# Design your flashlights so they don't get screwed up by pocket change! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 1, 2018, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/design-your-flashlights-so-they-dont-get-screwed-up-by-pocket-change/815256 "2018-06-01T13:32:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2018, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/design-your-flashlights-so-they-dont-get-screwed-up-by-pocket-change/815256/1 "2018-06-01T13:32:13Z")
this is a pretty petty rant, but it annoys me because this should never be an issue. I loved my Maglite. I purchased my first one when going on a river trip, and a needed a sturdy, waterproof flashlight. the Maglight was far and away the best one. It was made of solid aluminum construction, had watertight O-ring seals, and even had a built-in spare bulb! Best of all, though, instead of using some obscure, weirdly-shaped, had-to-be-purchased-special battery, it used simply off-the-shelf, available anywhere AA batteries. I used it for years. My only complaint – they made the edge of the top, which held the cover glass in place, EXACTLY the same size as a US penny, so if you stuck one in your pocket head downwards, you could get a penny stuck in there. Tis would render the flashlight useless. Worse, you’d have to get a screwdriver or something to pry the penny out, because it’s stuck in there too tightly to pull out with your fingernail. I picked up an LED flashlight for a work application the other day (not a Maglite, by the way), and when I pulled it out I got no light out of it. Because its end cap was EXACTLY the same size as a US Quarter, and one was stuck in there. Too tightly for a fingernail t remove, of course. I had to use the awl on my pocketknife to get it out. Why do this? Can’t you simply make sure that your flashlight - especially one labeled “pocket flashlight” – isn’t going to be disabled by my pocket change? Don’t tell me that I shouldn’t be so US-centric, and other people have coins of different sizes – in the first place, this was clearly targeted at the US market. In the second place, you can design it so it won’t get hung up on any common coin fro any country, and in the third place, it would be trivial to ad a rib or cutout so that no circular coin of ANY size would get stuck there. ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2018, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/design-your-flashlights-so-they-dont-get-screwed-up-by-pocket-change/815256/2 "2018-06-01T14:38:23Z")
I’ve got one of [these](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0011UIPIW/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1) on my key ring. It’s only been there since Christmas, but so far so good. It has lost a little paint. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2018, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/design-your-flashlights-so-they-dont-get-screwed-up-by-pocket-change/815256/3 "2018-06-01T15:03:21Z")
How about a little dab of hot glue at the edge of the lens. Just enough to come up to the the top of the metal so a coin can’t recess itself in there. Wouldn’t even have to go all the way around, just a dot, maybe two. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2018, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/design-your-flashlights-so-they-dont-get-screwed-up-by-pocket-change/815256/4 "2018-06-01T15:13:41Z")
Buy a [Fenix E12](https://www.fenix-store.com/fenix-e12-led-flashlight/) and you won’t have that sort of problem. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2018, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/design-your-flashlights-so-they-dont-get-screwed-up-by-pocket-change/815256/5 "2018-06-01T15:31:07Z")
I use [one of these](http://www.walletgear.com/easy-squeeze-leather-coin-purse.html#.WxFmSj8ierU). No coins float around in my pocket. ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2018, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/design-your-flashlights-so-they-dont-get-screwed-up-by-pocket-change/815256/6 "2018-06-02T20:01:17Z")
Get a Quikoin: > **[Quikoin Original Oval Sof-Touch™ Squeeze Coin Purse Made in USA (Black, Opaque)](https://www.amazon.com/Quikoin-Original-Sof-Touch-Squeeze-Purse/dp/B00SGG7KHG)** > > Quikey Manufacturing Co., Inc. is family owned and operated, manufacturing its entire line of products in the USA, from domestic and some foreign materials. Since 1946, the Quikey innovative and original product line has been and continues to be the... Dennis ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2018, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/design-your-flashlights-so-they-dont-get-screwed-up-by-pocket-change/815256/7 "2018-06-02T20:18:11Z")
True Oper8ors keep a full size Maglite on their belt at all times. ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2018, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/design-your-flashlights-so-they-dont-get-screwed-up-by-pocket-change/815256/8 "2018-06-02T20:59:01Z")
Why are you carrying change in your flashlight pocket? ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2018, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/design-your-flashlights-so-they-dont-get-screwed-up-by-pocket-change/815256/9 "2018-06-02T21:38:06Z")
> [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](#): > > Why are you carrying change in your flashlight pocket? Ditto. My flashlight lives in the opposite pocket as my change. ETA: Also, the end cap is too small for a quarter to fit and too large for a nickle to get stuck. ---
**Author:** ![Capn\_Carl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Capn\_Carl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capn_Carl)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2018, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/design-your-flashlights-so-they-dont-get-screwed-up-by-pocket-change/815256/10 "2018-06-03T03:07:12Z")
For years, I carried a AA Maglite at work. Now I carry a Fenix RC-05 SE. It’s smaller, brighter, and lighter than the Maglite, and I’ll never replace batteries again, because it’s rechargable. It’s small enough to pocket, but I clip it to a belt loop on my jeans; easier to access. > **[Fenix RC05 SE Rechargeable Flashlight | REI Co-op](https://www.rei.com/product/124310/fenix-rc05-se-rechargeable-flashlight)** > > Weighing only 2 oz., the special edition of the Fenix RC05 rechargeable flashlight—now with a rear switch, just for REI—charges via USB or runs on batteries if power sources are scarce. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2018, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/design-your-flashlights-so-they-dont-get-screwed-up-by-pocket-change/815256/11 "2018-06-03T03:14:36Z")
The solution seems obvious. Only carry nickels and dimes. (For you Aussies, that’s a 5-cent and 10-cent piece.) ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2018, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/design-your-flashlights-so-they-dont-get-screwed-up-by-pocket-change/815256/12 "2018-06-03T03:35:13Z")
> [@Capn\_Carl](#): > > For years, I carried a AA Maglite at work. Now I carry a Fenix RC-05 SE. It’s smaller, brighter, and lighter than the Maglite, and I’ll never replace batteries again, because it’s rechargable. It’s small enough to pocket, but I clip it to a belt loop on my jeans; easier to access. > > [https://www.rei.com/product/124310/fenix-rc05-se-rechargeable-flashlight](https://www.rei.com/product/124310/fenix-rc05-se-rechargeable-flashlight) Yow. You consider that small enough to pocket? What kind of monstrous pockets do you have? Personally I don’t like to have anything larger than a key on my keyring. (I admit I’m kind of anal about keeping stuff in my pockets to a minimum.) I carry a [Photon II Pro](https://www.amazon.com/LRI-PII-Beam-Light-White/dp/B00CIQVYUO/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1527996626&sr=8-7) which is of course not as bright as the Fenix but vastly smaller and lighter. It’s always been adequate for any use I’ve had for it. ---
**Author:** ![Capn\_Carl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Capn\_Carl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capn_Carl)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2018, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/design-your-flashlights-so-they-dont-get-screwed-up-by-pocket-change/815256/13 "2018-06-03T12:55:11Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > Yow. You consider that small enough to pocket? What kind of monstrous pockets do you have? > Personally I don’t like to have anything larger than a key on my keyring. (I admit I’m kind of anal about keeping stuff in my pockets to a minimum.) I carry a [Photon II Pro](https://www.amazon.com/LRI-PII-Beam-Light-White/dp/B00CIQVYUO/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1527996626&sr=8-7) which is of course not as bright as the Fenix but vastly smaller and lighter. It’s always been adequate for any use I’ve had for it. Only 4” long, but yeah, nearing the limit of pocketability. My pocket-hog is the phone. I want a phone with a 6” screen that folds down to about matchbook size. ---
**Author:** ![Capn\_Carl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Capn\_Carl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capn_Carl)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2018, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/design-your-flashlights-so-they-dont-get-screwed-up-by-pocket-change/815256/14 "2018-06-03T12:59:23Z")
Another solution for the OP: stop carrying coins. Whenever I get coins in change, I leave them in whatever charity jar is near the register, or I just give them to the cashier. Coins are not allowed in my pockets any more. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2018, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/design-your-flashlights-so-they-dont-get-screwed-up-by-pocket-change/815256/15 "2018-06-03T13:49:34Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > Yow. You consider that small enough to pocket? What kind of monstrous pockets do you have? How small are your pockets? That thing looks tiny to me. Granted, I don’t carry flashlights around, but that’s shorter than my phone by about an inch, and I have one of the small iPhones (the SE). My keychain with the car keys takes up more physical space than that, too. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2018, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/design-your-flashlights-so-they-dont-get-screwed-up-by-pocket-change/815256/16 "2018-06-03T15:53:56Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Buy a [Fenix E12](https://www.fenix-store.com/fenix-e12-led-flashlight/) and you won’t have that sort of problem. The [Fenix RC40](https://www.fenix-store.com/fenix-rc40-rechargeable-led-flashlight-6000-lumens/) prevents the problem as well. ---
**Author:** ![Hopeful\_Crow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/da6949/32.png) [@Hopeful\_Crow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hopeful_Crow)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2018, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/design-your-flashlights-so-they-dont-get-screwed-up-by-pocket-change/815256/17 "2018-06-03T18:44:40Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > How about a little dab of hot glue at the edge of the lens. Just enough to come up to the the top of the metal so a coin can’t recess itself in there. > Wouldn’t even have to go all the way around, just a dot, maybe two. This is exactly what I was going to say! Or you could use some Gorilla Glue or the like for something more durable. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2018, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/design-your-flashlights-so-they-dont-get-screwed-up-by-pocket-change/815256/18 "2018-06-03T22:46:21Z")
I carry a [Jetbeam Mini-1 Cu](https://www.amazon.com/Jetbeam-Rechargeable-Keychain-Flashlight-Exclusive/dp/B01LZTIDNW) on my keys. It’s about half the size of a tube of Chapstick. Rechargeable via built-in USB micro with charge status LED, high and low settings, glass lens (no sign of scratches or hazing yet), unbreakable keychain ring. The copper has taken on a nice patina and it’s really a lovely thing to use. Strong recommendation. Also, be sure to use a quality grease for the threads and o-rings! Nitecore offers what’s basically a lifetime supply for 2 bucks. Butter smooth operation and it probably helps keep things waterproof. > **[Nitecore SG07 Silicone Grease | Battery Junction](https://www.batteryjunction.com/nitecore-sg07.html)** > > This Nitecore SG07 Silicone Grease is the top-tier water-resistant lubricant for flashlights of any brand or make. Available now; ships fast at Battery Junction! ---
**Author:** ![Dragwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dragwyr/32/2855_2.png) [@Dragwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragwyr)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2018, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/design-your-flashlights-so-they-dont-get-screwed-up-by-pocket-change/815256/19 "2018-06-04T12:57:14Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > I use [one of these](http://www.walletgear.com/easy-squeeze-leather-coin-purse.html#.WxFmSj8ierU). No coins float around in my pocket. Alternatively, you could make your own collapsible change purse: [https://www.instructables.com/id/A-Collapsible-Duct-Tape-Change-Purse/](https://www.instructables.com/id/A-Collapsible-Duct-Tape-Change-Purse/) ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2018, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/design-your-flashlights-so-they-dont-get-screwed-up-by-pocket-change/815256/20 "2018-06-04T14:27:55Z")
I ain’t gonna change my pocket-keeping habits, and I’m not going to buy new flashlights. I KNOW you can easily fix the flashlight so that it won’t get coins stuck in it – I say how to stop that in the OP. I’m complaining that they ever built a flashlight with this flaw in the first place.