What do you do to look after your flash light?

[ryan1835]

Im thinking keep it in a case of some description. Another idea i was toying with was, to put a clear piece of film over the lens to prevent scratches. Any other ideas?

[Millhouse]

The only thing I do is lube the O rings.

[nuphoria]

I just make sure they are clean and dry when they get messed up, and also lube the thread too.

[Farmman]

What the two above said.

[Chain Gang]

I do the above and about once a month I inspect the battery for leakage.

[Neil]

When the boys were younger I had to strip them down regularly and wash out the drool

These days the threads get a wipe and relube about once a year and that's that.

[gustophersmob]

+1 on lubing the threads.

If the lens is glass, chances are it won't scratch easily.  For polycarb or some other plastic, a clear film may help, but it will reduce the output a little.

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

Whenever I get a new light, the first thing I do is break it down and clean all of the factory lube out of it.  I typically use De-Oxit, but rubbing alcohol does fine too if there's not built up gunk.  I make sure to clean all the contact points, first with a white eraser, then alcohol or de-oxit on a q-tip.  After that, I run the tip of a pick lightly through the threads to remove any left over flash from machining and do another quick wipe-down with alcohol.  I also wipe off all the o-rings as well.

Once that's all done, I put a generous but not gratuitous amount of nyo-gel in the o-ring slots and on all threads.  I seat the o-rings in first, and pull them around at least a full 360º to make sure the nyo-gel is properly distributed.  Then put it all back to together.

I do the same when I get new tools that aren't too complex or intricate, and if I was into guns, I'd do the same thing for them as well.  I'm not a gun nut, but I am planning on getting a shotgun, and when I do not only will I take the necessary training and safety courses to use it properly, but also take any classes I can find on how to strip, clean, and maintain my weapon when I get it.

[cerbera147]

Fenix have a good but boring video on light maintenance 



I'm like everyone else; clean & lube the threads and clean the contacts

I use this from Halfords.
http://tinyurl.com/69brhqf

[Styerman]

I clean and lube the O rings , and clean the threads . With AAA , check the tube often for leakage .

Chris

[Benner]

Clean threads, lube o-ring and check for battery leakage.  Do the lights I carry every day about once every 3 months.

Oh, and don't be a tart with some film! 

[Sparky415]

I have a little rubber cap on my ITP as its often in my pocket with my change





 

[Benner]

Benner's top tip of the day...

If you remove that cap, it'll be much brighter.

Thanks for listening.

[Sparky415]

       




 

[Benner]

Thank you, thank you. I am here all week.

[Mike C]

I just keep mine in a display case but most important of all i dont leave batteries inside them unless i am going to test them, battery leakage is death to torches in some cases as it eats the contacts an the switch. It can also take the coating of the reflector surface to.

[5hif7y]

i feel silly saying it but till now didnt even think about flash light maintenance. i clean and oil my leathermans, SOG's and SAK's but didnt even think about lights.

thanks for the enlightenment 

[Nightshade]

Good primer on flashlight maintenance... I use the Caig products on so many things.


http://www.flashlightreviews.com/features/care.htm

[5hif7y]

thanks nightshade 

[Beerplumber]

I have a little rubber cap on my ITP as its often in my pocket with my change

(Image removed from quote.)

(Image removed from quote.)

 

I think that's a great idea. Where did those caps come from they look familiar I was considering that 3M film being used for screen protectors on cell phones lately. I have it in my iPhone (ghost armor?) and have seen it on cars and other places. It seems really clear. My aaa maglight lens is toast from scratches.


Stay multi my friends

[Metropolicity]

I have a little rubber cap on my ITP as its often in my pocket with my change

(Image removed from quote.)

(Image removed from quote.)

 

I think that's a great idea. Where did those caps come from they look familiar I was considering that 3M film being used for screen protectors on cell phones lately. I have it in my iPhone (ghost armor?) and have seen it on cars and other places. It seems really clear. My aaa maglight lens is toast from scratches.


Stay multi my friends

Look at vinyl chair leg floor protectors. The one in the pic looks like a conduit cap or something.

[mvyrmnd]

I don't

[Sparky415]

Some kinds of machines are sent out with these on the back protecting multipin plugs/sockets
And some kinds of drums of cable have something similar
Maybe you know someone in the electronics industry 

I used to have one on my AAA Maglight for years until I lost it 

[MirrorEdge]

Dry it
And change the batteries