I'm doing things differently. Maybe not right, or maybe not wrong, but different from what I have been doing. I have decided to stick with Maglites. Customizing them has put me in sort of a niche. The builds have evolved into a better made product and I now feel like they are about the best this old guy is going to ever do.
I have also decided to stop doing builds unless someone wants to prepay for a light. I do not have funds to keep all this modding afloat and loosing money on this hobby has always been a very sore point in the household. I have decided to sit down with my wife, (who's perspective and motivations are quite different than mine) and cost everything out from electricity, to components, to supplies, to packaging, to tool wear and expected life span of things like Rotary tools and Drill presses. I also decided that if I am going to dedicate 15-20 hours to file work and assembly, that I will make some money off it, or I will not do it any more. I should have done that from the start, hobby or not.
That said, I am going to offer a 2D LED Maglite as my standard light.
Here are specs at the moment:
2D LED Maglite in Black, Red, or Blue. (I don't list purple or green due to higher pricing, but it's an option if one wants to pay the cost).
Stock LED reflector is modified to work with the MT-G2.
MT-G2 LED mounted on a 26mm Maxtoch Copper mcpcb. (mcpcb is screwed down to the heat sink and thermal paste is used).
Machined Aluminum heat sink. (heat sink is screwed to the body for proper ground).
Custom linear driver using the zener mod method, to have 2 li-ion cells in series for power to the led. (driver can be made for anywhere from 3 to 9 amps. The driver uses a DrJones lumodrv program). No low battery or reverse polarity protection.
Copper heat sink on the 7135 chips on the driver.
File work done to the bezel, body and tail cap.
Momentary switch mounted on the stock switch housing.
Coated, (not AR), glass lens.
18ga silver plated, silicone coated, copper wire.
26650 and 18650 PVC battery sleeves.
Copper braid mod for the tail cap spring.
Here are some build photos and samples of file work on the light I did as a reference.
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These are just a couple of other ideas of File work. There are options and the file work can be decided between you and I, after you PM me to purchase a light.
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Typical MT-G2 Beam Shots from a 2D Mag.
The price for one is $175 CONUS and $185 Anywhere else. (Shipping is Included in that price).
This is not an Order thread. You need to PM Me if you want to order one Prepaid.
Lead time is 4-5 weeks from the time you order, until I ship. Possibly less, if there's nothing else going on. I do not stock lights or many spare components. I order when someone prepays, so that is half of the lead time sometimes.
Prices and lead time are subject to change, depending on the pricing and availability of components.
I do not make bare hosts at the present time, but it may be an option some day.I do not offer 1D lights.I do not use customer's lights for these mods.I do not do other custom drivers, as of now.
The warranty - I will repair any problems for a period of 3 years, unless it was caused by misuse.
I will have a new Maglite buck driver in the near future and then I will offer the XM-L2 LED on a Maxtoch mcpcb. I do not have a date yet for that event. There may also be other special Maglite mods that I may offer from time to time.
Right now, 09-10-14, I am booked up till the the end of September. I will only be doing 3-4 mods per month, if there is call for it. I am not fast and this is just a part time thing, with just a couple hours a day to work on it.
Questions? Ask away.
Thank you