Welp. Looks like I gotta come back to the mechs.

[sonicbomb]

Just picked up a Stingray X clone with the carbon fiber sleeve. The voltage drop is slightly lower (surprisingly) than the SS version, and a bit lighter too. @Forkeh you could do far worse than to pick one of these up,I guarantee you won't be disappointed. Floating silver coated 510 pin, smooth as you like magnetic switch, extremely low voltage drop, small light and beautiful as hell. Go for the Kepler version, you can get them for around $25 from FT, delivery took about two weeks.

SS version

 

[Forkeh]

Just picked up a Stingray X clone with the carbon fiber sleeve. The voltage drop is slightly lower (surprisingly) than the SS version, and a bit lighter too. @Forkeh you could do far worse than to pick one of these up,I guarantee you won't be disappointed. Floating silver coated 510 pin, smooth as you like magnetic switch, extremely low voltage drop, small light and beautiful as hell. Go for the Kepler version, you can get them for around $25 from FT, delivery took about two weeks.

SS version

Oooo I actually really like that. Looks like it would feel really nice in hand.

 

[aceman3330]

Shinyitis gets em every time.

Just got me, again.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Nikea Tiber]

Is that the Tesla invader II? I like how it looks like a k-can.

 

[dhomes]

if you want something that will last a real long time, nothing would beat a hybrid, least points of failure when dropped, less voltage drop.

i've invested on a few high end original and dont regret it (kennedy ruby 24 coppr, subzero shorty w/24 sub zero rda, brass and copper original rigs v2).

but I also got this kit from fasttech and it's the best thing I have ever gotten there (and hits almost like the original ~REEEAL CLOSE~):

$25.34 Roughneck V2 Styled Starter Kit - 1*18650 / stainless steel + copper at FastTech - Worldwide Free Shipping rig v2 copper / black + roughneck

nemesis is too old a design with too many threads to be really long lasting imo

 

[Kprthevapr]

if you want something that will last a real long time, nothing would beat a hybrid, least points of failure when dropped, less voltage drop.

i've invested on a few high end original and dont regret it (kennedy ruby 24 coppr, subzero shorty w/24 sub zero rda, brass and copper original rigs v2).

but I also got this kit from fasttech and it's the best thing I have ever gotten there (and hits almost like the original ~REEEAL CLOSE~):

$25.34 Roughneck V2 Styled Starter Kit - 1*18650 / stainless steel + copper at FastTech - Worldwide Free Shipping rig v2 copper / black + roughneck

nemesis is too old a design with too many threads to be really long lasting imo

 

[dhomes]

View attachment 564079

kinda prefer the simple full black, but yeah the setup is a winner. thick thick walls no threads other than atty to tube

 

[Kprthevapr]

kinda prefer the simple full black, but yeah the setup is a winner. thick thick walls no threads other than atty to tube

I've had mine for a while. I figure if the paint wears off, it's still a solid copper mod with atty for less than $30, so it's a win win for me

 

[aceman3330]

Is that the Tesla invader II? I like how it looks like a k-can.

It's the Tesla Invader III

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[mhertz]

Just picked up a Stingray X clone with the carbon fiber sleeve. The voltage drop is slightly lower (surprisingly) than the SS version, and a bit lighter too. @Forkeh you could do far worse than to pick one of these up,I guarantee you won't be disappointed. Floating silver coated 510 pin, smooth as you like magnetic switch, extremely low voltage drop, small light and beautiful as hell. Go for the Kepler version, you can get them for around $25 from FT, delivery took about two weeks.

SS version

I have glaced at that particular SKU for the last 6 months or so, going back and fourth over if I should get it... I wanted a kepler one-18650-tube stingray x in SS, but as I couldn't find it, then this was the only option. I wasen't sure if carbon-fiber would diminish the infamous low drop of this mod(kepler 1-tube especially), as i'm not that much in the know about such.

Current travels through least resistance I believe, so the SS would probably not even be used and the SS added wouldn't really do anything except making the mod more durable i'm thinking. I don't know how two metals in parallel relates to current flow though honestly... However, your test of the VD made me finally go buy it, so thanks alot for testing it and posting! Oh, you did relate the test to the SS 1 tube kepler right? Sorry if I misunderstood, but I seemed to remember you had a kepler SS stingray x...

I also ordered a copper kepler pinless-510 topcap(20x0.5) to go with it... I know you've compared both types previously(pinless-510 vs normal topcap), but the included is brass and the normal topcap is copper internally, so maybe it can push alittle more with that than your tested 0.03v diff, if I remember right... I'll test of course Anyway, this design is great, with wide-friction-point copper to copper connections and wide contacts and battery-rattle/atty auto-adjustment and floating 510 etc... Well, using a rice-pin isn't the greatest imho, but OK... Also, I prefer recessed buttons, but nonetheless...

Also some state that the switches of kepler SRX's isn't as tight as the SXK versions(3-tubes), tolerance-wise, but that could probably be fixed/workarounded by a thicker homemade rice-pin... I saw a youtube vid of this mod and it was very wobbly, but it's just the rice-pin most-probably...

 

[sonicbomb]

The button the SX is my least favorite this about it, would love it if it had an SMPL style one.
I wouldn't bother with any hybrid style 510, against the floating unit in the SX the decrease in voltage drop just isn't worth the additional safety issues. 510 positive pins on attys can drift, and unless you are 100% vigilant then you could get burnt.
Both the carbon fiber and the SS are one piece Keplers.

 

[mhertz]

Thanks alot sonicbomb, much appreciated! I like 1 sec short draws and low builds, and so effeciency(VD) and there-after simplicity is my main factors in mechs... I agree the topcap of the stingray is the nicest normal topcap i've seen(thick wide one-piece contact), and looks very effecient, and compared to that, then the diff will not be big, but i'm confident in my own safety with the usage of pinless-510's, and one more part(to me useless) eliminated from the design, but appreciate the thought

Thanks again!

 

[mhertz]

... Just wanted to say thanks alot mate to sonicbomb for the kepler SRX CF (single-tube/18650) mech advice which I just got delivered from FT... I just tested it and it has even lower VD than my copper smpl with 1-piece 1:1 button. It is a really nice mech and much prettier in real life than the pics, although I don't go by looks myself but purely performance/simplicity, but still is nice though. I always test with the same battery(25R5) and atty, but it's old so need to replace it as the IR must be higher than usual most probably, but on a 0.5 ohm test it had a 0.24 drop, whereas the SMPL had a 0.32 drop. My meter is spec'ed at 5% inaccuracy though, but still good enough imho as a ballpark comparitor...

The button is wobbly though, but i'll check for a rice-pin replacement for that...

I'm now looking foreward to getting delivered my limitless copper clone and for good measure I thrown in a full-copper nemesis, which seems a solid performer too, and which I hope I can make to a pinless-510 if threads are standard...

Thanks again, mate!

 

[sonicbomb]

Glad you like it. The button will always be a bit wobbly, it's in the nature of the design. I found up rated magnets help as much if not more than a tighter fitting rice pin.
If you find a mech with a lower voltage drop you let me know.

 

[mhertz]

Thanks again for input mate! Yeah, I looked at some youtube vids and a thicker ricepin improved the situation but didn't make it completelly go away as you state... Yes, better magnets would be nice, also because my favorite RDA's are my twisted-messes v1's and it has a hard time holding it's weight without firering, and I have to put it down just the right way for it not to fire, or lay down on side but which i'm not a fan off. OR lock of course, but I hate that personally...

I have high hopes for the limitless, because of it's thick/big one-pice contact(though hate sleeve mods and i'll use it sleveless I think if comfortable), and i'll report back if that or anything else(in a tube) beats the kepler 18650 SRX. The limitless, and/or the roundhouse, I have a feeling will beat it slightly, but don't know, and the roundhouse i'm still waiting on a good copper clone off. Also, maybe the subzero mod, which I just missed on FT/FC unfortunetly before got removed, but will get when/if comes back(FC has one now with legendary switch, but I prefer the shorty one).

Thanks again!

-Martin.

 

[Bad Ninja]

Thanks again for input mate! Yeah, I looked at some youtube vids and a thicker ricepin improved the situation but didn't make it completelly go away as you state... Yes, better magnets would be nice, also because my favorite RDA's are my twisted-messes v1's and it has a hard time holding it's weight without firering, and I have to put it down just the right way for it not to fire, or lay down on side but which i'm not a fan off. OR lock of course, but I hate that personally...

I have high hopes for the limitless, because of it's thick/big one-pice contact(though hate sleeve mods and i'll use it sleveless I think if comfortable), and i'll report back if that or anything else(in a tube) beats the kepler 18650 SRX. The limitless, and/or the roundhouse, I have a feeling will beat it slightly, but don't know, and the roundhouse i'm still waiting on a good copper clone off. Also, maybe the subzero mod, which I just missed on FT/FC unfortunetly before got removed, but will get when/if comes back(FC has one now with legendary switch, but I prefer the shorty one).

Thanks again!

-Martin.

Sub Zero clone in coper on Focal.

focalecig.com - Legendary Subzero Competition Style Mechanical Mod Kit - Copper

 

[mhertz]

Thanks mate! I'm after the shorty switch though, which they had once but then got removed from both FT/FC... I mailed them if I could get one anyway, if it was removed because of copyright issues, but no... I got a link for it on alixpress also although a little more expensive...

I got hit by customs again during delivery of my kepler 18650 SRX CF, so from now on i'll have to make bigger orders at once or else it's too expensive... Lately I get hit more than half orders! So annoying... I didn't used too or else only very rarely...

 

[Ben85]

The customs gamble is part of the reason why I don't order overseas anymore. Especially as I have to pay £8 just for the privilege of being told.

 

[mhertz]

Lol, indeed, although in my country the "being told" part, is double that... Still, I shouldn't really complain, because the prices of FT/FC are so great anyways, so even though i'll have to pay the listing price + 2 times extra in customs, then it's still no more than other local offers take roughly and the sortiment of models is just so outstanding so that I will continue doing it, but just order more at a time instead of many seperate orders, because FT/FC writes a low value which the customs is calculated upon, so the biggest hit is the "getting told" part...

 

[Forkeh]

I'm back! Well, after many moons of consideration, I still haven't bought my mech yet >_>. There's just so much to choose from I'm having a really hard time making a decision. Uhhhhhhh. I'll probably wait until right before a regs come down to make a decision. I'm so bad at this.

I've actually been looking at the noisy cricket, and it looks cool as a cucumber and I love the output specks. The only thing is, I'm a little nervous about a direct to battery connection. Not sure I really wanna go whole hog with a direct to battery. But darn it, it looks so cool. *le sigh*