More cleanup

Continuing the cleanup-slash-organizing-slash-evaluation episode I referred to earlier, it’s interesting to see what has and has not aged well over the course of..hmm..twenty years in some cases.

As I mentioned, the older MagLites, while still having some utility, are far inferior to the more modern LED and CR123 flashlights that have twice (or more) the brightness, five times the run time, one third the size, and twice the price. Ignoring the handiness of a 3-cell D-battery MagLite for rearranging someones dental work, they don’t do anything that isn’t done more efficiently and compactly by a modern LED pocket light.

Things like rice and wheat have stored just fine in 15-gallon ‘blue barrels’. The #10 cans from the LDS cannery, which are between 10-15 years old, have held up just fine. Same for the oatmeal that I rotated through a couple years back. Some stuff keeps well, some stuff does not.

Notoriously, Duracell batteries tend to poop the bed after a surprisingly short amount of time. I have learned the hard way to NOT leave them in any device that is going into storage.

So, the cleanup continues….curious to see what sort of “Hey, I forgot about those” turn up.

21 thoughts on “More cleanup

  1. Would you please mention things that didn’t age well Commander?

    I also notice Duracell isn’t good for long term storage. Have you found any that really shine (pardon the pun)?

    Do you do rechargeable batteries? Opinions please.

    • I do the eneloop rechargeables and havent had a problem with them.
      I have found that lithium batts, like the Energizers, do not crap out like the Duracells do. But, then again, they are a presumably completely different formula.

      • I find that Energizer Max don’t leak and ruin your electronics. They have a 10 year guarantee. Duracell doesn’t. Threw out my Duracells and now have only Energizer Max.

    • I still have a lot of stuff from the Y2k days and before when I started down this road in the early 90’s. What I find interesting is some of the plastic items in storage are starting to get a sticky/tacky feel to them or the rubberized coating is just peeling off. I’ve already thrown out some raincoats, boots, a old ECWCS jacket that had delaminated it’s gore-tex fabric. It was worthless in a light rain.
      Nothing lasts forever, I’ve opened up some 10 plus year old MREs and only thing salvageable were the accessory packets. I’m not going to eat questionable food no matter what some dude from youtube or the internet says and risk food poisoning or coming down with bushmans three step during a SHTF event.

  2. Duracell used to replace any item that had been damaged by their battery pooping in it. They still may. Definitely worth calling the customer number.

  3. i’ve been using the titanium innovation batteries for over 10 years now…they work pretty well in surefire or streamlights…they have a ten year shelf life and they hold up pretty well for some being 10 years old…they obviously weaken over time but most of the 500 + lumen lights burn through a new pair in an hour to 1.5 hours anyway when used at max brightness…pelican (they make the pelican cases) actually makes pretty good flashlights…i have a couple that use the 123 batteries, will also use AA or AAA batteries or will use a single 123 battery…if you have a chance to get one at a good price they are good lights…

  4. Following. Yeah some things become outdated and supplanted by new tech, or a better performing higher end product. One thing to factor into assessing whether to keep hanging on to rarely or never used kit is can that item fill a potential role or need in the future. If storage allows and that lizard brain thinking gives you an inclination to hold onto hard goods kit then keep it. Just because. I am in a really rural area with no box stores or specialty shops. I refrain from that habit of online ordering of anything and everything so as to not be an addict in withdrawal when the trucks stop rolling. Seasonal or quarterly forays to stock consumable commodities from those box store towns is enough exposure to humanity for me. Once you build up a good inventory of gear and necessities, and are in a good A.O. then you really can be the man that is an island..

    Stay stocked and frosty.

  5. older Mag Lites can be updated with a drop in LED replacement bulb with no mods needed…’bout $15 USD…it works.

    • People keep suggesting this and I keep saying the same thing: reflector geometry is different.

      • It is, but the modified flashlights are still useful, and still better than the xenon bulb version.

      • The Maglites have an adjustable reflector that somewhat takes care of this; but it varies with the Brand of Bulb. I have a few Early-Production Maglites- when they first came out, everyone I worked with as a Jet Mechanic had the “Bright Star” Miner’s Flashlights, rated for Fuel Vapor Explosive Atmospheres. They were Good with Duracells and a Higher-Wattage Bulb than the Safety Rating called for. I still have a few that I now use with LED Bulbs, they work fine.
        The Maglites were Brighter, but with an Aluminum Body, you NEVER wanted to use them around the High-Current 28-Volt Power in a Jet- Touching an exposed Terminal would result in Massive Damage and Injury from the Arcing.

    • I use one for night walks. It isn’t as good as an modern LED but it’s not far behind. It also won’t raise the eyebrows a tire thumper, black jack or baton would.

  6. Duracell’s used to be my battery of choice but no longer. I’m finding that they ALL leak after a very short period of time. I wrote to Duracell to complain and was told that they have “not changed a thing”. All I know is I NEVER had an issue with them years ago, now they are on my never buy list. Actually having the best luck with Sam’s choice batteries.

    I’d like to hear what are the best disposable ones in your opinion.

      • The beancounters at Duracell, in response to the inflation during “The One”s reign, decided that going to a crappy chemical mix made more sense than raising prices. They never revisited this idiocy, although they did change the formula a bit just a couple years ago. Supposedly the newer contents are less damaging to the object that gets crapped on. Bah. I’ve lost too many things due to them. I won’t take them as gifts.

        I know a Harvard MBA. His logic regarding business and money always seems a bit off… Might be a generational difference.

  7. Years ago when freeze dried food in #10 cans were being sold at below cost of production, I acquired several years worth of meats and meals. These were stored in cool/dry conditions with a “use by date of 2035”. When rearranging my supplies, I noticed that the cases of food were not sitting flat on their pallets anymore and tended to ‘rock’ when bumped. I opened the case and discovered that most of the cans were bulged, top and bottom. These meals are from a very well known supplier with a great reputation. Check your cans folks.

      • Because I’ve contacted the supplier and they’ve agreed to replace them (all). They wanted pictures and lot codes, then replied that they would be contacting me about delivery. I purchased them through Costco and I have no doubt that Costco would do the same if asked.

  8. I’ve had so many Duracells leak, and destroy the light that I had (foolishly) put them away with the batteries inside, that they are nigh unto pen pals by now. That’s the bad news.

    The good news, so to speak, is that they have been very good about attempting to replace the damaged lights: I send them a note, identifying the broken whatsit, citing Amazon,s replacement cost, and in a couple of weeks, I get a check. Cross that one off the “dammit!” list, and correspond about the next one.

    So far, so “good”. AND, I replace the batteries with Energizers. For not-everyday-use lights, NOW, I put the batteries into a separate zip lock bag, label the bag with lot #, purchase date, and predicted expiration date. That way, even if the batteries croak, the damage is contained.

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