MFLB "Snick" mod

kewpcer · Apr 1, 2011

The brass tack idea is nice. You could drill a tiny pocket for it to set it. No glue or epoxy. The lid would allow some spring resistance and the rounded brass may not wear the acrylic cover so much. It would have to be very small though. Like >4mm in diameter.

willieR · Apr 1, 2011

I see "glue" and "Epoxy" being used as if there's something inherently unhealthy. There isn't. The less than 1 drop of epoxy is at the bottom of the drilled hole. No heat, no exposed anything.

BuddahMonk · Apr 1, 2011

willieR said:
You would want the ball catch. It really is an elegant solution. It's in the front corner of the LB so it has the most leverage to stay shut. The ball is on a spring, so it gets depressed until it is under the small round area I made in the lid. Then it clicks into place. No marks on the lid due to the smooth round ball bearing surface. The lid is sealed tight, tight.

Again, this came out so well that I would do it again in a heartbeat. I used a drill press with a brad point bit for a super-precise drill. Worked perfectly.

So how much are you charging and where do I send it? :brow:

kewpcer · Apr 1, 2011

willieR said:
I see "glue" and "Epoxy" being used as if there's something inherently unhealthy. There isn't. The less than 1 drop of epoxy is at the bottom of the drilled hole. No heat, no exposed anything.

Glue and epoxy can off-gas over time as the solvents or chemical hardeners continue to evaporate. The process commonly called "curing". Heat and mechanical energy exacerbate this.

I am not indicating that your mod in any way puts the user at any risk, but I prefer to have my LB remain adhesive free as it seems was their intent. Please do not take offense that I choose to be a bit paranoid. I also drink organic milk because I'm afraid of rBGH. While it's true, that it's only in normal milk in trace amounts, I choose to be zealously cautious.

assalam wa alaikum

VapeHead.com · Apr 1, 2011

caseball2051 · Apr 1, 2011

kewpcer said:
willieR said:

I see "glue" and "Epoxy" being used as if there's something inherently unhealthy. There isn't. The less than 1 drop of epoxy is at the bottom of the drilled hole. No heat, no exposed anything.

Click to expand...

Glue and epoxy can off-gas over time as the solvents or chemical hardeners continue to evaporate. The process commonly called "curing". Heat and mechanical energy exacerbate this.

I am not indicating that your mod in any way puts the user at any risk, but I prefer to have my LB remain adhesive free as it seems was their intent. Please do not take offense that I choose to be a bit paranoid. I also drink organic milk because I'm afraid of rBGH. While it's true, that it's only in normal milk in trace amounts, I choose to be zealously cautious.

assalam wa alaikum

marhaba

do we have a user in the middle east? or just familiar with arabic?

kewpcer · Apr 2, 2011

Neither really. Just seemed like a good time for the most common greeting and wish for peace in the world

gettin lifted · Apr 2, 2011

i guess im lucky enough that my lb's lid has a tight fit. i really have to use force to get it to slide open.

will use this if it ever loosens up. great work.

willieR · Apr 2, 2011

I drink organic raw milk if that says anything. Just an fyi, epoxy cures to a very stable platform. Off-gassing is during the cure only. After that it's entirely stable. UV light is the biggest enemy after that. Otherwise molecularly stable

kewpcer · Apr 2, 2011

willieR said:
I drink organic raw milk if that says anything. Just an fyi, epoxy cures to a very stable platform. Off-gassing is during the cure only. After that it's entirely stable. UV light is the biggest enemy after that. Otherwise molecularly stable

I'd concede that point, but as i understand it you make a pretty tight fit with the hole you drill. Some non-toxic wood-glue would probably do the trick and would never degas.

Hell, Elmer's white glue would probably work. And bonus... If you can find some Play-doh you can have yourself a light lunch afterwards :lol:

willieR · Apr 2, 2011

BuddahMonk said:
So how much are you charging and where do I send it?

If security wasn't such an issue I'd do it for free. It's not hard with the tools

Elluzion · Apr 3, 2011

This would have been nice to have on my mflb last night, freakin rubberband brokeee out of nowhere!

GreenLeaf · Apr 3, 2011

Thanks for making the video and telling us about the mod. I like the background music.

aplw · Apr 7, 2011

willieR said:
BuddahMonk said:

So how much are you charging and where do I send it?

Click to expand...

If security wasn't such an issue I'd do it for free. It's not hard with the tools

willie, what tools and equipment are needed for this procedure?
any general instructions would be HIGHly appreciated

also do you have any, or are there any pictures of the finished product with the ball catch online?

thanks for all your help on this blog bro!

nealcassidy · Apr 7, 2011

willieR said:
There are much less expensive ball catches (I've seen brass ones for under $5... mine's stainless steel which isn't needed) and I also bought from the manufacturer and they're always higher than their distributors. I didn't care, as I was hot for a solution.

The rounded brass button should work, given that the lid can be raised slightly to get over the hump

Sounds like that ball catch worked out great, willieR. I tried to backtrack and find your images, but couldn't. I'll look again. I have to get another LB just to try that mod.

Here is a slight mod to my brass pin mod, adding a ramp filed on the underside leading over to the drilled depression that fits over the pin. Really works well and I think puts less stress on the cover spring because I don't have to lift the cover, just slide it. If I were to do it again, I would make it a smaller channel/ramp - this one's a bit clumsy-looking.

Here are a Photo and Video (so you can get a better idea of the level of pressure that is used to closed. Not really a "snick", more of a "click")

VIDEO
MFLB closing

PHOTO

willieR · Apr 7, 2011

Nice to see you back NealCassidy. Thanks for the vid.

I have not posted any pics just due to general paranoia. The ball catch is still working perfectly. I used a drill press and a brad point drill bit. That allows perfectly straight drilling, and precise hole placement.

Installing the cleaning / stir tool soon. I think I'll go with a shallow groove under the plastic, where the logo is. I'd like to avoid desecrating that nice logo if possible. I'm thinking a plastic piece might be safe. Like a semi-rigid plastic with a spatula-like tip. Diameter of a toothpick. Just something to get material stuck around the O-ring and off the sides of the trench. The screen seems to cool off immediately almost, so I don't think plastic is a risk. Also, I may cut a piece of heat resistant silicone used to make spatulas.

To access the tool, simply slide the acrylic top open and take the tool out of the channel. I believe Neal proposed this a while back

Vapegurl · Apr 9, 2011

I am a little sad that Magic Flight never came into this thread or their other to comment on this mod in terms of warranty ect.

Maybe they are just busy...

kewpcer · Apr 10, 2011

It's covered. It says on their website...

"We will even warranty units that have been modified for reasons of artistry or improved functionality. We do make an exception for units which in our opinion were deliberately damaged (ie, for the purpose of making a warranty claim) will be charged at full retail price."

willieR · Apr 10, 2011

That's really remarkable that they would still cover it even when modded.

Because of a legal scare, I had to toss my modded LB suddenly...

So I am installing another ball catch into a new LB next week. I'd also like to install the trench tool.

LivingInSpin · Apr 10, 2011

Nice mod and good thinking.

kewpcer · Apr 14, 2011

No signs of significant wear yet, and I've really cranked the tension on the spring up. I hit the divot from time to time with the corner of my burts beeswax before i hit it. Tip, I use the honey burts bees that doesn't have peppermint oil in it and seal the whole box with it. It has a light lanolin smell like fresh laundry for a day or so, and then odorless.

willieR · Apr 16, 2011

I just finished modding my second MFLB with the ball catch. Pretty straightforward. Used a brass housing this time. Works like a charm. I have the system down, now.

I still want to install a groove under the acrylic for a small tool. Not necessarily a brush, but maybe a sliver of a heat resistant plastic spatula. Just something to scrape off around the gasket. The supplied brush would still be for more major cleaning.

Vaporgin. · Apr 21, 2011

I would advise against puttint pressure on the spring that holds the cover down, i have tightened mine with pliers before and there is now a crack in that back of my lb that is clearly from putting excessive pressure on it

pyronym · Apr 22, 2011

Hmm that's an interesting mod I may try something similar with a small magnet counter sunk into the wood and another in the plexi(maybe on on each side of the bowl so it has a better catch)

willieR · Apr 23, 2011

In my opinion, the magnets would not have much force. vertainly more if you use a rare earth magnet, but the ball catch requires the same drilling that you're referring to and locks quite solid with a very satisfying "snap"

I've done this twice now, soon a third. Nice upgrade. Last time I used a $5 ball catch.

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