry as well as aluminum, it would be best for the head to be metal.
As you can see, I have been pondering this topic for a while and look forward your thoughts on this matter. Thanks in advance.
Dan
Edit: My apologies, this thread might be more appropriate in the 'general flashlight' forum. Moderators please do not penalize me for this mistake, I did not realize it until after I opened the thread.
I think the integration of polymer or Nitrolon (I guess they call it) into the Surefire G2X type lights are close to what what the future flashlights will look like. The tailcap, and battery tube are made of polymer plastic, the head may still be made of aluminum to dissipate heat, and the bezel is also made of polymer.
1. Polymer does not scratch as easily as aluminum. The type of aluminum all of my lights are made of has no malleability at all, the smallest force that causes it to deform is permanent. Polymers 'bounce back'. A light that has plastic will absorb much more shock than a light made of aluminum. And that's not to say that there would not be aftermarket stainless steel bezels, tailcaps, whatever. Or if the light comes with metal parts that you could get plastic aftermarket parts.
2. When a polymer is scratched, it does not expose the natural color of the material because the surface color of the polymer is its natural color. So no worrying about scratching off the finish or paint. Aluminum, even with the type III hard anodizing still scratches. Every one of my metal lights has a ding exposing the bare aluminum. It is hard to avoid, unless it spends most of its time on the display shelf. For those of us who use our lights every day, it is hard to avoid. All the dings and scratches give the light a beat up look, or a nice patina depending on how you look at it. Either way it does not look factory new after a few months of use.
3. Polymer lights are much lighter than aluminum lights.
4. I am speculating, but I am guessing that manufacturing plastic light parts has to be cheaper than turning an aluminum part on a lathe or machine.
5. Battery rattle in a plastic light will not be nearly as noticeable as in a metal one.
6. Do threaded plastic parts need O-rings to be water tight? This one I do not know but am trying to stir up more support for my theory.
Again, I know the idea or plastic polymer lights might seem like blasphemy to a lot of people who simply cannot imagine a 'tupperware' flashlight. It is just some food for thought/discussion. I personally like the metal light for reasons that echo some of the same reasons gun owners might prefer metal over polymer. I like the feeling of the metal in my hand. It feels solid. A lot more craftsmanship goes into making metal parts.
Does polymer plastic dissipate heat as well as metal? Do you think if an all polymer light was made (besides the electronics for all you jokesters), would the head still need to be made of metal for heat dissipation? I Think because of that and because polymer is malleable it will deform under pressure and might not protect the circuitry as well as aluminum, it would be best for the head to be metal.
As you can see, I have been pondering this topic for a while and look forward your thoughts on this matter. Thanks in advance.
Dan
Edit: My apologies, this thread might be more appropriate in the 'general flashlight' forum. Moderators please do not penalize me for this mistake, I did not realize it until after I opened the thread.
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