Easily Install Tritium on your Sebenza/Umnumzaan

The Aflac Duck

The Aflac Duck

Joined
Feb 27, 2014
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If you don't know what Tritium is, I suggest you read-up on it before trying this mod. Tritium is a radioactive substance, and should always be handled with care and respect. Please be responsible if you do this mod.

Hey guys, I got a little bored and started thinking of different ways to easily install some tritium on my Sebenza. I know some of you guys like glowing o-rings on your Umnumzaan (thanks Haze;)), so I thought some of you might get a kick out of this too.

I ordered various sizes of Tritium vials and was experimenting with different things until a very easy mod dawned on me. All you need is this: one 4x10mm Tritium vial, two 8 gauge GITD o-rings, and one Large Sebenza/Umnumzaan.

It's as simple as slipping the 2 o-rings on the Tritium vial and just using it like the lanyard pin that comes with your Sebenza. I call it "The Bender Method":cool:

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The vial will have a small amount of play and will rattle a little when shaken, however, my stock Titanium pin rattled a little too. But who cares if it rattles? Now you've got tritium on your Sebenza, and that's all that matters;)

Also, you can use any color o-ring around the Tritium vials you'd like. However, the GITD o-rings are slightly translucent and will help transmit light from the Tritium since they're GITD. If you use standard o-rings, the whole mod will not glow, only the sides will.

Enjoy;)
 
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That looks pretty good. It's even CRK blue. :p:thumbup:

Using the vile to replace the lanyard pin is a better way to do it than milling a groove in the knife somethere to sit it in. I have some tritium gas viles that are in a plastic casing kicking about somewhere, those could probably be (carfully) shaped into a part that would fit the knife in a similar way.
 
If you drop that the vial will break. I have worn one around my neck for almost 20 years (and have many keychains, etc) & have broken 3 of them.

They're tough mineral glass (basically pyrex) but the sharp rap the tube will get against the titanium because it's loose in there will pop it easily. You should look for some thin rod (or tubing the correct size.) & spin it in your drill to press fit, then bore the center out for the tube. You can even drill windows for the tube so it's visible between the scales as well.

Not knocking your mod, I just know how easy it is to break them.
 
Looks awesome! My Umnum approves of this mod. :thumbup:

Blues, I know you use your Insingo micarta fairly hard at work. I was was wondering about safety wise installing to a user blade which my CRKs are as I'm in the trades and they take a beating some days.
From what I've read into Tritium it doesn't seem to be a major risk unless ingested or inhaled which even still can be flushed out of ones body so I'm not crucially concerned.
 
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I have long fantasized about installing tritium in my sebenza, thanks for sharing this easy solution.

Now if only there was a machinist out there that could manufacture a titanium spacer with a tritium insert. Much like the backspacer, but with a perfectly fitted tritium vial. How much would you guys pay if someone could make this? I was thinking about heading over the the candlepower forums and asking one of the custom flashlight manufacturers. Maybe, we could get a group buy going if enough people were interested.

Im sure a machinist like Tain would have no problem doing something like this, he is constantly using tritium on his flashlights:
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb...AIN-TITANIUM-HYPERLUX-based-on-a-design-byTNC

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?362313-Tain-Tribute-Thread
 
Thanks for the replys guys!

I actually stuck a third o-ring on the vial so it doesn't have anymore jiggle now. I already managed to break one of them because I accidentally stepped on it when I dropped it.

I'm working on a way to make a tritium spacer for my Sebenza next:thumbup:
 
That's cool. Would be easier to find if you drop you knife at camp during the night.
 
I like the idea and from what I've read about Tritium it can't enter through your skin, just don't inhale or ingest it.

I've carried Tritium next to my body in different sets of night sights for many years, I'm not too worried about them when encased in steel, but, I still won't apendix carry ( not Trits next to the General and the Colonel's! ).

I'd feel better if it was encased in a titanium or steel tube surrounded by some norlund like the custom flashlight guys do.
If somebody ends up making something like that I'm in !


Oh, I almost forgot to mention that it looks really good. I can't believe that Sebenza's and tritium haven't been mentioned together before, or should I say that I can't believe that the Bender Method hadn't been thought of previous to your post :D
 
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I like it a lot, but I would have tried squeezing a third o-ring in there. I am sure it would fit once tightening down the screw.
 
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