Surefire lense scratches?

I

interfectus

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Oct 20, 2001
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I got a Surefire E1 for my dad this christmas (he needed the light to be small because he fixes computers), and he seems to have been really happy with it, so of course that got me to thinking. I'm considering getting myself a Surefire, probably an E2 (lexan lense), or E2e (pyrex lense). These are some seriously expensive pieces of equipment for me (my most expensive knife is a Spydie Police Model, and that was a gift!), so something occured to me. How easy is it to scratch the lenses on these (pyrex or lexan), because it seems that if you mess up the lenses on one of these, you are sh!t out of luck. The way these flashlights carry (bezel up, poking out of the pocket just begging to have their lenses scratched), concerns me. I know my dad carries his just floating around in his pocket with keys and change, so thats good news... and thats with just the lexan lense. So I ask, has anyone ever had any problem with lense scratching on a surefire, or are they pretty much impervious? 80-90 bucks for the light and acessories is a real big investment for me, so this light (leaning towards E2e), would be pretty much irreplaceable. So much gear, not enough money!
 
lexan is HARD to scratch (they use it for bullet proof windows) and if you do screw it up.........surefire will send you a new one for FREE>>>>>>> just call them and complain and its in the mail! Ask for John........hes the man!
 
Correction: As Gadgetman pointed out below, Lexan is not acrylic; it's polycarbonate -- so please ignore the next paragraph. Sorry....


Lexan is a brand name for acrylic plastic (Plexiglass is another brand name). Acrylic is very tough, practically impossible to break, but it scratches fairly easily. It's just as easy to polish as to scratch; you can do it with toothpaste -- but scratches are seldom a problem with a flashlight lens anyway. If a flashlight lens gets a little scratched you probably won't even notice it, unless you're very picky -- if you are, then get some toothpaste and a soft cloth, or a Dremel tool if you want to make a big production out of it....

Pyrex is a hard tempered glass -- harder to scratch than acrylic but also harder to polish if it does get scratched.

Speaking for myself, I wouldn't use a Surefire for working on computers. It has amazing brightness in a small package, but do you really need that to find a dropped screw? You're sacrificing battery and bulb life to get that brightness, and as for cost-effectiveness ... it's not just the initial cost. The batteries and bulbs cost a lot, and they don't last long.

I use a Mini-Maglite when I work on a computer (that's the 2AA model). A Surefire is a tactical light; it's great for its intended purpose, but I notice most of the guys who carry them carry something like a Mini-Maglite too and reserve the Surefire for when they really need that performance.
 
Has anyone here ever changed out a lense in a 6Z?

When I first got mine, I screwed the endcap down a bit closer than I thought, and when I sat it lense down, it switched on, and melted the lense so it now and "outtie" (has a nipple-type look to it).

I got a replacement lense from Surefire, with instructions, but am leery of trashing the head.

Any guidance/caveats would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Mike
 
Sorry for the hi-jack, but back to the original question.

There is a thread here somewhere that talks of cutting the sheets used to protect PDA screens and putting them on the front of flashlights for lense protection.

Mike
 
Originally posted by Cougar Allen
Lexan is a brand name for acrylic plastic (Plexiglass is another brand name). Acrylic is very tough, practically impossible to break, but it scratches fairly easily.
Click to expand...

Isn't Lexan (GE's trademark) a polycarbonate plastic used for its impact and scratch resistance, especially in mobile applications like windshields and bullet resisant glass for cars?

http://www.geplastics.com/lexan/

In my experience, acrylic plastics (compared to ploycarbonates) are less scratch resistent and have a lower melting temperature. I know that it is used in plexiglass (also lucite) applications like bullet resistent glass in buildings. Airliner windows also seem to be acrylic rather than polycarbonate.

gm
 
I've popped the Lexan Lens out of an old M3T when I hit the bezel rim with an axe. Of course putting the lens back in meant I had to turn off the M3T. I was impressed the beam pattern was not affected.

Anyways, I've been carrying the E1-GM in my pocket for a long time, and I suppose the lens is a little scratched if I look really closely, but the GM anodising is more worn. Get the HA and you won't regret it.

The Pyrex is very difficult to scratch - especially compared to Lexan.

Flashlight discussion is welcome at www.CandlePowerForums.com

Al
 
Originally posted by thatmguy
Has anyone here ever changed out a lense in a 6Z?

When I first got mine, I screwed the endcap down a bit closer than I thought, and when I sat it lense down, it switched on, and melted the lense so it now and "outtie" (has a nipple-type look to it).

I got a replacement lense from Surefire, with instructions, but am leery of trashing the head.

Any guidance/caveats would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Mike
Click to expand...

I've changed out the lens in my 6P. I had forgotten to lockout the tailcap, and it accidentally came on in the holster while I was sitting. Needless to say, 120 lumens will bubble the lens. :o

Anyway, changing out the lens took a couple of minutes. It was a bit tricky for me the first time because I didn't know what I was doing.. but I think if I had to do it again, it'd take seconds. In hindsight, it's really pretty easy to do.

/mel
 
The plastic sheet that's currently being used by some to cover lenses is called "writeright." It's used to protect the lens and make the light beam a bit more diffuse, to help eliminate any dark spots or rings. The stuff does work pretty well, but you lose a t8iny bit of brightness. Writeright's intended use is on PDA screens. The stuff's available at any of the big office supply places" Staples, Office Depot, etc.

--dan
 
Surefire has a new material that wont bubble like the old ones. Changing the lens isnt easy but it can be done....you have to press/pound it in with MUCH force. I dont think you can break anything and if you do SUREFIRE will send you a new part FREE!

Ask for JOHN! very cool dude!
 
Hmmm, I've got two 6Ps, a 3P, a 9P and now a 9N. All of them have seen hard use with nary a scratch -- at least not anything that's noticeable.

One 6P bangs around loose in the console of my car -- no damage yet, although I think there's a Jolly Rancher stuck to it :rolleyes:. Another 6P is in my range bag. The 9P is loose with several pocketknives (hmmm, where'd those come from?;)) in a nightstand drawer. The 3P rides in the outside pocket of my briefcase (with the cell phone, PDA, pens, etc.). Again, no damage to any of the lenses. These are tough little suckers.

Hell, I shot the end of my 6P when my Harries technique got a little sloppy coming around a barricade during an IDPA no-light stage. Put a nasty little gouge in the bezel, but that's about it.

As for the batteries, no they don't last very long, but they're pretty cheap in bulk. Don't pay the $8-10 in a camera or battery store. Try Botach Tactical (I know, I know, their customer service sucks) or another police/tactical/wannabe supply store. You can get 'em in sleeves of 10 or 12 for about $25. Or better yet, get the SureFire hurricane light -- 12 batteries and a low-output lightsource for $33.

Hope this helps,
Chad
 
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