Chemlights - A worthless observation

[ungawa]

I bought a couple of boxes of chemlights in prep for Y2K. Yeah, I know But it was good exercise. One box of red long duration and one box of white intense.

Shelf life was generally reported as a year or two and is now reported at 4 years from what I can gather. Back then it was said moisture would degrade the shelf life. Of course, I've used them quite a bit over the years. But I probably haven't broken out any in about 3 years.

After over ten years, they work the same as when first purchased. After 24 hours the white stick produced enough light to use for hasty reading but not enough to light a small area. The red light was dead. After 48 hours the white light could be seen in pitch black but could not be used for any purpose.

Tonight, after 72 hours, neither one emits any visible light in even complete darkness with adjusted eye. Well, only 5-minutes adjusted eye, which is not complete. So I switched to Gen III thin-filmed Pinnacle image intensifiers. Specs are 72 lp/mm. Photosensitivity, S/N ratio, and FOM I have decided not to disclose Both sticks are quite visible and would work as near-IR substitutes for marking at this point, although obviously not even remotely as bright as freshly-cracked IR chemlights. But they are obvious at about 50 feet (as far as I could throw them).

This is a pretty lame post but I have faith one or two people might find it of casual interest.

[LittleRedToyota]

i find that information interesting and useful.

thanks for posting it.

[PA Rifleman]

...

This is a pretty lame post but I have faith one or two people might find it of casual interest.

I'm the second person that found this useful.

Thanks!

[Bmaninmifco]

very good to know thanks.

[gf45acp]

First hand info is always welcome, never know when it will be of help.
Thanks for posting!

[Warpt762x39]

Isn't there something productive you could be doing? lol

[ungawa]

Other than me screwing around with them I think the main point of interest is that they will last far longer than 10 years and still provide the expected light for 8 or 12 hours. Provided they haven't "improved" them in some way during the last 10 years.

I'm glad a few people found this of interest.

[gf45acp]

ungawa, ya got me going with this. I have to go check the ones I have laying about, I don't think that they go back to Y2K, but they must be at least 6 years old, gotta check.

[riverpirate]

when i was in the military we use to cut them open after activating them. during excersises we would sneek up on bunker positions and write with the liquid " bomb here" lol

[Policraticus]

How many in a box? They are sealed in foil and 1mm thick plastic right? Then again it is stock from the military. If I were going out to play in the sandbox I would want all my toys to work. They add an expiration date just to be sure but probably superfluous.