tobrien
Flashlight Enthusiast
PrecisionWorks Flashlight Machining and Mods Services Review by tobrien
I recently got Barry at PrecisionWorks to perform some of his highly-regarded modding services on my Surefire 9P and Surefire P2X Fury Defender. Here is my review.
INTRODUCTION:
Precision Works (hereon abbreviated "PW"), located in Benton, Illinois performs flashlight machining work (among other services including, but not limited to, gunsmithing and other metal machining).
TECHNICAL INFO:
Barry of PW reams all full-sized P/C/Z/etc.-series Surefire lights to 0.744" utilizing an American made chucking reamer. Barry stated that the cutting diameter tolerance is +0.0002", –0.0000". So what does this all mean? That means the cutting job can end up "anywhere from .7440" to .7442" (or 18.897mm to 18.902mm)." After the bore is done that way, he then ball hones it, which thereby opens the diameter up an additional 0002".
Please note: E-series bodies get bored to .729" because there's a lot less metal to work with.
Both the Fury and 9P bodies I will be focusing on in this review were bored to .744".
SERVICES:
I sent Barry (of PW) my Surefire 9P body and my Surefire Fury body and tailcap for the following services:
9P (3 cell) body:
- bore to fit 18mm lithium-ion cells
- bore to fit 18mm lithium-ion cells
- machine five 'slots' for O-rings on the body and tailcap for enhanced grip (original idea here)
COMPLETION TIME:
Well, I sent PW my lights late in the month of April and today (June 20) they came back via Priority Mail (please note: while it took about a month and a half for this to be completed, we must realize flashlights are not PrecisionWorks' only line of business, as they offer emergency machining services, too! Besides, we want quality, not world record speeds!!!).
But enough talking, what about the photos of the work? Look below:
note: in 18mm cell fitment photos, the Fury will always be shown first for each cell, followed by the 9P fitment!
PHOTOS:
Image A: The lights came extremely well protected in the foam tubes Barry uses:
Image B: My Fury with its five grip rings (I went ahead and installed the head back onto it) and the 9P:
Image C: I tasked PW with machining five grooves for the grip rings (I wanted the Surefire logo and so on to still be unobstructed):
Image D: The tailcap end of the 9P body (now bored to 18mm). Notice how clean the finish is!:
Image E: The head of the 9P. Barry bored it to have the "retaining lip" at the end. Again, very clean work!:
Image F: Some of the cells we'll be seeing get test fitted in today's review! (KeepPower 3100 mAh, Redilast 3400 mAh, AW 3400 mAh, Panasonic unprotected, Orbtronic 3100 mAh, Callie's Kustoms 3100 mAh):
Image G: Test fitment: Callie's Kustoms (3100 mAh 18650, protected) in the 18mm Surefire Fury body. Verdict: fits just fine!:
Image H: Test fitment: Callie's Kustoms (3100 mAh 18650, protected) in the 18mm Surefire 9P body. Verdict: fits just fine!:
Image I: Test fitment: Orbtronic (3100 mAh 18650, protected) in the 18mm Fury body. Verdict: fits just fine!:
Image J: Test fitment: Orbtronic (3100 mAh 18650, protected) in the 18mm Surefire 9P body. Verdict: fits just fine!:
Image K: Test fitment: Redilast (3400 mAh 18650, protected) in the 18mm Surefire Fury body. Verdict: fits just fine!:
Image L: Test fitment: Redilast (3400 mAh 18650, protected) in the 18mm Surefire 9P body. Verdict: fits just fine!:
Image M: Test fitment: AW (3400 mAh 18650, protected) in the 18mm Surefire Fury body. Verdict: fits just fine!:
Image N: Test fitment: AW (3400 mAh 18650, protected) in the 18mm Surefire 9P body. Verdict: fits just fine!:
Image O: Test fitment: Keeppower (3100 mAh 18650, protected) in the 18mm Surefire Fury body. Verdict: fits just fine!:
Image P: Test fitment: Keeppower (3100 mAh 18650, protected) in the 18mm Surefire 9P body. Verdict: fits just fine!:
Image Q: Test fitment: Panasonic (3400 mAh 18650, bare/unprotected) in the 18mm Surefire Fury body. Verdict: fits just fine!:
Image R: Test fitment: Panasonic (3400 mAh 18650, bare/unprotected) in the 18mm Surefire 9P body. Verdict: fits just fine!:
Image S: Test fitment: Panasonic (2250 mAh 18650, IMR) in the 18mm Surefire Fury body. Verdict: fits just fine!:
Image T: Test fitment: Panasonic (2250 mAh 18650, IMR) in the 18mm Surefire 9P body. Verdict: fits just fine!:
Image U: Test fitment: AW (1500 mAh 18500, protected) in the 18mm Surefire 9P body. Verdict: fits just fine!:
Image V: Test fitment: AW (700 mAh 18350, IMR) in the 18mm Surefire Fury body. Verdict: fits just fine!:
Image W: Test fitment: AW (700 mAh 18350, IMR) in the 18mm Surefire 9P body. Verdict: fits just fine!:
Image X: Will the 18mm Surefire power on with a single, button-top (flat-tops don't work due to the head's contact plate not having a spring) 18650?:
Image Y: YES IT DOES!!!:
FIT TEST SCORE SHEET:
Surefire Fury P2X Defender | Surefire 9P | |
Callie's Kustoms 18650 (3100 mAh, protected) | Fits! | Fits! |
Orbtronic 18650 (3100 mAh, protected) | Fits! | Fits! |
Redilast 18650 (3400 mAh, protected) | Fits! | Fits! |
AW 18650 (3400 mAh, protected) | Fits! | Fits! |
Keeppower 18650 (3100 mAh, protected) | Fits! | Fits! |
Panasonic 18650 (3400 mAh, bare/unprotected, NCR18650B/MH12210) | Fits! | Fits! |
Panasonic 18650 (2250 mAh, IMR, CGR18650B/MH12210) | Fits! | Fits! |
AW 18500 (1500 mAh, protected) | N/A (18500 won't function in a 2-cell body without compatible extender) | Fits! |
AW 18350 (700 mAh, IMR) | Fits! | Fits! |
Score | 100% | 100% |
OTHER THOUGHTS:
- One aspect (among many) I was especially pleased with was how Barry contacted me personally on my cell phone (I wrote my number on the sheet I included with my lights saying what I wanted done) to ask me for clarification on the grip ring mod for my Fury. He was incredibly polite and professional. When he called me he explained the pros and cons of getting five grip rings versus six grip rings. In a nutshell, having six grip rings (three on the body, three on the tail) would put a ring right through the Surefire logo, but five rings would not have this problem (two on the body, three on the tailcap). I chose five because I wanted a clear view of the Surefire logo, the model name of my light, etc.
- the lights were extremely well packaged when for sending back to me. He used a smaller box than I sent him (I believe I sent him a big, flat rate Priority Mail box originally) that had packaging peanuts and the foam sleeves for padding and protection, with zero room for the lights to move around in. Perfect!
- I also sent him some 18mm cells of mine for test fitment on his end so he could ensure compatibility with all the cell brands I have (with the major brands: Callie's Kustoms, AW, Keeppower, Redilast, Orbtronic, and, of course, bare unprotected cells)!
THE VERDICT:
Would I do business with PrecisionWorks again? YOU BET!
Was PW/Barry professional? Definitely!
Am I 110% satisfied with the services rendered? Of course!
Bottom line: I wholeheartedly recommend PrecisionWorks and their flashlight machining services to anyone in the market for flashlight work!
p.s.: in writing this review, I have an even greater respect for the resident CPF flashlight review guys (selfbuilt, BigMac, Candle_Lamp, etc.) because it's honestly not easy putting together a review
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