WIP 18650 Sterling Silver Mod

[gravewolf]

To be honest I'm not very good at engraving, my father has been trying to pound every type of skill related to goldsmithing into me and it's impossible to master them all. I'm the only one in our shop who can do everything while the others are only focused on single jobs. I am trying to find an electric engraver since I figure it would really make engraving faster and easier....and less painful. Manual engraving a pain in the ... but it's also a painful skill to learn specially when that thin metal blade slips from what you're engraving and hits your other hand holding the ball that holds the object then pierces the skin and then hits the bone. I've had this accident 8 times in the 10 years I've been working here. I usually stop for a few day since it was hard to work when your other hand is swelling and painful to move. You don't notice it when a pro is manually engraving but it requires precise constant force to make that blade move and make a design on a metal surface without an electrical engraver. The electric ones don't need much force and it's like using a pen so I'd really want to buy one but it seems it's not available here. If I can't find one I'll just try making one by modifying a tattoo machine since they are mechanically similar and I have a friend who makes custom tattoo devices.

 

[bapgood]

I suck at art and an electric engraver would only make sure screwed it up faster....the only engraving I would be able to do is with a CNC 3D laser engraver

Gravewolf...you had mentioned building your own rba's and etc....I was wonder if you have been following scubabatdan's ceramic wick thread http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/modding-forum/362182-next-big-thing-porous-ceramic-wicks.html

As someone who can make their own custom atomizer, I thought you may be interested. I suggest starting with a 1/4" bird house wick.

 

[gravewolf]

@bapgood
I have been looking at his thread and I also experimented with some porous white stone to use as a wick but it was too brittle and even after successfully making one using my diamond disc cutter and rotary tool I wasn't happy with how it wicked since it wasn't as good as the ceramic material that Scubabatdan is using. Aside from that I'm a bit wary of silicosis if the ceramic material slowly disintegrates into fine powder while making or using one, that's why I also am staying away from fibre glass wicks. I've never had too many issues with cotton wicks and I've decided to stick to them for the time being until the ceramic wicks are locally available in my country and that they are totally proven to be safe to use. I already have a planned tankomizer that I wanna build but my backlog of projects just keep getting bigger lol.

You can't actually say that you suck at art if you can design something with a 3d laser engraver, that still takes some artistic sense. You're just applying it to a different medium.

 

[studiovap]

It's finally done! I've had to take care of some personal stuff but I managed to finish this today.

This is my personal improvement to the bottom side firing mod. Instead of using a spring to relay the current to the body I designed a tube type cylinder which gives a better electrical conduction than a spring for the negative terminal. This cylinder provides better electrical conduction due to the increased surface area than a spring could provide. The springs only purpose now with this improvement is to provide tension for the battery.
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After polishing this is the finished mod. It only weighs 10 grams heavier with my 18350 sterling silver mod but with the new body it is a bit sturdier. I also made the bottom and top caps with brass to add durability to the body, and plated it with gold to add tarnish protection.
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I forgot to mention that there are 2 ventholes in the bottom in case the battery decides to suddenly self destruct when I use a non protected battery.

Truly a work of supreme condutiviy and art gravewolf, I've been toying with the idea of a sterling silver mod for a while now, but my skills are a way off, and can't seem to get the right gauge sterling silver pipe at my local plumbing shack LOL, great work mate, you should be producing these, I know it's a labour of love and time is a huge factor, but you could ask silly money and still make sales IMHO.

 

[gravewolf]

Truly a work of supreme condutiviy and art gravewolf, I've been toying with the idea of a sterling silver mod for a while now, but my skills are a way off, and can't seem to get the right gauge sterling silver pipe at my local plumbing shack LOL, great work mate, you should be producing these, I know it's a labour of love and time is a huge factor, but you could ask silly money and still make sales IMHO.

Lol, thank you. Good one on the silver pipes being sold at your plumbing shack....that almost got me! I've thought about selling these but I don't think I can produce them fast enough since I'm only one guy doing manual work and I can only work on these at night since I have a day job. I actually started a side job upgrading mechanical mods with silver contacts and it's a lot less of a hassle than selling a handmade mod. For now mod making is just a hobby and I'm still trying to find better ways of making mods.

 

[Ohfreak]

Just awesome hahaha

 

[Starlyte2]

They are superb, IMHO. I used to make jewellery with copper and brass, but it only needs soldering. I know silver needs higher temps, (doesn't it? ) but is it much harder to shape than brass, for an example? I've always wanted to try working with it, but hadn't the cash before. Now I have a bit of arthritis, but seeing your work has ideas spinning in my head. They are real works of art.
Going Googling to see what prospects I have. Not that I'm anywhere near your experience, unfortunately . Just hung around with a jewellery maker for a few years, and sort of picked up some of his tricks.
Do show us when you've decided their style, please