Smok Magneto conclusions

[Vaslovik]

After a day with the smok Magneto I've arrived at the following:

The bottom button was rough, noisy, and sticky from the start. I was told to tighten the locking ring in the button section, and that helped for a bit, but not for long. It got rough and sticky again and I got misfires.

I was advised to use Noalox on the button, so I went to Home Depot and got some. I put it on the friction areas of the button with a Q-tip after taking that apart, and the threads of the tubes and cap.

It did not help at all with the button. It was still sticky, and misfired too often for my liking in a new mech. The threading on the center tube is not up to snuff either, loose and imprecise. I don't like the button on the Magneto at all. I've gone back to my sigelei 24, which I was having button issues with from time to time, but not as bad as with the Magneto.


For all the online hype about this mech, and it's initial popularity, I cannot see it justified in the product, and will probably just put it on craigslist for what I paid for it. Probably someone will care more about the spider on the button, the 1939 on it and the hype about it than I do. I just want a mech that works right. They could have done a much better job on the button.

That the button uses magnets is no substitute for good machining and tolerances, both of which I find lacking in the Magneto. The button locking ring I find to be of little utility. I can sit my sigelei 24 down without that and it stands there just fine, which is nice. The Magneto, while you can sit it down with an RBA on it and not have it fire, is still unstable and will fall over quite easily, rocking around on it's magnetic button, unless you use the locking ring... every vape you take. Too much bother for me.

I don't have to do that with my Sigelei 24, I can just set it down and it stands there just fine, and it comes with a collar and D-ring I can use in my car with a lanyard to vape on the go. When driving a stick shift that's nice.

I'm sure there are some who are happy with the Magneto, but it's just not for me. I don't like the button at all. It's sticky and rough, misfires, and I don't like it.

 

[Talyon]

TY for sharing.....

 

[Underwhelmed]

I learnt long ago to avoid buying anything made by Smok.

Sorry for your disappointment.

 

[Vaslovik]

I learnt long ago to avoid buying anything made by Smok.

Sorry for your disappointment.

Well there are lessons in life you just have to pay for, hopefully I can recover the cost and someone else will be happy with it. I just don't like that button, it might not matter so much to someone else who values the nerd appeal of it more.

 

[State O' Flux]

Magnetos are hit and miss. I've had 4 and given away 3. Thing is... how much can your reasonably expect from a $40 mag button mech?
I've hung on to the last one while I wait for my Nzonics to show... once they're here, the 4th Magneto get gifted as well. I fixed any issues with the first 3 before I gifted them, so no big deal there.

There's a Galileo clone out there in the "econoclone" price range... a few US vendors have had them, but they are not real wide spread in the US yet. That'd be the next mag mech clone I'd be interested in looking at. I don't get to worried if a inexpensive mech has issues... and thrilled if it doesn't.
If it's great, I keep it or give it to a good friend or relative... if it's crap, I fix it, and give it away. Nothing is permanent. ;-)

 

[Vaslovik]

Magnetos are hit and miss. I've had 4 and given away 3. Thing is... how much can your reasonably expect from a $40 mag button mech? ... if it's crap, I fix it, and give it away. Nothing is permanent. ;-)

Yeah, can't argue with that. I'll prolly give someone who is wanting one a deal on it. I thought it was such a hot item before I got it, but gosh... Lesson learned. I don't know anyone who uses mechs other than me, so I'll put it on craigslist. Meanwhile my old Sigelei 24 is trucking on. I don't know how to fix what I don't like about this Magneto, but will advise the next buyer of it. Then too, I have a Sentinel clone coming on a slow junk from China, that should be educational as well.

 

[mommafish]

Im sorry ur having so many problems. My fire button works great no clicking no misfire at all and for the threads couldnt ask for better. Maybe im just the lucky one that got a great inexpensive magneto. Better luck on ur next buy.

 

[xtwosm0kesx]

I'd be willing to bet that if you actuated the switch for awhile it would essentially 'break in' faster and become significantly smoother.

 

[Vaslovik]

I'd be willing to bet that if you actuated the switch for awhile it would essentially 'break in' faster and become significantly smoother.

I thought of that, but I'm a heavy duty chain vaper, and I think if it were going to perform as expected it would have by now. I have to de-gunk my RBA coil 2 or 3 times a day and burn off the wick as well. It might be my juice, I don't know, but I vape a LOT, all day long, rotating 6 batteries through my mech, and I need a mech that works right. I have zero interest in regulated mods. Mechs are my thing.

I did the Noalox thing with it, and it made no difference. As another said above in the thread, Magnetos are hit and miss. I missed on this one, so I'm moving on. It might be time to spring for a Poldiac.

 

[State O' Flux]

As another said above in the thread, Magnetos are hit and miss. I missed on this one, so I'm moving on. It might be time to spring for a Poldiac.

I'd be happy to take a look at it... no labor charge, just materials costs, if any.

 

[mommafish]

I would make a great foster parent if u need to send it away

 

[xtwosm0kesx]

I thought of that, but I'm a heavy duty chain vaper, and I think if it were going to perform as expected it would have by now. I have to de-gunk my RBA coil 2 or 3 times a day and burn off the wick as well. It might be my juice, I don't know, but I vape a LOT, all day long, and I need a mech that works right. I have zero interest in regulated mods. Mechs are my thing.

I did the Noalox thing with it, and it made no difference. As another said above in the thread, Magnetos are hit and miss. I missed on this one, so I'm moving on. It might be time to spring for a Poldiac.

Im talking multiple THOUSANDS of actuations, lol. No, it's not ideal, nor should you have to do it, but might as well try.

When my Sig caravela clone arrived it had the nastiest grindy button with literally the stiffest spring you've ever encountered on a mod.

So, instead of pitching it in the vapes junk box, i pulled off the switch and, while watching TV, actuated the button with my thumb/fingers for OVER 45mins.

By the time i was done, the button was quite smooth and the spring(obv not an issue here) was much softer. Now after regular use, the button is butter.

Like i say, you should'nt have to do it, but probably worth it to try.

 

[Vaslovik]

I'd be happy to take a look at it... no labor charge, just materials costs, if any.

Oh what, the Poldiac?

Cute

 

[Vaslovik]

Im talking multiple THOUSANDS of actuations, lol. No, it's not ideal, nor should you have to do it, but might as well try.

When my Sig caravela clone arrived it had the nastiest grindy button with literally the stiffest spring you've ever encountered on a mod.

So, instead of pitching it in the vapes junk box, i pulled off the switch and, while watching TV, actuated the button with my thumb/fingers for OVER 45mins.

By the time i was done, the button was quite smooth and the spring(obv not an issue here) was much softer. Now after regular use, the button is butter.

Like i say, you should'nt have to do it, but probably worth it to try.

I really do think it's a machining issue with this particular Magneto, which boils down to production standards and quality control at the manufacturer. That button is just too loose in there and the friction bearing surfaces it passes through are just not to the right tolerances. On a mech the firing button is critical when wear over time is considered, and I did not even get to wear over time with this mech, it was unsatisfactory out of the box.

I put it through 16 hours of heavy use, 20 ml of juice, and it's still not butter, still sticks and misfires, I'm not happy. When you buy something new it should work right, out of the box.

It's going on craigslist.

 

[SissySpike]

Dookz Platform - Pinoy Mods - MODS & Batteries

This is a good buy at 108$

 

[xtwosm0kesx]

I really do think it's a machining issue with this particular Magneto, which boils down to production standards and quality control at the manufacturer. That button is just too loose in there and the friction bearing surfaces it passes through are just not to the right tolerances.

This is exactly the point.

By actuating the button, you are essentially slowly sanding the surfaces smooth.

Im not sure exactly how the magneto is machined, but assuming the button/button sleave is turned to diameter/dimension on a lathe, its entirely likely the surface is covered in microscopic ridges.

Now when you have the button itself that is essentially ribbed from the machining, running inside another machined tube, that likely has the same tiny ribs internally, youre going to get a "grind" when you rub them together.

When you work the button you are slowly working those ridges down, until the two surfaces have worked themselves smooth and the grind/bind of the button should be gone, no matter how much play it has side to side.

Just trying to offer you solutions, not sure you're looking for them at this point.

 

[Crash Moses]

It's too bad someone can't come out with a consistent quality budget mech. I've had my Magneto for two months, gets daily use, and is the best performing mech out of my collection (except for my Reos of course) even outperforming my Zenesis. Button works perfectly every time and the threading is very smooth but it sounds like I just got lucky.

Durn shame really.

 

[JulesXsmokr]

sounds like you got one of the one out of ??? deal.
had my ver.2 for about a week now, and my mag has none of the problems you described, and doesn't need lube either..
just typical QC these days...