HCigar Helmsman 26650 help

[humpstyles]

Yo.

My first mech mod finally came in yesterday, the hcigar Helmsman. It's a single 26650 mod, and I am loving its performance so far.

For those unfamiliar, from what I have gathered, this mod is very similar to the Nemesis, albeit being a larger 26650 diameter. This means that firing it requires a little more finger placement, as the switch is a bit crunchy.

I have watched the few YouTube review there are and see multiple comments (and one video) explain that the switch's feedback can be vastly improved by sanding certain components of the mod.

This is where I start to have trouble since it's my first mech and I'm not familiar with intricate mechanics.

Using my girlfriend's nail file (heh heh), I first took 1-2mm off of the copper 510 contact pin since it would fall out due to how long it was. This was because the threads on the pin didn't start until further down, and now it has a better grip on the top cap:

This improved the threading issue, but the switch was still a little crunchy. I asked another Helmsman owner on ECF, yet still didn't get the most precise answer to help me out.

I am hoping that someone with some mechanical mod knowledge can give me some insight about where to sand the mod to improve the switch's performance.

More pics for whatever reason

Vape on

 

[bsoplinger]

Try a search through this subforum for Nemesis, switch and polish. That should get you a bunch of threads on fixing up the Nemesis switch. Then just transfer to your mod.

Short description of what you'll find. The switch can catch on the bottom of the tube. A light sanding and polishing of both the bottom of the tube and the top inside of the outer switch part can help them slide over each other better. The internal parts of the switch need polishing. The inside of the part with threads into the tube and the center column where the screw goes into. If you look at how the switch pieces move, you'll see these slide over each other. What you're trying to do in all areas is to change the right angled corners where parts meet as they slide over each other into a pair of 45 degree angles or a rounded corner to make it easier to slide past each other.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Xparent Purple Tapatalk 2

 

[humpstyles]

bsoplinger, excellent summarization. I appreciate it immensely.

 

[sando7]

what was so difficult to understand about filing a 45 degree bevel on the outside of bottom of your tube?.....

...."quote from humpstyles"....I asked another Helmsman owner on ECF, yet still didn't get the most precise answer to help me out"

 

[humpstyles]

sando7, you said you "did not know how to explain it clearer than that", verbatim, and your explanation was a bit lackluster. I appreciate the advice and time you took to try and help me.

 

[Rapture]

Well personally I never enjoyed springs in my switches. Always put in magnets. I don't have this mod but it wouldn't be too hard to do done simple measuring and find some magnets that will fit. Indigo instruments, Supermagnetman, and there is another one I forget the name. I always seems as if springs have this crooked feel while pressing to me personally. I also feel that magnets help the performance. With a combination of the sanding and polishing on the parts that rub and some magnets this mod should be working even better.

 

[humpstyles]

Rapture, thanks for the input, but this mech already had a magnet switch.

 

[humpstyles]

What I need to do is start practicing my polishing. I'm sure the forums are flooded with these, but any recommendations? I have been using 90 proof vodka and a paper towel to rub down the threads and copper contacts, but nothing more.

 

[sando7]

what was so difficult to understand about filing a 45 degree bevel on the outside of bottom of your tube?.

what was lackluster about that....that is about as clear as an explanation could be......your something else man....addios and good luck

 

[humpstyles]

sando7, thank you for your input once again, but I wanted to open it up to the rest of ECF to see if I got anymore feedback, which I did.

Btw, your advice was very helpful if it means anything to you; no hard feelings.

I sanded the outside bottom edge of the 26650 tube, the outside top edge of the black plastic insulator on the switch, and the inside top edge of the actual bottom cap itself. Seem to be having more consistent firings, although the action is still a bit crunchy.

I'll report back in a few days after polishing some components up.

 

[sando7]

glad to here ya had some success.....think i'm gonna pick up the new 30mm tobh for mine....naw man there were no hard feelings i just wanted to see ya get lined out

do believe in a bit of time and usage it will become smoother, also i been using a little mineral oil on my switch seems to be smoother...not to much just a dab on a q-tip and wipe it down a bit

 

[humpstyles]

glad to here ya had some success.....think i'm gonna pick up the new 30mm tobh for mine....naw man there were no hard feelings i just wanted to see ya get lined out

do believe in a bit of time and usage it will become smoother

The 30mm is a dream come true for a dripper. I am now excited to throw a coil on the 22mm I got for my XPV...just waiting on some 26ga in the vapemail.