Suggestions for a good "cheap" mech?

[VaporDaze]

Throughout my entire vaping career (2-3 years) I've always used regulated box mods with no complaints, but recently I've wanted to get a mech just to experience something a little different. I have a SMPL I got for free from a b&m but I've honestly been too scared to use it for anything other than to hold my extra rda. I understand battery safety and ohms law but I still don't trust that mod but would still like to have a reliable mech for when I don't want to carry around my sig150. Any suggestions would be great because I'll be heading to my local b&m in the afternoon at some point tomorrow.

 

[roxynoodle]

I got an Infinite Stingray X for $15 and free shipping from Vaporrange recently. I have 6 Stingray Xs, lol! Yes, its my favorite mech.

Very well made clone and identical to the authentic. Hits hard, super easy set up and small even in 18650 form.

 

[Froth]

My personal recommendation is to get over your preconceived notions that the SMPL is somehow bad. I own four of them(two authentic, two clone) and use them all a ton, two of my close friends own SMPL clones and use them every single day. Yes, they are direct to battery mods however all that means is that you need to check and make sure that the positive post of your RDA sticks out from the threaded area at least 1mm if not a bit more, if you do that and the RDA is tight you really can't cause a short at the atomizer side.

The next thing you should check is that the battery wrapper is in factory shape with zero tears or rips/holes anywhere. You just need a bit of confidence combined with proper knowledge, I have not had a single issue of any kind due to being very diligent with the precautions I take when using my mods and I've been using SMPL's for a year now at very low resistances, not one single issue to speak of whatsoever.

 

[roxynoodle]

Black is on sale now, too, so thanks to this thread I now have 7 Stingray Xs, lol!

 

[Ou2mame]

Copper fuhattan, 20 bucks

 

[roxynoodle]

I needed another black one to help balance out all the silver ones

 

[Ou2mame]

Copper fuhattan comes in carbon fiber black?

 

[roxynoodle]

Copper fuhattan comes in carbon fiber black?

Yep, have a Paragon like that, and one Stingray X.

The Fuhattan is a nice mod, but big and heavy. And 24mm I think? My Skeleton Key is huge and heavy, and I've been having problems because of that. Arthritis has caused the bones in my wrist to shift and for the past 7 months, its been an issue with my heavy mechs. In fact I may be selling the S Key because of it. I may make it an 18490 first though and try that. Such a nice mech, I don't really want to give it up.

 

[Ou2mame]

Yeah they are a big chunk of metal, but its a very simple and reliable big chunk of metal that performs very well. And they're cheap.

 

[Hans Wermhat]

Original Smok Magneto II Telescoping Mechanical Mod-13.99 and Free Shipping| GearBest.com

 

[edyle]

Throughout my entire vaping career (2-3 years) I've always used regulated box mods with no complaints, but recently I've wanted to get a mech just to experience something a little different. I have a SMPL I got for free from a b&m but I've honestly been too scared to use it for anything other than to hold my extra RDA. I understand battery safety and ohms law but I still don't trust that mod but would still like to have a reliable mech for when I don't want to carry around my sig150. Any suggestions would be great because I'll be heading to my local b&m in the afternoon at some point tomorrow.

Do/did any of your regulated box mods have adjustable/springloaded centerpin?
One thing that is standard on mechs is adjustable centerpin, so you can screw the topcap on flush and securely onto the tank/topper

 

[papergoblin]

Cheap is a relative term, you can get clones for 15 or so from fasttech. If you want an authentic, I love my Infected mod from USA made mods, under 100, us built and authentic.

 

[Baditude]

OP seems to want a mech designed to be "safer", if a mech mod can be described as being safer.

I recommend a Silver Bullet from AltSmoke. You likely won't find this mod in a vape shop anywhere, however it is a long term classic that's been available online for years.

Concerning safer mech mod designs:

The Silver Bullet has several features which I believe makes it safer than most mechanical mods. The most dangerous situation with mech mods is when a battery vents in thermal runaway. Gas buildup from a venting incident accumulates in the metal tube and if there is not adequate venting of the gas, the metal tube becomes a potential pipe bomb. Small holes in the bottom of the mod are inadequate to release the rapid buildup of gas. Batteries are designed to vent from their tops. Vent holes in mods should be designed to be where the battery will vent (the top), most are not. The Silver Bullet is designed to vent via the fire switch, exactly where the top of the battery is located.

The Silver Bullet uses a collapsible "hot spring" in the battery compartment. Should a battery reach a critical temperature, the spring is designed to collapse, breaking the electrical connection to the atomizer, and hopefully preventing a thermal runaway situation.

The Silver Bullet uses a recessed side fire button, as opposed to the more common bottom fire button in mechanicals. The recessed fire button makes it almost impossible for the Silver Bullet to accidentally autofire in a pocket or purse. Most mechanical mods use a bottom fire button, simply because this is easier and cheaper to manufacture. However, unless they have a locking mechanism a bottom firing switch could lead to an autofire situation when the mod is set on its bottom. Even if it does have a locking mechanism, it must be set each time the mod is set down. How many absent-minded or distracted people do this each and every time?

With the increasing number of reported mod explosions recently, your number one priority when choosing a mechanical mod should be one of safety. That's my

Man Severely Injured After eCigarette Blows Up In His Face

There was a Vape Blast at Vape Blast

​

 

[Monotremata]

I got an Infinite Stingray X for $15 and free shipping from Vaporrange recently. I have 6 Stingray Xs, lol! Yes, its my favorite mech.

Very well made clone and identical to the authentic. Hits hard, super easy set up and small even in 18650 form.

Wait dont tell me they actually sent you the Infinite?? They ended up sending me the Shenxi one, which was even listed as out of stock on the website when I ordered the Infinite!!! The Shenxi actually turned out ok so I didnt bother with exchanging it, cause they already screwed up the order initially by only sending me a replacement bottom cap instead of the mod when I first ordered it. Nice thing about the Shenxi is the hybrid top cap is copper instead of brass. You should check out the replacement ones VR has in the parts section. I picked one up for my other Stingray and the Asmodus hybrid cap actually has an insulator on the bottom around the 510 hole.

Thanks for the heads up on the black one.. They screwed up my last order and sent me a black Derringer instead of a stainless one, so if they tell me to keep the black one I think Ill order another Stingray X for it hehehe.

 

[Monotremata]

Dang only took them like 15 mins to reply and send me a tracking number for my replacement. Didnt say a word about returning the black Derringer.. Since I already have one and it lives on a black HCigar Stingray X, guess I better buy one of these Infinites now for my new one! I shouldve stayed off ECF today haha.

 

[roxynoodle]

Wait dont tell me they actually sent you the Infinite?? They ended up sending me the Shenxi one, which was even listed as out of stock on the website when I ordered the Infinite!!! The Shenxi actually turned out ok so I didnt bother with exchanging it, cause they already screwed up the order initially by only sending me a replacement bottom cap instead of the mod when I first ordered it. Nice thing about the Shenxi is the hybrid top cap is copper instead of brass. You should check out the replacement ones VR has in the parts section. I picked one up for my other Stingray and the Asmodus hybrid cap actually has an insulator on the bottom around the 510 hole.

Thanks for the heads up on the black one.. They screwed up my last order and sent me a black Derringer instead of a stainless one, so if they tell me to keep the black one I think Ill order another Stingray X for it hehehe.

Yes, they sent me an Infinite. I sure hope the black one is, too.

 

[OfTheBrave]

The safety of the SMPL mod is 100% user based.
As others have said,
Don't use a spring pin tank (most subtanks fall in this category)
Don't use an atty where the positive pin is even with the threaded section (drop a pic if you are unsure)
Keep your batteries in good condition (which you should do for any mech mod)
and that's it.

 

[MattyTny]

Infinite Stingray X for $15 is an absolute steal considering it's shipping from the US. Jeez I don't need it, but why not.