Hands-on: Fire-starting Torch by Wicked Lasers

July 29, 2008 | Filed under Gadgets, Hands On

the torch main image
Before I start talking about “The Torch” from Wicked Lasers let me tell you in advance that there are loads of images that I have taken below this hands-on review, I have also added videos from Wicked Lasers site as well.

Now when I got a phone call from another team member on this site about reviewing a torch, I thought to myself “What the hell can I write about a torch, it is just a torch”, well I was totally wrong there because this is not an ordinary torch, it is The Torch.

When I received this torch it came in tatty old boxes, but this is just a review product, we are sure if you bought one you would get it in a mint condition box.

Anyway enough about packaging let’s talk about the product itself, and what a product it is. My first impression on this flashlight was “Oh yes just as I imagined an ordinary torch that allows you to see in the dark”, but as time went on with me using the torch on various things I decided that this was no ordinary torch; far from it, the weight of the torch lets you know it has been built with quality in mind.

This torch is so special it is currently being reviewed by The Guinness Book of World Records; the box contained the torch, the battery, instructions manual, master user guide and the battery charger.

The torch was flat so I had to charge it for a while, the way it charges is definitely different to say the least, the charger has to be set on 0.9A (NOT 1.8A – be aware of this) the positive and negative connecters are magnetic plus there is another wire which has to be taped to the battery itself, this wire is a heat sensor that can tell if the battery is over-heating which in return will switch the battery charger off.

So now after charging I disconnected the battery and placed it into the torch, the on/off button is located at the bottom of the torch which when pressed turns it on and when pressed again switches the torch off.

The first thing I wanted to know was “Can it really burn things? And like a child I am, I had to try this out. If you look at the images below you can clearly see that the torch I had on the table facing upwards burned the paper, the videos also show you more like cooking an egg, lighting matches plus some others.

This is without a doubt the most powerful and brightest torch I have ever come across and I love it to bits. I go fishing and camping quite a lot with friends and family and I thought this torch would come in handy so I thought I would experiment in the garden before going fishing etc, I forgot to take pictures so I am sorry about that. Anyway I thought how many campers want to start a little camp fire and would this torch be helpful, a big YES is the answer very helpful indeed. I got some little twigs and some dry grass then proceeded to make a little camp fire in my garden, I placed the twigs in a neat pile with the dry grass under it, I turned the torch on and aimed the light at the dry glass about half a foot away and oh my god it set alight within seconds.

It can melt plastic plus many other materials, why you want to melt plastic is beyond me but hey it can do it.

The Technical Bit: The lamp output is 4100 Lumens with an adjustable high efficiency reflector, the size is only 57mm x 230mm, the power supply is 12×2/3A 1500mAh Cells 14.4V, the downsides to such a powerful torch is the battery life and at only 15 minutes that is pretty bad, but 15 minutes burning stuff is more than enough. The flashlight has a 100W Halogen bulb with 2000 hours expected life, the casing is made from Aerospace grade aluminium.

The Polarion Helios torch is the only torch that comes close to this one, but the Polarion Helios is 100 lumens less-powerful than this particular torch.

The glass on this torch that is being reviewed here has specialized heat resistant glass lens but trust me “DO NOT TOUCH IT” I did like an idiot and burned my fingers, I cannot get enough of this torch and I am not just saying that, I really do mean it with all my heart, it is truly amazing and is a must buy product.

You can buy these torches for $299 from Wicked Lasers, now please check out all the photos I took and below those are some videos for you to watch. Enjoy