- Status
That came out super nice Mike! Well done! I understand why you put the seam where you did for you, but I wear mine around my neck so the front is always visible, can the seam be in the back? And are really sure you want to clear coat it? Wouldn't a clear overlay protection be easier and less permanent? That way if you ever decide to remove it you can do so easily.
My turn to think and type
My turn to think and type
Nobody's given up on the DREAM yet!!! Right?!?!?
Looks great, can you post the different types materials you are using as you go? I am wondering if there is a material in colors and/or patterns made from thin cling type material such as those used for window decals. If there is something thin enough, it would be easy to apply and change out.
They also have a clear contact paper ( it's vinyl like) I bet that would work good to protect it.
WOW, really nice looking MM. Very kewl!
Maybe remove the oring, possibly a cleaner appearence.
My laser is a tester prototype and between that and my protected battery the endcap actually doesn't screw all the way on. The oring hides what would otherwise be exposed threads. I actually like the look of the oring and it provides a slight cushion every time I set it down (that's also why I leave them on my Chameleon which is IMHO even cooler with multiple orings... still don't have colored orings yet though!)
That came out super nice Mike! Well done! I understand why you put the seam where you did for you, but I wear mine around my neck so the front is always visible, can the seam be in the back? And are really sure you want to clear coat it? Wouldn't a clear overlay protection be easier and less permanent? That way if you ever decide to remove it you can do so easily.
My turn to think and type
First, I've got 2 other materials I want to try before I make anything permenant. Which ever works out the best I will probably clear coat as I'm not the kind to change it. At the prices Isaac is undercharging for these a person could just buy one for each day of the week! If I can't get a wrap I'm happy with I'll just end up painting some flames on it or something and then clearcoating that.
The seam can be wherever you want. The benefit of where I have it placed is that a standard hole punch can be used for the button. If the seam's on the opposite side the hole punch would need a deeper throat. I couldn't find a hand held hole punch when I did this so I used a 3-hole punch which doesn't have enough throat to put it on the back.
As you can see from my picture I don't quite have my image size perfect. It should line up with only a very minor seam line visible. The image itself augments the visibilty of the seam since there's a slight jog to the image. A different image and it wouldn't matter as much but I wanted to try to make it as seamless as possible.
The beauty of the clear coat would be to prevent the seam/edges from pulling up and would smooth out the feel. The seam line might still be slightly noticable to the touch but not as much as when uncoated. Least that's my thought!
WW, the vinyl you're trying, does the color go all the way through? Or is the thickness such that it really doesn't matter?
Rosesense, I Was Thinking The Same EXACT Thing! You Could Swap Them Out & Have A Different One Every Day Ha Ha...Buy Clear Sheets & Even Paint Or Decal Them Yourself Whaaa
SAAAWEEEET
I'm sort of hoping by using a "divide and conquer" strategy we'll get it figured out! Others are persuing the colored vinyl route and I'm trying to find a suitable "printable" material. If the goal is to offer solid colors IMO, that can be done with paint (even pearlescent, metalic, candied, types of paint). Patterns and holographics would best be handled by a wrap though. The benefits of wraps would be ease of changing (especially for the end-user) and the potential for custom graphics.
I'm looking at it as a "how do you offer a customized wrap". So that it can have the persons name on it or any custom graphic. What I'm envisioning is a wrap that's designed/printed by Ikenvape that could be purchased and then applied by the buyer. Maybe it's something where the buyer could upload their own design and it's printed, cut to size and shipped out. Depending upon the final material it may require a specialized printer (for instance, one of mine does used waterproof ink) that not everyone would have available.
For me, I'd much rather have something more-or-less permenant than a true peel-n-stick solution. That's why I'm ok with the thought of clear coating the finished wrap. That might mean they're not user applied, but maybe a limited addition run or an upcharge for customizing during the build process?
And finally to answer your question, that wrap was printed on a waterproof type printable shipping label (got it from a friends work to try). Friday I bought 2 different materials that I think are going to be better but I started with this as the adhesive is potentially more cleanly removable. The other stuff I have might not come off as easily/cleanly and I didn't want to have left over adhesive effect the finished product. Which gets me thinking, maybe I'll try the others on pieces of pipe. that way I could see all 3 at the same time!
I've got actual work-work to do so I probably won't get to trying more for a day or two but I'll keep everyone updated!
Rosesense, I Was Thinking The Same EXACT Thing! You Could Swap Them Out & Have A Different One Every Day Ha Ha...Buy Clear Sheets & Even Paint Or Decal Them Yourself Whaaa
Another good avenue to persue! You could use a clear or colored transluscent tube with a hole where the button goes. That way the button would effectively hold the tube on (as may the endcap).
I have some solder that came in a clear plastic tube but it's hard plastic
I know other things come in clear tubes (I checked my mechanical pencil lead = not round & electric erasure tube = package I have also isn't round but I'm pretty sure some types do come in round tubes?) Of course in the long run it'd be best to buy the correct diameter/length but if anyone has something lying around to try it'd be good to get some feedback on it. Also, how consistent is the tube outside diameter? We've learned the button placement varies, does the tube diameter? Who's got more than 1 laser?!?!? How do they compare? (any differences would potentially effect all the possible solutions).
I got my first pack of samples today, It's the rainbow glitter style vinyl, this is my first wrap...
I started with the black glitter, as you can see I got many other colors. It only took a 1 1/2" x 4" piece to cut, and then I just trimmed excess on the end where the end cap goes with a razor. Then I took the extra trimming and wrapped my modded GC carto, along with some of the rainbow silver on top. I still had a tiny piece of the trimming so I wrapped the round part of my cartridge tip. It went on easy, I just used a regular hole punch, and the seam is on the opposite side from the button. This vinyl is made to be used on signs and auto detailing, so it is supposed to be weather proof, and long lasting. I will leave this first wrap on for a bit, to see how well it holds up.
Unfortunately, after just a couple of days, the metallic zebra stripes started to work loose, from minimal use. I think the regular colored ones will last longer, they don't have the rough edges that the metallic one did and seem to be sticking down better.
I also ordered a bunch of other patterns and styles of this kind of vinyl, going to use it on another project, but they will also work great for the PVs. I have even started wrapping my factory batteries
I started with the black glitter, as you can see I got many other colors. It only took a 1 1/2" x 4" piece to cut, and then I just trimmed excess on the end where the end cap goes with a razor. Then I took the extra trimming and wrapped my modded GC carto, along with some of the rainbow silver on top. I still had a tiny piece of the trimming so I wrapped the round part of my cartridge tip. It went on easy, I just used a regular hole punch, and the seam is on the opposite side from the button. This vinyl is made to be used on signs and auto detailing, so it is supposed to be weather proof, and long lasting. I will leave this first wrap on for a bit, to see how well it holds up.
Unfortunately, after just a couple of days, the metallic zebra stripes started to work loose, from minimal use. I think the regular colored ones will last longer, they don't have the rough edges that the metallic one did and seem to be sticking down better.
I also ordered a bunch of other patterns and styles of this kind of vinyl, going to use it on another project, but they will also work great for the PVs. I have even started wrapping my factory batteries
Last edited:
I'm sort of hoping by using a "divide and conquer" strategy we'll get it figured out! Others are persuing the colored vinyl route and I'm trying to find a suitable "printable" material. If the goal is to offer solid colors IMO, that can be done with paint (even pearlescent, metalic, candied, types of paint). Patterns and holographics would best be handled by a wrap though. The benefits of wraps would be ease of changing (especially for the end-user) and the potential for custom graphics.
I'm looking at it as a "how do you offer a customized wrap". So that it can have the persons name on it or any custom graphic. What I'm envisioning is a wrap that's designed/printed by Ikenvape that could be purchased and then applied by the buyer. Maybe it's something where the buyer could upload their own design and it's printed, cut to size and shipped out. Depending upon the final material it may require a specialized printer (for instance, one of mine does used waterproof ink) that not everyone would have available.
For me, I'd much rather have something more-or-less permenant than a true peel-n-stick solution. That's why I'm ok with the thought of clear coating the finished wrap. That might mean they're not user applied, but maybe a limited addition run or an upcharge for customizing during the build process?
And finally to answer your question, that wrap was printed on a waterproof type printable shipping label (got it from a friends work to try). Friday I bought 2 different materials that I think are going to be better but I started with this as the adhesive is potentially more cleanly removable. The other stuff I have might not come off as easily/cleanly and I didn't want to have left over adhesive effect the finished product. Which gets me thinking, maybe I'll try the others on pieces of pipe. that way I could see all 3 at the same time!
I've got actual work-work to do so I probably won't get to trying more for a day or two but I'll keep everyone updated
Jam-Very nice.
Does the heat from the atty have an efffect on the wrap?
Does the wrap cause the atty to heat up more than usual?
Does the heat from the atty have an efffect on the wrap?
Does the wrap cause the atty to heat up more than usual?
quote: My laser is a tester prototype and between that and my protected battery the endcap actually doesn't screw all the way on. The oring hides what would otherwise be exposed threads. I actually like the look of the oring and it provides a slight cushion every time I set it down (that's also why I leave them on my Chameleon which is IMHO even cooler with multiple orings... still don't have colored orings yet though!)
Ya gotta ceck out the day glow orings that glow in the dark. Sorry but I don't have the link to those specific ones but here's a link to oring and grommets which may give some ideas O rings | oring | o ring supplier | kits | gaskets | Viton, Kalrez | Manuf-Rubber.com never looked to see what the minimum order is tho.
Ya gotta ceck out the day glow orings that glow in the dark. Sorry but I don't have the link to those specific ones but here's a link to oring and grommets which may give some ideas O rings | oring | o ring supplier | kits | gaskets | Viton, Kalrez | Manuf-Rubber.com never looked to see what the minimum order is tho.
So far, I have had no problem with the vinyl being on the atty, though I don't usually let my atty get very hot when vaping. There is absolutely no effect that I can tell... so far anyway.
What size Oring do I need? (for the regular old Lazer and the new version Lazer?)
Glow in dark Orings:
Silicone Glow-In-The-Dark O-Ring - SteelNavel.com
Body Jewelry by Steel Navel - Body Jewelry Found for: ''=
Really cool (probably would keep E-cig from rolling off table etc):
http://www.steelnavel.com/product.asp?ID=1223&MID=1&MID2=1
Glow in dark Orings:
Silicone Glow-In-The-Dark O-Ring - SteelNavel.com
Body Jewelry by Steel Navel - Body Jewelry Found for: ''=
Really cool (probably would keep E-cig from rolling off table etc):
http://www.steelnavel.com/product.asp?ID=1223&MID=1&MID2=1
When I first got my Chameleon I actually looked for orings (even spent time looking at earring/piercing sites b/c they had some cool looking oring type items). Never followed through b/c I wasn't sure what size to order. Now with the laser I may have to order in 2 different sizes! Anyone know exactly what size for the laser and Chameleon?
Jam, that vinyl looks very nice! I like it on the atty and tip too! I too wonder how it'll interact with the atty's heat.
Keep us posted!
Keep us posted!
I suppose you could do a .... seam, but then you might have 2 edges peeling up. the seam does not appear to be that noticeable to me, with the holographic vinyl anyway. I was thinking these could be made as a permanent color choice if applied in the building stage, and then clear coated. It gets away from the "skin" idea, but looks really cool. Wait till you see the other designs I found. I went a little nuts ordering samples of all the different ones they offered. Kirk misplaced his LPV2, so I am hoping it will turn up. If not, I guess I will be ordering him a new one soon.
- Status
Similar threads
- Locked
- Locked
