Hello and a modding question

[akeeton]

Hello all,

I've been vaping for almost a month now and things have been going splendidly. Although quitting a few-year habit of 5-10 cigs/day isn't as "impressive" as some of the other stories I've seen, I was ashamed and tired of smelling like smoke. Plus, vaping scratches my tinkering itch, which brings me to my question:

I'm very interested in building the Puck (http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/battery-mods/105465-now-puck-cheap-parts-easy.html and http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/battery-mods/106016-how-build-puck.html) but I have zero tools. I'm trying to keep the cost down, so I'm considering doing it without a drill. The holes have to be finished with a tapered reamer anyway, so how can I start a hole in a battery box without a drill?

Thanks.

 

[Dalton63841]

I start the holes in battery boxes by heating a small screwdriver and punching it through.

Hello all,

I've been vaping for almost a month now and things have been going splendidly. Although quitting a few-year habit of 5-10 cigs/day isn't as "impressive" as some of the other stories I've seen, I was ashamed and tired of smelling like smoke. Plus, vaping scratches my tinkering itch, which brings me to my question:

I'm very interested in building the Puck (http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/battery-mods/105465-now-puck-cheap-parts-easy.html and http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/battery-mods/106016-how-build-puck.html) but I have zero tools. I'm trying to keep the cost down, so I'm considering doing it without a drill. The holes have to be finished with a tapered reamer anyway, so how can I start a hole in a battery box without a drill?

Thanks.

 

[cskent]

You'll need a soldering iron anyway so why not just use it to melt a hole through? By the way, I bought a soldering iron kit at Radio Shack for $7.99 and it came with the iron (of course), solder, stand, a solder pick, and a clamp. It's low powered so it takes a while to heat up, but other than that it works great.

 

[akeeton]

For clarity, here's a list of the tools I plan on buying:

• Stahl Tools SSVT Variable Temperature Soldering Station
• J-B Weld 8276 KWIK
• Empire Level 27770 T-Handled Tapered Reamer
• Stanley 10-099 6-Inch Classic 99 Retractable Utility Knife
• Helping Hands w/ Magnifying Glass
• Allied 49032 25-Piece Tri-Fold Mini Tool Set

I start the holes in battery boxes by heating a small screwdriver and punching it through.

What's the best way to heat up a screwdriver? Could I do it safely with a soldering iron?

You'll need a soldering iron anyway so why not just use it to melt a hole through?

Will this damage the soldering iron/cause flaming plastic globs to shoot towards me?

 

[Dalton63841]

What's the best way to heat up a screwdriver? Could I do it safely with a soldering iron?
I just use a lighter or the kitchen stove LOL. Never thought about heating a screwdriver with a soldering iron.


Will this damage the soldering iron/cause flaming plastic globs to shoot towards me?
It won't shoot plastic towards you, but you will want to clean the point off immediately after.

 

[cskent]

Use a damp sponge to clean off the tip of your soldering iron after you melt through the plastic.

I don't think you'd be able to heat up a screwdriver enough with a soldering iron.

I don't use JB Weld, I just bought a package of quick set epoxy at Walmart for a couple of $$.
Unless you have trouble seeing you probably don't need the magnifying glass, maybe a set of strong reading glasses, like +2.50 diopter, from a dollar store, just a suggestion. I don't think the helping hands thing is going to help you that much since you have to work inside the box for the most part.

 

[kinabaloo]

If my drill is out of power I use various screwdrivers as a start (not heated) and once through the plastic, migrate to scicorrs - single blade twisted with pressure till the required diameter is achieved. Insert scissor blade from other side to tidy up edge.

You can get loads of tools from a dollar store / PoundLand, including drill bits, files, mini torches (for cases - 3xAAA), usb power blocks (3xAAA), etc ...

 

[akeeton]

I don't use JB Weld, I just bought a package of quick set epoxy at Walmart for a couple of $$.

It saves me a lot of time to order from Amazon since I don't have a car, and I have free shipping with Prime. Time is very important for proper studying sleep ECF-lurking and PV-parts-drooling.

Unless you have trouble seeing you probably don't need the magnifying glass, maybe a set of strong reading glasses, like +2.50 diopter, from a dollar store, just a suggestion. I don't think the helping hands thing is going to help you that much since you have to work inside the box for the most part.

True enough, I don't think I'll need it. I thought I might because all of the soldering guides suggested something like this to clamp the project, but the helping hands are probably better suited for a nice, flat PCB than a lumpy battery box.

-----------

Thanks for the advice, everyone. I also found a nice little multimeter so that I won't pull my hair out after I screw up some (or all) of my joints: Amazon.com: Equus 3320 Auto-Ranging Digital Multimeter: Automotive

Alright, I think it's time to pull the trigger. My tools should get here Friday, I'll catch the bus to RadioShack on Saturday, and hopefully give birth to a brand new Puck before Sunday. I just have to remember to not epoxy my fingers to anything .

 

[cskent]

If you have a Harbor Freight close by they sell a basic digital multimeter for around $5. I've been using mine for a few years and it works. Can't beat the price.

Digital Multimeter - Save on this 7 Function Digital Multimeter

Where did you order the battery connector from? That's about the only PV specific item you need to build a basic box.

 

[akeeton]

If you have a Harbor Freight close by they sell a basic digital multimeter for around $5. I've been using mine for a few years and it works. Can't beat the price.

Digital Multimeter - Save on this 7 Function Digital Multimeter

I just checked and the nearest Harbor Freight is 7 miles away. The no car thing really hurts and shipping bumps the price up to $11. Also, I get the feeling I'm going to be doing a lot of continuity checking, so having an audible checker, in addition to other "nice" features, for an extra 4 bucks is a plus. Either way, I already placed the order, but I certainly appreciate all of the help because I'm in very unfamiliar territory.

Where did you order the battery connector from? That's about the only PV specific item you need to build a basic box.

I have 510 atomizers and cartomizers. The directions use a Size M Panel-mount Coaxial Power Jack w/Switch, which is apparently also a 901 connector. Luckily, I have a 901-to-510 adapter that came with my SLB passthrough. Perhaps I'll get around to a native 510 connector, but for my first try I want to stick to the directions as much as possible.

 

[tj99959]

Why not just get (or make) one of these.
2xAA Box Mod with change LED

It cost me $4.70 to make one.

Black 2xAA Battery Box with On/Off Switch

510 Battery Connector, Gold, Large Hole

Radio Shack Killswitch | Radio Shack Mini SPST 1.5-Amp Momentary Pushbutton Switch (2-Pack) Reviews - Buzzillions.com

 

[akeeton]

Why not just get (or make) one of these.
2xAA Box Mod with change LED

Something about the Puck philosophy of only using off-the-shelf parts resonated with me, even though my preferred shopping is online. It's also my understanding that, given that I want more than one battery, placing multiple Lithium ion in series requires additional hardware (= another axis of potential screw-ups). Also, the need for a separate control (battery) box, with instructions, is ideal since it will give me lots of room to make a mess of solder and epoxy without disrupting the batteries. Overall, I think it's where I want to be.

 

[kinabaloo]

Why not just get (or make) one of these.
2xAA Box Mod with change LED

It cost me $4.70 to make one.

Black 2xAA Battery Box with On/Off Switch

510 Battery Connector, Gold, Large Hole

Radio Shack Killswitch | Radio Shack Mini SPST 1.5-Amp Momentary Pushbutton Switch (2-Pack) Reviews - Buzzillions.com

$4.70 is munus the battery though !

 

[Pepe Le Vapse]

I got a old drill from salvation army for 3 bucks. Works great, weighs about 30 lbs but does the job.