Custom Flashlights - Why Are They Worth Hundreds?

[@peteserna538]

Great video! Thanks for sharing. I find it difficult to convey these exact points to those who are questioning the worth of a high end light. Even at a meetup where someone can hold the light, there is a lot going on and they want to pick it up and immediately feel the $700 difference and it just doesn’t work that way. I feel like you really need to take your time with these lights, slow down and get to know it and then you will see why a light can totally be worth the $600 or more. That Hanko is 🔥 btw.

[@67daffy]

Exactly why I own a few-it's the intangibles that also make a difference.

[@michaelm9871]

I'd consider these the esoteric equivalent of a high end wristwatch. You can go buy a Casio or Seiko for a few hundred bucks that is as accurate and durable as you'd ever need. They can even look amazing. But you buy a Rolex or Omega because it's beautiful to you and represents some kind of ideal that you appreciate. Yes the fit and finish on a Rolex is going to be superior to a regular Seiko, but probably not 20x better to justify the price.

[@deltawing9]

Wow, this is an awesome video not often seen on KZbin. Similar tribute should be set somewhere to all great flashlight makers. Like Tim Miklos who is champion with his individual lights at pattern-matching threads and disappearing gaps.

[@cheule]

Glad you liked it!

[@timdogg8635]

@@deltawing9 ,appreciate the compliment!! Making those threads buttery smooth is time consuming but so worth the feel when doing battery changes. Hoping to get back to making lights again someday. This was a really great video with excellent demonstration and explanation from an obvious flashlight enthusiast!

[@deltawing9]

@@timdogg8635 so great to see you commenting! Have a nice day!

[@FLASHAHOLIC_TV]

I dislike how the custom community dismiss custom lights made in Asia, other than that they are fun to collect.

[@grega4450]

Great video. Jesse makes amazing flashlights. Have 2

[@cheule]

His lights are a value too. Comparable Hankos are $850 +

[@AGC828]

For a little more time spent on each body?? So that there's "less grittiness" when we remove the batteries?? For external machining that still resembles assembly-line CNC programming?? Now had these "custom machinined lights been done in solid silver, 18k gold, platinum....with a one-off scenic engraving that took at least 6 hours to engrave....then perhaps. At the end of the day we're talking about an item that spend it's life in a pocket or glove box of a car, a drawer (non-entusiasts)... they aren't "fine watches" with intricate internals...items that marks our success in life.....displayed or seen regularly (without geting giggles, smirks...).... You had to put a mic to these lights :)) ....heh....in the end...whatever floats yur boat :)

[@cheule]

Same could be said for knives (Shamwari), pens (Mont Blanc) or watches (Rolex)! These are artwork. And they have the prices to match.

[@Blazerghost]

So with your logic you think a fully machined solid gold light is going to be $500-2k? 😂 also even in say a Rolex you are barely getting a couple grand worth of gold and they’re 20k+ for any gold model. You don’t understand machining, R&D and finishing clearly. Stick to mag lite or Oshitter.

[@deltawing9]

In human history of technology and inventions there have always been precious, artwork / jewel level pieces a little percentage of people did even appreciate or afford. Just think of cars, steam engines, pens, film cameras. Every profession needs to create masterpieces with distinct amount of education, practice and work put in. Flashlights went through an ultra rapid evolution since 1999. Flashlights based on same principles set by Volta and Edison were produced and used for about a century. Starting from 1999 a whole thing needed to be reinvented from ground. It took at least two nobel prizes (one for the blue led, one for the Li-ion battery) to get where flashlights are today. As every new technology flashlight industry had their pioneers, artists and masters at mechanical design, electronics, heat management, user interface and many more aspects. Flashlights today have built in sensors, processor(s), clever drivers and software. Having masterpieces around and people who cherish masterpieces is absolutely natural. New high technologies have a lifecycle from being unbelievable masterpieces through moving to ever cheaper mass products until new technology emerges. But those masterpieces stay eternal, sitting in museums or at collectors' hands. I can't afford any of those but I followed this twenty-some years closely and much appreciate those masters of the domain.

[@TheFossilChannel]

next year i will have enough for a high end light. I've been looking at oveready boss 35 and 70 lights.

[@patnil4681]

Nice video. Where do I connect USB for charging? You forgot to mention if it has power bank feature.

[@cheule]

I have a new video coming out tomorrow which is all about these same lights. Much more in depth, and we go over batteries. I'll mention here that these lights require you to remove the battery and use a charger such as an XTAR 4 bay 18650 charger ($20).

[@stevie9361]

They are worth it for life mile stones I believe. Always daily carry them to ;)

[@pritim2009]

ok, good, but.. what about quality of light of these.. is it just like same-as a good $100 flashlight or what?

[@steveburdette1478]

Im looking for a custom 14500 size flashlight, any suggestions? I have a mecarmy ps14ti and an eagtac but I want something fancier

[@cheule]

I’ve looked around. Like REALLY LOOKED. almost bought a Laulima Ion slim a few times, or a CWF Micro Arcadian. Both of those are $350-500! But honestly you really can do better than Rey’s 14500 line up. They’re a fraction of the cost, super well made. The machining is not quite “American customs” quality, but it’s definitely higher than Chinese production quality. I highly recommend the Titanium Raw LAN-apple. I love the look, and it can take 14500 or AA (something that isn’t true of the Micro Arcadian!). I really like the mode spacing and simplicity of the UI.

[@wyattbreymeyer4033]

here’s a problem, especially with brands like maeerxu, it brings into question of oem, because the cores can and some mostly are made overseas, that has turned me away from the customs, that being said i have 2 laulimas, and two cwfs

[@mickeyavi515]

There should be a description of the names of the makers

[@cheule]

All four lights are listed in the first minute of the video. I point to each and say the manufacturer name.

[@IWH8023]

I've seen far more complex medical device machining worth $50

[@1tltt1]

What type of titanium does rotablade use in the titanium vision?

[@cheule]

I wish I knew the answer to that. Try Paul Watson (owner of Rotablade). He should be able to help!

[@1tltt1]

I tried contacting rotablade on what type titanium, i hope 6AI-4V not cp2, but for the price im a little suspicious, as most custom titanium lights are $450-$700 rotablade is generally less than that, my laulima ion titanium which is 6-4 titanium is $450-$500 and mcgizmo about same price

[@1tltt1]

@@cheule It was confirmed from paul watson that it is grade 5.

[@TheSingularity8]

Worth is always a subjective matter. However, what you're paying for is the inefficiency of small batch manufacturing. Any one of these custom lights could still be mass produced to the same quality for under 100 dollars. If there were enough demand, that is.

[@cheule]

I agree with you to a point. What you are paying for is the fact that Jesse Hayes or Jeff Hanko have stated that it takes them 2 to 3 days to complete one light. If you do the math, they're only able to produce ~100 lights a year. And even at $700 a pop, not including overhead, that's $70,000 a year. I would think any "master" level craftsman deserves a 6 figure salary. I also have never seen this level of craftsmanship out of China, Thailand, or any other place that mass produces lights. I've seen very good items, like Reylights for example, but it's still not to this level. Triple Dawns, for example, never line up when you screw down the head.

[@TheSingularity8]

@@cheule Yep, if you are willing to pay for that extra 1-5% it will cost several times more. It's not for me though, I bought 20 nice lights for $500 and I like switching between them. I make over 200k a year but I would still hesitate to pay so much for such a custom. One more thing I'll say is that I doubt it actually takes these guys 2-3 days of actual work (20+ hours) to make a light. They probably have tons of downtime where they are doing something else. Of course, they have incentive to exaggerate the work that goes in to make it seem more exclusive and worth the money.

[@Blazerghost]

@@TheSingularity8 So you make 200k a year but you can’t comprehend $600+ on a light? Sounds like poor to me

[@TheSingularity8]

@@Blazerghost Nah, I didn't say I couldn't comprehend it, it's just not for me. I'm relatively well off because I've never spent my money on luxury items. Instead it's spent on about several houses and other investments.

[@Blazerghost]

@@TheSingularity8 Good for you lol. Must be a ✡️

[@13barnes]

Gas station knives and flashlights.

[@cheule]

Yes.

[@christopherknowles]

Holy fuck this video is 13 minutes long.