My lastest mod - Altoids "Mini"

[Shortstuff116]

I love my NicoSticks with the 14500's (900mA) and the battery in them last 6-8 hours depending on how heavy I vape, but wanted even more battery capacity, so... I decided to build another mod as small as I could but utilizing 18650's (2400mA) this time and this is what I came up with and I'll call it the Altoids "Mini".

Using the metal case as the ground eliminated some ground wiring which I found to be nice. I was able to solder the atty, on/off switch and battery negative spring directly to it. I then used epoxy to hold the tactile switch, LED and homemade battery holder in place. It works perfectly for me and it'll be interesting to see just how long each 18650 lasts on a full charge (protected batteries of course). Here's some pics:

Size comparison to full-size Altoid tin:

With battery installed:

Without battery:

Showing on/off switch, tactile switch and LED:

In my hand with LED on:

 

[crashtestjeep]

VERY clean mod job! NICE!

 

[Unperson]

Very nice!

 

[nicotime]

Nice and clean Shortstuff...hopefully it hits like a hammer like those industrial strength mints do.

Any problems with the lid popping open?

 

[Shortstuff116]

The lid stays closed quite well although there is some play as is, but I already think I'm going to use a couple of small rare earth magnets to keep it closed tightly. It's only 3.7volts but vapes very consistently.

So far I am really enjoying it.

 

[Huffheinz]

Sweet! I love how clean it looks with the grounded case. I've been kicking around the idea of using an 18650 with an LR atty. I may have to copy this little beauty. Thanks for posting.

 

[geeker]

That's awesome, dude!

 

[four2109]

Looks good Shortstuff.
Did you flatten the bottom of the box? I have one I picked up thinking I might mod it.. the gum pieces are like little bricks! Anyway, I haven't done anything with it yet. Not sure how flat I can get the bottem and still have the lid close right... Was that a problem?

 

[Shortstuff116]

Looks good Shortstuff.
Did you flatten the bottom of the box? I have one I picked up thinking I might mod it.. the gum pieces are like little bricks! Anyway, I haven't done anything with it yet. Not sure how flat I can get the bottem and still have the lid close right... Was that a problem?

You're right. The bottom of the tin matches the same curve as the lid so an 18650 won't fit inside, so I carefully used my thumbs to push the bottom out (from the inside) then worked out some of the bumps with my thumbs/fingers. The bottom now sticks out (curved) just like the lid does. I also removed the lid by simply bending back the tabs that hold it in place. Then I took a few rags (about an inch thick) to use as a cushion and put the tin on top of it (open side up) and used a rounded wooden drawer handle to continue "molding" out the imperfections in the bottom as best I could. It actually worked pretty good.

The only difficult part was fabricating the battery holder from some plastic I had laying around. It was actually the holder for a Reese hitch ball that I recently purchased and I just cut out an area with a 90° bend and shaped it to fit.

If you need any help or more pics just let me know via PM or here in a post.

 

[satoshi]

That looks awesome

 

[Shortstuff116]

Just an FYI, my first full charge 18650 got me through a little more than 2 days of vaping. I just might order a couple of the 3000mA batteries and see if they go much longer than that. I'm happy.

 

[Ralph T]

Just an FYI, my first full charge 18650 got me through a little more than 2 days of vaping. I just might order a couple of the 3000mA batteries and see if they go much longer than that. I'm happy.

Very, very nice.

I am working on a dual 18650 (in parallel), possibly double barreled (two kr808 cartos) in a regular altoid tin. The idea is to be able to run for a long weekend with one carto running, or run two cartos for twice the vapor for about two days. It should run hotter than a chuck at 3.7, because with two batteries in parallel, there is half of the voltage drop under load that a single 18650 has.

Unfortunately, I am also screwing around with "reinventing the 808 carto" with higher heat, and a non-scorchable filler. If I can make a usable 8 to 10 watt carto, then I wouldn't want the dual heads. Thus the Altoid project is on hold for the carto one. Too many ideas, too many kids, too little time... pass the beer nuts. Hell... pass the beer too.

 

[Connman]

Very nice Shortstuff. Such a big battery in a little tin. Really like how you did it with the battery holder and nice and clean.

 

[quasimod]

/.../ the gum pieces are like little bricks!/.../

No doubt! I read that Wrigley's bought Altoids out in '95 and discontinued the gum. I haven't seen any in the stores lately, but you can get them via Amazon (the ones I saw were from India, likely re-imported).

They will probably be hard to get in a couple of years...

 

[four2109]

No doubt! I read that Wrigley's bought Altoids out in '95 and discontinued the gum. I haven't seen any in the stores lately, but you can get them via Amazon (the ones I saw were from India, likely re-imported).

They will probably be hard to get in a couple of years...

Too funny! They felt that old! Amazon, India, Indiana... Sounds about right. Glad I only bought it for the box.... So you think it might be a collector's item someday......................

 

[Harleymedic53]

Just subscribing for future refrence. I think the altoids tin is BAD ...!!! I was thinking of trying to make one out of a camel snus tin hahah

 

[Shortstuff116]

Just subscribing for future refrence. I think the altoids tin is BAD ...!!! I was thinking of trying to make one out of a camel snus tin hahah

I also have one of those I'm thinking about making a simple mod with (Camel Snus tin). I would have used it for my 18650 mod but the battery is just too fat.

The snus tin has enough room for 2 14500's, but rather than wiring them both in parallel, I want to wire each battery individually so that once one battery is dead I can just use a small slide switch to use the other battery. This will just avoid me having to carry a loose battery on my person during the day. There's also enough room for a couple of extra attys and carts too. A regular on/off switch, LED for vape and another white LED to use as a light so I can see while I'm refilling in dark places, and a couple of tactile switches should finish it off.

I also have an "Eclipse Mints" tin that has strong possibilities as a mod too. It's rectangular in shape and has a flip-lid on one end.

 

[four2109]

I was suprised you didn't stuff a nightlight led in this one! I like that idea. I made a led light for my 3ml bottle. I have that night vision proplem too.

 

[quasimod]

/.../ I also have an "Eclipse Mints" tin that has strong possibilities as a mod too. It's rectangular in shape and has a flip-lid on one end.

yep, and it feels pretty nice in your hand, too. Nice size and shape, rounded corners... I bet Connman has some ideas about those tins... XD

 

[Harleymedic53]

I also have one of those I'm thinking about making a simple mod with (Camel Snus tin). I would have used it for my 18650 mod but the battery is just too fat.

The snus tin has enough room for 2 14500's, but rather than wiring them both in parallel, I want to wire each battery individually so that once one battery is dead I can just use a small slide switch to use the other battery. This will just avoid me having to carry a loose battery on my person during the day. There's also enough room for a couple of extra attys and carts too. A regular on/off switch, LED for vape and another white LED to use as a light so I can see while I'm refilling in dark places, and a couple of tactile switches should finish it off.

I also have an "Eclipse Mints" tin that has strong possibilities as a mod too. It's rectangular in shape and has a flip-lid on one end.

Hmm.. Very interesting.. I am for sure going to do the white led for dripping at night!