How did YOU learn

[Sinlak]

So im curious, How did you learn to become a modder? do you all ready have experience in a related field? Did you read some books and just figure it out? online tutorials? family member teach you?

Please explain how you learned and maybe show some examples of your work (this would be great). Maybe this thread can help people (such as my self) that want to learn to mod but don't quite know where to begin.

What advice would you give a beginner?

Thanks for any replies!

 

[DevilFishPhil]

To give you an idea of my level of competency, I had never handled a soldering iron in my life up until a week ago when I built my first box mod. I'm still absolutely horrible at soldering but I just keep practicing (and cursing) .

I think the best way to start is by trying a mod kit from MadVapes. These come with all the required material, you just have to assemble it yourself. There are so many guides out there to take you step by step through the process.

This is the PDF that really helped me get started: MadVapes 3.7v Bat box mod Instructions.pdf and then all the great members on this forum were there to answer my stupid questions

Once you build that first one, you'll get a much better understanding of how everything works and fits together and you begin to understand how different types of mods are put together.

So I would say, start by ordering some parts from MadVapes (order a couple extra battery connectors, trust me you're gonna need them ) and study that PDF guide.

From one noob to another, good luck!

 

[Sinlak]

Thanks for the response, and grats on making your first mod. I was checking thos out, was planing on trying it out. Im pretty interested in throwing some kind of tube mode together by grabing crap at home depot. seems fun

 

[DevilFishPhil]

I'm working on my first tube mod right now actually

The concept is pretty simple and pretty much the same as the box mod, but because space is limited inside a tube it's a lot harder to work, and my biggest issue was finding something appropriate to hold the positive battery connector. Did you see this guide - the piece he says he used a water bottle cap for - I still haven't found anything suitable. I'll probably head down to Home Depot as well and look at different washers.

 

[Lazrah]

@devil I just use a plastic lens from one of the flashlights I have, slide it down ontop of the batt and then two drops of super glue to hold it. Let it sit then take out battery and pour in about 1/8'' of epoxy to seal and make a strong hold

@OP Devil's idea is probably your best starting point. Just a simple 3.7v mod is good to start on. My first mod was "The Puck" while fairly simple to build and a well working mod, if you have ZERO experience its a little tough.

The madvapes 3.7v box doesn't get any more simple. Even though its purpose is for the plastic box you can put the circuit into anything that it will fit in. I only built my first mod about a month ago but can make a 3.7v with my eyes closed. To be clear tho I have always worked with my hands, so I take to things pretty quick. I have made several 3.7s to hand out to friends to take and try a couple days, and a couple PT's. A few days ago I tried my hand at a VV mod. I ordered this from Madvapes Variable Voltage Regulator Board Kit Rev 2. I put it all into a 4xAA box... ITS WAAY TOO BIG, but it was all I had and I wanted to MOD (Classic symptom of Mudumust Fever).

If you don't have any experience with a soldering iron at all, I would suggest just getting a few scraps of wire and practice soldering them together. Learning on loose scrap wire saves alot of headaches and choice words! Check youtube for video tuts on soldering if neccesary, there are also "Stickied" threads with tips and tricks for beginner modders.

You will be surprised how fast you learn. As they say practice makes perfect! Don't hesitate to ask anything, the only stupid question is the one you didn't ask!! I really hope my incoherent rambling didn't only confuse you more


Good luck on your modding journey!

 

[DevilFishPhil]

Cheers for the idea of using the lens Do you have any other suggestions, in case I somehow manage to shred it to bits while taking the dremel to it to make it fit?

@devil I just use a plastic lens from one of the flashlights I have, slide it down ontop of the batt and then two drops of super glue to hold it. Let it sit then take out battery and pour in about 1/8'' of epoxy to seal and make a strong hold

 

[Sinlak]

Thanks DevilFish for the guide, Checking it out now.

Thanks Laz for the input and advice. you guys are a big help. I wanted to buy a mod like the prodigy or something like that (bottom button/switch/what ever u wana call it). But I thought, if I invest 100$ into tools I could prolly make something similar my self..obviously not as nice but w/e =P.


Edit: I also noticed in all the flashlight mod tuts there is some wiring to be done, but is there wires in a prodigy type device? how dose it work?

 

[Dudeman]

In most mechanical mods, the positive end of the battery is directly connected to the atty connector. The negative from the battery runs through the body (tube) of the mod via the bottom button making contact with the battery and the tube.

If you look at the pics of the switch, you can get the basic idea.

People have also modified the bottom on/off switch on flashlights to momentary instead of on/off.

 

[Sinlak]

Ok so here is my understanding (i wiped up this crappy picture real fast so dont laugh)



So basically the spring keeps the switch from touching the battery, so when you press the bottom button you compress the spring and complete the connection which will power the atomizer. How far off am I in my understanding AND if im right, wtf is the switch made out of? and how is the connector making contact with the battery?

Thanks!

 

[Dudeman]

You got it.

The switch can be anything conductive. As long as it makes contact with the tube AND the battery, all is well. I've used rivets, bolts and screws as switches. You have to be sure the spring doesn't touch the negative side of the battery though or you'll always have current. A simple plastic ring or even electrical tape on the spring will work.

For the positive connection, you need to extend the the positive post in the atty connector so it contacts the battery. I've used brass finishing nails soldered into it and secured with epoxy.

 

[Sinlak]

This seems so simple, im obviously a ...... when it comes to this but im pretty intent on learning this stuff (reading electronics book right now infact).

I saw a thread where someone used a papper clip for extending the post of the atomizer conector, is that the same thing?. Also where can I get an atty conector? and how do you secure it? Drill a hole and glue it in there or?

You can tell mf if u want me to .... ;P anyone got skype and has some free time to explain some stuff to me? lol

 

[DevilFishPhil]

I got all of my battery connectors from MadVapes. You can even get them pre-wired if you're soldering challenged like me, or you could do as I did and order 30 just to practice.

510 battery connector sealed
510 battery connector pre-wired

 

[Sinlak]

Thanks for the links, The one with wires coming out, In a tube style mod, where dose the neg wire go? is it like a ground or is it even needed?

 

[DevilFishPhil]

Ya it's a ground wire.

Honestly I'm not even sure Some people say you should solder it to the body of the tube, others say you don't need it.

Anyone care to chime in to Sinlak and mine's "help a noob" thread?

 

[Dudeman]

The paperclip trick is for attys not making contact with the battery connector.

Have you seen this part of the modders forum? Battery Mods

I suggest you browse through those threads. You'll get a much clearer picture of what battery mods entail as well as a lot of ideas. There is plethora of usefull information there.

I got all of my battery connectors from MadVapes. You can even get them pre-wired if you're soldering challenged like me, or you could do as I did and order 30 just to practice.

510 battery connector sealed
510 battery connector pre-wired

Goodprophets.com has them for a buck a piece. No pre wired BUT, they also have eGo connectors and the circuitry w/switch which is always fun.

 

[Dudeman]

Ya it's a ground wire.

Honestly I'm not even sure Some people say you should solder it to the body of the tube, others say you don't need it.

Anyone care to chime in to Sinlak and mine's "help a noob" thread?

You only need to solder the negative wire to a tube if you don't have all metal contact points from the atty connector to the rest of the mod. Some people put the connector in epoxy which isn't conductive, hence the need for a wire.

 

[Sinlak]

Thanks again for all the replies and advice, I have been lurking around this modders section and the battery mods sub section for a while now..hours and hours..Im hooked on the idea of making a mod!.

My goal is once I have bugged the shi* out of you guys enough, at the end of the thread I will have a mod to show for it! =p. I think a few hours in home depot and an order at madvapes and I should have everything I need. I start my semester next week and im gonna try and have a mod made by sunday!...

 

[addisdaddy07]

well, pretty sure you don't want to learn electronics the way I did... 10 years working on the electronics of the apache for the army... but the basics were covered in the first six months, after basic. Really though, the best way to do it is to get in there and get your hands dirty, figuratively of course. A soldering iron, flux, solder and some wire, along with some basic schematics and a parts list, and then start building!!

 

[DevilFishPhil]

So as soon as there's epoxy holding the connector in place it will need to be grounded? For example if my connector is housed in a metal washer but there's a bit of epoxy to keep it steady will I need to run that negative wire?

You only need to solder the negative wire to a tube if you don't have all metal contact points from the atty connector to the rest of the mod. Some people put the connector in epoxy which isn't conductive, hence the need for a wire.

PS Sinlak I hope you don't feel like I hijacked your thread, I'm taking advantage of this thread to bug people as well

 

[TomCatt]

So as soon as there's epoxy holding the connector in place it will need to be grounded? For example if my connector is housed in a metal washer but there's a bit of epoxy to keep it steady will I need to run that negative wire?



PS Sinlak I hope you don't feel like I hijacked your thread, I'm taking advantage of this thread to bug people as well

As long as there is metal to metal contact with the outside of the atty connector to the negative side of the circuit (the metal tube body) you shouldn't need to solder a wire to the tube body. If the epoxy is isolating the atty connector, if the atty connector is suspended in the epoxy, then the wire would be needed.