maglight flashlights . toss them or ?

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Jul 14, 2020
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i am digging through and cleaning up . found 3 3 D cell aluminum flashlights form years ago. Don't know what to do with them . Could put D cells in them and use it as a club .

Any thing interesting that can be made with them? or just toss them
 
I converted to LED and glass lens years ago and am very happy with mine. They don't compare of course to the new stuff, but are very good comparatively to the days of old.

If you have ever had a multi day power outage, having a large flashlight thats hard to loose is a huge benefit.

I am waiting for someone to make a conversion insert so I can use 2 CR123A lithium batteries rather than D cells.
 
yeah time to get rid of them . Lighting has advance so much in the last 25 years , which is how old i think these are
 
Keep them loaded with D batteries and use them for a "noggin knocker" if needed. They'll still knock a fool out!

All kidding aside, I still have one and haven't even thought about it until I read this. I think mine took 4 D-cell batteries if memory serves. :unsure:
 
There used to be a class of hobbyists who took specific interest in modding MLs.

The OE LED retrofits with the Luxeon Star emitters were actually pretty decent. Better than the Nite-Ize retrofits or other cheap aftermarket stuff. I still have a 5D version.

Their performance is no match for a modern Li-powered light, but when you need light, they still provide it, and D cells are readily available everywhere.

Contrary to the current flashlight marketing promising a bazillion lumens, most tasks don't actually require that much light, and the turbo modes on which those claims are made don't last more than a couple minutes before lights have to throttle down to prevent cooking themselves and you.

A typical small, inexpensive tube light powered by an 18650 and a linear driver really only sustains a 200-300 lumens for extended periods and gradually diminishes as voltage drops. Those with a regulated driver won't dim, but are still limited by thermodynamics, and don't have enough mass for heat capacity.

Tossing the MLs in the trash would be wasteful. Toss them in the trunk of your vehicles, where they can serve as emergency lights and also self-defense clubs. I wouldn't store the cells inside the light though, given the poor quality of modern alkaleaks.
 
I still have my MagCharger rechargeable Maglite I got in 2000, its been long dead and Ive often wanted to do the LED upgrade for it, but for the cost of the LED head and a new battery it just was never really worth it when you consider all the LED flashlights you can buy that would be better.

I did however do the LED upgrade on my Streamlight Stinger I got in 2005, that was well worth the money.
 
I don't think mag lites were designed for only one purpose. They are way harder/stronger than necessary, and D cells provide the mass necessary to take someone out. Even the little AA lights could work as a mini baton in situations where the bigger unit isn't available.
 
Cheaper, smaller and nicer to buy a new one at Costco than to convert an old one to LED. I donated all my old flashlights.

Recently bought a pack of 2 3500 Lumens flashlights at Costco for $35. Both of them came with a USB rechargeable battery pack and a regular AA battery pack (AA batteries included) and you can even use the flashlight to charge your cell phone. It also has 4 little LED indicator lights for battery status and focus/zoom adjustments. Plus 2 USB cables and has 4 intensity settings.

I tried it one night in our street and it was much brighter than my headlights. Not kidding! I could see both sides of the street and much more.
 
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