To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

need a good inspection flashlight

gofastman

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 7, 2008
Messages
729
Location
Minnesota
I'm looking for a good flashlight for inspecting cars, I had a LED 3AA Maglight that was OK but I lost it. I also have a Streamlight Stylus but its just not bright enough and the LED flickers.
Im not made of money, but I want something that will last a while and I would prefer non NiCd rechargable.
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

nate379

Banned
Joined
Feb 2, 2009
Messages
7,279
Location
Palmer, AK
Surefire.

They are $40 and up and the batteries only last 60 mins but they are BRIGHT. I have one in my toolbox and it has saved my **** a few times where a normal flashlight wouldn't have done it.
 

isr2kba

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 6, 2009
Messages
324
Location
MA
IMO, you had the right light. I use that same light nearly every day.

If you're not made of money and you tend to lose things, buy another $10 mag LED! Spend another 10 bucks on AA NiMh batteries and a charger.

I have a couple of surefires, but that is the worst name ever for a flashlight. The battery life is so pitiful, they should call it seldomFires. Very bright, though, but when the light reflects off of things, it actually hurts my eyes causing temporary night blindness.
 

rickairmedic

Well-known member
Joined
May 31, 2005
Messages
4,165
Location
louisville ,Ky
I have one like this one and love it . I have been using it for years with no problems the one I have takes 3 AAA's and I can hold it in my hand or wear it on my head when I need both hands free to work. I have more Mag lights than I can count and cant tell you the last time I actually used one since I started using a head light :D.


http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=8586957


Rick
 

A_Pmech

Well-known member
Joined
May 8, 2007
Messages
8,002
Location
IL
All I've ever used as an aircraft mechanic are Maglite 2AA or 2C lights. I completely use one up in a year or two. By used up, I mean the anodizing is gone, they're covered in dings, dents and scratches, the lens has been polished numerous times, the end cap seals are gone, and the bulb holder gets loose. I use the 2AA lights for inspection about 4 hours a day, easily.

I'm also rather fond of a little "Nemo" brand UV, visible, and laser pointer light I picked up at NAPA last fall.

There are much fancier and brighter, "better" lights out there, but I wear those out just as quickly. Except, they cost a lot more. ;)
 

Snappy

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 26, 2008
Messages
1,914
Location
S.E. PA
My vote would be for maglite too. I have a 2 AA & a 3 C. I don't think they can be beat for the money. You can get parts for them too. They are a work of art to me the way they are machined & the're made in USA.
 

Bruce Lancaster

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 3, 2006
Messages
1,642
I use an AA maglite converted with a NiteIze ( http://www.niteize.com/index.php )
conversion kit http://www.niteize.com/productdetail.php?category_id=28&product_id=108

They make several--that is the one with LED bulb conversion and simple on/off pushbutton, not the ones with the silly IQ switch.

This gives very bright light with no need to focus away the dark spot, thumb switch control which also allows momentary use, AND it leaves the normal Maglite turn-the-bezel control there so if you turn it off by that, the light is entirely safe against being bumped on in your pocket or toolbox.

This is the best flashlight I have ever owned. Maglites without this annoy me...the turn on-off is not at all convenient, and the bulb has to be focused by further turning to get rid off the dark area. This kit solves all the problems and of course has very long battery life with the LED's.
 

Kevin54

MEMBER EMERITUS
Joined
Jan 12, 2005
Messages
29,341
Location
Urbana, Ohio
My vote would be for maglite too. I have a 2 AA & a 3 C. I don't think they can be beat for the money. You can get parts for them too. They are a work of art to me the way they are machined & the're made in USA.

Ditto on the Maglites. I have two and my nephew uses them in his business. All of his are the rechargables. Bright white light and last for quite awhile between charges http://www.maglite.com/product.asp?psc=RECHARGE Just don't turn one on and set it face down while left on. The heat builds up and blows the lamp.
 

nate379

Banned
Joined
Feb 2, 2009
Messages
7,279
Location
Palmer, AK
I'd have to take a pic of my 3D maglight (have probably 5 or 6 of them) against the little 2 camera battery Surefire.. It's crazy how bright the Surefire is.
 

seth_man

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 30, 2008
Messages
121
Location
Rhode Island
streamlight stinger led. I bet half of the 500 mechanics at work have them or the older counterpart.

everyone in my shop has a stinger led now. i have a stinger led and an inova t4. they are both great lights. each will easily last 2 work days without being charged. and they are bright perfect white lights. the stinger is a great light and i use it everyday but it uses a ni-cad battery. my inova t4 uses a lithium-ion battery so based on that i would recommend the inova t4. they both have a lifetime warranty and they both put out almost the same light, stinger led 160 lumens and inova t4 175 lumens.
 

MattPersman

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 1, 2009
Messages
1,656
Location
Indiana
Sunlite makes nice stuff too. snap on dealers carry them as well. fairly pricey for the rechargeable type though, me and several other techs went from small pocket Streamlights to the sunlite slims, they are nice cause lifetime warranty, and use standard AAA batteries (which my parts department supplies free). 100 lumens and about the size of a sharpie, hard to beat. really the batteries seem to last quite some time. been at least 2 weeks on this set of AAAs and this is the only light I use, hold it in my mouth to work under the hood, in the other hand to do other things, etc.

I have not tried all the brands, just Streamlight Stylus (takes inconvenient AAAA batteries and was not that bright), Inova X1 (super nice for 1 AA battery not as bright as the Sunlite slim), Coast LEDLenser 7345s (have 2 of these as home flashlights, takes 3 AAA batteries, 65 lumens, over 100 hours on batteries). I also have the 18v dewalt light to go with my 18v tools I use, a 10.8 bosch light to go with my ps20 and ps40

main thing is to look for lights that take common batteries, rechargeable units would be nice but are expensive, it gets old buying special sized uncommon batteries, also look for something that can be easily warranted because realistically it will take some abuse, I drop my lights all the time, corded lights are a drag and get in the way, small portable stuff is the way to go IMO.
 

Dust

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 9, 2008
Messages
649
Location
Santa Ana, CA
I bought a 4" nine LED flashlight from Harbor Freight this weekend. Just now tried it; my eyes are still trying to get rid of the afterimage.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=93712

Ordinarily I hate LEDs. I think the light they give off is too cold and sterile. Vastly prefer incandescant or halogen. But that sucker is well worth the five bucks. I'm going to be buying a few more of 'em. Takes three AAA batteries. Be sure you tighten both ends all the way, it really likes having a good circuit.
 

gatewaysysop

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 11, 2008
Messages
3,288
Location
Arizona
I recently picked up a Leatherman Monarch(?) light at Costco. Pretty nice for the money, something like $30 I think. I've had no issues with it at all and it's plenty bright, I've used it under the hood in broad daylight and it performed great. I don't know how available these are anymore, as they seem to have disappeared from the two Costco's I've been to, but if they're still available in your area I'd recommend them.
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

nissan_crawler

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 12, 2008
Messages
9,638
Location
Wichita, KS
All I've ever used as an aircraft mechanic are Maglite 2AA or 2C lights. I completely use one up in a year or two. By used up, I mean the anodizing is gone, they're covered in dings, dents and scratches, the lens has been polished numerous times, the end cap seals are gone, and the bulb holder gets loose. I use the 2AA lights for inspection about 4 hours a day, easily.

I'm also rather fond of a little "Nemo" brand UV, visible, and laser pointer light I picked up at NAPA last fall.

There are much fancier and brighter, "better" lights out there, but I wear those out just as quickly. Except, they cost a lot more. ;)

Ugg, guys get laughed out of our shop for having maglites. I ran through them like a fat kid through candy, too. I had a streamlight stinger for 2 years, had it warrantied for a broken switch. Meanwhile, I bought another one while it was sent off, and sold the old one when it came back. I had the new one for a year or so, then the switch would go goofy once in a while, and I traded it on the LED one.

After having the stinger, I couldn't even stand the thought of going back to my maglite for 2 weeks while it was getting repaired. I bought a second stinger just so I didn't have to use the maglite.

The warranty is the best part. When I sent mine in for a bad switch the lens was bad, bulb was weak, battery was weak, and endcap was beat up, but I just sent it in for the switch. It came back with a new switch, new battery, new lens, new bulb in the light AND a new spare in a new end cap. The only thing left was the damn body. I was shocked. Yeah, it cost me $120, but I've had two repairs, and a trade done, so it was well worth it.
 
Last edited:

HandyManny

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 13, 2009
Messages
2,239
Location
Out West
I use an AA maglite converted with a NiteIze ( http://www.niteize.com/index.php )
conversion kit http://www.niteize.com/productdetail.php?category_id=28&product_id=108

They make several--that is the one with LED bulb conversion and simple on/off pushbutton, not the ones with the silly IQ switch.

This gives very bright light with no need to focus away the dark spot, thumb switch control which also allows momentary use, AND it leaves the normal Maglite turn-the-bezel control there so if you turn it off by that, the light is entirely safe against being bumped on in your pocket or toolbox.

This is the best flashlight I have ever owned. Maglites without this annoy me...the turn on-off is not at all convenient, and the bulb has to be focused by further turning to get rid off the dark area. This kit solves all the problems and of course has very long battery life with the LED's.

You'll find the new 3watt LED AA maglite a vast improvement over the nitize conversion. The new offering from maglite makes that 1 watt Nite-ize look like a joke. I tried the Nit-ize in an old mini maglite I owned and thought it was pathetic for anything but the closest use.
 

HandyManny

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 13, 2009
Messages
2,239
Location
Out West
I'd have to take a pic of my 3D maglight (have probably 5 or 6 of them) against the little 2 camera battery Surefire.. It's crazy how bright the Surefire is.

But does it last nearly as long? That's the problem I have with surefires, they may be bright, but you'll go through batteries like crazy. For all but tactical situations I find surefires to be too bright for most practical situations. For inspection purposes I find Maglite factory LED flashlights to be the best for the money.

My surefire and streamlights are my weapons lights only.
 

G1K

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 10, 2005
Messages
1,073
Location
Buffalo, NY
I'll recommend a Ra Clicky, the new name of the company HDS. For about $100-$150 you'll have a light that will last as long as you.

It's funny that we have people who recommend snappy as the ultimate tool, bash craftsman as inferrior or not up to every day pro use standards while subsequently recommending mag light as a daily pro use flashlight.

Maglight = craftsman
Surefire/HDS/RA = Snap on
Streamlight = maybe mac

There's my 0.02

Ryan
 

HandyManny

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 13, 2009
Messages
2,239
Location
Out West
I'll recommend a Ra Clicky, the new name of the company HDS. For about $100-$150 you'll have a light that will last as long as you.

It's funny that we have people who recommend snappy as the ultimate tool, bash craftsman as inferrior or not up to every day pro use standards while subsequently recommending mag light as a daily pro use flashlight.

Maglight = craftsman
Surefire/HDS/RA = Snap on
Streamlight = maybe mac

There's my 0.02

Ryan

Not sure that I'd nessesarily equate it like that, unless your talking stricktly about the price level specifically.
 

Crank1

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 20, 2007
Messages
277
http://www.rayovac.com/flashlight/selux2aa3w-b.shtml

Here's what I use at work as well. On aircraft the 2 D cell Maglites they put in our line boxes ****, they're huge and cumbersome and wont set any damn where, because of their size. It might sound gay, but when you do aircraft maintenance, and you using tools, the only place to put your light is in your mouth, and it isnt super huge, I've tried those dinky head lamps, but every time you put a cranial on or take it off you sling it around, and it only lasts a month or two. Headlights cost almost 15 bucks a pop and that Rayovac light I got at WALMART for 25 bucks. Its been thru hell and been dropped off the top of my plane MANY of times and it keeps on tickin. Its a LED, which makes its light output way better than a regular bulb, but it only has a constant of maybe 4 hour run time, but uses AA batteries. Which I get for free from the Government.

I may pick up a Surefire soon tho, maybe an E2 or something, they're expensive, but I think it'll serve my purpose well. Actually I might try to find an NSN for it, and order it thru my command and see if I can score one for free. :D
 

bennyy

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 27, 2008
Messages
58
Location
San Francisco
I have a Coast led flashlight and I love it. Got it from Mac tool truck for under $40. It uses 3 AAA batteries. Best flashlight I Have so far. My Inova X1 crapped out on me.
 

voidifused

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 18, 2008
Messages
219
Location
Canada
You guys need to be more adventures, build your self one! it makes it 100 times better and you can show it off.
 

bowlofturtle

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 30, 2008
Messages
421
Location
Chicago

35mastr

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 6, 2007
Messages
2,534
Location
Norcal
I prefer the Streamlight Stingers.I have one just about every where I need to work.I think 6 in all. Always charged and ready top go at any time.The one at work only gets charged maybe once a week and I use it alot.

I also use the Coast 7732.I like them alot also and the 3 batteries last quite a long time.It is also small enough that it will fit in you front pocket comfortabley.
 

Jwilliam

Member
Joined
Feb 4, 2009
Messages
19
Location
Upstate, SC
As mentioned earlier Snap-on carries sunlite flashlights and also have a blue-point version which is the same size but slightly brighter. I bought it to replace the Snap-on (innova) light I had that took pricey camera batteries and I love it. Everything is warrantied except the batteries which are AAA and our parts dept carry for free. I love the size of it, it's slimmer than my previous light so it fits more comfortable in my pocket and it can really take a beating. I think if I remember correctly is was only around 40 bucks, it has paid for itself now that I'm not buying camera batteries every month.
 

A_Pmech

Well-known member
Joined
May 8, 2007
Messages
8,002
Location
IL
It might sound gay, but when you do aircraft maintenance, and you using tools, the only place to put your light is in your mouth, and it isnt super huge...

Yeah, "flashlight taste"... Know all about it. :lol_hitti

I have a couple flex lights that use what looks like machine tool modular coolant line with a little LED in the end. They're about 16" or so long, with a big magnet at one end (not that there's a damn thing to "stick" it to but the engine mounts. I like it for under-panel work. Just set it down between the rudder pedals and aim the bendy part where I need it. By far, the most-used light behind my maglite.
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
Top Bottom