This forum dead or dying?

[dc38]

Perhaps it should be mentioned that the Vinh Nguyen threads were a significant driver of new threads and posts back in the days, in addition to customs. There seemed to be more technical discussion then, as well. Batteries and chargers were another source of content.

One can see that the Zebralight, HDS and Malkoff threads are still humming along.

Representative of the lights they cover?

 

[Beckler]

Speaking of old topics, I posted years ago how there needs to be a standardized UI and programmability. It's still not happening and makes no sense. I do however notice some trend, I think, toward andruil-type UI even when not anduril. (So the basic clicks like single, hold, double are the same.) But still not programmable and anduril itself glaringly omits being able to set each level freely! Basically the no.1 feature, you could say, and it's not there. None of this makes any sense, at all.

^Who the hell even knew italic emojis existed?? I didn't!

 

[jabe1]

I have to laugh for a minute. I found CPF when looking to upgrade a AA mini Mag, knowing that someone had a “better” idea. I remember well that the big deal at the time was a Cree XR-E q5 emitter at 1-1.2 amps. A couple hundred lumens on a really good day.
Yeah, times have changed but I still see new threads started by people wanting to upgrade their Maglites. We just don’t get the same frequency of technical innovation; LEPs don’t do it for me, CRI might not get a whole lot better, and we’re probably close to max on lumens/watt. I still check on almost daily. Just in case.

 

[nfetterly]

In reference to "threads without photos are lame" or something like that.

Below is some of the Oveready lights I had over the years... (I still have alot of the P60 hosts)

Preference I have for BOSS is the 18650 format - my only one remaining is the Ti one close to the middle.

 

[KITROBASKIN]

Very interesting that you made an image with some most excellent lights, including what looks like a Solarforce?
Care to tell us details of that copper finish beauty?

 

[dc38]

Very interesting that you made an image with some most excellent lights, including what looks like a Solarforce?
Care to tell us details of that copper finish beauty?

It looks like a baked surefire 6p, i dont think solarforces had the tailcap alignment divots...

***Yeah it's this model, but I believe it has been baked.
www.knifecenter.com/item/SF6PLBK80/surefire-6p-led-single-output-led-flashlight

 

[raggie33]

I been here when we didn't have the internet or even flashlights

 

[nfetterly]

Very interesting that you made an image with some most excellent lights, including what looks like a Solarforce?
Care to tell us details of that copper finish beauty?

Solarforce - OUCH. Okay - I do have a Solarforce or 2 hiding around some where - but I wouldn't include it in that photo.

All the lights are Oveready supply (or at least the heads - the one on the left is a mish mash, see comment at bottom.

The red one is a Bored (to accept 18mm cells), "red" 6P by Oveready. If you look closely at the flat on the body you can see SUREFIRE

The copper one is a Copper BOSS from Oveready.
Details are here https://www.oveready.com/insiders/i...ren-bezel-rings-triad-beads-delrin-body-caps/

The light on the left (in case you thought this was SolarForce) is a Oveready triple head on a Leef E head C tail body with a Leef tail. I do have that posted for sale at a "I really don't want to sell it, but if someone really wants to buy it" price. And it has been carried and used in industrial settings. One of my favorite 2x18350s or 1x18650 lights.

 

[Lumencraft (Matt)]

Personally I still love it here, but I'd be amiss if I didn't chime in. To be clear this is just an observation, not a complaint. I think the biggest "loss" I feel here is to do with how sub forums are structured.

- I miss having sub forums where you could click on a builder/manufacturers name and get an actual sub forum of their threads vs a keyword search for their name.

- Contributing further to my own personal pain is the deep loss I feel over legendary creators like Fivemega losing the privilege of being able to sell here because of the fee structure. To be clear about the second point I don't think FM or any of the other small sellers who got shut down are being cheap. I own a business that I have worked full time for over a decade, and still don't make enough money back to cover the $250 per month cost. I hope to change that this fall with some new launches, but so far I'm upside down on it.

-There is a natural down turn I think also that just comes as a result of the industry changing as well. A huge part of what drove traffic to this forum for years IMO was the innovation (custom builds/mods). We had special lights and builds that no one else on earth did. No manufacture made anything like them. That isn't as easy to do now that manufactures can produce 200k lumen lights. Also its not just CPF, from my perspective the entire market has taken somewhat of a down turn the past few years.

-One last gift to bring: I have no idea if the glory days are truly gone, but I'm not giving up. I've taken the last several months to work on something pertaining to exactly this (the glory days of CPF). It will take me till September to finish. My hope is that a taste of the good old days, presented in the proper way to a new generation will spark a renewed interest in our marvelous hobby. Time will tell.


EDIT: Cuz like Chauncy said, threads without pictures are lame....

 

[sambob223]

I've noticed it too..I think people quit chasing , I don't think anyone wants a flash light equivalent to the flash of a nuke going off.

 

[Monocrom]

I've noticed it too..I think people quit chasing , I don't think anyone wants a flash light equivalent to the flash of a nuke going off.

In terms of light output? Yeah, I want that.

 

[Chauncey Gardener]

Personally I still love it here, but I'd be amiss if I didn't chime in. To be clear this is just an observation, not a complaint. I think the biggest "loss" I feel here is to do with how sub forums are structured.

- I miss having sub forums where you could click on a builder/manufacturers name and get an actual sub forum of their threads vs a keyword search for their name.

- Contributing further to my own personal pain is the deep loss I feel over legendary creators like Fivemega losing the privilege of being able to sell here because of the fee structure. To be clear about the second point I don't think FM or any of the other small sellers who got shut down are being cheap. I own a business that I have worked full time for over a decade, and still don't make enough money back to cover the $250 per month cost. I hope to change that this fall with some new launches, but so far I'm upside down on it.

-There is a natural down turn I think also that just comes as a result of the industry changing as well. A huge part of what drove traffic to this forum for years IMO was the innovation (custom builds/mods). We had special lights and builds that no one else on earth did. No manufacture made anything like them. That isn't as easy to do now that manufactures can produce 200k lumen lights. Also its not just CPF, from my perspective the entire market has taken somewhat of a down turn the past few years.

-One last gift to bring: I have no idea if the glory days are truly gone, but I'm not giving up. I've taken the last several months to work on something pertaining to exactly this (the glory days of CPF). It will take me till September to finish. My hope is that a taste of the good old days, presented in the proper way to a new generation will spark a renewed interest in our marvelous hobby. Time will tell.

Thanks, Matt, for stating it so concisely. I couldn't agree more .......


but did ya have to post a picture 10x better than mine? :yellowlaugh:

EDIT: Cuz like Chauncy said, threads without pictures are lame....
View attachment 80982

Check this out -

 

[hsa]

Just brought my 800 lumen firefly out for a spin. This old maglite always makes me giggle. Keep them coming Matt.

 

[F89]

Solarforce - OUCH. Okay - I do have a Solarforce or 2 hiding around some where - but I wouldn't include it in that photo.

All the lights are Oveready supply (or at least the heads - the one on the left is a mish mash, see comment at bottom.

The red one is a Bored (to accept 18mm cells), "red" 6P by Oveready. If you look closely at the flat on the body you can see SUREFIRE
View attachment 80936

The copper one is a Copper BOSS from Oveready.
Details are here https://www.oveready.com/insiders/i...ren-bezel-rings-triad-beads-delrin-body-caps/

The light on the left (in case you thought this was SolarForce) is a Oveready triple head on a Leef E head C tail body with a Leef tail. I do have that posted for sale at a "I really don't want to sell it, but if someone really wants to buy it" price. And it has been carried and used in industrial settings. One of my favorite 2x18350s or 1x18650 lights.

I have one of these red anodised Oveready 6P. They did a run of red and blue that they called fire and ice from memory.

 

[Lips]

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.

Need more Hotwires!

 

[hsa]

^Amazing collection, there.

 

[nfetterly]

I have one of these red anodised Oveready 6P. They did a run of red and blue that they called fire and ice from memory.

Great memory! You are right!

 

[F89]

Great memory! You are right!

I’ll add a pic over the weekend.

 

[Lumencraft (Matt)]

.
.

Need more Hotwires!

View attachment 81010

Great pile of candy

 

[F89]

Oveready anodised and bored 6P x3.
HA Black (home made solid copper quad 219b sw45k), Fire (Vinz quad 219c) and HA Natural (home made solid copper XPE2).

Business end with partially stock 6P in background (McClicky, 219b sw45k w/OP reflector).