Before I blow myself up again...

[edyle]

I could do that yes except that I acknowledge the fact that the accident happened through my own fault and my ignorance of what went with which. I am much more aware now. And have learnt my lesson to come and check here before I do something really stupid. That said, even regulated mods are known to cause accidents. More importantly, the reason I have purchased several unregulated mods is because of the future. I am pretty sure I shall very soon be unable to purchase any kind of mod or atomizer online when the EU TPD directive comes into force. Even the couple of vape shops that do exist where I come from will probably be so highly regulated they are very likely to close down. When you are thinking so far ahead into the future - meaning years - it is pointless to go into a whole lot of regulated mods which are worthless when the battery dies or the circuit board gives up the ghost. There's not much that can go wrong with a mech mod.... except blow up of course. Again that said, now that I have tested it, the Caravela has gone back into its box and into my cache for future use as needed.

You might want to do like I did and buy 5 kick modules to go with your mechs.
$9.07 Authentic Sigelei Variable Wattage Kick Module for Mechanical Mod - 5-15W at FastTech - Worldwide Free Shipping

 

[Papillon61]

That is what is scary with mechs, people like me don't realize how much they don't know until a mistake is made.

That is exactly right. I think someone is going to write something about this specific subject and make it a sticky for everyone to read. People like me, who never studied science - I'm a history, geography, languages, law person - have absolutely no idea of certain consequences. As it happened I had used that SMPL for a whole day the day before the accident, but I had been using my Derringer which obviously has an insulated protruding pin. I had no idea that the same principle did not apply to the aerotank as well. Now I do know... but I learnt the hard way.

 

[Papillon61]

You might want to do like I did and buy 5 kick modules to go with your mechs.
$9.07 Authentic Sigelei Variable Wattage Kick Module for Mechanical Mod - 5-15W at FastTech - Worldwide Free Shipping

I do have that kick module but when the explosion happened I was rushing out to lunch at my son't place for his birthday and I had no 18500 batteries that were charged. Needless to say I still went to my son's place and never even told him about what had happened until the next day... even though I was still shaking!

 

[hashtag]

As a relatively new vaper about 3 years ago, I had a Trustfire 14500 ICR battery blow up in a mechanical mod. Blew the end caps right off and melted the cell. Caught my pants pocket on fire. The mod was actually in a pair of pants in my locker at work. The mod had a prominent horn fire button which got pressed continuously in the pocket and caused the battery to go into thermal runaway.

Funny, it was the specific battery recommended to be used at that time for that mod. IMR (unprotected) batteries were just coming onto the market, and many uninformed people were saying to use only "protected" batteries. Now ICR batteries are considered obsolete for mods.

Battery Basics for Mods: IMR or protected ICR?

Thanks for all the battery info you provide Baditude, your blogs and posts are what helped me insure I didn't blow my hand off after my near miss.

 

[mattiem]

I know it was a very scary lesson but I applaud you for posting it when it happened. It may save someone from an even much worse accident. I was very happy to know that you just got a bruise and a scare from it. It could have been so much worse.

 

[AndriaD]

Thank you. That is the reassurance I needed.

Now I don't know what you all think, but me... I think they look purdy

View attachment 462725

Gorgeous!!!!

(BTW, what manufacturer on that kayfun? my gold one isn't nearly that shiny, it looks more like rubbed brass)

Andria

 

[Papillon61]

Gorgeous!!!!

(BTW, what manufacturer on that kayfun? my gold one isn't nearly that shiny, it looks more like rubbed brass)

Andria

Thank you and no it is plated not rubbed brass. It is a clone but works really well, apart from looking good. It pairs up so nicely with the tiny Caravela - like they were made to go with each other.

 

[AndriaD]

Thank you and no it is plated not rubbed brass. It is a clone but works really well, apart from looking good. It pairs up so nicely with the tiny Caravela - like they were made to go with each other.

But you didn't say which clone... mine is an EHPro; just wondering how I can get one that's so shiny. I use mine with my gun-metal Vamo, and I use a Chi You brass kick-ring instead of the extension tube, so I can use 18500 batteries with it, but the brass kick ring is shiny; it's far enough from the gold kayfun that the diff isn't *glaring*, but *I* notice!

Andria

 

[KentA]

Since reading of your explosion, I've purchased a couple of ShortStops by Holocron Labs.
I know they won't make a mechanical foolproof, but maybe fool resistant.

 

[Papillon61]

I got it on Fasttech @AndriaD ; $16.92 Kayfun Lite Styled Rebuildable Tank Atomizer (4.5ml) - stainless steel / gold plated / 22mm diameter at FastTech - Worldwide Free Shipping

It is a little fiddly to build because the screws are so small . I had some 28AWG coils I had wound a couple of days ago so I used one of them. But I think next time I will go for the 30.

 

[Ryedan]

Since reading of your explosion, I've purchased a couple of ShortStops by Holocron Labs.
I know they won't make a mechanical foolproof, but maybe fool resistant.

Most people using mechanical mods these days are vaping at more power than they will allow, but for anyone who is not that is a very good idea. I think there are some fuses out there now that handle a bit more power, but I'm not up on them.

 

[AndriaD]

I got it on Fasttech @AndriaD ; $16.92 Kayfun Lite Styled Rebuildable Tank Atomizer (4.5ml) - stainless steel / gold plated / 22mm diameter at FastTech - Worldwide Free Shipping

It is a little fiddly to build because the screws are so small . I had some 28AWG coils I had wound a couple of days ago so I used one of them. But I think next time I will go for the 30.

Ah... I've only bought one "no-name" kayfun clone, and it was terrible; now I stick to either Tobeco (preferred) or EHPro.

Andria

 

[WharfRat1976]

Kindly confirm that this teeny weeny Caravella will take any atty I put on it... protruding pin or not... though I bought it to pair it with a Kayfun Lite. But just in case I get a very senior moment it would still take something like a Nautilus without another explosion happening, correct? LOL I'm leaving nothing to chance.

$5.40 Caravela Style Mechanical Mod - 18350 tube at FastTech - Worldwide Free Shipping

Pap, also, great looking setup. Now you have to perfect your coil and wicking skills with your KFL!

I would not build below 1ohm for your setup. Many will come on and say there are 18350 batterys that can handle sub ohm builds and there are but better safe then sorry. You are not in a position to push the limits of your 18350, currently

So make sure you have a meter and ohm out your coil to 1ohm or higher and you will be as safe as possible.

Here is a link to Batitude's blogs. In it you will find much information on battery safety. It is well worth an entire read: Baditude's blog | E-Cigarette Forum

 

[Papillon61]

Pap, also, great looking setup. Now you have to perfect your coil and wicking skills with your KFL!

Thanks - they really look sweet in their tinyness.

I would not build below 1ohm for your setup. Many will come on and say there are 18350 batterys that can handle sub ohm builds and there are but better safe then sorry. You are not in a position to push the limits of your 18350, currently

I don't subohm. !.5 to 1.80 is usually my sweet spot. Very rarely would I build a 1ohm.

So make sure you have a meter and ohm out your coil to 1ohm or higher and you will be as safe as possible.

I do have an ohm meter and I always test my coils before getting anywhere near a battery

Here is a link to Batitude's blogs. In it you will find much information on battery safety. It is well worth an entire read: Baditude's blog | E-Cigarette Forum

https://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blogs/baditude.88498/

Thank you for that too - I have read and reread it and have now passed it on to my son.

 

[edyle]

I do have that kick module but when the explosion happened I was rushing out to lunch at my son't place for his birthday and I had no 18500 batteries that were charged. Needless to say I still went to my son's place and never even told him about what had happened until the next day... even though I was still shaking!

I use 18650's with my kick modules; that's one of the issues about choosing a mech mod; keep it simple; if I can't use a kick + an 18650 then I won't buy; since I can find chiyou kick tubes, topcaps and bottom caps on fasttech, I have standardised on m21x1 mods ; so I have 5 of those vw kicks, an extra 5 kick tubes, and I have about 10 of the cheap 510-only adjustable centerpin topcaps;
the astro , by the way, is telescopic, and that helps a lot in not having to worry about an exact fit.

 

[bussdriver]

Don't hide that Caravala too deep. Great device for developing your skills as you learn to rebuild. Pretty easy to turn the power up and down and get some kind of vape out of your newly built coil when using a regulated mod; but learning to build the coil to match the battery with a mech mod, which can't be adjusted, is a right good learnin sperience. Gives you a good grip of how coiling and wicking really works.

 

[Papillon61]

Don't hide that Caravala too deep. Great device for developing your skills as you learn to rebuild. Pretty easy to turn the power up and down and get some kind of vape out of your newly built coil when using a regulated mod; but learning to build the coil to match the battery with a mech mod, which can't be adjusted, is a right good learnin sperience. Gives you a good grip of how coiling and wicking really works.

I do have a telescopic Pisces for practice.