OT- Where to get crappy AAA one battery LED flashlights ?

Milacron · Nov 30, 2011

Sure, K-Mart probably has them...but here's the rub....I can't find any like they used to sell...with the twist on/off. Now they are all push button on/off...which I hate, as the button often gets pushed 'on' while it's in my pocket and I don't know it's on.

I used to keep a Fluke LVD1 in my pocket, which is the right size and has the cool option of checking for AC power....but the damn 'on' button would get pushed on in my pocket too much. (plus it has really crappy plastic battery case lid where the snap close things would break eventually and make it worthless)

So, does anyone still sell an El Cheapo one AAA cell, thin aluminum case, twist on/off LED flashlight anymore ?

Johann Ohnesorg · Nov 30, 2011

Search for a maglite on ebay. With the LED craze, halogen fell into disrespect. I had one on keychain with a twist to write ballpen. Can´t remember how often this combo saved my beautyful ass when I pulled notes and measurements or found hidden bolts under tables and in dark corners.

Not too serious,
Johann

iwananew10K · Nov 30, 2011

i got one from Sears in the hardware dept- it`s on a keychain- i think i remember seeing them at Home Depot too but i can`t be sure those were AAA.

Milacron · Nov 30, 2011

Johann Ohnesorg said:
Search for a maglite on ebay. With the LED craze, halogen fell into disrespect. I had one on keychain with a twist to write ballpen. Can´t remember how often this combo saved my beautyful ass when I pulled notes and measurements or found hidden bolts under tables and in dark corners.

Maglites are too nice....i.e. case is made heavier and therefore it's too large and heavy in the pocket and the mouth (I do alot of holding a flashlight in my mouth working on electronics with both hands free...and no I'm not going to use one of those stupid headband things..mostly because it won't fit in my pocket and would take more than 1 second to get it in positon)

So, in other words, I need the smallest, lightest AAA cell LED flashlight on the planet that has twist on/off. Had two of them that were perfect and now lost them both.

mfisher · Nov 30, 2011

Ace Hardware?

The local Ace Hardware here generally has a 1xAAA micro-maglite knockoff keychain flashlight display next to the key cutting machine. All kinds of stuff actually, so you can browse and buy things you don't need as they make your new key.

Or at least they used to, haven't bothered to look recently.

Milacron · Nov 30, 2011

iwananew10K said:
i got one from Sears in the hardware dept- it`s on a keychain- i think i remember seeing them at Home Depot too but i can`t be sure those were AAA.

"one" = LED and twist on/off ?

rbent · Nov 30, 2011

How bright do you want?

Fenix makes some decent little AAA lights. I find the AAA ones are a little small for everyday use for me, I like a single AA or a single CR123A light for work.

10 Lumen cheap one.
Amazon.com: : Home Improvement

Up to 70 lumen little more expensive one.
Amazon.com: Fenix LD01 Flashlight: Sports & Outdoors

iwananew10K · Nov 30, 2011

Milacron said:
"one" = LED and twist on/off ?

yep, twist on-twist off. give it to your kid to play with and they will twist too far and lose the parts. :angry:

i need a new one too.

bruce h · Nov 30, 2011

When I first read your title I thought China? :rolleyes5:

Trip59 · Nov 30, 2011

I don't buy cheap ones, there's a family of maglites (half a dozen in each of AAA and AA and a few C and D) I give them two wraps of black tape and hold them at the corner of my mouth rather than my front teeth.

Dare I say... HF usually has dirt cheap plastic 'loseable' lights, my kids usually get one whenever we go and a replacement the next time.

For longer projects, I picked up one of the head band lights from depot, Husky I think, came in a pack with a AA and C or D sized flashlight. Red and black with a lens that twists to go from narrow to wide.

LED Lenser make my favorites. I have a 4AAA battery one that is brighter than my friend's Pelicans and Streamlights, lasts 4 times as long as the CR123A. Plan to buy some other sizes and their head band light in the spring when cash flow unclogs.

Milacron · Nov 30, 2011

rbent said:
10 Lumen cheap one.
Amazon.com: : Home Improvement

Up to 70 lumen little more expensive one.
Amazon.com: Fenix LD01 Flashlight: Sports & Outdoors

Interesting. The 10 lumen one looked good until I saw the photo with size comparison between the battery and the flashlight. The ones I lost, the case was so thin the flashlight body was only a tiny bit larger than the battery.

Wish there was a comparable pix for the 70 lumen one... it seems like it might be smaller, but maybe not. The ability to crank up the lumens when needed is appealing.

Milacron · Nov 30, 2011

Trip59 said:
I don't buy cheap ones, there's a family of maglites (half a dozen in each of AAA and AA and a few C and D) I give them two wraps of black tape and hold them at the corner of my mouth rather than my front teeth.

Tape wouldn't last me two days...I also tend to get these things oily and greasy...but try to keep the oil off the end that goes in my mouth ! But that's another reason I like the cheap ones vs the "textured" surface ones that Maglight makes...the oil wipes off the smooth aluminum of the cheap ones alot easier than the textured surface types.

Frederick Harvie · Nov 30, 2011

Not an AA battery light but you might like the Streamlight Stylus® . Note that the diameter is just 3/8" . For size it is pretty much the same as having a pen in your pocket. There is a push button on the end for momentary on but for continous on you need to twist the end

Milacron · Nov 30, 2011

Frederick Harvie said:
Not an AA battery light but you might like the Streamlight Stylus® . Note that the diameter is just 3/8" . For size it is pretty much the same as having a pen in your pocket. There is a push button on the end for momentary on but for continous on you need to twist the end

Besides the problematic aspects of using AAAA batteries, it's simply way too long to fit in front pants pocket...I'd end up breaking it in half if I was wearing tight bluejeans. That one is only good for a shirt pocket...which is something I often don't have. I should have specified front pants pocket in the beginning, but in reality even if every day I wore a shirt with a pocket I still would prefer one in the front pants pocket...reason being even a pen you can feel the weight in a shirt pocket and they sometimes fall out when you lean over, but in pants pocket you feel no weight and they never fall out.

magicmaker · Nov 30, 2011

I have been using one of those baseball caps with the lights in the visor. These put the light beam right where I want it. Have you tried one of these?
Jim

Milacron · Nov 30, 2011

magicmaker said:
I have been using one of those baseball caps with the lights in the visor. These put the light beam right where I want it. Have you tried one of these?
Jim

No and not going to. Reason= I like to have a flashlight with me every waking moment and I only wear baseball caps when driving a ragtop car or a boat ! Also, once you get the hang of it, you can alter the beam direction via moving your teeth probably better than you can moving a cap or your head. (head angle vs ideal line of sight for eyeballs anyway)

Trip59 · Nov 30, 2011

Milacron said:
Tape wouldn't last me two days...I also tend to get these things oily and greasy...but try to keep the oil off the end that goes in my mouth ! But that's another reason I like the cheap ones vs the "textured" surface ones that Maglight makes...the oil wipes off the smooth aluminum of the cheap ones alot easier than the textured surface types.

Ok, how about

http://www.amazon.com/9-Volt-LED-Fl...D6JM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1322686072&sr=8-1

If you add a rechargeable 9v (light as anything) you have a smooth finish, brighter light that fits nicely in your watch pocket

rbent · Nov 30, 2011

Milacron said:
Interesting. The 10 lumen one looked good until I saw the photo with size comparison between the battery and the flashlight. The ones I lost, the case was so thin the flashlight body was only a tiny bit larger than the battery.

Wish there was a comparable pix for the 70 lumen one... it seems like it might be smaller, but maybe not. The ability to crank up the lumens when needed is appealing.

I bought one of the 70 lumen ones for the better half's keychain and its pretty stinking small (to me at least). I'll see if I can get a comparison picture of it tonight.

Milacron · Nov 30, 2011

Trip59 said:
Ok, how about

Amazon.com: 9 Volt LED Flashlight by Kikkerland: Home Improvement

If you add a rechargeable 9v (light as anything) you have a smooth finish, brighter light that fits nicely in your watch pocket

That's a neat idea... 9 volt batteries are usually a ripoff in price compared to AAA's but if it last alot longer, might be worth it. The other potential catch is it's not twist on/off and has that pesky "switch".....what a pisser that would be to accidentially turn it on in your pocket and drain out an expensive 9 volt battery ! Might be tricky to hold in mouth also...certainly wouldn't be as "angle versatile" when in the mouth as a round body.

adama · Nov 30, 2011

Had a friend chip his front teeth doing the same trick whilst trouble shooting some live electronics :-) Apparently 240V will trigger the bite reflex pretty hard!

I have always used the head band approach with a 2AA maglite with a extreme led upgrade. But yeah its not something you can carry or direct anything like as easily :-(

OT- Where to get crappy AAA one battery LED flashlights ?

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