HDS Systems #23

[intake_monk]

I'm a firm believer in NEVER buying batteries from Scamazon.

Long story short, they use a co-mingled inventory system, so they have absolutely zero inventory sourcing control (their argument FOR this is that they can maintain stock of items when others are sold out). "Sold by Amazon"? "Sold by Panasonic"? "Sold by John's Fakes, Inc."? Doesn't matter. Any random place can supply Amazon with inventory, and they just chuck it all on the same shelf. Boxes straight from Panasonic get stocked right with random boxes of counterfeits from shady sellers. The vast majority of Amazon sellers then pay Amazon to handle their inventory and shipping on their behalf, making the whole situation even easier to abuse.

"Oh well, I can just return it!" is the usually attitude, but often you'll never know it's fake until you're needing to do a warranty claim. For batteries, you might not know until they start a housefire, and...well...you probably don't need those batteries, now.

In the gun world, there's some famous examples of fake optics and sights, with some folks that found out during warranty claims. The most public information was from the spat between Birkenstock (when they were still a private company) and Amazon. I think you can still find the CEO's letters about that online. Essentially, Amazon tries to strong arm companies into cutting off all other retailers by not controlling their inventory sourcing. "Nice brand reputation you got here, it'd be a shame if something were to happen to that" stuff.

I'm also on team white Eneloops. More capacity is nice, but I don't mind swapping batteries if needed...for a lot longer product life...AND, they're cheaper than the Pro ones.

I'm also 100% about consolidating batteries. I have some Li-ion cells for my Malkoffs (16340, 18500, 16650, 18650, 21700), but outside of that, I really just have AA/AAA, and a few 14500s. The non-standardization of Li-ions is just...so ridiculous. I get so tired of needing to order new batteries because something is 1-2mm off in some dimension or other...

Unfortunately some of us fall face first into this issue. When I was still green with guns I ordered an on sale Vortex Viper Red Dot off Amazon. To this day I'm not sure if the issue was the dot itself was just garbage, if it was damaged, or entirely fake, but I could never get the zero correct on it. I threw that in as a freebie when I finally sold the entire gun and the new owner didn't seem to care as he had adapter plates and a real dot to swap it out for anyway.

 

[jon_slider]

for people interested in using AAA in the new HDS, there are adapters for that: (pic thanks to TimeOnTarget):

 

[indigon]

for people interested in using AAA in the new HDS, there are adapters for that ..

This is going to get ridiculous .. Just a matter of time before someone figures out an adapter for a stack of button watch batteries for "emergencies".

 

[intake_monk]

This is the old link for the Novatac Caps. As mentioned they haven't been available for a while. The tailcap is made for a raised button and doesn't stay on HDS lights well, tends to fall off without some type of stickum or something. Doesn't work on flush button HDS tailcaps.

HDS/NovaTac EDC Protective Caps

edc, protective, caps, cap, hds, novatac

flashlightlens.com

View attachment 46442

Sorry to derail—responding to a 1.5-year-old comment in this thread—but if anyone has a pair of these vinyl caps they're willing to part with, please DM me. It looks like they're no longer being made by the original company ><. It might totally be worthless, but my inner fashionista needs to try this setup out.

 

[indigon]

Sorry to derail—responding to a 1.5-year-old comment in this thread—but if anyone has a pair of these vinyl caps they're willing to part with, please DM me. It looks like they're no longer being made by the original company ><. It might totally be worthless, but my inner fashionista needs to try this setup out.

Somewhere in that thread a forum member mentioned some vinyl/rubber protective caps found on eBay that worked the same way. (Sorry I don't have the link). I still use them on my HDS lights, the Novatac Vinyl caps make the light almost indestructible to any drop damage and very comfortable in hand. (I slip an extra tailcap underneath the longer front cap which gives it a bulbous bow for added non-slip comfort in hand). Been using them on my lights for many years .. Recommended.

 

[LEDphile]

Sorry to derail—responding to a 1.5-year-old comment in this thread—but if anyone has a pair of these vinyl caps they're willing to part with, please DM me. It looks like they're no longer being made by the original company ><. It might totally be worthless, but my inner fashionista needs to try this setup out.

Those look like generic vinyl caps, readily available in a variety of sizes. McMaster-Carr has them in stock in a few different materials, and I suspect they aren't the only ones.

 

[jon_slider]

Those look like generic vinyl caps,

agree.

links to the caps in two different lengths are in this post
I think they probably used a 3/4" leather punch to put a hole in the ends,

 

[intake_monk]

oh snap, thanks for the insight on that guys, I didn't know that was a thing. Will be trying that out.

 

[jon_slider]

I didn't know that was a thing

imo, it is Not a Thing

the only person I have ever hear of, that uses those light condoms, is a respected member named indigon. Unless your application matches his, I dont see any reason to add weight and bulk to a light.

just my opinion. I also would not put a Bra on my car.

YMMV..

I think were just bored here, with the lack of meaningful content, and are starting to post about silly ideas.. Similar to my post about using AAA in an HDS ;-)

 

[troutpool]

I tried the caps once and could not see that they added anything desirable. I prefer the looks and feel of the light without them.

 

[dc38]

imo, it is Not a Thing

the only person I have ever hear of, that uses those light condoms, is a respected member named indigon. Unless your application matches his, I dont see any reason to add weight and bulk to a light.

just my opinion. I also would not put a Bra on my car.

YMMV..

I think were just bored here, with the lack of meaningful content, and are starting to post about silly ideas.. Similar to my post about using AAA in an HDS ;-)

As a bite sleeve, maybe...

 

[intake_monk]

imo, it is Not a Thing

the only person I have ever hear of, that uses those light condoms, is a respected member named indigon. Unless your application matches his, I dont see any reason to add weight and bulk to a light.

just my opinion. I also would not put a Bra on my car.

YMMV..

I think were just bored here, with the lack of meaningful content, and are starting to post about silly ideas.. Similar to my post about using AAA in an HDS ;-)

I would agree with you 99.9%. But that 0.1%, is TODAY. I just wanna throw a bra on my flashlight, a bra on my forehead and dance around my house with my rotary in candle mode for my own, and my cats' amusement.

Jokes aside, I got this light on the secondary from a member of this community (ilikeguns40) and typically when I get second hand gear, I tend to over-customize everything to make it feel like its mine. Then over a month or two, roll back form changes that interfere with function. Maybe I doll it up and realize it's better in bare aluminum. Or maybe, it's candle time all the time!

 

[jon_slider]

I tend to over-customize everything to make it feel like its mine

I resemble that remark! ;-)

On my HDS, which like yours has the Lovely sw45k LED, I added a Sapphire Lens, and a Titanium Bezel with Tritiums:

a bra on my forehead and dance around my house

almost too much information.. ;-)
I also have a cat, but no Bra.. LOL

I hope you enjoy your Dances w HDS!

 

[indigon]

imo, it is Not a Thing

the only person I have ever hear of, that uses those light condoms, is a respected member named indigon. Unless your application matches his, I dont see any reason to add weight and bulk to a light.

Agree it's not practical for you folks with coffee table shelf queen lights. My best work light is an Oveready HDS circa 2011 used almost daily that's been dropped in oil, grease, mud, gravel and off a 2 story catwalk over the years that still works perfectly and looks like new underneath these caps.

 

[intake_monk]

I resemble that remark! ;-)

On my HDS, which like yours has the Lovely sw45k LED, I added a Sapphire Lens, and a Titanium Bezel with Tritiums:

View attachment 78605

almost too much information.. ;-)
I also have a cat, but no Bra.. LOL

I hope you enjoy your Dances w HDS!

Dang that's really nice. If I don't like the vinyl feel that may be what I try next if that's even for sale anymore. The worst part of getting my first HDS is seeing all the cool stuff that were made as limited drops, and no longer available. 18350 tube, titanium rotaries, glow material reflectors, the vinyl bras, and I'm guessing this bezel also.

 

[jon_slider]

there are bezels here

Trits are fun in the dark (too dim to be visible in daylight), but rather expensive to buy.

Installing trits properly is Not a trivial pursuit. Requires a special UV cured adhesive, that needs to be polished flush with the bezel.

a less difficult accessory to install, is a pocket clip ;-)

This post explains How to install a pocket clip on a Rotary

Another accessory you might like to consider is a Belt Holster by our esteemed moderator.

 

[dc38]

there are bezels here

Trits are fun in the dark (too dim to be visible in daylight), but rather expensive to buy.

Installing trits properly is Not a trivial pursuit. Requires a special UV cured adhesive, that needs to be polished flush with the bezel.

a less difficult accessory to install, is a pocket clip ;-)

This post explains How to install a pocket clip on a Rotary

Another accessory you might like to consider is a Belt Holster by our esteemed moderator.

I have a dead nova spl120...i plan on gutting it for a triple.

 

[intake_monk]

there are bezels here

Trits are fun in the dark (too dim to be visible in daylight), but rather expensive to buy.

Installing trits properly is Not a trivial pursuit. Requires a special UV cured adhesive, that needs to be polished flush with the bezel.

a less difficult accessory to install, is a pocket clip ;-)

This post explains How to install a pocket clip on a Rotary

Another accessory you might like to consider is a Belt Holster by our esteemed moderator.

Thank you for the link, but I think I'm going to wait for the next batch of titanium bezels. The weight savings sound fantastic. @desert.snake, is there any chance of a second run?

I got a pair of the overready pocket clips that were specifically chamfered for HDS coming in, but I didn't know it was possible to do it bezel up, thank you! Someone organized a second run of 100 on the Facebook posting, and if anyone needs any, he still had 12ish last I checked.



Regarding holsters, I bought a combo pack of lights a year back or so on here, and it ended up having what looks like an e-series holster that fits this rotary perfectly. I can't make out the logo on the back, so I'm not sure what brand this is.

 

[jon_slider]

I'm going to wait for the next batch of titanium bezels. The weight savings sound fantastic.

agree!, it saves 10 grams

I didn't know it was possible to do it bezel up

glad to share info

If your HDS is a Rotary, it can not use a clip under the tailcap.

I got a pair of the overready pocket clips that were specifically chamfered for HDS

excellent option! congrats ;-)

 

[desert.snake]

Thank you for the link, but I think I'm going to wait for the next batch of titanium bezels. The weight savings sound fantastic. @desert.snake, is there any chance of a second run?

Regarding holsters, I bought a combo pack of lights a year back or so on here, and it ended up having what looks like an e-series holster that fits this rotary perfectly. I can't make out the logo on the back, so I'm not sure what brand this is.

The holster was made by this guy >> Hogokansatsukan
his brand is the sign of Thor
About the next batch, there are few people interested so far, so it no sense to start doing all this + a lot of money went into creating knives that haven't been sold yet