Are you a mech user?

[suprtrkr]

Yes. I am a mekkie from way back. I started before good-- meaning more powerful than 15 watt-- regulated devices were available and it was the only way to get the vape I wanted. I now use regulated mods more often than not, but I still love and use my mechs; indeed, I am still in the market for top-drawer tubes and pick one up when opportunity and cash flow permit. I particularly like the ones capable of true-hybrid usage. I like the simplicity-- the engineer in me thinks they are elegant-- and the challenge of building the atty to get the vape you require within the limits of available battery voltage. Aaahhh... how I miss MMV being in the tube business.

 

[Lessifer]

My name is Lessifer and I am a mech user. I first started using mechs after my vamo died on me, the second one, though the first was a problem with the 510 and not the board. At first I thought, I'll buy a mech so I always have a backup that will last forever. Then, I got hooked, I liked the way they looked, I liked the way they vaped, it was just so good! I got so deep into it I was reading blogs and forum threads, taking in everything there was to know about how mechs worked and how to use them. Then I got a bottom feed mod and things went from bad to worse. Now I was dripping without having to drip, and my vape happiness just grew and grew until eventually I got the REO I had always wanted, and that's when I knew that regulated was just out of the cards for me, I would never not be a mech user.

All kidding aside, I got my first mech for the reliability, then realized how great the vape could be and how much control I could have by building my own coils. Safety precautions are habit now, so I feel I am as safe, if not more, than any regulated user.

How about throwing a monkey wrench into the works: How many of you mech users also use faux hybrid direct to battery mods? Akin to taking that Cobra 427 and dropping a blower on it.

I have a couple, and the RDA's that can be safely used with them. I haven't used them much since I got my bottom feeders though.

 

[suprtrkr]

How about throwing a monkey wrench into the works: How many of you mech users also use faux hybrid direct to battery mods? Akin to taking that Cobra 427 and dropping a blower on it.

I'll pass, thanks. A few of my tubes came with the faux-hybrid top caps, but they are all still in the box. I do like true-hybrid attys, but they're not easy to come by.

 

[Rule62]

My name is Lessifer and I am a mech user. I first started using mechs after my vamo died on me, the second one, though the first was a problem with the 510 and not the board. At first I thought, I'll buy a mech so I always have a backup that will last forever. Then, I got hooked, I liked the way they looked, I liked the way they vaped, it was just so good! I got so deep into it I was reading blogs and forum threads, taking in everything there was to know about how mechs worked and how to use them. Then I got a bottom feed mod and things went from bad to worse. Now I was dripping without having to drip, and my vape happiness just grew and grew until eventually I got the REO I had always wanted, and that's when I knew that regulated was just out of the cards for me, I would never not be a mech user.

All kidding aside, I got my first mech for the reliability, then realized how great the vape could be and how much control I could have by building my own coils. Safety precautions are habit now, so I feel I am as safe, if not more, than any regulated user.

I have a couple, and the RDA's that can be safely used with them. I haven't used them much since I got my bottom feeders though.

Yep. I collected mech tubes for about 3 years. I still have some nice ones; but they're all on the shelf. Once I got my first REO, it was all over. I have a dozen of them, plus a couple Pdib wood squonkers. No looking back. Mech squonkers are the way to go, for me.

 

[Eskie]

And kind of like the first responder's car post - I like the "direct" feel - I can tell exactly how my build and wicking is performing - no dampening of the performance by electronics.
I don't really like anti-lock brakes - I'd rather be directly in control.
I kinda enjoy driving a stick shift.
And I prefer the vape from a mech.

Well, as much as I like driving a stick, I still like my anti-lock braking too. For me a regulated offers me a consistent hit regardless of the battery state. And I'm a fan of TC too. I do have some mechs in my stash, but my day to day drivers do remain regulated.

Then of course, the best is a good electric clutch and paddles. That makes for an easy acceleration.

 

[Asbestos4004]

I use both. I've had regulated mods break on me. Mechanic, never. I've never had battery failure in either. Funny thing, information.

 

[Darth Omerta]

I started on Mechs around 2 months after I started vaping and Ive been using them ever since! For all the same reasons that have already been listed I definitely prefer them. All of my mechs are at least a year and half old or more and they all still work beautifully. I like building for the mech rather than fiddling with setting to fit the build. I do have a few regulated and they are in daily rotation but I carry a mech with me at all times and its always the primary mod for me. I also drip exclusively. I dont squonk, I dont use tanks, I do have one RDTA that I use regularly but even that gets used more like a dripper. For me a mech and a well built RDA is perfection.

 

[defdock]

yes, i use a mech.

the only mechs i own and use are a brass and SS 4nine. why i use them, they are very simple(less parts, stuff to fiddle with, and easy to inspect/troubleshoot/clean) and because they are very short in 18350 mode. i love short setups and its the smallest mod(s) i own. plus when the battery is "dead" i can easily swap cells and have no issues about sitting around for it to charge.

 

[BreSha6869]

I use mechs and regulated interchangeably. I like them both.

Sometimes I feel like slapping a prebuilt coil in a Smok tank and vaping on an Alien or G-Priv and other times I feel like making a cool build in a RTA/RDA and using a mech.

Mechs are simple and will likely last my lifetime with proper care. I started buying mechs just to have "in case" and realized I loved using them. The vape can be better than a regulated IME.

 

[daviedog]

Just received a brass MMV Nano & a copper Trinity.
Yes, i like well machined "machines".
Given time my Mech count will exceed my Post count..

 

[Just Me]

Short answer, no. I don't trust myself to know enough to feel safe with a mechanical mod. I'm sure they're great for people with that knowledge, but I'm not willing nor able to learn right now. I feel I'm doing bare minimum just to charge batteries, wind coils and change wicks on a regular basis with a regulated mod.

And we really expect ex-smokers to do all this??! Nada for most of them...

 

[suprtrkr]

Just received a brass MMV Nano & a copper Trinity.
Yes, i like well machined "machines".
Given time my Mech count will exceed my Post count..

Lucky you! I have a Nanos in polished stainless and an old Poldi in brushed. God, how I wish MMV still built tubes...

 

[daviedog]

Lucky you! I have a Nanos in polished stainless and an old Poldi in brushed. God, how I wish MMV still built tubes...

You can still get them, if you know where to look..

 

[homeuser6]

all my friends/associates have gone to variable/controllable vapes so i get plenty of opportunity to try the latest/greatest. i have not been impressed enough to put aside "old reliable"(homemade tube mech with rsst).
my favorite rifle is a falling block.

 

[Rossum]

I want to know what attracts you to your mechanical devices

Simplicity & reliability, which makes me confident that the mods I'm vaping today will still work decades from now. Yes, they require a bit of maintenance to maintain peak performance, but that's quite easy.

what your favourite builds are

Depends on the atty. I'm a mild sub-ohm MTL vaper. I don't go below 0.5 with dual coils and singles are usually in the 0.7-0.8 range.

 

[The Ocelot]

I use both.

 

[Lessifer]

I forgot to talk about my favorite build. I mentioned I vape on a REO mostly, so that's a single 18650 mod, my usual build is a 0.7-1.2ohm single coil build in either an 18mm or 22mm small chamber atomizer.

Another reason I prefer mechs, the other day I gave my REO a full bath, stripped it down completely and washed everything, and brushed some deoxit gold on the contacts. Can't do that with a regulated mod.

 

[Bad Ninja]

And we really expect ex-smokers to do all this??! Nada for most of them...

Wait.. Ex smokers are now dumb?


Lol.. Its as easy as lacing your shoes and filling your car with gas is more dangerous. In fact, not understanding ohms law and battery safety while using a regulated mod is extremely dangerous.

Mechs are not for everyone, but lets not pretend it's harder than it is.

A couple hours reading online and paying attention to what you are doing, will make you a safer vaper.

Paying attention to the specs of the batteries, and learning to fill in the blanks on an online ohm's law calculator isnt an elite skillset.

Anyone can learn.
Even ex smokers.


Some people dont like mechs and thats okay.
The choices availabe allow us to tailor the gear to our preferences.

 

[HauntedMyst]

I use mechs because they are simple basic devices without electronic parts that fail.
Its a battery and a switch.
They are as safe as a flashlight ( and based on a modified flashlight design, which is why we call them mods).

I fully understand how all my gear works, and just have no need for limits, sketchy software, and flimsy buttons that wear out.
I control the vape amd temp with my build.

Regulated devices use Pulse Wave Modulation to deliver power.
With a mech, its a smooth pure seamless delivery.
This is why the vape is different from a mechanical.

What he said (Except I look better than he does with a mech. That isn't a slight to him, I'm just man pretty.)

 

[Vikaernes]

I mainly vape on regulated devices right now (I expect my procyon to last a good long time.) But when I was stocking up? Nope, no way, I didn't even think about getting any regulated devices for the long term. All I bought was mechs, because I know if proper care is taken to keep them in good shape, they will outlast me. I understand battery safety, and how to properly build for a mech. At the same time I don't really build very low at all (my lowest ohm build usually clocks in at about a .8.) So I'm not too worried about venting any batteries anytime soon.