CALLING OUT ALL MECH MOD MANUFACTURERS

[Bad Ninja]

This was my original intent of making this thread. As an advanced user I am pusing for safer equipment for ALL USERS. It wouldn't add significantly to the manufacturer's costs to add a couple more strategically placed holes in the upper end of their product, but doing so would significantly lower the risks of a simple battery venting to cause an explosion.

Heres the thing:
There are options available.
There are mods avilable with more than adequate venting.

The user still needs to be smart enough to choose them.

It all falls on education and responsible action.

 

[Baditude]

Heres the thing...

I can't argue your points, they are all valid.

However, there's no reason whatsoever why certain minimum standards of safety shouldn't be implimented to make EVERYONE a lot more safe.

 

[Rickajho]

Nice!
I'm a die-hard Reo user, also using hot springs. Only had one collapse trying to check the voltage drop using a probe. Worked as advertised.

And yet, you still get the occasional question that pops up: "I just collapsed my spring. Can't I just stretch it out again and reuse it?" Or some times it's just a done statement of fact - not a question even.

Springs that will pancake in the event of a dead short or sag under stress are a most excellent thing. But the built in safety is a one-off event - they aren't meant to be stretched and reused until they won't fail. When design meets stupidity you can still only design so far to deal with stupidity. Don't reuse a collapsed spring - get a new one.

 

[28if]

Any problems using one of the many fuses available? Curious as I may stock up on a few mechs just in case....

 

[Rickajho]

The problem is, I could all into a Home Depot today, and purchase all kinds of things that have the potential to hurt me, or others; chain saws, extension ladders, lawn mowers, nail guns, barbecue grills, pressure washers, welding machines, etc. I'd be willing to bet, not a single person will come forward, before making my purchases, and ask me if I know how to use any of this stuff correctly. Why would we expect e-cig retailers to be any different?

At least your chain saws, extension ladders, lawn mowers, nail guns, barbecue grills, pressure washers, welding machines, etc will come with a good 50 pages of warnings and instructions in 5 different languages. Ignore the paper or read it - your choice. But when was the last time (any time for that matter) you saw a mechanical come with any paper?

 

[Lessifer]

Any problems using one of the many fuses available? Curious as I may stock up on a few mechs just in case....

Just make sure your mod can accommodate the added length, usually 3-5mm depending on which fuse, and that you vape below the amp limit of the fuse.

 

[Baditude]

Just make sure your mod can accommodate the added length, usually 3-5mm depending on which fuse, and that you vape below the amp limit of the fuse.

"The PTC fuse used in the VapeSafe2 is rated for a hold current of 3.5 A, which means that it can carry a continuous current of 3.5 A safely without tripping. Its trip current is rated at 6A, which means that it is guaranteed to trip if 6 A or more is passed through it. If a current between 3.5 and 6 amps is passed through the VapeSafe2, it will trip after an indeterminate amount of time (typically 5-10 seconds or more).

The VapeSafe2 is a mechanical fuse that trips if it senses a short in the mod by shutting down the battery. The VapeSafe2 can also help protect variable voltage circuitry, hot springs and other circuitry that you would not want to be damaged because of a hard short.

The VapeSafe2 will automatically reset numerous times before needing to be replaced, preventing a number of shorts from occuring. However continued shorts or prolonged shorts CAN PERMANENTLY DAMAGE THE VapeSafe2. In other words, it won't last forever and ever."

"Does The VapeSafe 2 make a Mod Absolutely, 100% Safe?

The answer is no. No single safety feature can guarantee the battery will not fail thermally. When properly used, The VapeSafe 2 can help prevent potential a thermal reaction from occurring in lithium ion batteries. It does not mean "absolutely safe," but in most situations the VapeSafe 2 fuse will stop a hard short, and it does provide a measure of safety when used with lithium ion cells. When used in combination with mods that already have safety features built in, you are exponentially decreasing the likelihood of thermal battery failure."

 

[UnclePsyko]

The problem is, I could all into a Home Depot today, and purchase all kinds of things that have the potential to hurt me, or others; chain saws, extension ladders, lawn mowers, nail guns, barbecue grills, pressure washers, welding machines, etc. I'd be willing to bet, not a single person will come forward, before making my purchases, and ask me if I know how to use any of this stuff correctly. Why would we expect e-cig retailers to be any different?

Now that you mention it... I purchased a chainsaw last Saturday from Home Depot, no question. I grew up in a small city and I've never used one! Never needed one.
I'm very comfortable in my ability to use a mech mod safely... a friend of mine is showing up this weekend to show me how to use the chainsaw.

 

[Layzee Vaper]

Exchange the term "mech mod" for "chainsaw" and see how ridiculous some of these posts are.

Some things just arent safe for everyone.

If you want to live in a safe padded cell be my guest.
Ill pass.

Those that know me well think I should be in a padded cell

I've taken the odd risk or two.

I spent a good time living in a tin box surrounded by anti aircraft missiles, depleted uranium shells, a liquid oxygen plant, a few fighter aircraft and helicopters.

When I left the navy I got into fairly high power motorcycles, and hit 180mph on more than the odd occasion.

These days I take it easy, my job is less dangerous, I repair and calibrate test equipment for the power industry. 80kV or 2000A will definitely ruin your day if you get it wrong.

Despite all this I use a mech with a hot spring and plenty of venting.

 

[evan le'garde]

Does any of it really matter when the average person does stuff like this. Check out this mum who uses an electric hand blender to make bubbles in the bathtub while her child is in the water.

 

[Bad Ninja]

Those that know me well think I should be in a padded cell

I've taken the odd risk or two.

I spent a good time living in a tin box surrounded by anti aircraft missiles, depleted uranium shells, a liquid oxygen plant, a few fighter aircraft and helicopters.

When I left the navy I got into fairly high power motorcycles, and hit 180mph on more than the odd occasion.

These days I take it easy, my job is less dangerous, I repair and calibrate test equipment for the power industry. 80kV or 2000A will definitely ruin your day if you get it wrong.

Despite all this I use a mech with a hot spring and plenty of venting.

Thats my point.

You have options.
You may choose for yourself.

You may not choose for me.

 

[sonicbomb]

Mech mods are an anachronism, really there's no technical reason for them still to exist.
The niche they were created for has now been matched and superseded by small cheap safe and efficient regulated devices. You could argue that price is a factor, but the difference between a cheap clone mech and a cheap Chinese box mod is only ten bucks or so, so that's not it. I think a big part of why new vapers continue to pick them up is ignorance of other viable options, and mechs have a perceived hardcore machismo about them.
I would be happy for them to be removed from the general market entirely (or at least from B&Ms), available only to those truly determined to obtain one. Ideally with a prerequisite ownership exam .

Additional manufacturer implemented safety modifications, sure. Will it happen, extremely unlikely.
Will it stop people hurting themselves. Almost certainly not.
Will people who love mechs stop using them. Not bloody likely.

 

[Forkeh]

There was a time when I was using mech mods exclusively. What attracted me to them was durability. I'd broken way too many expensive old school VV mods. I stayed there for a long time. Eventually I moved on to more modern tech (the stuff we got now is way more durable than it used to be), when I got tired of fiddling with safety measures.

I can't say I ever felt unsafe using a mech mod, but I was obsessive with precautions. I always charged my batteries in those special bags. Never split up a married pair. Always bought the highest quality batteries from a trusted source. Never went crazy trying to subohm. Always used a fuse that would break the circuit in case of a short (never had one). Most importantly, I always, ALWAYS tested my coil. Not just right after I made it, but any time I fiddled with it at all, or cleaned it, or if I'd been carrying it around, or if it'd been sitting a while.

Frankly it got to be a real pain in the ...., and better electronic tech entered the market. So I don't use them any more. But in order to vape safely with a mech mod, you have to be really careful. Shorts happen. Thermal runways happen. You also have to know what you're doing. They're absolutely not suitable for people who don't have any understanding of electrical work. I ended up doing a lot of research when I got in to mech mods. And I have reservations about these things being sold to new users with no sort of warning about what can go wrong. How many of us thought our first vape gear might blow up in our faces if we didn't have electrical knowledge? Well more and more new vapers are starting out with high tech gear, as opposed to ego-like products. That's not a bad thing. These products, in my opinion, offer a much more satisfying experience. But mech mods are displayed right next to them, and they look awfully cool.

Do I think mech mods should be done away with? Nah. They're cool niche products. And I really do think they're reasonably safe when users know what they're doing and take proper precautions. I would love to see better venting constructions though, as well as a more educationally proactive role by sellers.

 

[rice721]

Mech mods are an anachronism, really there's no technical reason for them still to exist.
The niche they were created for has now been matched and superseded by small cheap safe and efficient regulated devices. You could argue that price is a factor, but the difference between a cheap clone mech and a cheap Chinese box mod is only ten bucks or so, so that's not it. I think a big part of why new vapers continue to pick them up is ignorance of other viable options, and mechs have a perceived hardcore machismo about them.
I would be happy for them to be removed from the general market entirely (or at least from B&Ms), available only to those truly determined to obtain one. Ideally with a prerequisite ownership exam .

Additional manufacturer implemented safety modifications, sure. Will it happen, extremely unlikely.
Will it stop people hurting themselves. Almost certainly not.
Will people who love mechs stop using them. Not bloody likely.

Personally I'm thinking of picking up a mech b/c of its awesome form factor and aesthetics. While I do agree that perhaps we will see a phasing out of them pretty soon, if not already happening.

 

[beckdg]

I can't argue your points, they are all valid.

However, there's no reason whatsoever why certain minimum standards of safety shouldn't be implimented to make EVERYONE a lot more safe.

How do you plan to make me safer?

At all?

Let alone a lot more safe?

Tapatyped

 

[Lessifer]

Mech mods are an anachronism, really there's no technical reason for them still to exist.
The niche they were created for has now been matched and superseded by small cheap safe and efficient regulated devices. You could argue that price is a factor, but the difference between a cheap clone mech and a cheap Chinese box mod is only ten bucks or so, so that's not it. I think a big part of why new vapers continue to pick them up is ignorance of other viable options, and mechs have a perceived hardcore machismo about them.
I would be happy for them to be removed from the general market entirely (or at least from B&Ms), available only to those truly determined to obtain one. Ideally with a prerequisite ownership exam .

Additional manufacturer implemented safety modifications, sure. Will it happen, extremely unlikely.
Will it stop people hurting themselves. Almost certainly not.
Will people who love mechs stop using them. Not bloody likely.

When the fish hits the shan, like it is right now, I trust my mechs to last longer than my nic supply. That's why I looked into them in the first place.

 

[Bad Ninja]

There is a very distinct difference in the vape delivered by a mech than by a regulated device.

A 2016 BMW and 69 corvette will both do 100mph but it aint the same thing.

 

[Layzee Vaper]

Thats my point.

You have options.
You may choose for yourself.

You may not choose for me.

The thing is I don't want to choose for you.

I have never called for additional safety features to be mandatory.

If you want to take additional unwarranted risks, be my guest. You are an adult. Its your risk.

The only thing I have called for is more choice of safer devices.

 

[Bad Ninja]

The thing is I don't want to choose for you.

I have never called for additional safety features to be mandatory.

If you want to take additional unwarranted risks, be my guest. You are an adult. Its your risk.

The only thing I have called for is more choice of safer devices.

I cant "call for" anything.

There are devices avialable.

The market will have to decide with dollars whether more bikes will have training wheels.

Resources are better spent on education that bumpers.

 

[440BB]

I call for leaving our choices up to each of us. There are many safer choices as well as those for knowledgeable vapers.

An external body may very well decide to only allow a small set of choices deemed safe, such as proprietary closed systems.