What happens when a company that usually makes powerful lasers for the Chinese military decides to make a flashlight? They make a flashlight with a beam so strong that it can start a fire.

Wicked Lasers is known for making high-end lasers that can burn, cut, and project a laser beam hundreds of miles away. So when we found out that they were making a "flashlight," we were understandably both confused and curious.

Wicked Lasers named their new flashlight the TORCH... and for good reason. The "TORCH" is technically a flashlight. It looks like a flashlight. Operates like a flashlight. But this is no ordinary flashlight. The TORCH is so bright that its beam can ignite flammable objects as fast as fire.

Here's a video clip of the TORCH lighting some matches. As you will hear in the video, my assistants start laughing and blow snot all over the place. Honestly, who can blame them. This "flashlight" is ridiculous.

The Brightest "Flashlight" on Earth

The TORCH is being reviewed by The Guinness Book of World Records for the brightest and most powerful "flashlight" on the planet. Exactly how bright is the TORCH? 4,100 lumens. To help put that number in perspective, your standard household flashlight is under 100 lumens.

To keep the front lens of the TORCH from shattering from the intense heat, Wicked Lasers uses a special heat resistant glass. Please keep your body (especially your eyes) away from the beam and the hot lens. The TORCH is so powerful that it can cook an egg. Seriously, the TORCH flashlight can cook an egg. We're not kidding. Watch this video below and try to imagine what the TORCH could do to your bare skin:

Unpacking The TORCH

When you first unpack the TORCH from its shipping container, you should find the following:

• TORCH flashlight
• instruction booklet
• battery charger system
• custom rechargeable battery
• replacement fuse(s)

The TORCH: Technical Specs

The TORCH is about the same size as those big black flashlights commonly used by Police officers. The technical specs for the TORCH are listed below.

Lamp Output:	4100 Lumens with an Adjustable High Efficiency Reflector
Dimensions:	57mm x 230mm
Power Supply:	12x2/3A 1500mAh Cells 14.4V
Battery Lifetime:	15 Minutes
Bulb Type:	100W Halogen
Expected Bulb Life:	2000 Hours
Casing:	Aerospace Grade Aluminum
Tail switch:	On/Off Button
Warranty:	6 Months

Charging the TORCH

The TORCH comes in 2 boxes. One box is the actual TORCH flashlight. The second box is the charging system. The TORCH needs power. A lot of power.

The halogen light bulb inside the TORCH is rated at a ridiculously strong 100 Watts and requires a custom made rechargeable battery to power it. Don't lose this battery. As a test, we put a couple standard D sized batteries inside the TORCH. The D batteries barely made the TORCH's bulb glow. You have to use the custom Wicked Lasers battery with your TORCH flashlight.

Here's how to properly charge the TORCH's battery:

1. Find a standard AC outlet, but do NOT plug in the charging cable yet.
   
   
2. The charging system has a switch that allows you to toggle between 1.8A and 0.9A. Never use 1.8A. Never. Always use 0.9A!!! If you use the wrong setting, you will ruin your TORCH battery and void the warranty.
   
   
3. Fasten the heat sensor to the center section of the battery. You can use tape, a rubber band or even a hair band like in the image below.
   
   
   
   
4. The charging system for the TORCH has a red and a black cable with magnetic tips. Hook the red cable to the "nipple" end of the battery.
   
   
   
   
5. Hook the magnetic end of black cable to the backside of the battery. If your sense of humor is as childish as mine, then an easy way to remember this is "Nipples are red. Back in black." It doesn't exactly make sense but it works. Email us if you come up with a better way to remember this.
   
   
6. Double check all your connections, then plug the AC cable into a power outlet.
   
   
   
   
7. After a few moments, the light on the charging system should light up RED. Your battery will need ~30 minutes to fully charge. DO NOT OVER CHARGE YOUR BATTERY.
   
   
   
   
8. When the light on the battery pack turns GREEN, your battery is charged and ready for use.
   
   
   
   
9. Unplug the charging system from the AC outlet.
   
   
   
   
10. Unhook the battery.
    
    
11. Take the battery and slide it inside the bottom of the TORCH nipple side first. Then screw on the bottom cap.
    
    
12. A fully charged battery will last for about 15min. Only use your TORCH in 2 or 3 minute intervals. Then give the TORCH a couple minutes to rest before using it again.
    

The first few times you charge and use the battery, your TORCH won't last the full 30 minutes. The battery needs to condition itself first.

Torch Usage Tips

Here are a few suggestions to help you get the most out of your Wicked Lasers TORCH flashlight.

• When igniting objects with your TORCH, do it outside and away from flammable materials. A BBQ grill is the perfect spot to experiment with your TORCH flashlight.
  
  
• If the lens gets dirty, wait until it is room temperature before you clean it with a slightly damp cloth. Never use a cold wet towel to clean a hot lens or the lens may crack or shatter.
  
  
• Take the battery out of the TORCH when not in use. The last thing you want is for it to accidentally turn on while it's stored.
• Don't over charge the battery or it may leak or fail to function.
  
  
• Keep the TORCH away from moisture.
  
  
• When charging the battery, place it on a heat resistant surface like a stone kitchen counter top.
  

Room For Improvement

There are a few improvements Wicked Lasers could make for the next generation TORCH flashlight. All modern rechargeable batteries for devices like laptops or the iPhone are smart enough to not overcharge themselves. The next charging system for the TORCH should be smart enough to automatically turn itself off if the user accidentally leaves the battery charging longer than 30 minutes. And having a high powered flashlight that only lasts 15 minutes is pretty annoying. The ability to dial down the power and make the TORCH last longer would definitely make it more practical. But if you are buying the TORCH, then you probably just want to burn stuff in your backyard and impress your friends.

Final Thoughts

The TORCH is an amazing product. Wicked Lasers really spared no expense when manufacturing the TORCH. 100 Watt bulbs. Spare fuses. A heat resistant lens. Hell, even the casing is made from aerospace grade aluminum. That's right. Not cheap recycled beer or soda can aluminum. Aerospace aluminum. They make airplanes out of the same aluminum used to make the TORCH.

In addition to being a Guinness Book of World Records contender for the brightest flashlight in the world, the TORCH might also be the most dangerous. Treat the TORCH with as much care and caution as you would a lighter or a book of matches. When you turn on your TORCH flashlight, it's basically the same as lighting a match. Be careful. Be safe. And don't burn down your house.

Owning a flashlight that can cook eggs, light cigarettes and melt plastic isn't exactly practical, but it sure is fun. Who knows, maybe in a few years the guys at Wicked Lasers might invent a real light saber. I can almost see the newspaper headline now... "Thousands Burned at Star Wars Convention when Light Saber Battle Reenactment Gets Personal."

This item is available for purchase from Wicked Lasers.com Wicked Technology is a compay of laser enthusiasts, maybe even laser maniacs, who - like you - have been searching all over looking for the highest powered, highest quality, affordable laser pointers. For more information, check out: http://www.wickedlasers.com Rating: Requirements: Something to burn. Darkness optional. Manufacturer: Wicked Lasers