Is it safe to vape a FAKE Mech mod?

[gpjoe]

There are tons of clone mech mods out there, and they don't seem to have a higher failure rate. Some of them are decent and hard to tell from authentics, others are terribly machined and awful. Read the reviews of any clone you are thinking of buying, you can often learn a lot from people who have used the one you're thinking of buying. I have a few clone mechs, that I bought before I decided that it's only authentics for me. Some of my tubes don't have venting holes but I have never had a battery vent....way more important a safety feature than holes is your head. If you feel your tube or button getting hot, put it down and let it cool. Heat will be your first warning of any problems. I am definitely not saying that lack of vent holes is 'safe', and I would always suggest that especially if you're new to tubes, that you use a mod with vent holes. I just wouldn't be paranoid about it. If you're planning to build 'stupid low', then for sure you want the 'safest' tube mod you can get. There are a lot of 'entry level' tube mods these days, with delrin liners and button venting. If your mod is designed to vent through the hole, I would suggest using your battery 'upside down'...with the positive pole to the button. As with anything, risk is part of deal, being vigilant is your best defense. Tube mods are incredibly simple, and while there are some really crappy clones out there, from what I have seen, it's usually the aesthetics of the mod that is really crappy, more than the actual design. In theory a clone has the exact same design as an authentic and therefore is as 'safe' or 'unsafe' as the authentic....provided it's a 'quality clone'. I have bought a few really nice authentics from local shops cheap, because few people seem to be buying tubes from shops these days. I got a $160 tube mod for $10 last year, because the shop owner 'just wanted it out of his shop after having it sit there with a $200 price tag for two years. It's one of my favorites. Good luck and be safe! Always use good, appropriate batteries in good shape...with a mech there is very little room for error.

To the OP:

Read the above post, then read it again. It is probably the best answer to your question.

I too have used many clone mechs in the $10-20 range from Fast Tech and 3fvape and they have all pretty much performed as expected, which is very well...and I still have my nose and all of my fingers.

And you certainly do not need to spend 200 bucks on an authentic mod when you can get a great mech tube for pennies on the dollar.

Having said that, you can also get some affordable authentic mech mods from some of the well known manufacturers like Geekvape and Wismec, among others. Not sure of current availability.

The only thing I would add to stormjib's post above is that if you install your battery with the negative pole UP (towards your atomizer), make sure your battery wrap is 100% free of any nicks or tears. If the outer case of your battery shorts to the tube, you will have a direct short when you fire the mod and the battery may run away. The best way to prevent a short like this is to buy a mech with a plastic liner that will prevent any short. Just to be clear, however: you should NEVER use a battery with a torn wrap, regardless of orientation, in any mod.

 

[MRVaporizer]

The worrying part is not staying above the CDR of the battery. Anyone can do that.

It's the uncontrollables. For example, if there are no vent holes and you put some in yourself; like someone mentioned you could leave behind burrs and tear the battery wrap. Your battery could short against the inside of the tube.

From what I saw, and if I remember, it's also a hybrid. What happens if the threading gives out and when you push the button it pops your RDA off, contacts the top of the tube, and shorts itself.

We don't know what the switch looks like. What happens if the magnet or spring is garbage and the thing autofires?

These questions aren't limited to clones. We ask them for every mod we buy. But the difference is usually when we buy things there's enough material and reviews to look at those factors.

I'm not trying to dissuade you from buying. I'm just saying that proper battery safety is not going to make it 100% safe.

Be diligent.

Yes, indeed, the mod is a hybrid. But damn, this was the thing everyone tried to point out to me. Now I get the whole "clone" controversy thing. Thank you!

 

[MRVaporizer]

To the OP:

Read the above post, then read it again. It is probably the best answer to your question.

I too have used many clone mechs in the $10-20 range from Fast Tech and 3fvape and they have all pretty much performed as expected, which is very well...and I still have my nose and all of my fingers.

And you certainly do not need to spend 200 bucks on an authentic mod when you can get a great mech tube for pennies on the dollar.

Having said that, you can also get some affordable authentic mech mods from some of the well known manufacturers like Geekvape and Wismec, among others. Not sure of current availability.

The only thing I would add to stormjib's post above is that if you install your battery with the negative pole UP (towards your atomizer), make sure your battery wrap is 100% free of any nicks or tears. If the outer case of your battery shorts to the tube, you will have a direct short when you fire the mod and the battery may run away. The best way to prevent a short like this is to buy a mech with a plastic liner that will prevent any short. Just to be clear, however: you should NEVER use a battery with a torn wrap, regardless of orientation, in any mod.

Thanks for the recommendation! Also, I am quite aware of the reversed polarities, and I would not use the mod with the battery's negative side up. I keep my wraps clean and if I see the smallest nick, I'll replace it with one of my replacement wraps! Thanks!

P.S I have no idea, why people would put them reversed?

 

[gpjoe]

Yes, indeed, the mod is a hybrid. But damn, this was the thing everyone tried to point out to me. Now I get the whole "clone" controversy thing. Thank you!

I love clone mechs, and will defend them as being absolutely safe - when used properly.

Every mech tube that I currently own is direct-to-battery ("hybrid"). If you make sure that your atomizer 510 pin protrudes a mm or so past the threaded portion of the threaded portion of the atomizer you will be fine. Again, I am all about safety, but there is nothing to be afraid of if you used your head and understand the do's and don'ts. If some folks are leery or afraid of them, that is their prerogative but mechs CAN and ARE used safely. For every single Youtube video of an exploding mod by some idiot that didn't know how to use it, there are thousands of people using them safely.

To me, it's like fire ore electricity - both are equally useful, though dangerous if misused.

 

[gpjoe]

Thanks for the recommendation! Also, I am quite aware of the reversed polarities, and I would not use the mod with the battery's negative side up. I keep my wraps clean and if I see the smallest nick, I'll replace it with one of my replacement wraps! Thanks!

P.S I have no idea, why people would put them reversed?

I believe that somebody above mentioned that installing the battery with the positive pole down (towards the switch) would allow the battery to vent through the switch in the event it were to run away. People do it, but I just wanted to point out that the practice can be dangerous with a damaged battery wrap.

Personally, I use all of my mechs the the battery positive up - unless it is marked otherwise, as is the case with some of my squonk mods, but those have plastic bodies,

 

[MRVaporizer]

I love clone mechs, and will defend them as being absolutely safe - when used properly.

Every mech tube that I currently own is direct-to-battery ("hybrid"). If you make sure that your atomizer 510 pin protrudes a mm or so past the threaded portion of the threaded portion of the atomizer you will be fine. Again, I am all about safety, but there is nothing to be afraid of if you used your head and understand the do's and don'ts. If some folks are leery or afraid of them, that is their prerogative but mechs CAN and ARE used safely. For every single Youtube video of an exploding mod by some idiot that didn't know how to use it, there are thousands of people using them safely.

To me, it's like fire ore electricity - both are equally useful, though dangerous if misused.

I was also scared at first, thought this was too dangerous after seeing all those Youtube videos, but after getting into the details it was just the owners poor mech mod's maintenance. A person once told me to never get a mech mod, but after asking the details, apparently, the persons friend, with who the accident had happened, the mech mod exploded because he threw it everywhere and played around with it for fun, and finally it just gave up and popped on the table in his room.

I believe that somebody above mentioned that installing the battery with the positive pole down (towards the switch) would allow the battery to vent through the switch in the event it were to run away. People do it, but I just wanted to point out that the practice can be dangerous with a damaged battery wrap.

Personally, I use all of my mechs the the battery positive up - unless it is marked otherwise, as is the case with some of my squonk mods, but those have plastic bodies,

Ahh, I was just watching a Russian review, and he mentioned the Apo 2 has no vent holes, only the button vent, so that's why he put the battery with the negative side up. This is the reason why I'll try drilling the vent holes accordingly. Thanks!

 

[ScottP]

It's the uncontrollables.

Exactly. Even if you do everything right, there are still some "uncontrollables" as you say that could still get you with mechs. This is why I like the protections of regulated mods (not to mention I prefer TC vaping anyway). At the VERY least I would want a fuse in anything I used. A fuse would at least cover most of the problems that might arise at the atty level. It would not help in the case of a damaged battery wrap.

 

[ScottP]

I believe that somebody above mentioned that installing the battery with the positive pole down (towards the switch) would allow the battery to vent through the switch in the event it were to run away. People do it, but I just wanted to point out that the practice can be dangerous with a damaged battery wrap.

I agree 100% but want to expand on WHY installing a battery upside down is dangerous. In most mech mods the end that is down is going to be connected to the ENTIRE body of the mod. As for the battery the whole canister of the battery is going to be negative and just the top button is positive.

In the event there is an unnoticed tear in the side of the battery wrap and the battery is installed upside down, then the whole body of the mod will be positively charged and the negatively charged canister of the battery will be completing a short circuit with the mod wall and BOOM.

If the battery is installed correctly, then the mod body will be negatively charged and if the tear makes contact with the body then there is no short circuit. It is important to note that in this second case it could bypass the switch (depending on fire button mechanics) which would autofire the mod until the battery is drained (or you manage to remove the battery, which could be quite hot to touch) and could cause your wick to catch fire as juice starts to run out, but this is still better than an exploding battery.

 

[F-machine]

Funny thing, I just came back from the Philippines, like what I said in my MTL for wife thread. I was looking for some RTAs to buy and hell fark, genuine products that usually are 30 USD they sell for 42. And they have fakes or replicas that sell for 10. At least the shops I went to are decent enough to tell me they are rip-offs.

Sadly though, the logic these rip off manufacturers have, I don't understand. I can see that vaping is very popular there, but why not just make your own local brand and make a name for yourself? Start your own youtube channel, talk the local language and promote your product. Just forget the "as seen on youtube" or "rip trippers" and do it your own way.

 

[MRVaporizer]

Funny thing, I just came back from the Philippines, like what I said in my MTL for wife thread. I was looking for some RTAs to buy and hell fark, genuine products that usually are 30 USD they sell for 42. And they have fakes or replicas that sell for 10. At least the shops I went to are decent enough to tell me they are rip-offs.

Sadly though, the logic these rip off manufacturers have, I don't understand. I can see that vaping is very popular there, but why not just make your own local brand and make a name for yourself? Start your own youtube channel, talk the local language and promote your product. Just forget the "as seen on youtube" or "rip trippers" and do it your own way.

Oh boy, if we talk prices, nothing's gonna beat this. This is the biggest reason why I'm ordering online only. Take a look:
https://www.sugarbaron.lv/shop

Everything costs almost x2 more than on the internet: Baby beast tfv8 - 50euros, Smok Alien 220W kit - 75euros, VV mesh - 40euros, Voopoo Drag - 100euros, etc., etc. Not mentioning that they're having a "SALE". The prices are just ridiculous and no wonder why almost no one is vaping in Latvia.

 

[ScottP]

Sadly though, the logic these rip off manufacturers have, I don't understand. I can see that vaping is very popular there, but why not just make your own local brand and make a name for yourself? Start your own youtube channel, talk the local language and promote your product. Just forget the "as seen on youtube" or "rip trippers" and do it your own way.

At this point even "authentics" are ripping something off from somebody. I mean how many different "name brand" companies use velocity style decks that they didn't invent? Is changing the look and adding/removing a logo and some knurling equate to an "original product? What about slight shape or diameter changes? I mean that is really where we are for the most part. I haven't seen any true innovation in a long time just different combinations of the same copied ideas.

 

[Baditude]

I agree 100% but want to expand on WHY installing a battery upside down is dangerous. In most mech mods the end that is down is going to be connected to the ENTIRE body of the mod. As for the battery the whole canister of the battery is going to be negative and just the top button is positive.

In the event there is an unnoticed tear in the side of the battery wrap and the battery is installed upside down, then the whole body of the mod will be positively charged and the negatively charged canister of the battery will be completing a short circuit with the mod wall and BOOM.

If the battery is installed correctly, then the mod body will be negatively charged and if the tear makes contact with the body then there is no short circuit. It is important to note that in this second case it could bypass the switch (depending on fire button mechanics) which would autofire the mod until the battery is drained (or you manage to remove the battery, which could be quite hot to touch) and could cause your wick to catch fire as juice starts to run out, but this is still better than an exploding battery.

Exactly.