Lights.com—Aluminum Flashlights
Aluminum flashlights are made by several different manufacturers who want to offer extremely durable flashlight bodies which can withstand rough conditions. Machined aluminum is virtually indestructible and these type of flashlights can be beneficial for harsh work conditions. Aluminum flashlights are often designed for industrial workers, law enforcement, the military and emergency and safety personnel.
There are several different aluminum flashlights on the market. Maglite makes a two D-cell flashlight with rugged machined aluminum construction. The Trek 4 3AA aluminum flashlight is made with a block of aircraft aluminum, and the Dorcy Super 1 watt flashlight is made with solid aluminum alloy construction. The M6 from the Pelican Black Knight series is also made from machined aircraft aluminum.
The Brinkmann Pro grip is made with machined aluminum with an anodized finish, and the Streamlight twin task LED flashlight is made with titanium computer machined aluminum. The ASP Triad has aerospace aluminum construction, and the Dorcy 3 LED has an anodized aluminum construction. What do all of these different aluminum constructions mean, and is one better than the next?
Construction of Aluminum Flashlights
Aluminum can be worked and pressed in different ways to create strength and durability. Some aluminum sheets will be pressed together to make a thicker end product. Anodized aluminum has been processed with either chemicals and electricity to create a sheen and sometimes to change the color of the metal. Aluminum alloy is a combination of pure aluminum melted together with other metals to produce a stronger and highly resistant finish.