Sunday, July 2, 2017

Digest for misc.consumers.frugal-living@googlegroups.com - 4 updates in 2 topics

The Real Bev <bashley101@gmail.com>: Jul 02 09:55AM -0700

On 07/02/2017 04:52 AM, Derald wrote:
 
> I've never seen a "tactical" flashlight in reality but from the
> adverts I see on late night teevee, I surmise them to be flashlight
> equivalents of the GM Hummer. What is "tactical" about a flashlight?
 
Imagine being attacked by someone and smushing the bright end of the
flashlight into his eye. That part is sort of serrated to facilitate
this action. It also has a strobe (3rd or maybe 4th position, I guess
if you needed this function you'd remember) which confuses your enemy.
I guess.
 
> If "tactical" means "well lighted head bashing", then, nothing surpasses
> a 3 or 5 D cell Minimag. Unyielding aluminum supported by the mass of 3
> or 5 D cells is just about as sociable as a flashlight can be....
 
This is small. I don't think you could bash somebody on the head with
it, although it might substitute for a roll of pennies in your fist. I
think the eye-smushing/confusing functions are what they mean. There's
also an automatic SOS thing, so you can eye-smush while calling for
help. Cool!
 
>>Anyway, I love it. I want to go to another cave now!
 
> If I ever were in a cave, wouldn't need a light because I'd have
> lost consciousness losing a fight.
 
Lehman is an entertainment cave with nice paved floors, lights, guides,
etc. Just like Carlsbad, but smaller. I just wanted to see some stuff
better. The idea of REAL caves where you have to squeeze through tiny
openings and trail a rope behind is unpleasant.
 
> so moved over to those inexpensive, essentially disposable, LED lights
> that are ubiquitous at bigbox checkouts. No good for spotting, because
> they're LED, but all right for just doo-dah-ing around outside at night.
 
I have some of the Harbor Freight yellow headlights, which are too
heavy. I also have some Petzl LED headlights, which are kind of nice.
I don't need either, I just like having them around.
 
--
Cheers, Bev
"Go back to sleep, citizen. Your government has
everything under control." -Bill Hicks
Vic Smith <thismailautodeleted@comcast.net>: Jul 02 05:59PM -0700

>prevent the rolling problem. I habitually carry the light in a hip
>pocket, often-as-not accompanied by pruning shears, and find the added
>bulk uncomfortable; want it?
 
Thanks, but no. It's not a big issue, especially with the AAA. The
pocket clip keeps it from rolling more than an inch or two.
 
>Zbattery.com. This is not necessarily an endorsement but I have had
>good performance from (genuine) minimag repair parts and (aftermarket)
>LG cell phone batteries purchased from them.
 
I'll keep that site in mind for new Mag Lites, but I probably won't
repair a flashlight. Haven't had to repair one yet. The only one I
wished for a new end cap when it broke was a light like this
https://tinyurl.com/y7gvc7ca
Same end cap. A son gave it to me and I used it for about 6 years.
But I never replaced it, since its hard to hold sideways in my mouth.
They do throw an impressive amount of light though.
I just gave my son my old D cell Mag Lites, all working. He won't buy
D cells either, but might unload the flashlights on eBay. Or he can
trash them, like I was going to do.
Derald <derald@invalid.net>: Jul 02 07:52AM -0400


>Maybe it was the batteries you used.
Possibly, but I don't think it likely. Same brand for at least 20
years here and they've not left such residue in other flashlights. Just
one of those things, I 'spose. No rechargeables in flashlights here.
They just don't have the ass for a incandescent. Wife and I use our
flashlights daily and the recharge-oes just don't last despite the super
duper, too smart, Maha charging unit used to keep them fit.
 
>I'll only buy the silver finish now, as they don't hide themselves.
I can't remember when I copped the LED units but it was when they
first appeared in bigbox stores in this part of Florida; early 00's,
maybe. Between us, DW&I have 4 functioning AA incandescent minimags, two
of which date from late '80's. I've replaced all of the lenses with
glass ones and replaced the reflectors in both of the old timers. The
plastic lenses get cloudy or scratched and the reflective coating
eventually begins coming off the reflectors. Ours lights are black. We
worked as stagehands out of a IATSE local for a number of years and
backstage everything is black.
BTW, an accessory is available that provides six flat surfaces to
prevent the rolling problem. I habitually carry the light in a hip
pocket, often-as-not accompanied by pruning shears, and find the added
bulk uncomfortable; want it?
Oh, and minimag repair parts, except for switches, are available
from third parties. I get them from an online outfit doing business as
Zbattery.com. This is not necessarily an endorsement but I have had
good performance from (genuine) minimag repair parts and (aftermarket)
LG cell phone batteries purchased from them.
--
Derald
 
"...the only traits that are passed down in your family are perversity,
ego-centrism, laziness and sociopathic tendencies."
--Lynn Barton, Filedheacht Music School, East Bridgewater, MA 2016
Derald <derald@invalid.net>: Jul 02 07:52AM -0400

>no-questions-asked return policy. Factory lifetime guarantee. I guess
>B&H has been around long enough for that to not be a total joke,
>although I didn't read the details.
I've never seen a "tactical" flashlight in reality but from the
adverts I see on late night teevee, I surmise them to be flashlight
equivalents of the GM Hummer. What is "tactical" about a flashlight?
If "tactical" means "well lighted head bashing", then, nothing surpasses
a 3 or 5 D cell Minimag. Unyielding aluminum supported by the mass of 3
or 5 D cells is just about as sociable as a flashlight can be....
 
>Anyway, I love it. I want to go to another cave now!
If I ever were in a cave, wouldn't need a light because I'd have
lost consciousness losing a fight. I do spend quite a bit of time
outdoors at night and for that prefer a head lamp. When my inherited
acetylene lamp finally died, I judged new models of them to contain too
much plastic for me to trust to contain a small fire on my forehead and
so moved over to those inexpensive, essentially disposable, LED lights
that are ubiquitous at bigbox checkouts. No good for spotting, because
they're LED, but all right for just doo-dah-ing around outside at night.
--
Derald
 
"...the only traits that are passed down in your family are perversity,
ego-centrism, laziness and sociopathic tendencies."
--Lynn Barton, Filedheacht Music School, East Bridgewater, MA 2016
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