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[Webby the Bear]

We get reps coming round selling all manner of tools and usually I am not interested. But we had a rep from euroshiteparts come round the other day. He demonstrated this  rechargeable LED torch and omg it lit up the entire shop 

If you're say working on a strut and you shine your torch in the wheel arch area usually what you want to see is obscured by a shadow that the light from the torch creates. But this really did light up the whole area. I'm not very technical but the light is very 'white' also and really does light up everything. . . . Just don't look directly at it!

Anyways we usually avoid their parts as thy tend to be really poor quality (especially their window regulators) but this torch is awesome.

Not sure on its longevity. It's a slimline one and it does look like it wouldn't take too many drops to break it (my draper one I must've dropped a thousand times and apart from a slightly scuffed case it's still working great).

The company make is toptech. Never heard of them.

But they have a retractable work light that I may buy to see how that goes and perhaps keep this one for interior work like blower motors, pollen filters etc 

[TheBoy]

With the new LED 'strips' (a line of those ultra brite LEDs often used in those spotlights) that look like a single strip of light when on now becoming dirt cheap and common place, there are a lot of these starting to flood the market.  No-name ones start around £3 or £4, branded around a tenner.

You still get shadows, as its still a single light source, though as the strip is usually around 6" long, some shadowing is reduced.

I use one in the shed, taped to roof, to light it, as no electric in there.  For car use, I still use the Snap-Off ones I picked up a couple of years back to replace the ones I lost in the explosion. These are a bunch of traditional LEDs, but seem more robust.

[RobG]

This one?

[Lazydocker]

Come on bear... We need to know which one if you are going to recommend it!

[Nick W]

I always carried a torch at work, and still have one in my pocket when doing mechanical work. And I'm a sucker for gadgets, so have bought a lot of torches over the last 12years My recommendation until recently was simple: Fenix LD10. They've since replaced it with a very similar tool, the LD09. They cost about £30, which sounds a lot, but is really good value.


My reasons for liking these: it's a sensible size using a single AA battery, the 3 output levels are sensible and easily switched between, it uses a tailmounted click-switch, it can be stood on its tail to light a room, it's extremely robust, the battery life is reasonable - I used mine all the time and got over a fortnight out of each battery - in high power mode it has a pretty good range and throw which makes it usable for searching fields, and the price is OK. I tried, and still have others, but for various reasons this is the only one I would replace. I don't find the potential higher output of a CR123 battery worth the massive extra cost as they lasted no longer than AA batteries; the smaller rechargeable torches tend to be a bit bigger if the controller is internal, and if using it as a tool an external charger(other than a micro-USB lead) is unacceptable; side mounted switches are easily switched on accidentally; twisting the end cap of a smooth torch with oily fingers is obviously a bad idea. The LD10 has the most important characteristic for good design; it just works with no niggles. One complaint I have of this sort of torch is that they are all anodised black which is a stupid idea for a light source; I would happily buy another if they made one in a bright colour or silver. This is the only thing that Maglites have in their favour and it isn't enough for me to buy another.


I did have one like RobG pictured and wasn't impressed: it's bright but the throw/spread/colour isn't particularly useful, it's bulky, the charger isn't reliable and the lamp broke quickly. I went back to using the torch in my pocket.


As for batteries, buy them in bulk. I bought 50 AA Procell for about £15 over a year ago, have used them in my torches and other stuff and still have half of them left.

[RobG]

Best ones I find, have a "Cree" bulb fitted

[biggriffin]

Best ones I find, have a "Cree" bulb fitted

as above. I have a 2 AA batteries, " cree"  single rubber covered switch on the base, came from Tesco, couple years back, £5.99. Super bright white light.

[Webby the Bear]

No, the one I have is a slim lined one with single strip. Before posting I assumed they'd be on the site but now I look they're not there 

I'll get a pic 

[Webby the Bear]

Said torch modelled by SwMBO 

[Bigron]

I got something similar from Lidl last year, alumimium casing, bottom rubber-covered press switch and "zoom" front lens to broaden or narrow the beam. Takes 3 x AAA cells and seems to last for ages, even with rechargeables in.
Also has a Cree LED, and the switch has a second-press position that flashes S-O-S in Morse code, just in case.....
About £7, if my memory is any good?

Ron.

[Olympia5776]

Said torch modelled by SwMBO 

I bought a couple of torches with combined triple LED and a 2 inch strip  similar to the one in that photo , for €4.99 each in Aldi the other day. I don't know what the material is but the light from it is intense and way brighter than any of the many cree torches i have . Don't know what it will do to battery life 'cause you get nothing for nothing ,but I used one last night whilst working under the front arch on my BMW and it was like daylight .
That one in the photo must be like Wembley floodlights ........

[Lazydocker]

Said torch modelled by SwMBO 

That's great... But I say again, we need the part number

[Broomies Mate]

Webby, my dear.... That Snowman isn't going to last long with a woolly coat on stood in front of the fire.  Do you not have any common sense? 

[Sir Tigger KC]

He's gone a bit OTT with decs hasn't he? 

[TheBoy]

I think Webby is currently winning the xmas Chav of the Year with the decorations