Tana
Flashlight Enthusiast
This might end up being a boring read... it's just that for the past month or two I've been crazed with the idea of modded Surefire X-series (Z2X, 6PX, G2X, G2ZX)...
Why ???
Well, when you look at it, they are relatively low cost hosts, GREAT for modding them (IF you manage to open them) and give that solid Surefire aluminum alloy/black HA anodization (from e-series, for example) in mid-size package...
Some may argue that high brand Chinese manufacturers are even better, from terms of price, modability and such but - me being me, I'm loyal to Surefire name... can't help it...
It may not be the case that those same Chinese brands might be much more affordable than going the route of getting widely spread X-series host of any kind then packing it with some punch, good LEDs and different type drivers... the difference might be rather close... but in the end, the side of this host says "Surefire"... call me weird but I love that detail on my lights...
So... all praise to mighty Surefire C2... but I've always was a fan of Z2... clip really not the need for mid-size EDC and Z2 gave a little more rounded look compared to C2... few minor details I didn't like about Z2-BK... glossy black anodization... really not a big fan... other detail I better not mention, it's really minor thing... anyway... Oveready jumped the gun and "fixed" both of these...
They bought bunch of 6P's and Tom did his magic - he turned them on a lathe and made Z2 out of them - round body, no flats and in the end - a beautiful black HA... in the end, we could buy limited quantity of these beautiful bodies with no grip rings for around $90-100... add Surefire black HA bezel and tailcap and you have mighty good looking Surefire black HA P60 host... that brings it to $150-200 area for host alone... I was super-close to get one, install P60 TripLED with some cool driver and call it my new favorite mid-size EDC... but... I didn't...
Enter Z2X...
From the point I saw 6PX and felt it in my hand, never was a big fan... sure, aluminum alloy of highest quality, awesome black HA but - slippery as a horny eel... then I saw Z2X... and immediately fell in love... once I had it in my hand, it impressed just as much... LOVED the feeling... perfect host for modding... EXCEPT for one fact... opening them is the issue (this includes ALL x-series metioned above - they all share the same bezel) - either unscrewing the bezel from the body or bezel ring/lens to get access to reflector/LED... they are TOUGH... if one thing gives up, the other wouldn't... so far I've drilled thru two lenses to get to internals and right now have one Z2X that I just can't unscrew the bezel from the body... it's WELDED with Red Loctite...
But... if both give up and everything is cleaned off nice and neat, then it becomes REALLY nice thing to mod - and ending result (imho) is just - awesome... so far I've modded two of my own bezels (both have stock reflector) and two for two CPF members... but basically two setups:
1st one was XPG2 driven by 3 Amp linear driver - fully user programmable... beautiful combo - I believe it overthrows stock Fury easy (can't test, no Fury around) plus - the output with proper cell is around 600 OTF with fresh cell... rather bright with good punch/throw and beautiful beam... it does require modern high-drain cell to operate at full potential - like Sony VTC5 or Samsung 25R... AW IMR 18650 cells kind of struggle to keep up...
2nd could be considered more "hot-rod" as it's XPL highest bin driven by special driver - allowing high to be in direct drive (so output depends on the cell used)... with Sony VTC5 or Samsung 25R cell high is between 4 and 5 Amps on high - that's over 1200 OTF lumens with fresh cell... it's noticeably brighter than XPG2 @ 3 Amps - even with twice the bigger hotspot... LOTS of lumens... Why is this "special" compared to real direct drive setup ??? The driver allows lowest possible resistance for high mode but thanks to extra components the driver still provides low voltage protection for the cells and lower modes controlled with super-fast PWM (silent and invisible)...
It is also possible to run these on protected cells (like AW 18650 3400mAh or similar Panasonic based cells) which will make high be less bright (hardly noticeable at those outputs) but would provide more runtime because of higher capacity and lower amperage due to higher internal resistance...
The reason for this super-long post ??? I guess just the spread of love for this highly ignored Surefire series... everybody who are interested in modding Surefire are more oriented to classic ones from the past that are harder and harder to find... but these are available and for great prices - Z2X brand new costs $80... that's with two extra primary cells and lanyard/lanyard ring... Love it...
Second reason is - I do mod Surefires... but I'm still not 100% sure if I'm able to offer modding x-series on regular basis like e-series mods and such... the thing that complicates this - opening them... so I will work on them, I just can't guarantee that I can open every one of them... some might get scratched in the process but - I'm trying to build a spare stock of different parts to provide more confidence that I can deliver proper mod as above... so for now, this is just a non-direct reply to few PMs that I got about modding few x-series... I'll try and give my best...
Two more Z2X's I plan to build next:
3rd would be an all rounder, Nichia 219B neutral white Hi-CRI at reasonable 1.5 Amps and programmable driver...
4th would be insane... Quad XPG2 driven with the same DD-Special driver as XPL version above - which would yield 7-8 amps with proper cell and provide a solid 2200 LED lumens (over 1600 OTF lumens)... plus provide a nice hand-warmer for winter times... output directly comparable with other quad XPG2 high-current setups in offer in different setups (like P60 quads)...
Thanks to everybody who had enough courage and time to read from start to end...
Why ???
Well, when you look at it, they are relatively low cost hosts, GREAT for modding them (IF you manage to open them) and give that solid Surefire aluminum alloy/black HA anodization (from e-series, for example) in mid-size package...
Some may argue that high brand Chinese manufacturers are even better, from terms of price, modability and such but - me being me, I'm loyal to Surefire name... can't help it...
It may not be the case that those same Chinese brands might be much more affordable than going the route of getting widely spread X-series host of any kind then packing it with some punch, good LEDs and different type drivers... the difference might be rather close... but in the end, the side of this host says "Surefire"... call me weird but I love that detail on my lights...
So... all praise to mighty Surefire C2... but I've always was a fan of Z2... clip really not the need for mid-size EDC and Z2 gave a little more rounded look compared to C2... few minor details I didn't like about Z2-BK... glossy black anodization... really not a big fan... other detail I better not mention, it's really minor thing... anyway... Oveready jumped the gun and "fixed" both of these...
They bought bunch of 6P's and Tom did his magic - he turned them on a lathe and made Z2 out of them - round body, no flats and in the end - a beautiful black HA... in the end, we could buy limited quantity of these beautiful bodies with no grip rings for around $90-100... add Surefire black HA bezel and tailcap and you have mighty good looking Surefire black HA P60 host... that brings it to $150-200 area for host alone... I was super-close to get one, install P60 TripLED with some cool driver and call it my new favorite mid-size EDC... but... I didn't...
Enter Z2X...
From the point I saw 6PX and felt it in my hand, never was a big fan... sure, aluminum alloy of highest quality, awesome black HA but - slippery as a horny eel... then I saw Z2X... and immediately fell in love... once I had it in my hand, it impressed just as much... LOVED the feeling... perfect host for modding... EXCEPT for one fact... opening them is the issue (this includes ALL x-series metioned above - they all share the same bezel) - either unscrewing the bezel from the body or bezel ring/lens to get access to reflector/LED... they are TOUGH... if one thing gives up, the other wouldn't... so far I've drilled thru two lenses to get to internals and right now have one Z2X that I just can't unscrew the bezel from the body... it's WELDED with Red Loctite...
But... if both give up and everything is cleaned off nice and neat, then it becomes REALLY nice thing to mod - and ending result (imho) is just - awesome... so far I've modded two of my own bezels (both have stock reflector) and two for two CPF members... but basically two setups:
1st one was XPG2 driven by 3 Amp linear driver - fully user programmable... beautiful combo - I believe it overthrows stock Fury easy (can't test, no Fury around) plus - the output with proper cell is around 600 OTF with fresh cell... rather bright with good punch/throw and beautiful beam... it does require modern high-drain cell to operate at full potential - like Sony VTC5 or Samsung 25R... AW IMR 18650 cells kind of struggle to keep up...
2nd could be considered more "hot-rod" as it's XPL highest bin driven by special driver - allowing high to be in direct drive (so output depends on the cell used)... with Sony VTC5 or Samsung 25R cell high is between 4 and 5 Amps on high - that's over 1200 OTF lumens with fresh cell... it's noticeably brighter than XPG2 @ 3 Amps - even with twice the bigger hotspot... LOTS of lumens...
Why is this "special" compared to real direct drive setup ??? The driver allows lowest possible resistance for high mode but thanks to extra components the driver still provides low voltage protection for the cells and lower modes controlled with super-fast PWM (silent and invisible)...It is also possible to run these on protected cells (like AW 18650 3400mAh or similar Panasonic based cells) which will make high be less bright (hardly noticeable at those outputs) but would provide more runtime because of higher capacity and lower amperage due to higher internal resistance...
The reason for this super-long post ??? I guess just the spread of love for this highly ignored Surefire series... everybody who are interested in modding Surefire are more oriented to classic ones from the past that are harder and harder to find... but these are available and for great prices - Z2X brand new costs $80... that's with two extra primary cells and lanyard/lanyard ring...
Love it...Second reason is - I do mod Surefires... but I'm still not 100% sure if I'm able to offer modding x-series on regular basis like e-series mods and such... the thing that complicates this - opening them... so I will work on them, I just can't guarantee that I can open every one of them... some might get scratched in the process but - I'm trying to build a spare stock of different parts to provide more confidence that I can deliver proper mod as above... so for now, this is just a non-direct reply to few PMs that I got about modding few x-series... I'll try and give my best...
Two more Z2X's I plan to build next:
3rd would be an all rounder, Nichia 219B neutral white Hi-CRI at reasonable 1.5 Amps and programmable driver...
4th would be insane... Quad XPG2 driven with the same DD-Special driver as XPL version above - which would yield 7-8 amps with proper cell and provide a solid 2200 LED lumens (over 1600 OTF lumens)... plus provide a nice hand-warmer for winter times... output directly comparable with other quad XPG2 high-current setups in offer in different setups (like P60 quads)...
Thanks to everybody who had enough courage and time to read from start to end...
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