Please explain a "mechanical mod" to me...

[thxone]

People seem to like "mechanical mods" and I have been looking at a few. I think I understand what it is and correct me if I am wrong... this is my understanding of what it is:

A tube that holds a battery or two that has a momentary switch (on when held down/in and off when let up/out) completing a circuit through the coil to vaporize the e-liquid. Is this correct?

Unregulated power so it will fire coils with low resistance i.e. under 1ohm?

The voltage of the battery is what you get... so one 3.7v+ is 3.7v+ and two batteries could give you say 7.4v+ depending on the charge right?

The length of usable battery life would depend on the mAH of the battery or batteries right? Like an 18650 would last longer than an 18350 even though they are both 3.7v because the 18650 would have a higher mAH?

What is, if any, the advantage to this over say... my VAMO?

This seems like a very basic way to vape or rather a very minimal way to vape. Again, correct me if I am wrong, but this seems to me like a larger, modular, more powerful and rebuildable ego battery. I am just using that for comparison. I have been looking at the Natural... if I decided to try this "mechanical mod" would this be a good choice? Thanks everyone.

 

[Katya]

A mechanical mod is a mod that has no electronic components. Here's a nice discussion on the subject:

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...hat-makes-mod-mechanical-mod.html#post9067634

 

[thxone]

A mechanical mod is a mod that has no electronic components. Here's a nice discussion on the subject:

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...hat-makes-mod-mechanical-mod.html#post9067634

Thanks... that was a nice read.

I now have a better understanding of what is considered a "mechanical mod" so it is on to my other questions.

 

[Mr.Mann]

I like to think of it, analogically, as a mech mod being like a manual transmission vs. an electronic mod being an automatic. There are benefits to both. While I love manuals, I am not a purist and I roll with automatics/electronic.

I am sure this doesn't help, but I felt like posting my analogy.

 

[Katya]

Advantages? An all mechanical mod is indestructible! And in case of, God forbid, some apocalyptic e-cig ban, your mechanical mod can't be beat. They can't ban batteries.

 

[Mr.Mann]

Advantages? An all mechanical mod is indestructible! And in case of, God forbid, some apocalyptic e-cig ban, your mechanical mod can't be beat. They can't ban batteries.

True. Okay, I will let this thread be so the real users of mech mods can comment.

p.s. If looking into a truly fantastic (from what I gather) mech mod, check out the Poldiac or the Caravela.

 

[Katya]

Or Legacy!

But what do I know? I use Twists and Spinners.

 

[thxone]

I also use spinners... I am just trying to broaden my understanding and perhaps my taste. I love my VAMO, it does what it says but as was mentioned in other threads... if it breaks, can I fix it? Probably not. So I would have to shell out more money than I want just to have a working one + shipping time. I am hands on so I don't mind fixing it if it's broken... if it's fixable. I am not to crazy about the Kick idea either... might as well stick with the VAMO if I was going to use that. Ya follow? I want to use my AGA-T2 and I think a mechanical would be a good idea... just don't know about how long batteries would last or what ohm's I would need to have my coil at.

 

[thxone]

I like to think of it, analogically, as a mech mod being like a manual transmission vs. an electronic mod being an automatic. There are benefits to both. While I love manuals, I am not a purist and I roll with automatics/electronic.

I am sure this doesn't help, but I felt like posting my analogy.

It does help... I drive a manual... I feel more in control of the car and it feels more raw to me. However I like to drive an automatic from time to time as well.

 

[Katya]

I also use spinners... I am just trying to broaden my understanding and perhaps my taste. I love my VAMO, it does what it says but as was mentioned in other threads... if it breaks, can I fix it? Probably not. So I would have to shell out more money than I want just to have a working one + shipping time. I am hands on so I don't mind fixing it if it's broken... if it's fixable. I am not to crazy about the Kick idea either... might as well stick with the VAMO if I was going to use that. Ya follow? I want to use my AGA-T2 and I think a mechanical would be a good idea... just don't know about how long batteries would last or what ohm's I would need to have my coil at.

Hey, you don't need anybody's help! You know too much already!

If you stay with the Vamo and your Twists, it doesn't really matter what resistance your atomizer is. You can always adjust the voltage. If you want a mechanical mod, figure out what your sweet spot is in terms of wattage and take it from there.

 

[Mr.Mann]

It does help... I drive a manual... I feel more in control of the car and it feels more raw to me. However I like to drive an automatic from time to time as well.

I think that level of "control" is a concept that you could latch onto as far as the reasoning for one over the other. Good luck with your research!

 

[MattyB1503]

hahaha, sorry couldn't help myself.

Katya knows what's up.

Well a mech mod is extremely minimalist, that's the beauty of um. Battery contacts, switch and 510 connection; what else to you really need?

From my point of view, which is from an engineering background, all those extra features: pulse width modulation, voltage regulation, VV, VW, five or six or (?) click on/off, puff counter, LED display, built in ohm meter, update-able firmwarer, ect. ect. are just additional potential points of failure.

And lets be honest, pretty much anything that is VV or VW is MIC baby (made in China). There are exceptions like the Billet Box or a mod with a DNA20 or... errrr I'm sure there are a couple more; but case and point, the ohm meter in my Vamo is generally about .2 ohms shy and pretty finicky. So my Vamo isn't really variable wattage it's variable What?age.

That and if you want to run at ~ 17-18 watts on a genesis, just wrap a .8 ohm coil...


That's my take at least.

 

[Katya]

^What he said!

18 watts???? Do you guys have a death wish???

 

[MattyB1503]

I have an un-death wish


Hence the vaping..

 

[Katya]

Touché!

 

[thxone]

LOL I am usually between 8 and 9 watts. Ok, so I think I will try it out. I will get a multimeter and I think I will try the Natural then... that way if it isn't all that, I haven't spent that much money.

 

[MattyB1503]

Touché!

hahaha. Maybe

LOL I am usually between 8 and 9 watts. Ok, so I think I will try it out. I will get a multimeter and I think I will try the Natural then... that way if it isn't all that, I haven't spent that much money.

With fully saturated 500 mesh wick the only reason I check my coil resistance is to check for shorts and insure I do not exceed the maximum continuous current rating for the battery. For an AW 18350 it's 6 amps, so with a battery coming off the changer at 4.1v and a .8 ohm coil your pushing ~5.1 amps. I mean that number's purely theoretical because there is voltage drop between what the battery meters at and what it delivers under load, but with a sub-one ohm coil the load isn't much, at all. I do like to play it safe, at least w/ Lithium batteries.

If you'er gonna push some serious wattage at the AGA you may want to drill out that wick hole.


The Natural, or you could just buy something really really nice, and if you don't like it, post it in the classifieds. You will get back pretty much everything providing condition of the mod is like new, maybe -10 bucks or so to cover shipping and pay pal fees.

Evil, I know..

 

[Buzzsaw46]

^What he said!

18 watts???? Do you guys have a death wish???

I thought the same thing when I first started hearing of guys vaping at 15-20 watts, but now that I have done it myself it isn't as extreme as I thought it would be. I just take shorter drags than I would at 8-9 watts.

 

[thxone]

The Natural, or you could just buy something really really nice, and if you don't like it, post it in the classifieds. You will get back pretty much everything providing condition of the mod is like new, maybe -10 bucks or so to cover shipping and pay pal fees.

Evil, I know..

I actually thought about that... but the Natural looks good to me and I have a buddy, my best friend, that I introduced to vaping who I could pass it on too. He is getting one of my spinner 1300's and doesn't even know it yet.

 

[Katya]

I thought the same thing when I first started hearing of guys vaping at 15-20 watts, but now that I have done it myself it isn't as extreme as I thought it would be. I just take shorter drags than I would at 8-9 watts.

Still... I start to choke at 10 watts. I just don't get it. I like vapor and flavor.