some mods from the past few weeks (noob)

[colossalK]

I have never soldered before I found this forum, I don't understand electronic components but THANK YOU MAMU, Bigblue, nico, and anyone else's posts that helped me to this point.
I only started vaping a month ago but after a week i just started buying parts to build mods, I wouldn't say that I'm great at making anything but I think these turned out pretty well for the tools that I had. If anyone knows how to get clean cuts into ABS plastic so i could make a rectangular hole for the screen, and also how to make holes in tin if thats what altoids is made from.
I made a Dena thanks to Mamu's guide, and from one of the pictures found in bigblues thread on the ucc383-adj I made a linear regulated Altoids 18650 mod
my next mod will be a switching regulated 18650 altoids box with voltage screen here are a couple pictures

Thanks for all the informative posts guys! and step by step guide I couldn't have done it without that, now only if i could read schematics without pictures

 

[Digital-Dragon]

I would never have guessed you've only been vaping for a month... Great job! Took me over 8 months to start making mods... Wish I had given away my riva stuff sooner.

It is fun working with the mint tins, and I just prefer how they look compared to the plastic.

 

[Digital-Dragon]

Oops double post, sorry.

Though I will add that I get really nice round holes in mint tins by first drilling with a bit that is smaller then the hole I want, and then using a t-handle reamer or something similar to expand them to the perfect size.

Oh, and where did you get that sweet metal switch?

 

[colossalK]

thank you!
i actually did the same thing because I didn't have a drill bit big enough for the parts and used a t handle reamer to enlarge them, but I'm getting frayed non perfect holes, and when i put a master on off switch on the site it came out all wonky because I wasn't sure how to get a rectangular shaped hole, i just drilled and used tin snips but that didn't work out too well because of the awkward angle.

I'm trying to figure out how to make rectangular holes on even plastic boxes but thats hard for me too..... I too prefer the mint tins because the door opens so easily and battery swaps are easy. maybe I'm not using the right tools.... wish I knew what I was doing lol
I got the metal switch from Atty switch NO (normally open) – I used E Switch part #PV5S640SS (digikey.com, onlinecomponents.com).

i got it from onlinecompoents digikey was sold out when i placed an order, Mamu found the switch

 

[TomCatt]

You should be able to use an Xacto knife / utility knife to cut a rectangular hole

 

[Quigsworth]

A month in and you've already built 2 vv boxes!?!...you're like the Rain Man of modding, good on you...as far as cutting a nice hole for a meter?..pfft, that's why they invented glue guns and epoxy...serious though, get yourself a hand scroll saw and a tiny file set, don't try an cut it exact, start under size and work your way out (you'll still screw up like we all do, it'll just take you longer)

 

[colossalK]

You should be able to use an Xacto knife / utility knife to cut a rectangular hole

Yea I tried that, plastic seems too thick to cut through, tried it with multiple passes and that still took too long

A month in and you've already built 2 vv boxes!?!...you're like the Rain Man of modding, good on you...as far as cutting a nice hole for a meter?..pfft, that's why they invented glue guns and epoxy...serious though, get yourself a hand scroll saw and a tiny file set, don't try an cut it exact, start under size and work your way out (you'll still screw up like we all do, it'll just take you longer)

I bought a tiny file set just for that, and it doesn't really work i will have to look into a hand scroll saw if that seems to help... wish there was an easier less labor intensive way. Mild OCD makes me want a perfect edge between meter and box....

 

[cmantis]

Nice job! Maybe try a dremel? That being said I haven't built my first mod yet.

 

[CountSmackula]

Well done! I've been contemplating a BigBlue evercool VV mod, w/a Scubabatdan SMD touch switch. I'm about 3 months in, so it looks like I need to get off the pot & get busy. Consider me motivated.

p.s. Did you have to buy your 510 connectors from madvapes, or did you find another source?

 

[colossalK]

Nice job! Maybe try a dremel? That being said I haven't built my first mod yet.

tried that with the cutting wheel, cuts became too big, maybe I'm using the wrong piece to cut

Well done! I've been contemplating a BigBlue evercool VV mod, w/a Scubabatdan SMD touch switch. I'm about 3 months in, so it looks like I need to get off the pot & get busy. Consider me motivated.

p.s. Did you have to buy your 510 connectors from madvapes, or did you find another source?

i did buy them from madvapes, I used the shorty with nut and silver sealed for the altoids, I've used the silver sealed in a bunch of 3.7box's and they seem to work well

 

[motelgrim]

Definitely files. You *can* drill enough holes the width of the rectangle then remove the remaining material with an x-acto but filing always comes out looking better. There is almost always a bit of overcut when you use a knife like that and filing things makes it all smooth and nice. Files on very thin metal like altoid tins is gonna be tricky simply for the fact that it's so thin. It's doable tho.