Hammond G Box - A Build Log

[rhelton]

Just soldered the MOSFET to the battery sled and some wires to the fire switch.

Thats smart modding there. It took me a couple try's before coming to the conclusion that its much easier to mock up out of the box and assemble as much as you can before making final contacts in the box.

Nice job

 

[DaveSignal]

Thats smart modding there. It took me a couple try's before coming to the conclusion that its much easier to mock up out of the box and assemble as much as you can before making final contacts in the box.

Nice job

Thanks. I usually first make sure everything fits in the box the way that I want without any wires, but I agree that it makes sense to do as much soldering as possible outside of the box.

 

[LobsterGoD]

As a final note, this mod sold for $100 shipped, internationally. I think this a great price, even though it is, after all, just another Hammond box mod. Although the parts in a mod like this total maybe $35 to $40, a lot of time and work goes into something like this. And it is a dual 18650 box with MOSFET, a large front-facing voltmeter, fat daddy spring-loaded 510, clicky switch, and external selector switches for voltmeter control and device locking.

It could still be looked at as expensive when compared to many of the Chinese clones and even some of the Chinese authentic mods. I am surprised that China is able to do what they do. They make it hard to compete for any modders trying to make a business of this (I am not, but it is clear to me that keeping price down would be difficult). I guess the main advantage is that the products from China are not unique, they are mass-produced.

If someone is interested in building their own box, he/she should try it. The experience is rewarding. The final product is greater than the sum of its parts.

I would have to agree, even if it's just a simple dual parallel or series box. You gain experience and learn a few tricks along the way and always find ways to improve your design, not to mention its a blast. Especially if you enjoy doing puzzles or putting models together in the first place.

 

[MonkeyTokes]

Did you use a dremel to cut the voltmeter hole? I've been trying to get my volt meter slots as clean as that but just can't. So I resort to wrapping the side with the volt meter in carbon fiber vinyl and using a piece of a mirror screen protector on a piece of acrylic in the hole in front of the meter to clean it up a bit. Though I mainly use abs boxes not Hammond's simply because everyone's got a Hammond these days. The box looks great though!

 

[MonkeyTokes]

I know most people who vape are well aware, but if you're looking to build a box, check out fasttech. For under $5 you can get a varitube 510 and a dual 18650 sled shipped with upgraded 8-14 day shipping. The same parts sell for $5-7 on eBay. Not to mention for 5 of each its under $18. If you're not in a hurry its well worth the wait for things like that!

 

[DaveSignal]

Did you use a dremel to cut the voltmeter hole? I've been trying to get my volt meter slots as clean as that but just can't. So I resort to wrapping the side with the volt meter in carbon fiber vinyl and using a piece of a mirror screen protector on a piece of acrylic in the hole in front of the meter to clean it up a bit. Though I mainly use abs boxes not Hammond's simply because everyone's got a Hammond these days. The box looks great though!

I filed it out. I have used a dremel for larger openings though. This one I probably could have done with a dremel, but the smaller voltmeters are a bit hard given the size of a standard cut-off wheel.

I know most people who vape are well aware, but if you're looking to build a box, check out fasttech. For under $5 you can get a varitube 510 and a dual 18650 sled shipped with upgraded 8-14 day shipping. The same parts sell for $5-7 on eBay. Not to mention for 5 of each its under $18. If you're not in a hurry its well worth the wait for things like that!

I have used varitube 510 before. I have a decent box with a spring loaded varitube 510. Some chinese parts from FastTech are not the same quality though. I have had issues with cheap 3d printed battery sleds. They are not as good. I have heard of many issues with the clone MOSFETs too. If you are building a regulated box, it probably doesn't matter. But I wanted the keystone sled with gold plated contacts, an authentic International Rectifier 3034 MOSFET, and a Fat Daddy Vapes 510. I'm sure you could do a decent box with all cheap chinese parts and I do order stuff from FastTech occasionally, that just wans't desired in this instance.