18650 Bolt Without the 18650 Extension

[UncleChuck]

Hey guys,

Not sure if many people are still using the Bolt, for some reason I've been taking a renewed interest in mine. It was gathering dust (quite literally, there was a thin layer of dust on it) after I got into the VV/VW phase, but as I increasingly discover that I'm not a huge fan of the way that 33hz chip vapes (not to get into that now) I've picked the bolt back up. I wish I would have hung onto some of my other devices instead of getting rid of them awhile ago!

Anyway, as Bolt owners know, it takes an 18500 in stock configuration, and cana use an 18650 with an available extension. I'm not a big fan of the extension for a few reasons, for one it doesn't line up perfectly with the diameter of the device, and second adding in all those extra threads and what not seems like it would waste some power, most likely not enough to even measure but things like that just bug me.

So I've been using it in 18500 mode with a protected LiIon 18500, but I'd prefer to be using my IMR 18650s. It didn't add up to me why the bolt needed an extension with an 18650 considering how long it is. Turns out it doesn't.

I removed the spring from my Bolt to put into my Vamo, it's a lot thicker and stronger than the Vamo's dinky spring, so after a tiny bit of cutting and bending it now lives in my Vamo. I threw an EH 18650 IMR flat top into the Bolt without a spring, and it fit, and even had a little rattle. The spring is just so long and fat that it takes up a lot of space, and won't allow an 18650.

So I found a very short and wide spring (out of my flashlight building box) and now I can use 18650s in my bolt in short mode, which looks nicer to me and makes a more compact device. It wont fit with a button top 18650 with a spring, but for some reason I can take the spring out completely, use a button top 18650, and it screws together and works perfectly.

I just wanted to pass this tibit of information along, hopefully someone else can take advantage of it too!

 

[Buzzsaw46]

Very cool. I too have been disappointed by how poorly matched the extension ring is. I just put a flat top 18650 in mine with out removing the stock spring I do have a small 1/16" gap between the tubes but it is much more compact now. I will try and trim the spring down an see if I can get the tubes to come together.

I was able to get the gap down to about 1/32" by trimming the stock spring, I think I can live with the small gap for the 1/2" reduction in length.

Thanks for sharing your idea!

 

[UncleChuck]

Glad you could put this to use!

The spring I have can totally collapse to the thickness of the spring's wire. So if you use your fingers to squeeze it all the way down, every coil can totally fit within the one next to it. This allows the spring to be very flat when compressed. By comparison the stock spring, at the base of the spring at least, there are a few coils that double up and sit on top of each other, instead of inside each other.

This is probably why you can't get it screwed down all the way, although some additional bending and cutting could probably get you there. I know what a huge hassle trying to reshape springs can be so I don't blame you for settling with the small gap

The easiest way with the stock spring would be to cut the very top, and the very bottom off. Most of the spring cap collapse inside of itself, but the bottom and top have the part that's doubled up in order to lay flat and not have a sharp point sticking out. My spring doesn't fit the diameter of the Bolt, it just sits in there loosely and then obviously kept in place by the battery. So you don't really need that doubled up bottom part, and the spring only has to be a very tiny length anyway, since as you know the clearance is very small.

 

[Buzzsaw46]

Played with it a bit more and I have it fully closing now. Used a Vamo spring with one coil clipped on the wide end. Put my cut down Bolt spring into the Vamo and it works fine yet also.

Pretty awesome having an 18650 mod that is smaller than a Vamo in 18350 mode!

 

[UncleChuck]

Played with it a bit more and I have it fully closing now. Used a Vamo spring with one coil clipped on the wide end. Put my cut down Bolt spring into the Vamo and it works fine yet also.

Pretty awesome having an 18650 mod that is smaller than a Vamo in 18350 mode!

I know! My thoughts exactly. I felt almost giddy when I got mine together, like I was cheating the universe or something haha. I had been compromising so long, having either a less desirable battery in use, or a less desirable length of the device. Now I have the best of both worlds, battery and size.

My 18350 Vamo and 18650 Bolt are my two main vapes right now, they are both nearly the same size overall as I have a standard length 19mm Ibtank on my Vamo, and a Smoktech DCT on my Bolt. Using shorty drip tips on both too, now anything larger seems oversized. I used to have my Bolt set up with the extension ring, and the replacement top cap that has the room for the ego skirting. It was long and goofy looking like that, especially with a tank on it. Now I think it looks a feels great.

 

[440BB]

Good mod of the Bolt! Congratulations on making it handier - thousands of people bought one over the last year, but you figured it out first! With all the RBA tinkering going on, the shortened spring mod just sat there unnoticed until you gave it a try!

 

[Buzzsaw46]

I have a Termiator-C on my Bolt, it's a big device but only slightly longer than a Smok DCT tank and a standard drip tip. Being able to shrink it by 1/2" is not life changing, but is a welcome improvement!

I have an Atmizoo Dingo coming for an even more compact device. My Bolt is now 97mm the Dingo is only 65mm which is like taking a Vamo extension tube off the length of the Bolt. It can only take an 18350 though.

 

[UncleChuck]

I have a Termiator-C on my Bolt, it's a big device but only slightly longer than a Smok DCT tank and a standard drip tip. Being able to shrink it by 1/2" is not life changing, but is a welcome improvement!

I have an Atmizoo Dingo coming for an even more compact device. My Bolt is now 97mm the Dingo is only 65mm which is like taking a Vamo extension tube off the length of the Bolt. It can only take an 18350 though.

I've always suspected I have OCD or something because I am incredibly particular about how everything in my life is supposed to be. Things that are larger than they NEED to be unnerve me for some reason. Wasted space makes me irate. Half an inch really isn't a big deal at all, but knowing that the length isn't being utilized completely bugs me to no end. Just like the additional current loss of having an extension between the top and bottom cap probably isn't great enough to be noticeable, let alone measurable, but it just bugs me and I can't get over it, because I know it isn't needed. That's why I was so happy to use an 18650 with a standard length Bolt

 

[dapir8]

I run two Vamo springed anodized Bolts with flat top EH IMR's 18650 (not popular but work) for the last two months and all is great. No clipping required. I think for a compact 18650 that will run all day and then some at a bargain price, it's a winner. LR cartos help this along.

I too have had consistency issues with the sleeve and even received slate extension rings with slightly different shades of anodizing.

Sometimes I like running the extension ring to kick the bolt...the kick and flat top 18500 IMR will not fit. Maybe chrome is the way to go for the kick.