I was just thinking you should test torque wrenchs actual twist handle ones, im just thinking a test at the lowest torque setting, then either just at max torque setting and/or mid range. Im curious how accurate they are from the factory. I know you can usually adjust them too but then ive also seen the electronic torque measuring adapters that i dont feel are as good as yours... cough cough Harbor FREIGHT. I know too many people buying their stuff and thinking their claims are true... earthquake xt. Im gonna try showin them your video on it nicely. They do have some decent stuff, like they're cheaper corded grinders are or at least used to be worth more than 30-50 bucks in the motor i feel. Plenty of speed and power without too much current draw unless you try to stop the blade but thats not the point. Ive gone on long enough, we all know they lie then excell and even surpass their own "tests."
I'd love to see headlamps tested. As an electrician I use one every day and as a side note I do appreciate the high CRI lights as the blue lights are hard on the eyes.
List headlamp suggestions below! Edit: Also should we even bother with a drop test on headlamps? (please recommend ones without auto proximity dim, we've tried testing a couple really good Olight & Fenix ones and this feature really messes up all of our runtime and lumen testing, even tried taping the sensor off to no avail)
I currently own the 475 and 600 lumen Milwaukee headlamps and like them both. I'd like to see the Klien 400 and 800 lumen rechargeable headlamps tested against them. This would benefit me personally as I would like to purchase another headlamp for home use. Currently I use both headlamps at work switching them out to charge as neither lasts all day on high which I understand haha
@@TorqueTestChannel I’d love to see the Snapon Necklight ECHDC038 tested. It’s called a neck light but it will snugly fit on your head if you’re in the standing position. If you’re working upside down wearing a thick hat ensures it stays on tight.
@@TorqueTestChannel Petzl headlamps are the gold standard for the outdoor adventure crowd, would love to see one of those thrown into the mix along with a Black Diamond as well.
The lower efficiency of the Milwaukee is due to the choice of LED emitters. Warmer color temperature and/or high CRI emitters will ALWAYS be less efficient and have a lower output than a cool white version of the same emitter. White LEDs are actually using a blue emitter covered in a phosphor layer that absorbs the blue light and re-emits it as longer wavelengths to give you a broader spectrum of light. Changing the wavelength of the light is an imperfect process that adds some inefficiency, so cool white emitters that let through more of the original blue light unchanged are able to be more efficient and output more total lumens. The phosphor layer is the reason the surface of white LEDs always look yellow or orange when turned off; that yellow phosphor is actually producing a range of wavelengths from green to red that without the blue light just looks yellow instead of white. To me the lower output is always worth the tradeoff to get neutral or warm white, and especially high CRI light, but it's something for people to keep in mind.
I left the braun out in constant rain for two days straight and upright, the battery compartment was completely filled with water. It still worked with the water. Still works year and a half later.
Stream light is a BEAST. I dropped my Streamlight Pro-Tac 2LX down a 14 story elevator shaft. Only damage was a slightly bent tip and a cracked/broken lense. It still turned off and on and WORKED just fine after I dug it out of the Elevator pit. I still replaced it since the lense broke, but I keep it in my truck as a spare/emergency light.
I bought 2 of the HF Braun several years ago when they first showed up at Harbor Freight. One of them just craped out last week. Harbor Freight had them on the Labor Day sale for $19.99 and I bought two more. For what I use them for and the price I think they are my best choice. I don't plan on dropping them from 5 foot so I should be OK.
On your broken one, crack it open and resolder the broken ground wire inside and it will be better than new. Don’t be a little girl about opening it though. It’s a beast to turn those threads.
@@garyrichards407 let me know how it goes...... i have a crafstman work light its an amazing light only downside is battery life in all honesty..... full brightness only for about an hour and a half and the dim mode for about 3 hours of total use.
@@garyrichards407 im considering buying some of the braun ones if only a couple modifications are needed to make it on par with the almost identical shape/functionality crafstman light i got thats a little over double the price..... im worried sick tho that ill drop it and itll explode or break apart.
I've had a HF Braun light for a year now and it works for my uses, especially given the price. I have never had an issue with bending the light causing it to go out. Must've gotten lucky there. I didn't know it had a removable battery. That will come in handy.
I absolutely love how the HF takes standard 18650 cells. I bought a pair of LG-MJ1-18650 batteries (Thanks to Project Farms for figuring out the best batteries) for mine and this DRASTICLY increases the runtime from the shitty stock 18650s. Also I own 2 of the HF Braun lights and I have not had any issues with the power button. Either I have gotten lucky or TTC was very unlucky.
I have three of them and only started having issues with one after it got ran over after a year of abuse. I taped the pivot back together and aside from having to press the button a few times and no led in the end it kept working for another 6 months
If you use it in a rough environment, you most likely will have the problem eventually. A small case ground wire breaks inside causing that problem. It’s an easy fix with a dab of solder and some hot glue. The tough part is getting those lights open. Anything short of a vise and pipe wrench is a waste of time in my experience. Once you make that repair though and use a decent battery, they are outstanding lights.
I’ve had mine for a couple of years. Other than the rubber cover for the charging port coming off, the only issue I’ve had is occasionally the base plate loosens up and it flickers off. I just screw it back on tight and it’s good. But there are enough complaints that I recommend people test them out immediately after buying them to make sure there isn’t a defect. That way if there is they can return it and get another. I’m guessing it’s probably less than 10% that are defective, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Another great video! Btw, I find many work lights are too bright and discharge too quickly, trying to make magical lumen numbers for sales. I often need to shine them next to where i’m working, if pointed directly onto the work area it white washes the area in our dark shop. 300-400 lumens is plenty usually. We usually aren’t trying to light up the moon from earth. :)
Streamlight is a good option for you then. It has natural lighting and reduces glare and lumen refraction. I use them. Perfect for spotting and identifying wire in harnesses in no light areas. Glare is always a problem. True 300 to 500 lumens is where you want to be. high temp blue light is not recommended
@@kevinkieel6778 In IT, I've found that the blue light works VERY well, especially when you're trying to read the printing off of the ceramic chips. It's all about surface reflectivity and absorption.
I Just bought the Braun from harbour freight for $19.95 for the labor day sale not two hours ago. Its a cool $20 light. I love the channel, keep up the good work!
Great Review. Im a home gamer and I use the Braun with an upgraded battery, Panasonic NCR 18650 3400mAh for about $6.00 from a real battery supplier. Only use real brand batteries such as LG, Samsung, Panasonic. Avoid anything with a huge mah rating or battery names with "fire" in them
One of the advantages that I discovered with my Braun is that the battery access cap can be turned about one rotation counterclockwise for transportation. I found that the switch can be turned on with the slightest bump in my tool bag! Loosening the cap eliminates this anomaly. For the price when on sale they fit my budget. I use more than one so I don’t need to reposition them when moving from underneath or side to side, I just switch it off. My biggest problem is trying to remember where I stuck all the damn lights!
I have used the Braun one's for about 1 1/2 years now they have fallen of the cars on the lift at times (to much rust) and some time's they break so a little black tape works well but if the light it self brakes off I use the base as a charger and just swap battery's.
LOL I actually lost a couple braun lights doing brake jobs or suspension jobs at my dealership. left them attached to struts or control arms only to never return. This is more common than you would think. Thankfully they are cheap. Some magnetic based lights I have go for $300
That’s my only complaint. For some reason I am always wanting to turn it counter-clockwise while the magnet is stuck in place. I always end up in threading the battery cap. It would be great if they had some kind of lock to keep it in place. Aside from that one issue that is caused directly by me, I love those lights.
Exactly. I thought the switch had gone bad but it was just a loose battery cap. I think it gets loose when you have it stuck on something metal and you rotate it around.
Haha! I would absolutely recommend the Braun, especially if you can buy them for $19.99. It performs as advertised, and IF you ever destroy one through drops, you can just pick up another and still be under most of the other lights. I can buy 3-4 of them for the price of some of the other options. What’s not to like? With HB no question warranty, if you have that button issue, u just exchange for another. If your unit doesn’t have that problem of the bat, it really won’t down the line. I just buy these in bunches when they’re on sale, and keep extras lying around.
These types of lights are becomming standard equipment for anybody working on pretty much anything. It is great that you are doing some testing so I can cut down on the number of lousy ones I buy before getting a good one.
Seems like 5 years ago it was all flashlights and corded drop lights. Now we see these everywhere, had to hit this category good and early, and maybe again in the future with recommendations
@@TorqueTestChannel I’d love for you to test headlamps and traditional handheld flashlights too. In fact I have a couple extremely powerful (and pretty expensive) ones that I’d be happy to send you for testing! Just no dropping please. 😅 For reference it would be cool if you tested the lumens of a couple smartphone flashlights just as an easy reference point for everyone about how strong or weak these flashlights are. For example, I know 800 lumens is more than 400 lumens but that doesn’t tell me much without some sort of reference point.
If you crack the Braun open, beef up some solder joints with extra solder and secure a couple of wires with hot snot, it gets into a whole other level of durability. Those steps will also solve the finicky “power button” issue. The problem is that the case ground wire breaks inside and loses contact if you jostle it. With a battery upgrade and that repair, I’ll reach for the Braun over my Astro’s and others every time. The size, flexibility, and lower light output is much more useful in my opinion. There is a such thing as too much light when doing automotive type work and for me the Braun is just right. I will say that it is not easy to open the Brauns up. I have to put the lights in a 6” heavy duty shop vise and turn the tubes with a 16” pipe wrench. The threadlocker they use on those things is no joke when paired with aluminum threads. A propane torch made no difference on them... I am biased though. I own many lights, but 8 of them are the Braun stick light. I didn’t pay more than $20 for any of them though. I bought one from HF for $2. The charging cord didn’t work so they marked it up as a defective light. I thought I was going to have to do my usual repair, but it charged right up on my Nitecore charging station. :D
I love that you’re testing lights. As they are cheaper than impact wrenches, I’m able to buy a better and brighter one more frequently than a power tool. Please keep up the light testing. Thank you
Just got that Braun for $19.99, labor day sale. I have the long yellow Braun, and dropped it about 10 times so far and it still works. I recommend that one; has a flash light and pullout lightbar.
Astro is still unbeatable as an everyday, do everything light in my mind. I use M12 or M18 Milwaukee lights for big areas/general lighting as that's the battery system I'm already in.
That output curve over time on the Milwaukee is nice and I'm sure plays a part in its perceived performance despite the lower than advertised lumen output. The light color is nice too, I have a handheld from them with the Truview light and it's aggreeable. I too am in the M12/M18 system.
i've never had any issues with the braun, i've had one for 3 years and a second for 2 years, and use them all the time. i drop them all the time and use them to film youtube videos, great product!!!
I'm retired now and picked up a pair of Chiwanese wand "worklights" for $8.99 on Ebay. They have Bright (maybe 300lm), dim (maybe 100lm), single LED tip light (maybe 150lm), red strip (maybe 75lm), and flashing red strip (maybe 150lm). I'm QUITE satisfied with them for the price. I don't have a runtime on any mode yet, but they're internally rechargeable. Oh, there is a magnet on the end and a hook, for working on your Tesla aluminum frunk lid, I'm sure. // You have great tests for all these lights, dude. Thanks for all of them.
Funny just yesterday I was messing around with my Braun light. I dropped it few times and it quit working. I tore it apart(they use a thread locker to keep it together) to find a tiny connector inside had come unplugged. Thing has been laying around for over a year. Would never buy another. Great video keep it up guys!
I let my wife's Honda Odyssey down on my switch blade when I changed the oil and it was holding up the van a little jacked it back up pulled it out no damage at all and they have a lifetime warranty great product. Great video 👍
I have a Braun had this light for a couple of years now, for our use it is an excellent light. The light is not used everyday we mostly use this light during power outages for some reason that is a couple times a year. when we travel i throw the light into the car. The light you choose should be based on what your needs are. as always my opinion only Thank you for sharing
I have two Astro 650 lights and have been extremely happy with their performance and durability. One of the things I've learned about Astro Tools, from this channel and a few others, is that they deliver what they promise in the specs of their tools and LED lights. Let's face it for a tool company or any company for that matter to sell their products at reasonable prices and deliver on the specifications they advertise is rare today. Astro is going to continue getting my business in the future.
Exelent review as always…👍🏼 Hey but no way 67 dollars for the Astro 80SL in Amazon is 89.07..😖 With all respet, for the real word price and runing time and strong I’m goin whit streamlight, or the best price and option of Astro , the 65SL at just 57 $
The streamlight charging makes sense to me. It's a bigger battery so it's always going to take longer, and it's not like you'd have 2-4 hours of free time during working hours anyway. Sure it could be faster, but faster charging wears the cells faster too. It's a big enough battery to last the day of work and you charge it over night.
that HF Bauer light can be fixed by either tightening the bottom more like it says on the packaging, or bu stretching the battery contact spring if that's not working. I have a few and they are all flawless.
4:13 - It has a discharge/charge protection circuit. You can stack a nickel or two to fill the extra space... Though I don't know if the light itself has onboard protection so you don't fry your 18650.
This is correct. The protection circuit will protect the Lithium Battery from fast drain and over charge but increases it's size to an almost 18700 battery.
I'm a Project Farm fan but dare say TTC has surpassed them in my eyes. Proj Farm is still OG. You guys came outta nowhere and now branching into areas outside of torque. Great job! I bought the Braun a few years ago. It feel off my tool cart at less than 4 ft and died. Took it apart and fixed a wire but messed up the ratchet mechanism in the process. It's very floppy now. Thinking about getting that Astro.
Why not just spend ~$45 and get an Astro. You get what you pay for and the difference is well worth a few bucks. But I enjoyed your testing and video. Now, the cheapskates can make an informed decision, and those of us wise enough to be a little picky are justified in that persnicketiness.
But the neck has no flexibility. It's just a straight shot which is no for me. I use the braun at an angle 90% of the time. Too bad battery life sucks on it tho
The tip light on the Braun is what makes it so useful for me. It allows viewing in dark recesses where other lights would prove useless because of the glare from the foreground. When the tip is placed beyond the opening, a clear view of the interior is made possible. I haven't had any issues with the battery life, and the plus is all the 18650 batteries I've harvested from old laptop packs make it a never ending supply that's instantly swapped out if ever caught low on charge. Captive batteries are a big disadvantage compared to readily swapped cell like in the Braun. Effectively it has zero downtime compared to any other light that needs to be recharged before continuing use, because I can charge spare cells quicker than I can use them up.
I am a Chevrolet technician and own the Streamlight. I am thoroughly impressed with it and even though it does take a while to charge I usually just put it on charge overnight and rarely ever kill it because of its lengthy runtime. It pairs nicely with the regular stinger light as well as my milwaukee hoodlight because of its ability to emit both typical LED bluish color and the milwaukee truview color. Highly recommend if you already have a streamlight and can utilize the dock to make the price of the stinger make a little more sense. That astro light is definitely a contender but it lacks the multi color of LED lights and the blacklight that makes the stinger such a great option.
Great Review. But I don’t think anything can compete with the Astro 52SL with the wireless charging. Might not be the brightest but being able to just set the light on the charger is so convenient
@@TorqueTestChannel I’m kinda expecting more wireless charging light to come out. I think other brands are going to try to do the same thing Astro did. Might be a while till then lol keep killing it with the videos
I have a harbor freight Braun cordless rechargeable light and it works great. It's bright and has a magnetic swivel base. I have noticed it does hold a charge as long as it did when I 1st got it. It still gets the job done. I can't complain to much about it. Mine is the yellow and black flat octagon shape one, It was about 30$ also.
Worklights and inspection lights are 2 different lights to me. My inspection light is a StreamLight Strion. It is on my person all day at work. My go-to work light is a StreamLight Knucklehead. The knucklehead is not the brightest light but it doesn't have to be for what it's used for. The knucklead is the ONLY worklight I have used that will survive a shop environment. I even ran one over with an F250 and it still works.
The Braun is on sale TODAY for just $19.99. I have two and the only problem I've had is the rubber receptacle cover on one broke off. As for the switch you placed its very strong magnet on a thick piece of steel then turned the flashlight counterclockwise which looked like it unscrewed the cap a bit which is why it started working again after you tightened the cap.
I bought the Harbor Freight light and it crapped out on me too After a few months of light use. I still had the receipt, so I thought I'd just swap it. When I took it back they pointed out that it only had a 90 day warranty .
You can use the Streamlight all day and let it charge overnight... typically you want a good, slow, deep charge and that will care for your battery for a long time
Deep charge is bad for all lithium based batteries. Deep discharge even worse. Stop living in the Nimh era, Li batteries last 10x longer if kept between 40 and 60%, never charge them full.
The big rage at my shop is the neck lights. I was the first to give it a try and now almost everybody has one. We found them more useful on our heads though.
I have the Braun light. Have same problem with the switch, but it does still work. Magnet is strong. Was working under my truck and had it stuck to the frame. But I forgot to remove it when down. A couple of weeks later I am looking for it and remember the last time I used it was under the truck. Slide under truck, and it was still there even after driving it several times.
As a mechanic, the streamlight works great. I can use thru a 12 hour shift with no loss of light, put it on charger and in the morning it's ready to go again. It will last thru a gazillion charges.
I have the Braun light and it works quite well for general purposes. It does break when dropped but I have broken the business end off several times and glued it back with epoxy and reinforced with dental floss... it is by no means a tank... the pin in the center is plastic and is the weak point but I drilled out one side and shot a screw through the pivot and so far it has been working well. I will mention that if you replace the battery make sure you use a PROTECTED button top 18650 unless you like angry pixies dancing in your hacienda or shop overnight. Also even though it is not very rugged, I do like the fact that not only does the head flex BOTH directions you can also rotate the head so that the power button is on either side which is neat.
I’d really like to see pocket lights. Maybe the Streamlight stylus pro usb we all have, Streamlight mini, maybe a led mini maglite, some coast lights? Looking forward- and I’m sure between your 50k subs 👏🏻, we could even get them all lent to the channel for lumen testing, and length battery lasts, etc. Keep em comin! Great stuff!!
I hate to say it but the Braun gives you more for the money. They go on sale sometimes for $19. As for the run time no one cares because you can replace the battery with a fully charged one and go on indefinatly. I found them to have more than sufficient light for working in and engine bay or under the car or for locating your electrical box in a power outage in 100% darkness. Outdoors it works well up to 15-20 feet beyond that you may want something more powerfull.
The Braun light at HF is generally a good light and can be bought on sale (though maybe not these days) on the cheap. My major peeve with it is short battery life, you really need 2 of them if you plan on using them for extended periods.
Charging: on lithium cells, the low voltage cutoff will affect the "usable" capacity. So the milwaukee taking 2.6mah of 3.0mah indicates they use a higher voltage cut-off to protect the battery. (If you discharge a light at the low setting, you will drain the battery further. Voltage drops under load, so the smaller the load, the less the voltage drops...and battery protection monitors operating voltage, not remaining capacity.)
I have a feeling they do the same thing with their standard batteries for all their tools. Id rather have less run time, and know that the batteries are always being kept really conservatively safe. This also means they will stay healthy for years.
I agree not recommending Braun lights for professional applications. I bought 2 a few years ago as only a home user. They both held up well, surviving a couple drops, until I dropped one from around 5' and it cracked the swivel header (aluminum part). As far as home use, I think they're fine particularly when I bought mine I was able to get them for $20 each. I also upgraded the batteries eventually, although typically the OE batteries were fine and they did last a couple hours. Never thought anything on the light tint. Not sure what the market currently is, Braun's may still be an OK-quality budget option or not. The other issue, and it's a minor one, is the magnet cover's both wore through and started shifting. They appear to basically be a thick sticker. Someone like a pro mechanic would probably experience this in a couple months, to the point where they would have to be very careful to avoid scratching/marring paint work.
I love Milwaukee everything. so i grabbed two of their inspection pen lights. It has a rubber end cap they call the "bite zone". Makes it super easy to hold with your mouth. The light temp is great, so is brightness and run time. But man, the durability sucks. I dropped the first one a couple of times on to concrete at the shop, and it bit the dust after 2 or so months. The second one has held up longer, but the rubber end cap button has torn almost totally off from normal activation. Big bummer.
I'm a diesel mechanic and I use a Streamlight Stylus Pro pen light. I've had the same light forever. Its tough as nails. Its got a little belt clip on the end that works great for holding between your teeth. I keep one in my shirt pocket next to my ink pen everyday. It's bright enough for me and I use it more than any tool in my box. It has taught me to keep AAA batteries on hand though. It only has to die on you one time to learn to do that!
I’ve found Milwaukee’s hand tools and accessories to be hit or miss, not always up to the impeccable quality standards of their power tools. It feels like some of their products are designed with the expected tank-like durability while others are designed to be so cheap that you won’t care if you have to replace it occasionally. Most companies pick one or the other and I wish Milwaukee would, I buy products with the Milwaukee logo because I expect a certain level of quality and as a professional I’m willing to pay for it. If they wanna sell cheap shit to home-owners they need to sell it under a different brand name. Just my two cents.
I dropped the HF pen light a million times, and even in the toilet, and it’s still working. Not very bright though, so I switched to the tiny stream light pocket light
I had a Braun light for all of about a week. Dropped it once from probably about 4 feet-ish and it the hinge broke, and light stopped working. I guess if you drop it at just the right angle, it can be pretty fragile, in my experience. Went with Astro after.
I have the HF light. Every time I think that the switch crapped out it has been that the battery cap has come loose. The magnet is stronger than the threads, so if you twist it while picking it up it backs the cap off. I have the one with interchangeable heads but love the light bar most.
I've been using the switchblade for a couple of years now and I'm pretty happy with it. It's plenty bright for what I need to do (especially in an evenly lit shop) and the magnet sticks to pretty much anywhere on the car I need to put it. I've even stuck it to body panels with a towel between the paint and magnet to avoid scratching and it still holds strong. For work lights, I pretty much have streamlight everything. Tac light too. Haven't been disappointed yet.
@@SkidMarkSteve69 mine did that too actually. Like, I think in the fist month or two I had it. I didn't know exactly what caused it but like you said it doesn't cause significant issues. It was just on the brighter side, and along one edge.
I buy two Braun lights, and rotate them as I use them all day long working on cars. One is always on charge and ready to be swapped wirh the other. Best ROI.
Of might make a request, what is the best USB quick charger. We use them for light as seen on this episode but we use them for a lot of other tools: tpms, a small lab scope, inspection camera etc.
I have bought these Braum lights by Harbor Freight for a few years now, I am a professional tech. I think they are a good bang for the buck situation. You can get them for about $30 , they do have some durability issues (but then again I am really hard on lights) but cheap enough to buy again if you break. I currently have 3 of them I feel they provide a good amount of light. I have bought some snap on lights and i have a matco light that is like a bigger pen light with a dial for brightness and magnet a the bottom that is rechargeable but out of the lights I owned Ive liked the Braum lights the best. I paid over $100 for the matco one and I only use it when i need something a big smaller to get into tighter spaces.
The only issue I ever hear off with the Braun light is that you need to properly tighten the cap before use as that is what causes the button issue. If that is sorted they are usually fine from what I hear.
My Switchblade lives in a streamlight charger next to its standard style stinger LED older brother. Put it back where it goes, and you always know where it is when you need it. That's probably why it charges so slowly, they assume it's going to charge overnight, since most people in a shop setting aren't toting these home in their pockets. Lower charge rate = less wear
My opinion, the Walmart Hyper Tough work great for the price. The pen light has 3 different lights, 4 modes with folding and rechargeable. $14 with a magnet base. I love mine and when I accidentally left one under a truck because the boss was in a hurry to get the truck out, and they were gone before I could get if off the bumper. I didn't care so much about the $14 verses $100+. And I actually paid $8 originally, but still the $14 is great. The larger $30 works all day for me, bright enough, 3 modes, heavy magnets, and rechargeable. For the price I'm extremely happy. And nearly all Super Walmarts or main Walmarts carry these and offer extended warranties for like $2.
Had the braun for 3 ish years now, daily use in aviation. No big issues. Been pretty good for 30 bucks. Low light setting is more than bright enough and last me all day, way more than 2 hours. I only use bright for short busts of time like inspections in large enclosed sections like the tail. If i need more light i get another type of flashlight. Form factor is good for my environment. Fits in tight spots. Better than using headlamps sometimes. Color is fine for reading colored wires, although most wires i see are white. Magnet base is strong enough to hold on a tinnereman washer or steel screw when i can find one. Hook would be nice sometimes but i have other lights for different situations. I use it plugged in sometimes at my tool box to use as a desk lamp when I'm building wire harnesses which hinged at the center is helpful. Hard to justify 2-3 times the price for a small light.
I've had Braun lights for many years. You can get chargers with 4 - 5800 MAH batteries and a flashlight for $20 on Amazon. I'm old and I find the light from the Braun almost too bright and mainly used them on their lower setting where it lasts about 3 hours. For people who have problems dropping their lights, I suggest a lanyard attached to a magnet or a locking pliers.
I have 6 of those HF Braun lights and none of them have light switch issues. That sucks yours does. I get them on sale for 19.99 during their Holliday sales. Like this past labor day for instance. Nice video!
I haven’t had any serious issues with my Braun light, though I’m a hard DIYer (do a lot of automotive and home repair for myself, family and friends), so I don’t put it through quite as much daily use as you may. For me, the Braun (which I bought over 2 years ago for $16 on sale) has paid for itself. Edit: the only issue I’ve had (besides the cover for the charger coming off) has been occasionally the base plate loosens which makes it stop working or flicker like yours did in the video. I just tighten it back up and it works fine. That may not be what happened for you (I’ve heard sometimes it’s faulty wiring inside the joint), but that is what happens for me so far.
To be fair, you probably arent running it from fully charged to battery cut out while dropping it from a 16ft ladder. IMHO, Harbor Freight is like wish, or aliexpress, or banggood, or amazon (these days)... If you know what to look for, have a good idea of what goes into a product and what that is worth then it comes to R&D, production, and fully bringing it to market, you can spot when something is over promising, is a really good deal, or even absolute crap but will have some fun salvageable parts inside (I love shopping wish for crap to take apart XD). There are plenty of tools at Harbor Freight that, while yes are not the best, are still worth the $4 and 3 years youll get out of them. If someone wants more life out of a tool.....then dont buy $4 screwdrivers LOL
I don't have an Astro light yet, but one day I will. I'm currently using the cheap knock-off (one of which is a Dr. Prepare!) until they die and then I'll invest in the good stuff. The real sad point for me is the Stinger Switchblade. I was interested in it and it's not a bad light, I guess, but there are some problems you guys pointed out that break that deal for me. Great video, great tests!
I had one of those Astro lights about 2 years ago. It was a different design so I guess they beefed it up. The first time it got dropped which wasn’t far it broke the magnet off. Very disappointing. Then went and bought the Braun light from harbor freight and have been very impressed with it. I did buy a charging station and more batteries but it gets used everyday in a shop and has held up well. My only complaint is that now it doesn’t like to stay in the position I put it, it tends to follow gravity now. Other than that it’s been great
Braun beats the socks off the original Astro light. I despise that thing. The new Astro light is certainly an improvement, but to me the Braun is the Goldilocks of stick lights. Being cheap as dirt is just a bonus.
I have seen several mentions of this light switch issue for the Braun. I have one. Turns out that on mine at least this is a result of the battery cap not being tight enough. You need to really crank on it and then it does not go off. Also, the battery they include is longer than your typical 18650 so it barely fits in my charger and that probably contributes to the cap issue. But when I did test the battery out it actually delivered more than the stated capacity.
I did wish they made them square or hex shaped. I'd also prefer one of those magnetic charging cables as I've had to clean out the port and also adjust it as it has been pushed in over time. All we really need is: -stays where you put it -can be aimed in all directions while standing -can't roll -charging port is clean and easy to plug in and remove -fast charge and lasts 8 to 10 hours -joint is repairable and adjustable -able to hang -Bright -easy to store -strong I ain't very good with electronics, but would using a potentiometer to adjust the brightness/turn on and off cause the light to die faster? I never understood why they make them like a 3 to 5 button clicks to operate some of them.
Bought the HF Braun light. Used it under a truck for the first time yesterday for a hitch welding project. It lasted 5 minutes then the button issue reared it’s ugly head. Tried a few more times, now completely dead. Back it goes.
I used the Milwaukee light recently and found that even with a slightly limited run time, the durability AND ability to fit in my pocket is more important that sheer lumen output. However, I find that the magnet could be better as it sometimes pivots and slips a bit on some metal surfaces. I have been using their rechargable headlamp and really like it. It's nice and bright, durable, and charges pretty quick... run time is... 2.5 ish hours I think on max output. I do wish it had one more with more of a narrower, but longer reaching beam. Both of these lights are also great at maintaining brightness. Having a light that fades away to half output is annoying and not very helpful at all.
I bought a Braun a few weeks ago. Used it three times and every time had issues getting it to turn on and it turning off on it own when it feels like it. I’ll be exchanging it
Loving what you guys do.i use the portable rectangle rechargable cat lights with the prop arm on the back. I strap it to bikes for headlights, hang it from screws over tables for a lantern,put it under boat dashes,put under trucks for late night oil changes.seems to be the go to light in my family for quick brite lite that last 2 hrs on high.seems like the cat is the OG but they are everywhere now.would love to see something on them.
Milwaukee lights don’t hold up to heavy duty use or grease, diesel, oil, etc. had this light, the $30’one and the m12 stick light. The stick light is the only one that held up reasonably, but it doesn’t have a magnet, it has that stupid hanger, and the button can be non functional at times.
I’ve spent an absolute fortune on lights, specifically headlamps. And after all the brands and fancy ones I’ve tried over the last 10 years… I actually love the Nebo rebel that I’ve been using the past few years. I have three of them, and I use them every day, draining at least two of them completely. And on the lower setting… It’s still super bright but can last up to 8-10 hours! They’re super cheap, The rebel only cost about $30. and are built to a high standard just like my olights and others. I’m somewhat qualified to review these lights properly. I run a lab where I do component level board repairs for industrial clients, as well as test equipment calibration & metrology. I also work with a wide range of photonics test equipment. Like spectrometers and stuff like that. So I’m somewhat qualified to make these assessments. I’ve disassembled all the lights I purchased, and I’m still impressed with the Nebo rebel. Build quality and attention to detail is top notch.
Really looks like Astro has a strong commitment to meeting or exceeding their tool ratings. Imagine if they were to make a cordless 1/2 of their own. That's a tool I'd really like to see.
The question is would anyone really buy a high torque only rated for 850? Even if it did really make that. Suspect not. Some mid torques like the XGT are rated near that now
@@TorqueTestChannel I honestly just wanna see them make more tools in general. They seem to have good integrity as a company and their competition would help keep the other big brands in line and on their toes.
The problem with the harbor freight light is not the switch. Just tighten the battery cap on the end. It come loose and causes the light to flicker like the switch is acting up. I have 3 and have had one for more than a year and still going strong.
I have a braun The thing i dont like is the on/off button is on the bottom. So you have the natural desire to have the button facing up. So light blinds you when you turn it on (annoying)
Something I ran across not too long ago that really impressed me was the EPower 360 work light. The thing is blindingly bright and it lasted through a 5 hour job. I think it was around 40 bucks a Costco. The magnetic swivel lights are super handy. Kind of wish I bought a couple more for presents.
2:45 - it's do to the battery cap, I noticed that too, putting it onto a metal surface it slightly un-twists the cap. I have 4 of these lights and that's the only fault I've notice, so far. I've had these for years
Comment on the Streamlight. The Streamlight bottom should just twist off. Battery should slide out. I have the Strion Switchblade, i left it under a truck, drove off, it fell off, i drove over it and am still using it today, 3 years later. i just twist the bottom off and change the battery. The big one you tested should do the same.
Orhomelife stick light has been great for under 30 for 2 through Amazon. Very pleased with the brightness and after 2 months of use it is getting a little wobbly after a couple drops.
My AlltroLite Hornet XL got left under my truck and spit out while driving, at the top it split open and still works! It's only $29 on amazon, try that one out.
I found my braun work light in the middle of the forest out hunting a couple years ago. My Olney complaint is that it doesn't last long. Otherwise for 30$ at harbor freight it's a pretty good deal.
I have 2 braun lights, one to charge one to use. I picked up one on sale and after using it for a day I ran back and got another one. The thing can fit almost anywhere with that folding head and magnetic base. Good to know the battery is replaceable, I vape and have a bunch of these batteries always on a charger.
I use the Milwaukee rover stick light rechargeable version. It’s a great little light and carries good in the pocket and doesn’t roll away. Bad thing is I thought I had a bad battery toward the end of its warranty so I had the battery replaced. It still had issues so I ended up having to replace the light.
See which lights and other tools have made the cut on our Amazon Storefront: www.amazon.com/shop/torquetestchannel
Looks like HF free give-away light is a best buy just by looking at the output.
The Astro SL52 is the best IMO but the 80 isn’t far behind
Keep up the great work. 👍👍
I was just thinking you should test torque wrenchs actual twist handle ones, im just thinking a test at the lowest torque setting, then either just at max torque setting and/or mid range. Im curious how accurate they are from the factory. I know you can usually adjust them too but then ive also seen the electronic torque measuring adapters that i dont feel are as good as yours... cough cough Harbor FREIGHT. I know too many people buying their stuff and thinking their claims are true... earthquake xt. Im gonna try showin them your video on it nicely. They do have some decent stuff, like they're cheaper corded grinders are or at least used to be worth more than 30-50 bucks in the motor i feel. Plenty of speed and power without too much current draw unless you try to stop the blade but thats not the point. Ive gone on long enough, we all know they lie then excell and even surpass their own "tests."
Should also test ratcheting wrenches because why not.
I'd love to see headlamps tested. As an electrician I use one every day and as a side note I do appreciate the high CRI lights as the blue lights are hard on the eyes.
List headlamp suggestions below! Edit: Also should we even bother with a drop test on headlamps? (please recommend ones without auto proximity dim, we've tried testing a couple really good Olight & Fenix ones and this feature really messes up all of our runtime and lumen testing, even tried taping the sensor off to no avail)
@@TorqueTestChannel
Thrunite and Nitecore would be something more real. Probably throw a Coast in there for a typical store bought comparison.
I currently own the 475 and 600 lumen Milwaukee headlamps and like them both. I'd like to see the Klien 400 and 800 lumen rechargeable headlamps tested against them. This would benefit me personally as I would like to purchase another headlamp for home use. Currently I use both headlamps at work switching them out to charge as neither lasts all day on high which I understand haha
@@TorqueTestChannel I’d love to see the Snapon Necklight ECHDC038 tested. It’s called a neck light but it will snugly fit on your head if you’re in the standing position. If you’re working upside down wearing a thick hat ensures it stays on tight.
@@TorqueTestChannel Petzl headlamps are the gold standard for the outdoor adventure crowd, would love to see one of those thrown into the mix along with a Black Diamond as well.
The lower efficiency of the Milwaukee is due to the choice of LED emitters. Warmer color temperature and/or high CRI emitters will ALWAYS be less efficient and have a lower output than a cool white version of the same emitter.
White LEDs are actually using a blue emitter covered in a phosphor layer that absorbs the blue light and re-emits it as longer wavelengths to give you a broader spectrum of light. Changing the wavelength of the light is an imperfect process that adds some inefficiency, so cool white emitters that let through more of the original blue light unchanged are able to be more efficient and output more total lumens. The phosphor layer is the reason the surface of white LEDs always look yellow or orange when turned off; that yellow phosphor is actually producing a range of wavelengths from green to red that without the blue light just looks yellow instead of white.
To me the lower output is always worth the tradeoff to get neutral or warm white, and especially high CRI light, but it's something for people to keep in mind.
Good to know. I have Ledlenser headlight and there is huge difference for eyes if I need to work longer. comparing to any white white headlights.
Thank you sir.
I left the braun out in constant rain for two days straight and upright, the battery compartment was completely filled with water. It still worked with the water. Still works year and a half later.
Hater's gonna hate...🤦🏻♂️
Stream light is a BEAST. I dropped my Streamlight Pro-Tac 2LX down a 14 story elevator shaft. Only damage was a slightly bent tip and a cracked/broken lense. It still turned off and on and WORKED just fine after I dug it out of the Elevator pit. I still replaced it since the lense broke, but I keep it in my truck as a spare/emergency light.
Yes they are, I have this streamlight switchblade and have dropped it off a dump truck multiple times without any problems.
I bought 2 of the HF Braun several years ago when they first showed up at Harbor Freight. One of them just craped out last week. Harbor Freight had them on the Labor Day sale for $19.99 and I bought two more. For what I use them for and the price I think they are my best choice. I don't plan on dropping them from 5 foot so I should be OK.
On your broken one, crack it open and resolder the broken ground wire inside and it will be better than new. Don’t be a little girl about opening it though. It’s a beast to turn those threads.
@@athhud It flickers a lot when I try to use it so you are probably right about the solder joint. Its already broke so I cant loose anything.
@@garyrichards407 let me know how it goes...... i have a crafstman work light its an amazing light only downside is battery life in all honesty..... full brightness only for about an hour and a half and the dim mode for about 3 hours of total use.
@@garyrichards407 im considering buying some of the braun ones if only a couple modifications are needed to make it on par with the almost identical shape/functionality crafstman light i got thats a little over double the price..... im worried sick tho that ill drop it and itll explode or break apart.
@TheCheesePlease the part that allows it to spin looses connection, why it flickers. The green and black one with changeable heads is much better.
I've had a HF Braun light for a year now and it works for my uses, especially given the price. I have never had an issue with bending the light causing it to go out. Must've gotten lucky there.
I didn't know it had a removable battery. That will come in handy.
I absolutely love how the HF takes standard 18650 cells. I bought a pair of LG-MJ1-18650 batteries (Thanks to Project Farms for figuring out the best batteries) for mine and this DRASTICLY increases the runtime from the shitty stock 18650s.
Also I own 2 of the HF Braun lights and I have not had any issues with the power button. Either I have gotten lucky or TTC was very unlucky.
I have three of them and only started having issues with one after it got ran over after a year of abuse. I taped the pivot back together and aside from having to press the button a few times and no led in the end it kept working for another 6 months
If you use it in a rough environment, you most likely will have the problem eventually. A small case ground wire breaks inside causing that problem. It’s an easy fix with a dab of solder and some hot glue. The tough part is getting those lights open. Anything short of a vise and pipe wrench is a waste of time in my experience. Once you make that repair though and use a decent battery, they are outstanding lights.
I’ve had mine for a couple of years. Other than the rubber cover for the charging port coming off, the only issue I’ve had is occasionally the base plate loosens up and it flickers off. I just screw it back on tight and it’s good.
But there are enough complaints that I recommend people test them out immediately after buying them to make sure there isn’t a defect. That way if there is they can return it and get another. I’m guessing it’s probably less than 10% that are defective, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Best light for the money 😍😍😍
Another great video!
Btw, I find many work lights are too bright and discharge too quickly, trying to make magical lumen numbers for sales. I often need to shine them next to where i’m working, if pointed directly onto the work area it white washes the area in our dark shop.
300-400 lumens is plenty usually. We usually aren’t trying to light up the moon from earth. :)
Streamlight is a good option for you then. It has natural lighting and reduces glare and lumen refraction. I use them. Perfect for spotting and identifying wire in harnesses in no light areas. Glare is always a problem. True 300 to 500 lumens is where you want to be. high temp blue light is not recommended
@@kevinkieel6778 In IT, I've found that the blue light works VERY well, especially when you're trying to read the printing off of the ceramic chips. It's all about surface reflectivity and absorption.
I Just bought the Braun from harbour freight for $19.95 for the labor day sale not two hours ago. Its a cool $20 light.
I love the channel, keep up the good work!
Same for 20 bucks it’s pretty good
Same, I’m a casual diy guy so works perfect for me since I don’t use it as much.
Picked it up during Black Friday for $17. Per the test results here I'd say that to $20 is about what it's worth. We'll see how long it lasts...
Great Review. Im a home gamer and I use the Braun with an upgraded battery, Panasonic NCR 18650 3400mAh for about $6.00 from a real battery supplier. Only use real brand batteries such as LG, Samsung, Panasonic. Avoid anything with a huge mah rating or battery names with "fire" in them
One of the advantages that I discovered with my Braun is that the battery access cap can be turned about one rotation counterclockwise for transportation. I found that the switch can be turned on with the slightest bump in my tool bag! Loosening the cap eliminates this anomaly. For the price when on sale they fit my budget. I use more than one so I don’t need to reposition them when moving from underneath or side to side, I just switch it off. My biggest problem is trying to remember where I stuck all the damn lights!
I have used the Braun one's for about 1 1/2 years now they have fallen of the cars on the lift at times (to much rust) and some time's they break so a little black tape works well but if the light it self brakes off I use the base as a charger and just swap battery's.
LOL I actually lost a couple braun lights doing brake jobs or suspension jobs at my dealership. left them attached to struts or control arms only to never return. This is more common than you would think. Thankfully they are cheap. Some magnetic based lights I have go for $300
Every time I've had problems with my Braun light switch, the bottom battery cap hasn't been screwed in tightly enough.
Yes, came here to post this. Sometimes I think the battery is not in a perfect position inside. That's why messing with the cap worked in the video.
That’s my only complaint. For some reason I am always wanting to turn it counter-clockwise while the magnet is stuck in place. I always end up in threading the battery cap. It would be great if they had some kind of lock to keep it in place. Aside from that one issue that is caused directly by me, I love those lights.
Exactly. I thought the switch had gone bad but it was just a loose battery cap. I think it gets loose when you have it stuck on something metal and you rotate it around.
@@JohnSmith-mk8hz the part that allows it to spin looses connection, why it flickers.
Same here loose battery cap has been only time wouldn’t come on
Haha! I would absolutely recommend the Braun, especially if you can buy them for $19.99. It performs as advertised, and IF you ever destroy one through drops, you can just pick up another and still be under most of the other lights. I can buy 3-4 of them for the price of some of the other options. What’s not to like? With HB no question warranty, if you have that button issue, u just exchange for another. If your unit doesn’t have that problem of the bat, it really won’t down the line. I just buy these in bunches when they’re on sale, and keep extras lying around.
You are like Project Farm no2. love the light tests and hope you branch out to more equipment in the future.
These types of lights are becomming standard equipment for anybody working on pretty much anything. It is great that you are doing some testing so I can cut down on the number of lousy ones I buy before getting a good one.
Seems like 5 years ago it was all flashlights and corded drop lights. Now we see these everywhere, had to hit this category good and early, and maybe again in the future with recommendations
@@TorqueTestChannel I’d love for you to test headlamps and traditional handheld flashlights too. In fact I have a couple extremely powerful (and pretty expensive) ones that I’d be happy to send you for testing! Just no dropping please. 😅
For reference it would be cool if you tested the lumens of a couple smartphone flashlights just as an easy reference point for everyone about how strong or weak these flashlights are. For example, I know 800 lumens is more than 400 lumens but that doesn’t tell me much without some sort of reference point.
You can’t imagine how excited I get when I see you guys post new videos! Love the channel👍🏻👍🏻
Get home from work and see TTC and Project Farm have posted a video, it's better than Christmas.
If you crack the Braun open, beef up some solder joints with extra solder and secure a couple of wires with hot snot, it gets into a whole other level of durability. Those steps will also solve the finicky “power button” issue. The problem is that the case ground wire breaks inside and loses contact if you jostle it. With a battery upgrade and that repair, I’ll reach for the Braun over my Astro’s and others every time. The size, flexibility, and lower light output is much more useful in my opinion. There is a such thing as too much light when doing automotive type work and for me the Braun is just right. I will say that it is not easy to open the Brauns up. I have to put the lights in a 6” heavy duty shop vise and turn the tubes with a 16” pipe wrench. The threadlocker they use on those things is no joke when paired with aluminum threads. A propane torch made no difference on them...
I am biased though. I own many lights, but 8 of them are the Braun stick light. I didn’t pay more than $20 for any of them though. I bought one from HF for $2. The charging cord didn’t work so they marked it up as a defective light. I thought I was going to have to do my usual repair, but it charged right up on my Nitecore charging station. :D
I love that you’re testing lights. As they are cheaper than impact wrenches, I’m able to buy a better and brighter one more frequently than a power tool. Please keep up the light testing. Thank you
Just got that Braun for $19.99, labor day sale. I have the long yellow Braun, and dropped it about 10 times so far and it still works. I recommend that one; has a flash light and pullout lightbar.
Astro is still unbeatable as an everyday, do everything light in my mind.
I use M12 or M18 Milwaukee lights for big areas/general lighting as that's the battery system I'm already in.
That output curve over time on the Milwaukee is nice and I'm sure plays a part in its perceived performance despite the lower than advertised lumen output. The light color is nice too, I have a handheld from them with the Truview light and it's aggreeable. I too am in the M12/M18 system.
i've never had any issues with the braun, i've had one for 3 years and a second for 2 years, and use them all the time. i drop them all the time and use them to film youtube videos, great product!!!
looks like i’ll be picking up some of astros foldable, wirelessly rechargable lights because it looks like they don’t slouch on them, thanks!
I have 4 of the Astro 52SL and they are phenomenal. 1000 luman but you can’t change batteries but who cares I love no wire charging.
have the astro 650sl ..its my go to light all day at work...(auto tech)
@@ericeaton371 those are decent too for sure
I'm retired now and picked up a pair of Chiwanese wand "worklights" for $8.99 on Ebay. They have Bright (maybe 300lm), dim (maybe 100lm), single LED tip light (maybe 150lm), red strip (maybe 75lm), and flashing red strip (maybe 150lm). I'm QUITE satisfied with them for the price. I don't have a runtime on any mode yet, but they're internally rechargeable. Oh, there is a magnet on the end and a hook, for working on your Tesla aluminum frunk lid, I'm sure. // You have great tests for all these lights, dude. Thanks for all of them.
*Streamlight is the best quality light. It’s issued to firemen, police, military for a reason* I have 10+ streamlight products that never failed.
I've had the Braun light for a while now and love it. I've always used better batteries in it and always charge them on an external charger.
Funny just yesterday I was messing around with my Braun light. I dropped it few times and it quit working. I tore it apart(they use a thread locker to keep it together) to find a tiny connector inside had come unplugged. Thing has been laying around for over a year. Would never buy another. Great video keep it up guys!
They really could have made them a top tier light with a nickel’s worth of hot glue and solder.
I let my wife's Honda Odyssey down on my switch blade when I changed the oil and it was holding up the van a little jacked it back up pulled it out no damage at all and they have a lifetime warranty great product. Great video 👍
I have a Braun had this light for a couple of years now, for our use it is an excellent light. The light is not used everyday we mostly use this light during power outages for some reason that is a couple times a year. when we travel i throw the light into the car. The light you choose should be based on what your needs are. as always my opinion only Thank you for sharing
I have two Astro 650 lights and have been extremely happy with their performance and durability. One of the things I've learned about Astro Tools, from this channel and a few others, is that they deliver what they promise in the specs of their tools and LED lights. Let's face it for a tool company or any company for that matter to sell their products at reasonable prices and deliver on the specifications they advertise is rare today. Astro is going to continue getting my business in the future.
Exelent review as always…👍🏼
Hey but no way 67 dollars for the Astro 80SL in Amazon is 89.07..😖
With all respet, for the real word price and runing time and strong I’m goin whit streamlight, or the best price and option of Astro , the 65SL at just 57 $
Yeah. Supply chain really been messing things up everywheee
The streamlight charging makes sense to me. It's a bigger battery so it's always going to take longer, and it's not like you'd have 2-4 hours of free time during working hours anyway. Sure it could be faster, but faster charging wears the cells faster too. It's a big enough battery to last the day of work and you charge it over night.
the longer cycle time also makes the battery last longer, they dont like being fast charged or kept fully charged.
that HF Bauer light can be fixed by either tightening the bottom more like it says on the packaging, or bu stretching the battery contact spring if that's not working. I have a few and they are all flawless.
4:13 - It has a discharge/charge protection circuit. You can stack a nickel or two to fill the extra space... Though I don't know if the light itself has onboard protection so you don't fry your 18650.
This is correct. The protection circuit will protect the Lithium Battery from fast drain and over charge but increases it's size to an almost 18700 battery.
I'm a Project Farm fan but dare say TTC has surpassed them in my eyes. Proj Farm is still OG. You guys came outta nowhere and now branching into areas outside of torque. Great job! I bought the Braun a few years ago. It feel off my tool cart at less than 4 ft and died. Took it apart and fixed a wire but messed up the ratchet mechanism in the process. It's very floppy now. Thinking about getting that Astro.
For plug in 65sl or 72sl. For battery swap hard to beat the 80
Why not just spend ~$45 and get an Astro. You get what you pay for and the difference is well worth a few bucks.
But I enjoyed your testing and video. Now, the cheapskates can make an informed decision, and those of us wise enough to be a little picky are justified in that persnicketiness.
But the neck has no flexibility. It's just a straight shot which is no for me. I use the braun at an angle 90% of the time. Too bad battery life sucks on it tho
The tip light on the Braun is what makes it so useful for me. It allows viewing in dark recesses where other lights would prove useless because of the glare from the foreground. When the tip is placed beyond the opening, a clear view of the interior is made possible.
I haven't had any issues with the battery life, and the plus is all the 18650 batteries I've harvested from old laptop packs make it a never ending supply that's instantly swapped out if ever caught low on charge. Captive batteries are a big disadvantage compared to readily swapped cell like in the Braun. Effectively it has zero downtime compared to any other light that needs to be recharged before continuing use, because I can charge spare cells quicker than I can use them up.
@@andrewk8636 no flex is an absolute disadvantage to the 80sl, i have 3500 mj1 18650 batteries on my braun one! way longer range!
I am a Chevrolet technician and own the Streamlight. I am thoroughly impressed with it and even though it does take a while to charge I usually just put it on charge overnight and rarely ever kill it because of its lengthy runtime. It pairs nicely with the regular stinger light as well as my milwaukee hoodlight because of its ability to emit both typical LED bluish color and the milwaukee truview color. Highly recommend if you already have a streamlight and can utilize the dock to make the price of the stinger make a little more sense. That astro light is definitely a contender but it lacks the multi color of LED lights and the blacklight that makes the stinger such a great option.
Great Review. But I don’t think anything can compete with the Astro 52SL with the wireless charging. Might not be the brightest but being able to just set the light on the charger is so convenient
There's not too many wireless charging lights to test it with, but we are taking suggestions for future episodes
@@TorqueTestChannel I’m kinda expecting more wireless charging light to come out. I think other brands are going to try to do the same thing Astro did. Might be a while till then lol keep killing it with the videos
The reason the Streamlight charges so slowly is because they want you to buy the $60 fast charger dock.
I have a harbor freight Braun cordless rechargeable light and it works great. It's bright and has a magnetic swivel base. I have noticed it does hold a charge as long as it did when I 1st got it. It still gets the job done. I can't complain to much about it. Mine is the yellow and black flat octagon shape one, It was about 30$ also.
Worklights and inspection lights are 2 different lights to me. My inspection light is a StreamLight Strion. It is on my person all day at work. My go-to work light is a StreamLight Knucklehead. The knucklehead is not the brightest light but it doesn't have to be for what it's used for. The knucklead is the ONLY worklight I have used that will survive a shop environment. I even ran one over with an F250 and it still works.
The Braun is on sale TODAY for just $19.99. I have two and the only problem I've had is the rubber receptacle cover on one broke off. As for the switch you placed its very strong magnet on a thick piece of steel then turned the flashlight counterclockwise which looked like it unscrewed the cap a bit which is why it started working again after you tightened the cap.
I bought the Harbor Freight light and it crapped out on me too After a few months of light use. I still had the receipt, so I thought I'd just swap it. When I took it back they pointed out that it only had a 90 day warranty .
You can use the Streamlight all day and let it charge overnight... typically you want a good, slow, deep charge and that will care for your battery for a long time
Deep charge is bad for all lithium based batteries. Deep discharge even worse. Stop living in the Nimh era, Li batteries last 10x longer if kept between 40 and 60%, never charge them full.
The big rage at my shop is the neck lights. I was the first to give it a try and now almost everybody has one. We found them more useful on our heads though.
I have 5 of the Braun HF versions @ 19.99 on sale..... Why not ? I've never had an issue for years now.
I have the Braun light. Have same problem with the switch, but it does still work. Magnet is strong. Was working under my truck and had it stuck to the frame. But I forgot to remove it when down. A couple of weeks later I am looking for it and remember the last time I used it was under the truck. Slide under truck, and it was still there even after driving it several times.
As a mechanic, the streamlight works great. I can use thru a 12 hour shift with no loss of light, put it on charger and in the morning it's ready to go again. It will last thru a gazillion charges.
I have the Braun light and it works quite well for general purposes. It does break when dropped but I have broken the business end off several times and glued it back with epoxy and reinforced with dental floss... it is by no means a tank... the pin in the center is plastic and is the weak point but I drilled out one side and shot a screw through the pivot and so far it has been working well.
I will mention that if you replace the battery make sure you use a PROTECTED button top 18650 unless you like angry pixies dancing in your hacienda or shop overnight.
Also even though it is not very rugged, I do like the fact that not only does the head flex BOTH directions you can also rotate the head so that the power button is on either side which is neat.
That Milwaukee flashlight magnet is a joke. Shame on you Milwaukee
I’d really like to see pocket lights.
Maybe the Streamlight stylus pro usb we all have, Streamlight mini, maybe a led mini maglite, some coast lights?
Looking forward- and I’m sure between your 50k subs 👏🏻, we could even get them all lent to the channel for lumen testing, and length battery lasts, etc.
Keep em comin! Great stuff!!
I hate to say it but the Braun gives you more for the money. They go on sale sometimes for $19. As for the run time no one cares because you can replace the battery with a fully charged one and go on indefinatly. I found them to have more than sufficient light for working in and engine bay or under the car or for locating your electrical box in a power outage in 100% darkness. Outdoors it works well up to 15-20 feet beyond that you may want something more powerfull.
I’m an aircraft mechanic and a lot of these get used daily in our shop. Cool to see them here on this channel. Keep up the good work!
The Braun light at HF is generally a good light and can be bought on sale (though maybe not these days) on the cheap. My major peeve with it is short battery life, you really need 2 of them if you plan on using them for extended periods.
Charging: on lithium cells, the low voltage cutoff will affect the "usable" capacity. So the milwaukee taking 2.6mah of 3.0mah indicates they use a higher voltage cut-off to protect the battery. (If you discharge a light at the low setting, you will drain the battery further. Voltage drops under load, so the smaller the load, the less the voltage drops...and battery protection monitors operating voltage, not remaining capacity.)
I have a bunch of Milwaukee usb lithium lights and they play it safe on battery protection probably because of the 3yr warranty
I have a feeling they do the same thing with their standard batteries for all their tools. Id rather have less run time, and know that the batteries are always being kept really conservatively safe. This also means they will stay healthy for years.
I agree not recommending Braun lights for professional applications. I bought 2 a few years ago as only a home user. They both held up well, surviving a couple drops, until I dropped one from around 5' and it cracked the swivel header (aluminum part). As far as home use, I think they're fine particularly when I bought mine I was able to get them for $20 each. I also upgraded the batteries eventually, although typically the OE batteries were fine and they did last a couple hours. Never thought anything on the light tint. Not sure what the market currently is, Braun's may still be an OK-quality budget option or not. The other issue, and it's a minor one, is the magnet cover's both wore through and started shifting. They appear to basically be a thick sticker. Someone like a pro mechanic would probably experience this in a couple months, to the point where they would have to be very careful to avoid scratching/marring paint work.
I have went through a few Braun lights. In my case they were junk. Went with astro and a few astro knock off's. I have zero complaints on the astro.
I love Milwaukee everything. so i grabbed two of their inspection pen lights. It has a rubber end cap they call the "bite zone". Makes it super easy to hold with your mouth. The light temp is great, so is brightness and run time. But man, the durability sucks. I dropped the first one a couple of times on to concrete at the shop, and it bit the dust after 2 or so months. The second one has held up longer, but the rubber end cap button has torn almost totally off from normal activation. Big bummer.
I'm a diesel mechanic and I use a Streamlight Stylus Pro pen light. I've had the same light forever. Its tough as nails. Its got a little belt clip on the end that works great for holding between your teeth. I keep one in my shirt pocket next to my ink pen everyday. It's bright enough for me and I use it more than any tool in my box. It has taught me to keep AAA batteries on hand though. It only has to die on you one time to learn to do that!
I’ve found Milwaukee’s hand tools and accessories to be hit or miss, not always up to the impeccable quality standards of their power tools. It feels like some of their products are designed with the expected tank-like durability while others are designed to be so cheap that you won’t care if you have to replace it occasionally. Most companies pick one or the other and I wish Milwaukee would, I buy products with the Milwaukee logo because I expect a certain level of quality and as a professional I’m willing to pay for it. If they wanna sell cheap shit to home-owners they need to sell it under a different brand name.
Just my two cents.
I dropped the HF pen light a million times, and even in the toilet, and it’s still working. Not very bright though, so I switched to the tiny stream light pocket light
I had a Braun light for all of about a week. Dropped it once from probably about 4 feet-ish and it the hinge broke, and light stopped working. I guess if you drop it at just the right angle, it can be pretty fragile, in my experience. Went with Astro after.
I have the HF light. Every time I think that the switch crapped out it has been that the battery cap has come loose. The magnet is stronger than the threads, so if you twist it while picking it up it backs the cap off. I have the one with interchangeable heads but love the light bar most.
I've been using the switchblade for a couple of years now and I'm pretty happy with it. It's plenty bright for what I need to do (especially in an evenly lit shop) and the magnet sticks to pretty much anywhere on the car I need to put it. I've even stuck it to body panels with a towel between the paint and magnet to avoid scratching and it still holds strong.
For work lights, I pretty much have streamlight everything. Tac light too. Haven't been disappointed yet.
Same, the light cover/lense had cracked on mine 2 years ago but it hasn't caused any significant issues.
@@SkidMarkSteve69 mine did that too actually. Like, I think in the fist month or two I had it. I didn't know exactly what caused it but like you said it doesn't cause significant issues. It was just on the brighter side, and along one edge.
I buy two Braun lights, and rotate them as I use them all day long working on cars. One is always on charge and ready to be swapped wirh the other. Best ROI.
the new icon one for the same price is worth checking out
Of might make a request, what is the best USB quick charger. We use them for light as seen on this episode but we use them for a lot of other tools: tpms, a small lab scope, inspection camera etc.
I have bought these Braum lights by Harbor Freight for a few years now, I am a professional tech. I think they are a good bang for the buck situation. You can get them for about $30 , they do have some durability issues (but then again I am really hard on lights) but cheap enough to buy again if you break. I currently have 3 of them I feel they provide a good amount of light. I have bought some snap on lights and i have a matco light that is like a bigger pen light with a dial for brightness and magnet a the bottom that is rechargeable but out of the lights I owned Ive liked the Braum lights the best. I paid over $100 for the matco one and I only use it when i need something a big smaller to get into tighter spaces.
The only issue I ever hear off with the Braun light is that you need to properly tighten the cap before use as that is what causes the button issue. If that is sorted they are usually fine from what I hear.
My Switchblade lives in a streamlight charger next to its standard style stinger LED older brother. Put it back where it goes, and you always know where it is when you need it. That's probably why it charges so slowly, they assume it's going to charge overnight, since most people in a shop setting aren't toting these home in their pockets. Lower charge rate = less wear
Exactly I love my switchblade. Used daily for over 3 years I’ve never had a single issue with any aspect of it
My opinion, the Walmart Hyper Tough work great for the price. The pen light has 3 different lights, 4 modes with folding and rechargeable. $14 with a magnet base. I love mine and when I accidentally left one under a truck because the boss was in a hurry to get the truck out, and they were gone before I could get if off the bumper. I didn't care so much about the $14 verses $100+. And I actually paid $8 originally, but still the $14 is great. The larger $30 works all day for me, bright enough, 3 modes, heavy magnets, and rechargeable. For the price I'm extremely happy. And nearly all Super Walmarts or main Walmarts carry these and offer extended warranties for like $2.
Hi, just found your channel... I am hooked. Too bad you didn't include the husky or kobalt rechargeable light in your test.
Had the braun for 3 ish years now, daily use in aviation. No big issues. Been pretty good for 30 bucks. Low light setting is more than bright enough and last me all day, way more than 2 hours. I only use bright for short busts of time like inspections in large enclosed sections like the tail. If i need more light i get another type of flashlight. Form factor is good for my environment. Fits in tight spots. Better than using headlamps sometimes. Color is fine for reading colored wires, although most wires i see are white. Magnet base is strong enough to hold on a tinnereman washer or steel screw when i can find one. Hook would be nice sometimes but i have other lights for different situations. I use it plugged in sometimes at my tool box to use as a desk lamp when I'm building wire harnesses which hinged at the center is helpful. Hard to justify 2-3 times the price for a small light.
Worst comes to worst. You can make a hook from safety wire- that's what I did for use on our 206's
I've had Braun lights for many years. You can get chargers with 4 - 5800 MAH batteries and a flashlight for $20 on Amazon. I'm old and I find the light from the Braun almost too bright and mainly used them on their lower setting where it lasts about 3 hours. For people who have problems dropping their lights, I suggest a lanyard attached to a magnet or a locking pliers.
I have 6 of those HF Braun lights and none of them have light switch issues. That sucks yours does. I get them on sale for 19.99 during their Holliday sales. Like this past labor day for instance. Nice video!
I haven’t had any serious issues with my Braun light, though I’m a hard DIYer (do a lot of automotive and home repair for myself, family and friends), so I don’t put it through quite as much daily use as you may.
For me, the Braun (which I bought over 2 years ago for $16 on sale) has paid for itself.
Edit: the only issue I’ve had (besides the cover for the charger coming off) has been occasionally the base plate loosens which makes it stop working or flicker like yours did in the video. I just tighten it back up and it works fine. That may not be what happened for you (I’ve heard sometimes it’s faulty wiring inside the joint), but that is what happens for me so far.
To be fair, you probably arent running it from fully charged to battery cut out while dropping it from a 16ft ladder. IMHO, Harbor Freight is like wish, or aliexpress, or banggood, or amazon (these days)... If you know what to look for, have a good idea of what goes into a product and what that is worth then it comes to R&D, production, and fully bringing it to market, you can spot when something is over promising, is a really good deal, or even absolute crap but will have some fun salvageable parts inside (I love shopping wish for crap to take apart XD). There are plenty of tools at Harbor Freight that, while yes are not the best, are still worth the $4 and 3 years youll get out of them. If someone wants more life out of a tool.....then dont buy $4 screwdrivers LOL
I don't have an Astro light yet, but one day I will. I'm currently using the cheap knock-off (one of which is a Dr. Prepare!) until they die and then I'll invest in the good stuff. The real sad point for me is the Stinger Switchblade. I was interested in it and it's not a bad light, I guess, but there are some problems you guys pointed out that break that deal for me. Great video, great tests!
I had one of those Astro lights about 2 years ago. It was a different design so I guess they beefed it up. The first time it got dropped which wasn’t far it broke the magnet off. Very disappointing. Then went and bought the Braun light from harbor freight and have been very impressed with it. I did buy a charging station and more batteries but it gets used everyday in a shop and has held up well. My only complaint is that now it doesn’t like to stay in the position I put it, it tends to follow gravity now. Other than that it’s been great
Braun beats the socks off the original Astro light. I despise that thing. The new Astro light is certainly an improvement, but to me the Braun is the Goldilocks of stick lights. Being cheap as dirt is just a bonus.
athhud the way it angles and how it does it’s more versatile than any other light I’ve used or seen. And it’s pretty compact for all it does
I have seen several mentions of this light switch issue for the Braun. I have one. Turns out that on mine at least this is a result of the battery cap not being tight enough. You need to really crank on it and then it does not go off. Also, the battery they include is longer than your typical 18650 so it barely fits in my charger and that probably contributes to the cap issue. But when I did test the battery out it actually delivered more than the stated capacity.
Love the test sphere! Good work!
I've had a few Braun lights and all have been amazing. Plenty bright and the magnet is very strong
I have a few of the steelman lights and you can get a magnet/hook attachment and a newer model has a magnet on the end .
I did wish they made them square or hex shaped. I'd also prefer one of those magnetic charging cables as I've had to clean out the port and also adjust it as it has been pushed in over time.
All we really need is:
-stays where you put it
-can be aimed in all directions while standing
-can't roll
-charging port is clean and easy to plug in and remove
-fast charge and lasts 8 to 10 hours
-joint is repairable and adjustable
-able to hang
-Bright
-easy to store
-strong
I ain't very good with electronics, but would using a potentiometer to adjust the brightness/turn on and off cause the light to die faster? I never understood why they make them like a 3 to 5 button clicks to operate some of them.
Bought the HF Braun light. Used it under a truck for the first time yesterday for a hitch welding project. It lasted 5 minutes then the button issue reared it’s ugly head. Tried a few more times, now completely dead. Back it goes.
I used the Milwaukee light recently and found that even with a slightly limited run time, the durability AND ability to fit in my pocket is more important that sheer lumen output.
However, I find that the magnet could be better as it sometimes pivots and slips a bit on some metal surfaces.
I have been using their rechargable headlamp and really like it.
It's nice and bright, durable, and charges pretty quick... run time is... 2.5 ish hours I think on max output.
I do wish it had one more with more of a narrower, but longer reaching beam.
Both of these lights are also great at maintaining brightness.
Having a light that fades away to half output is annoying and not very helpful at all.
I bought a Braun a few weeks ago. Used it three times and every time had issues getting it to turn on and it turning off on it own when it feels like it. I’ll be exchanging it
Loving what you guys do.i use the portable rectangle rechargable cat lights with the prop arm on the back. I strap it to bikes for headlights, hang it from screws over tables for a lantern,put it under boat dashes,put under trucks for late night oil changes.seems to be the go to light in my family for quick brite lite that last 2 hrs on high.seems like the cat is the OG but they are everywhere now.would love to see something on them.
I got an Astro fake from eBay ( accident) but it has been amazing.... I've owned it for maybe 2 years and 0 complaints
Milwaukee lights don’t hold up to heavy duty use or grease, diesel, oil, etc. had this light, the $30’one and the m12 stick light. The stick light is the only one that held up reasonably, but it doesn’t have a magnet, it has that stupid hanger, and the button can be non functional at times.
Would the Kill-a-watt adapter help record charging data? It has a regular plug face so you don't need a cable with USB interface
I’ve spent an absolute fortune on lights, specifically headlamps. And after all the brands and fancy ones I’ve tried over the last 10 years… I actually love the Nebo rebel that I’ve been using the past few years. I have three of them, and I use them every day, draining at least two of them completely.
And on the lower setting… It’s still super bright but can last up to 8-10 hours! They’re super cheap, The rebel only cost about $30.
and are built to a high standard just like my olights and others. I’m somewhat qualified to review these lights properly. I run a lab where I do component level board repairs for industrial clients, as well as test equipment calibration & metrology. I also work with a wide range of photonics test equipment. Like spectrometers and stuff like that. So I’m somewhat qualified to make these assessments.
I’ve disassembled all the lights I purchased, and I’m still impressed with the Nebo rebel. Build quality and attention to detail is top notch.
Good stuff! I bought an Astro when I saw Eric O. using his. Works great.
Please find a way to get your hands on Snap-on Dual-Sided FLEX LIGHT ECARD062! Or the baby brother ECARB042A. Costly, but is it worth it?
Really looks like Astro has a strong commitment to meeting or exceeding their tool ratings. Imagine if they were to make a cordless 1/2 of their own. That's a tool I'd really like to see.
The question is would anyone really buy a high torque only rated for 850? Even if it did really make that. Suspect not. Some mid torques like the XGT are rated near that now
@@TorqueTestChannel I honestly just wanna see them make more tools in general. They seem to have good integrity as a company and their competition would help keep the other big brands in line and on their toes.
Grammar police says “fewer lumens” not “less lumens”. Great video and test. Keep up great work. These are helpful.
The problem with the harbor freight light is not the switch. Just tighten the battery cap on the end. It come loose and causes the light to flicker like the switch is acting up. I have 3 and have had one for more than a year and still going strong.
I have a braun
The thing i dont like is the on/off button is on the bottom. So you have the natural desire to have the button facing up. So light blinds you when you turn it on (annoying)
Something I ran across not too long ago that really impressed me was the EPower 360 work light. The thing is blindingly bright and it lasted through a 5 hour job. I think it was around 40 bucks a Costco. The magnetic swivel lights are super handy. Kind of wish I bought a couple more for presents.
2:45 - it's do to the battery cap, I noticed that too, putting it onto a metal surface it slightly un-twists the cap. I have 4 of these lights and that's the only fault I've notice, so far. I've had these for years
Comment on the Streamlight. The Streamlight bottom should just twist off. Battery should slide out. I have the Strion Switchblade, i left it under a truck, drove off, it fell off, i drove over it and am still using it today, 3 years later. i just twist the bottom off and change the battery. The big one you tested should do the same.
Orhomelife stick light has been great for under 30 for 2 through Amazon. Very pleased with the brightness and after 2 months of use it is getting a little wobbly after a couple drops.
My AlltroLite Hornet XL got left under my truck and spit out while driving, at the top it split open and still works! It's only $29 on amazon, try that one out.
I found my braun work light in the middle of the forest out hunting a couple years ago.
My Olney complaint is that it doesn't last long. Otherwise for 30$ at harbor freight it's a pretty good deal.
I have 2 braun lights, one to charge one to use. I picked up one on sale and after using it for a day I ran back and got another one. The thing can fit almost anywhere with that folding head and magnetic base. Good to know the battery is replaceable, I vape and have a bunch of these batteries always on a charger.
I use the Milwaukee rover stick light rechargeable version. It’s a great little light and carries good in the pocket and doesn’t roll away.
Bad thing is I thought I had a bad battery toward the end of its warranty so I had the battery replaced. It still had issues so I ended up having to replace the light.