Inexpensive quality Flashlights

[UnknownVT]

For those who like flashlights or need some inexpensive but quality lights -

I have just bought a pack of 3 of these Quest brand anodized aluminum flashlights from my local Dick's Sporting Goods on Sale for $7.49 per pack.

They are indeed very good value for money and would make fine hosts for the MJLED
- please see:
MJLED drop-in for MiniMag 2AA

They do work well in their own right too - the clickie tail switch is especially welcome. Although the beams are focussable - they can be somewhat variable on quality - I have one that is very good, one that doesn't focus that well, and another that.... (please see later**)

Compared to regular Mini-Mag 2AA

Disassembled -

** the more observant of you may have spotted something not quite right......

Indeed the center of that reflector is not round..... no, this not the way it's supposed to be, the other two are round ....

I noticed that this light didn't seem to want to focus and seemed even to be inconsistent in its focussing almost as if the beam was changing.

Once I took the head off I realized why - the bulb must have been in contact with the reflector and was actually melting it! Hence the non-round hole and the burnt looking bulb - that's melted plastic.

Needless to say this is going back for an exchange. The other two lights do work without signs of melting the reflector - and the clickies switches are great.......

At $2.50 each these are really good value for money - I'm sure my faulty one was just an isolated case - but worth bearing in mind that the bulb should not be in contact with the plastic reflector.....

--
Vincent

http://UnknownVT2005.cjb.net
http://UnknownVT.cjb.net
http://UnknownVincent.cjb.net

 

[neosporin]

thanks for the review, but those MJLED's still arent in stock... where do you get yours?

 

[Don Luis]

Thanks, I wish I could find one of those LED kits to put in my old Maglite but they will not likely get to Mexico soon.

Luis

 

[UnknownVT]

thanks for the review, but those MJLED's still arent in stock... where do you get yours?

Yes, it appears that the 2 sources where I got my MJLEDs from are currently both out of stock.

The 2 sources are linked in that review post of mine referenced above.

The first was from Lambda - where I bought a kit literally a few days before he sold out.

The second one was from the Sandwich Shoppe who had plenty at the time - but sold out a week or two ago too.

But I believe more are imminent at both places.

Thanks, I wish I could find one of those LED kits to put in my old Maglite but they will not likely get to Mexico soon.

Luis,

I'm now waiting for either Lambda or the Sandwich Shoppe to get more stocks in to purchase a few more to mod these cheapo hosts.
When I order more it would be real easy for me to get a few extras and mail them to you - let me know...

bear in mind I don't know when more stock will be available -
also please read my review carefully, as I don't want you to have unrealistic expectations of the MJLED -

However, personally, they are the only LED mods to the Mini-Mag that I would want to do - because of brightness to at least the level of the standard bulb, better more even beam and 30+hours reported runtime on regular alkalines - the beam tint can be variable - that's the luck of the draw, but I feel they are still much better than the standard bulb.

Of course you can also check whether either of the two sources will deliver direct to Mexico.

This post/thread might also be of interest -

Free International Forwarding

Where you should be able to order direct from any vendor that won't do international orders and have the item(s) forwarded

--
Vincent

http://UnknownVT2005.cjb.net
http://UnknownVT.cjb.net
http://UnknownVincent.cjb.net

 

[Don Luis]

Thanks Vincent, I much appreciate it, I do have ways to get things over, friends and relatives who visit the USA including an American who lives here (married to a relative of mine). So I take your word but wont be bothering you.

I don't really need another Led flashlight, carrying these today:

Also I don't like things sent over by mail, they often get "lost", FedEx, etc. work better.

Thanks again

Luis

 

[Cougar Allen]

Do those Dick's Sporting Goods flashlights have a plastic head or aluminum? Do they seem like they would hold up to whacking people in the head as well as a Mag?

 

[UnknownVT]

Do those Dick's Sporting Goods flashlights have a plastic head or aluminum? Do they seem like they would hold up to whacking people in the head as well as a Mag?

Aluminum......

although I probably wouldn't use a 2AA Mini-Mag sized light to do that -
much prefering 3 or over D cell sizes -
so that the lights that the receipient sees are just so much brighter

--
Vincent

http://UnknownVT2005.cjb.net
http://UnknownVT.cjb.net
http://UnknownVincent.cjb.net

 

[Thirteenth Star]

Don Luis, how does that Uzi light compare to a Dorcy 1AA?

 

[Bob W]

Those Quest lights don't look too bad, but I'd pay the tiny bit extra and get a real Mini-MagLite.

-Bob

 

[UnknownVT]

Those Quest lights don't look too bad, but I'd pay the tiny bit extra and get a real Mini-MagLite.

That's the difference between some who's sensible and practical,
and someone who may be a flashaholic....

If you were buying just one - then absolutely -
but if you want many, or need to hand out flashlights to others to use then
isn't $7.49 for 3 (= ~$2.50 each) a lot better than about $8-9 for one?

--
Vincent

http://UnknownVT2005.cjb.net
http://UnknownVT.cjb.net
http://UnknownVincent.cjb.net

 

[jackknife]

Those Quest lights don't look too bad, but I'd pay the tiny bit extra and get a real Mini-MagLite.

-Bob

Could'nt agree more!

When the real deal is only ten bucks I can't see buying something that is close to a clone from you know where.

At least the mag stuff is made here with a lifetime warrentee that they really stand behind.

 

[SIFU1A]

Could'nt agree more!

When the real deal is only ten bucks I can't see buying something that is close to a clone from you know where.

At least the mag stuff is made here with a lifetime warrentee that they really stand behind.

yeah probably true for me too.......

 

[jaids]

Guys, get the uncut MJ LED from the shop, 25 degrees is a nice flood beam and you won't be getting much throw from the cut one anyway so you could even skip the reflector. Maybe get a solitaire, uncut MJ LED, tear 3 cells out of a mn23 cell and get a spring. That should be quite a nice little floodlight.

 

[OwenM]

Dorcy 1AAA w/uncut MJLED. The Dorcy was ~$6 w/tax at WalMart, and the MJLED was something like $3.50. It's as simple as cutting the leads to length, desoldering the stock LED, holding the new one in place, and soldering the leads to the board.
edit: I was trying to load another pic or two, but will have to resize them. The difference this mod makes is huge. I've got another MJLED that's going in an Ultra-G, but a friend will have to do that one. Maybe he, or somebody on CPF can get one in my Arc AAA, too. That would be great...

 

[Don Luis]

Don Luis, how does that Uzi light compare to a Dorcy 1AA?

I have not seen the Dorcy, usually I just buy what I can find in Mexico, The UZI is a three LED, 1 AA, it seems fine and tough though the little wire ring that came with it broke soon and I had to jig a new one, My main complaint is the switch, the back is rotated (screwed in) to turn on permanently, it has a temporary push-on button that is easy to turn on accidentally and the back has to be turned out almost off to prevent this, I carry it in a pouch on my belt and it is OK but I think would not be right in the pocket, either the back would come loose or it would often go on accidentally.

Luis

 

[BlueyM]

For readers in Australia, if you are after a CHEAP flashlight, Crazy Clark's (chain store) has Mini Maglite 2AA knockoffs for $3 each, and AA batteries at $2 for pack of four.

The quality is a bit rough, you get what you pay for, but these are fine for toolbox, meter box or car.

 

[UnknownVT]

I have not seen the Dorcy, usually I just buy what I can find in Mexico, The UZI is a three LED, 1 AA, it seems fine and tough though the little wire ring that came with it broke soon and I had to jig a new one, My main complaint is the switch, the back is rotated (screwed in) to turn on permanently, it has a temporary push-on button that is easy to turn on accidentally and the back has to be turned out almost off to prevent this, I carry it in a pouch on my belt and it is OK but I think would not be right in the pocket, either the back would come loose or it would often go on accidentally.

Your Uzi flashlight kind of looks like th Dorcy 3LED 1AA - I think that's why Thirteenth Star asked -

On the Dorcys that flimsy wire loop set in the push button momentary ON tail-switch, actually acts as a stopper to prevent the push button from being pushed in further - so when the tailcap is screwed out far enough the wire-loop stops the push button from activating the light - a sort of a "lock-out".

WithOUT that wire loop then the push button can be activated even when the tail-cap is screwed out a lot.

If your tailcap is loose, then if you have two cut slots on the end of the battery tube - you can pry/widen the tube a bit via those slots.

Some people have used clear plastic or rubber tubing as a sleeve over the tailcap and part of the battery tube to prevent the tail-cap from accidentally unscrewing......

--
Vincent

http://UnknownVT2005.cjb.net
http://UnknownVT.cjb.net
http://UnknownVincent.cjb.net

 

[Don Luis]

Thanks Vincent my UZI has the same problem, seems to be a very similar flashlight. The wire I used to replace the original is thicker and is fastened together inside, it blocks the push button just as much or even a bit more than the original but I am still not too happy with how much I have to unscrew the back to prevent it from accidental turn on. It is a good flashlight though, I just would not keep it in a pocket or key chain, in a belt pouch it is fine.

The rubber tube thing is a good idea, something like a small ranger band or piece of bicycle tube should work.

Luis.