Homebrew Touch Light Sabre

[asnider123]

I have made touchies before, this is my first attempt at a touchie tube mod. Works good!

I started out with the IRL3103 touch circuit (elsewhere on this forum) and built it into a dollar store LED light. For effect, and since I will be using it with a tank mod, I illuminated it with a bi-colored 3mm LED from beneath the tank. As you can see, the effect is dramatic. This is definitely NOT a stealth mod.

I used an 18350 battery, which gave me 15mm in which to build my circuitry. For the atty, I used a 510 battery connector. For the touch-pad, I used a 510 Atty connector.

No moving parts, cool!!! In fact, to make sure there will be no inadvertent moving parts, I filled the circuit portion of the tube completely with my new hot glue gun. Solid!!!

Specs: 3.7v MOSFET controlled Touch Switch Mod, Aluminum body, rear master switch, brass touch pad, 18350 / 1200mAh battery

Cost:
Flashlight, dollar store, $1
Connectors, goodprophets, $1
MOSFET, ebay, <$1
Misc parts, on hand, $0

Total Cost: approx $3

Dimensions: 7/8" diameter x 3.5" long (not counting tank), 6" with tank and tip

Now I know what yer thinkin ... why build one for $3 when you can buy a commercially-built one for only $130 or so? Well, I don't know ??? Guess I'm a cheapskate (at least that's what my wife tells me).

Master switch (.... switch) off


Master switch on (green light to remind me to turn the master switch off when not in use)


Touching the touchie pad (red light = vape)


Vaping


Bob's your uncle!

 

[breaktru]

Nice work Alan, Looks really good. I like the Tank to Flashlight alignment. L.E.D. colors are impressive too.

 

[lynleestar]

looks really nice~!!

 

[aziffel]

Dats niiice!Cheapskate or not

 

[WyattDerp]

AWESOME, I'm so proud as a fellow Okie of your creation.

 

[asnider123]

Here is the circuit .. substituted 10m resistor for 2-4m, more sensitive touch switch, next time I will use 20m, this summer weather makes your skin dry

 

[asnider123]

 

[FunkyVapes]

Hahaha, this is amazing.

Seriously though, that mod looks awesome! Any chance you'll make more for the selling?

 

[EDDIE D]

omg, the jackie chan with the ecig mod on his shirt is hilarious...

well done...

 

[WyattDerp]

Hahaha, this is amazing.

Seriously though, that mod looks awesome! Any chance you'll make more for the selling?

Yes I'm interested in an answer to that as well.

 

[asnider123]

Sorry, been out working on the yard (in 100+ temp) .. gotta get a kool-aid fix ... back in a bit

 

[WyattDerp]

Sorry, been out working on the yard (in 100+ temp) .. gotta get a kool-aid fix ... back in a bit

Like on the Kool-Aid fix, not the yardwork in the heat.

 

[asnider123]

Nice work Alan, Looks really good. I like the Tank to Flashlight alignment. L.E.D. colors are impressive too.

Breaktru .. here is a closeup (as best as I can do with my webcam) of the atty connector, etc. Note: I bought myself a big high-temp precision glue gun and hi-temp clear glue sticks. It does a good job of "potting" my circuits (I know, that's an old term but it still applies). See the LED placement, touch pad, connector, etc.

The entire top of the tube is sealed (including a sealed batty connector) so there's no way a leaker is gonna get into this baby!! My only concern is MOSFET heat dissipation, but that has not yet been a prob. Also, by "potting" the circuit, placement of the batty connector is a slam-dunk, you fill up the device with hot glue and then just hold the connector in place until it sets up. Once the glue has cooled completely (they say about 30 min) it is every bit as solid as a plastic box.

I like hi-temp hot glue, it acts as an insulator so it coats all connections and bare conductors. The trick is to make sure there's no shorts before you add the hot glue. Once it cools, there will never be any shorting problems or parts moving around, shorting to the case or whatever.

My only concern was the melting temp (380 deg F), which, incidently, is about the same temp as electronics solder. Amazingly, it has not caused a problem, so the glue apparently cools enough as it runs down into the circuit that it doesn't melt the solder after all. Just to make sure this would not be a prob, all my solder points involve wire-wrapping and then soldering. This will keep all components connected during the glue cooling process.

Some people use 2-part epoxy, but I personally prefer a good glue gun, not stinky nor nearly as messy!! The only drawback is that, if it ever fails, it is not repairable. But for the $$ invested, that's no biggie!

Cool huh?

 

[asnider123]

Hey fellas ... I am so flattered, some day I will, I am sure, start my own little cottage industry and do some mods for sale. At this time, however, I am still experimenting and building "one-offs" just for the experience (it's a learning process). Right now this is just a really fun and challenging hobby. It's true, I have made some 3.7v mod boxes for others, but never for sale, only as gifts for family and close friends.

I have seen other guys try to break into this industry and bite the dust, being unable to keep up with orders. Others price themselves too low and wind up not making anything for their time (and it does take a lot of time to get these things together correctly). Besides, I have noticed that if you make and sell a mod that resembles someone else's commercial product, feelings are hurt and your name is used in vain on forums.

I do this because it makes me happy. When it no longer does, I will find something else that does. I think, for now, I am best served by keeping this at a "hobby" level but thanks for your understanding and support.

Alan

 

[breaktru]

Alan I use the hot glue gun on all my attys. After soldering the center pos wire, I seal it in hot glue.
Way to go Alan, looks like your famous again. Your fans a tickled pink with your new mod.
Even Jackie Chan loves it... LOL (our little secret)

 

[FunkyVapes]

Hey fellas ... I am so flattered, some day I will, I am sure, start my own little cottage industry and do some mods for sale. At this time, however, I am still experimenting and building "one-offs" just for the experience (it's a learning process). Right now this is just a really fun and challenging hobby. It's true, I have made some 3.7v mod boxes for others, but never for sale, only as gifts for family and close friends.

I have seen other guys try to break into this industry and bite the dust, being unable to keep up with orders. Others price themselves too low and wind up not making anything for their time (and it does take a lot of time to get these things together correctly). Besides, I have noticed that if you make and sell a mod that resembles someone else's commercial product, feelings are hurt and your name is used in vain on forums.

I do this because it makes me happy. When it no longer does, I will find something else that does. I think, for now, I am best served by keeping this at a "hobby" level but thanks for your understanding and support.

Alan

No problemo, dude. I respect your integrity! Best of luck and keep at it!

 

[asnider123]

Way to go Alan, looks like your famous again. Your fans a tickled pink with your new mod.
Even Jackie Chan loves it... LOL (our little secret)

I bet there's one company that isn't such a fan right now. They would probably just as soon I didn't even build this one. Too close to their mainstay product (I ain't mentioning any names though)

That's exactly my point earlier about commercial companies getting ticked off about my mods. So long as it's just a one-off for my own personal use, they think they're cool. However, if I were to try and sell them, I would start getting threatening emails, I betcha

You and I and Donptal and many others have no problems sharing our circuits and designs with others on the forum and are thrilled when someone comes up with an improvement to our product. We're kinda like the Linux of the mod world. Others, however, are not always so "sharing" of their technology as we are.

Uhhh.... what were we talking about

 

[breaktru]

I bet there's one company that isn't such a fan right now. They would probably just as soon I didn't even build this one. Too close to their mainstay product (I ain't mentioning any names though)

That's exactly my point earlier about commercial companies getting ticked off about my mods. So long as it's just a one-off for my own personal use, they think they're cool. However, if I were to try and sell them, I would start getting threatening emails, I betcha

You and I and Donptal and many others have no problems sharing our circuits and designs with others on the forum and are thrilled when someone comes up with an improvement to our product. We're kinda like the Linux of the mod world. Others, however, are not always so "sharing" of their technology as we are.

Uhhh.... what were we talking about

Or they steal your ideas and pass it off as their own. Not mentioning any names but you and them know who I mean

 

[asnider123]

At least they should give a fella credit for his designs ... hey, wait a sec ... betcha I am guilty of that myself, but in my case it's dementia .. just can't remember stuff anymore

 

[Java_Az]

I bet there's one company that isn't such a fan right now. They would probably just as soon I didn't even build this one. Too close to their mainstay product (I ain't mentioning any names though)

That's exactly my point earlier about commercial companies getting ticked off about my mods. So long as it's just a one-off for my own personal use, they think they're cool. However, if I were to try and sell them, I would start getting threatening emails, I betcha

You and I and Donptal and many others have no problems sharing our circuits and designs with others on the forum and are thrilled when someone comes up with an improvement to our product. We're kinda like the Linux of the mod world. Others, however, are not always so "sharing" of their technology as we are.

Uhhh.... what were we talking about

Oh you mean those same guys that are lining up to pay the guy that invented the PV in the first place his royalties. I can see that happening