Review: The 4nine by Tarsius Customs clone
The Male and Female versions of the 4nine hybrid styled mechanical mod clones featured in this review are from Focalecig.com. These clones are based on the 4nine by Tarsius Customs, which is a hybrid style, modular mechanical mod with a recessed magnetic switch. The authentic 4nine retails for $169.99-185.00, while the clones retail for $23.94 (male engraved switch), and $20.98 (female laser etched switch) at Focalecig.com.
Product Specifications:
Male 4nine
Material: Stainless Steel/Brass/Copper
Finish: brushed
Type: mechanical mod (modular)
Connection threading: 510 (hybrid top cap)
Diameter: 22mm
Length: 79mm (all tubes)
Weight: 82.5 grams
Other: magnetic switch (engraved logo)
Female 4nine
Material: Brass/Copper
Finish: polished
Type: mechanical mod (modular)
Connection threading: 510 (hybrid top cap)
Diameter: 22mm
Length: 79mm (all tubes)
Weight: 84 grams
Other: magnetic switch (laser etched)
**Please note ** The brass 4nine featured in this review had a polished finish upon receipt, which I then changed to a soft brushed finish using 1000 grit wet/dry sandpaper. The polished finish is shown on the right, brushed finish on the left.
The 4nine is a modular, extension tube mod, with a main body 18350 tube, and two extensions to make up the 18500/650 battery configurations. The remaining parts are comprised of a free floating copper switch with laser engraved, or etched Tarsier logo (depends on type purchased), a delrin battery spacer with copper encased magnet, and an insulated brass hybrid connecting top cap.
The only difference between the stainless steel, and brass 4nine mod pictured here is the switch finishes, and logo type. The stainless steel 4nine has an engraved Tarsier logo with a brushed finish, while the brass has a laser etched Tarsier logo with a polished finish. Both 4nine’s have smooth, clean threads, and the tubes are quite thick. The 4nine clone has a surprisingly sturdy, and solid feel to it, in spite of its compact size.
Being that the 4nine is a hybrid connecting mechanical, there is no 510 positive contact within the top cap. This device is designed to use the 510 pin of the atomizer to make direct connnection with the battery. As such, it is important to use an atomizer with a 510 pin that protrudes beyond the 510 threading by at least 1mm, which is the minimum length required to use this mechanical mod. ** YOU SHOULD NOT USE ANY ATOMIZER WITH A FLUSH 510 CONNECTION PIN, DOING SO MAY CAUSE A SHORT, AND IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. **
While 1mm is the minimum recommended length for the 510 pin, it has been my experience that a longer 510 pin of at least 2mm is ideal, as the length of the 510, in addition to the length of the battery used, directly affects the length of the throw on the switch. The longer the 510 pin, the shorter, and smoother the throw of the switch will be.
The delrin insulator in the top cap is there to prevent shorting while in use, and there are also two vent holes drilled into the top cap.
The 4nine clone has a free floating copper magnetic switch that works in opposition with the magnetic delrin spacer to complete the circuit between the battery, and atomizer when activated. You install the switch by sliding it into the main body tube, where it sits into a groove at the base of the tube. It can be a bit tricky to get the switch to fall properly into place, and so it is recommended that you install the switch through the 18350 tube, prior to connecting the extensions.
Being that the 4nine uses a recessed switch design, it can stand in any battery/set up configuration without firing under its weight, and so there is no locking mechanism on the 4nine. The deep cut out’s at the base of the main tube allows your finger rest within the cut, and activate the switch.
**please note that the hole at the center of the switch is not for venting. It is there to make removing the magnet for replacement easier**
The magnet within the delrin spacer has a North and South pole. You must attach the spacer to the battery with the opposing pole facing the magnet inside of the copper switch. The opposing force between the two magnets is what moves the battery to make connection with the 510 fire pin on your atomizer.
You will know that your delrin spacer is affixed to the battery on the wrong side if you insert the battery into the tube, and it pulls the switch onto the spacer. To make it quick, and easy to know which pole needs to face the switch, I used a sharpie to mark the opposing side of the magnet in the spacer, as shown in the photo below.
The copper encased magnet is also threaded, and can be screw in, and out of the delrin spacer also shown below. You can unscrew the magnet on the side connecting to the battery to shorten the distance between the battery and the 510 pin on your atty. In addition to a long 510 atomizer pin, nipple top batteries are also recommended for use with the 4nine mod, as it also directly affects the overall length of throw of the switch. The further the free floating switch has to travel up into the tube to make a connection, the more grinding, and crunchy the switch will feel.
A long 510 atomizer pin, and a nipple top battery within a properly sized 4nine clone, will make for the shortest, and smoothest throw. Flat top batteries can be used with 4nine so long as the delrin insulator remains in the top cap however, using a flat top battery will increase the throw of the switch making it grindy, unless you find a way to mod around it. Unscrewing the threaded magnet in the delrin may be of some help here.
The 4nine gets its name from the fact that is it a mere 49mm tall in 18350 mode, making it truly one of the smallest mechanical mods available, a claim formerly owned by the Astro by Kato. The 4nine is also much smaller than the average mechanical mod in all battery configurations. In 18500 mode (64mm), the 4nine is still smaller than most mechanicals in 350 mode. This 4nine clone is 79mm in the 650 battery configuration, as is the authentic 4nine by Tarsius Customs.
Conclusion
The 4nine is an advanced user device, and there are several considerations that must be made in order to use this mechanical mod safely, and properly. The appeal of the 4nine is its minimalist design, compact size, and hybrid type 510 connection. There are no adjustable pins, springs, or intricate switch assemblies to contend with. Being that the top cap is constructed of brass, which is a softer metal, care needs to be taken with the threads, and so it pays to be mindful when attaching and removing your atomizer.
There are other cloned versions of the 4nine that offer a more seamless appearance of the tubes however, those versions of the 4nine are also mis-sized at 82mm overall, and 52mm in 350 mode. While this version of the 4nine does not have the seamless tube appearance of the authentic, it is properly sized in all configurations like the authentic (49mm/350, 64mm/500, 79mm/650), and the 4nine mechanical mod is all about SIZE.
This clone even improves upon one aspect of the original 4nine, and that is the copper encased magnet within the battery spacer, unlike the authentic which has only a bare magnet set in delrin. Having the battery in contact with that copper ring should increase conductivity, even if only slightly.
The other nice bonus of the 4nine clone is that the hybrid top cap is compatible with 20x.5mm threaded Stingray mods, and the Stingray does work beautifully with the 4nine hybrid cap.
With the right atomizer, and battery, the 4nine is nice little mechanical.
The Male and Female versions of the 4nine hybrid styled mechanical mod clones featured in this review are from Focalecig.com. These clones are based on the 4nine by Tarsius Customs, which is a hybrid style, modular mechanical mod with a recessed magnetic switch. The authentic 4nine retails for $169.99-185.00, while the clones retail for $23.94 (male engraved switch), and $20.98 (female laser etched switch) at Focalecig.com.
Product Specifications:
Male 4nine
Material: Stainless Steel/Brass/Copper
Finish: brushed
Type: mechanical mod (modular)
Connection threading: 510 (hybrid top cap)
Diameter: 22mm
Length: 79mm (all tubes)
Weight: 82.5 grams
Other: magnetic switch (engraved logo)
Female 4nine
Material: Brass/Copper
Finish: polished
Type: mechanical mod (modular)
Connection threading: 510 (hybrid top cap)
Diameter: 22mm
Length: 79mm (all tubes)
Weight: 84 grams
Other: magnetic switch (laser etched)
**Please note ** The brass 4nine featured in this review had a polished finish upon receipt, which I then changed to a soft brushed finish using 1000 grit wet/dry sandpaper. The polished finish is shown on the right, brushed finish on the left.
The 4nine is a modular, extension tube mod, with a main body 18350 tube, and two extensions to make up the 18500/650 battery configurations. The remaining parts are comprised of a free floating copper switch with laser engraved, or etched Tarsier logo (depends on type purchased), a delrin battery spacer with copper encased magnet, and an insulated brass hybrid connecting top cap.
The only difference between the stainless steel, and brass 4nine mod pictured here is the switch finishes, and logo type. The stainless steel 4nine has an engraved Tarsier logo with a brushed finish, while the brass has a laser etched Tarsier logo with a polished finish. Both 4nine’s have smooth, clean threads, and the tubes are quite thick. The 4nine clone has a surprisingly sturdy, and solid feel to it, in spite of its compact size.
Being that the 4nine is a hybrid connecting mechanical, there is no 510 positive contact within the top cap. This device is designed to use the 510 pin of the atomizer to make direct connnection with the battery. As such, it is important to use an atomizer with a 510 pin that protrudes beyond the 510 threading by at least 1mm, which is the minimum length required to use this mechanical mod. ** YOU SHOULD NOT USE ANY ATOMIZER WITH A FLUSH 510 CONNECTION PIN, DOING SO MAY CAUSE A SHORT, AND IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. **
While 1mm is the minimum recommended length for the 510 pin, it has been my experience that a longer 510 pin of at least 2mm is ideal, as the length of the 510, in addition to the length of the battery used, directly affects the length of the throw on the switch. The longer the 510 pin, the shorter, and smoother the throw of the switch will be.
The delrin insulator in the top cap is there to prevent shorting while in use, and there are also two vent holes drilled into the top cap.
The 4nine clone has a free floating copper magnetic switch that works in opposition with the magnetic delrin spacer to complete the circuit between the battery, and atomizer when activated. You install the switch by sliding it into the main body tube, where it sits into a groove at the base of the tube. It can be a bit tricky to get the switch to fall properly into place, and so it is recommended that you install the switch through the 18350 tube, prior to connecting the extensions.
Being that the 4nine uses a recessed switch design, it can stand in any battery/set up configuration without firing under its weight, and so there is no locking mechanism on the 4nine. The deep cut out’s at the base of the main tube allows your finger rest within the cut, and activate the switch.
**please note that the hole at the center of the switch is not for venting. It is there to make removing the magnet for replacement easier**
The magnet within the delrin spacer has a North and South pole. You must attach the spacer to the battery with the opposing pole facing the magnet inside of the copper switch. The opposing force between the two magnets is what moves the battery to make connection with the 510 fire pin on your atomizer.
You will know that your delrin spacer is affixed to the battery on the wrong side if you insert the battery into the tube, and it pulls the switch onto the spacer. To make it quick, and easy to know which pole needs to face the switch, I used a sharpie to mark the opposing side of the magnet in the spacer, as shown in the photo below.
The copper encased magnet is also threaded, and can be screw in, and out of the delrin spacer also shown below. You can unscrew the magnet on the side connecting to the battery to shorten the distance between the battery and the 510 pin on your atty. In addition to a long 510 atomizer pin, nipple top batteries are also recommended for use with the 4nine mod, as it also directly affects the overall length of throw of the switch. The further the free floating switch has to travel up into the tube to make a connection, the more grinding, and crunchy the switch will feel.
A long 510 atomizer pin, and a nipple top battery within a properly sized 4nine clone, will make for the shortest, and smoothest throw. Flat top batteries can be used with 4nine so long as the delrin insulator remains in the top cap however, using a flat top battery will increase the throw of the switch making it grindy, unless you find a way to mod around it. Unscrewing the threaded magnet in the delrin may be of some help here.
The 4nine gets its name from the fact that is it a mere 49mm tall in 18350 mode, making it truly one of the smallest mechanical mods available, a claim formerly owned by the Astro by Kato. The 4nine is also much smaller than the average mechanical mod in all battery configurations. In 18500 mode (64mm), the 4nine is still smaller than most mechanicals in 350 mode. This 4nine clone is 79mm in the 650 battery configuration, as is the authentic 4nine by Tarsius Customs.
Conclusion
The 4nine is an advanced user device, and there are several considerations that must be made in order to use this mechanical mod safely, and properly. The appeal of the 4nine is its minimalist design, compact size, and hybrid type 510 connection. There are no adjustable pins, springs, or intricate switch assemblies to contend with. Being that the top cap is constructed of brass, which is a softer metal, care needs to be taken with the threads, and so it pays to be mindful when attaching and removing your atomizer.
There are other cloned versions of the 4nine that offer a more seamless appearance of the tubes however, those versions of the 4nine are also mis-sized at 82mm overall, and 52mm in 350 mode. While this version of the 4nine does not have the seamless tube appearance of the authentic, it is properly sized in all configurations like the authentic (49mm/350, 64mm/500, 79mm/650), and the 4nine mechanical mod is all about SIZE.
This clone even improves upon one aspect of the original 4nine, and that is the copper encased magnet within the battery spacer, unlike the authentic which has only a bare magnet set in delrin. Having the battery in contact with that copper ring should increase conductivity, even if only slightly.
The other nice bonus of the 4nine clone is that the hybrid top cap is compatible with 20x.5mm threaded Stingray mods, and the Stingray does work beautifully with the 4nine hybrid cap.
With the right atomizer, and battery, the 4nine is nice little mechanical.
