what are the sort of things a newbie should be aware of/ take precautions against when contemplating a first time mech mod purchase?
Dos and donts.
Dos and donts.
Newbie considerations for mech mod purchase
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There are sooo much info about this already so I don't wanna spend time repeating that, so please google e.g. Baditude's beginner mech guide and other alike info and then any specific questions about confusing stuff we will all be very happy to help you out with 
Construction: Mechs milled from blocks of stainless steel, aircraft grade aluminum, brass, and copper will be more durable in the long run. Should have smoothly operating threads; I'd be extremely wary of a mod with squeeky threads which might lock up. Stainless steel 510 connector will be more durable than aluminum or other metals. A lockable fire button is a must if you plan to carry your mech in a pocket or purse, unless the fire button is recessed into the body, to prevent accidental firing of the button.
Ventilation Holes: Ventilation holes for a venting battery is a must for a mech. Sadly, many mech have no vent holes at all (avoid). Most have vent holes in the lower half of the tube, which may not be adequate for venting purposes if the battery physically blocks the exit of gas. Batteries vent from their top (positive end). Unfortunately, most mech do not have venting in the upper 1/3 of the tube which I recommend. Mech Mods with top venting holes?
I cover much more information about mech mods in my blog:
A Beginner's Guide to Your First Mechanical Mod
I can't stress enough the need for using top quality, name brand batteries in a mech. Limit your selection to brands like AW, LG, Samsung, and Sony. Buy from trusted & reputable vendors that specialize in selling authentic name brand batteries such as RTD Vapor, Illumn., IMR Batteries, Li-Ion Wholesale, and Orbtronics to avoid getting re-wrap counterfeit batteries.
Battery Basics for Mods: The Definative Battery Guide for Vaping
Inexpensive Mechanical Mod and RDA Setup
Ventilation Holes: Ventilation holes for a venting battery is a must for a mech. Sadly, many mech have no vent holes at all (avoid). Most have vent holes in the lower half of the tube, which may not be adequate for venting purposes if the battery physically blocks the exit of gas. Batteries vent from their top (positive end). Unfortunately, most mech do not have venting in the upper 1/3 of the tube which I recommend. Mech Mods with top venting holes?
I cover much more information about mech mods in my blog:
A Beginner's Guide to Your First Mechanical Mod
- Covers the differences between a mechanical vs. regulated mod, essential safety accessories, optional safety accessories to add layers of safety to your mech, routine maintanance, use of proper batteries, proper ventilation, low resistance vaping, and faux hybrid mods.
I can't stress enough the need for using top quality, name brand batteries in a mech. Limit your selection to brands like AW, LG, Samsung, and Sony. Buy from trusted & reputable vendors that specialize in selling authentic name brand batteries such as RTD Vapor, Illumn., IMR Batteries, Li-Ion Wholesale, and Orbtronics to avoid getting re-wrap counterfeit batteries.
Battery Basics for Mods: The Definative Battery Guide for Vaping
- A popular and essential read to understand which batteries are safe to use in mechanical and regulated mods. Includes a frequently updated list of recommended safe-chemistry, high-drain batteries with their specifications.
Inexpensive Mechanical Mod and RDA Setup
- A response to the frequently asked question on how to get into rebuildable atomizers with a mechanical mod safely & inexpensively. Includes a list of commonly used tools and supplies for rebuilding and links to where to find them.
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Thanks Baditude ...i hope that was a cut and paste and not soemthing you spent a lot of time on. TBH, ive read most of that including how to instal a kick.
I guess safety realted stuff is my biggest concern. For instance, how does one know when its time to change a battery in a mech mod without straining the batt to dangerous limits?
I guess safety realted stuff is my biggest concern. For instance, how does one know when its time to change a battery in a mech mod without straining the batt to dangerous limits?
That's a matter of what builds you will be going for, are you wanting to chase clouds with low ohm builds or are you just wanting to vape it? A .8-1.2 ohm build wont stress anything and you will know by the quality of vape you get. meaning it wont have as much vapor or be as warm, so it's time to change your battery.
If you are planning to build below that then run times will be shorter and you will notice a significant drop in vapor production right away.
Know your build, if you are going low, you need to know your battery, understand ohms law, know what you are going to be pushing the build at and keep it withing a safe limit of the battery. So if you have a 20 amp battery, I suggest you don't go higher than a 17 amp draw on that battery, it extends life of the battery and gives you a safety net as well.
So in a nutshell, tell us what you are thinking about doing with it, and we can advise and guide you better in choices.
If you are planning to build below that then run times will be shorter and you will notice a significant drop in vapor production right away.
Know your build, if you are going low, you need to know your battery, understand ohms law, know what you are going to be pushing the build at and keep it withing a safe limit of the battery. So if you have a 20 amp battery, I suggest you don't go higher than a 17 amp draw on that battery, it extends life of the battery and gives you a safety net as well.
So in a nutshell, tell us what you are thinking about doing with it, and we can advise and guide you better in choices.
Even with a recessed button, I wouldn't recommend carrying an unlocked, or un-lockable mech mod with the batteries installed.
Ohhh…very basic vaping….I don't know how to build a coil….would just be using coils ranging from 1.2-1.8ohm (aspire nautilus and manger ssocc). I vape in the 8-12 W range.
MANY of use began and still use mechs in exactly the same manner. I think that is the way a mech was designed to be used. But I'll defer to Trogg and Imeo re: design.
OP: Set a budget!
Cheers
I
I use mechs in this manner, I fail to see why it wouldn't be worth it?
OP, for budget look at Fastech and look at the Nemesis clones, be sure to read the reviews as they aren't all created equally! As for top end of the budget, well the sky's the limit!
So set us up a budget and what you think you would like to have and we'll show you the options.
I agree that a mech can be set up to vape mild...or wild. That's what I like about using my mechs - they are capable of providing a wide range of vaping experiences depending on the build. As a hobbyist that's half the reason I vape - it's fun to tinker with different builds (the other reason of course is to suppress cigarette cravings).
Don't get me wrong - I have and use regulated boxes and those are more "plug and play" with pre-made coils and sub-ohm tanks, however I do a very high percentage of my vaping on mech mods. I'm not really a cloud chaser and vape mostly for flavor, but it's fun to have a few mods set up to fog up a small room once in a while.
To the OP - follow Battitude's and other's advice above. Be safe, understand Ohm's Law, use an ohm meter to check for shorted builds, and be mindful of battery safety and limits.
Don't get me wrong - I have and use regulated boxes and those are more "plug and play" with pre-made coils and sub-ohm tanks, however I do a very high percentage of my vaping on mech mods. I'm not really a cloud chaser and vape mostly for flavor, but it's fun to have a few mods set up to fog up a small room once in a while.
To the OP - follow Battitude's and other's advice above. Be safe, understand Ohm's Law, use an ohm meter to check for shorted builds, and be mindful of battery safety and limits.
It's not the comparatively high ohms, or the comparatively low watts. It's the stock nautilus coils on a mech mod which I wouldn't recommend.
Stock coils aren't the greatest things around and you can get shorts and all sorts, so I'd never recommend using them on any mech personally. Especially someone who admits themselves that they are new to this.
Stock coils aren't the greatest things around and you can get shorts and all sorts, so I'd never recommend using them on any mech personally. Especially someone who admits themselves that they are new to this.
For somebody new to vaping, better to get a regulated mod.
For somebody who has been vaping already for months and just wants a simple mech for backup:
- avoid the so-called 'hybrid look' mods like the smpl that have no centerpin
- if you are using 1.2+ ohm coils you can get a kick module for your mech; the kick module will give you some regulation and short circuit protection. Get a mod that comes with a kick tube included.
As I said later in the thread, it's not the ohms, it's the safety of the stock coils. The OP stated that he cannot make coils, so I cannot therefore recommend a mech for his use.
I do however like the kick recommendation. But having said that, you may as well just get a regulated mod IMO.
The only reason I got a mech mod was for a spare with no circuit board in case things get bad with the FDA. It's not the first thing I reach for to use. I do think getting myself some kicks is a good idea.
Mechs are great but I wouldnt use a prebuilt coil head on a mech.
Prebuilt heads have thin rubber insulators that can tear and often arrive DOA / shorted in the pack.
Spend a few minutes learning how to wrap a coil or buy pre wrapped coils you can install in a proper atty.
You'll get a much better experience from your mech mod.
Prebuilt heads have thin rubber insulators that can tear and often arrive DOA / shorted in the pack.
Spend a few minutes learning how to wrap a coil or buy pre wrapped coils you can install in a proper atty.
You'll get a much better experience from your mech mod.
We used cartomizers on mechs for years, what's the difference between that and a pre-built coil? You don't think we ever got a bad carto? Sheesh, there is so much mis-information about mechs anymore.
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