I highly suggest to everybody copy this post and maybe print it to or write it to paper and put it near your build station and make sure you read it before every single build session. I know myself it will make so big of a difference like Raymo said you will have your jaws dropped to the floor kinda of effect what you just did when you say to yourself it's possible every single day.
I haven't been able to do anything at all with it other than straight fuse Fused claps and framed staples. I did get about an inch of 2 core 32/46 SFC just fooling around one night. But the only thing I've given a good hard shot at was some 3 core aliens. Maybe 5 or 6 attempts. The problem is my fuse tension. My hands are shaky and it's hard for me to grip at a consistent tension. I get little twitches/spasms that cause my fingers to act up. Not even anything you can see happening. But a tiny little pinch with decored 46 means a mess lol. I can see the path to victory, but my body just wont cooperate for long enough. I'll continue to try and look for different techniques to subvert my physical shortcomings. But, if I can't ever get it I'll be ok with that. Cause I know it's a limitation of my body not my mind or willpower
Tight like a tiger man. Smooth build for sure
Nice build. Those are my best builds I have. Don't do them much lately but I love a staggered fc
Thanks man I appreciate it, it’s my favorite build to build and my favorite coil to vape.
Hey Raymo. You mentioned some things that make sense on a number of different levels and you gave me some perspective that is really encouraging. I think about the things you mentioned like motivation and will power and I can relate those terms to several interesting things I have accomplished in my life. My parents came over from Russia before I was born and my father brought me up on wrestling. In his day he was an Olympic alternate for the Russian freestyle team. He taught me wrestling inside and out at a very young age and, determined to make him proud, I did every single thing I could to be the best wrestler I could be, even though I had school and a social life to compete with wrestling time wise. I won my state championship in Greco Roman by the time I was 17.
Wrestling earned me a scholarship to a Division 1 school and paid for my education, which I would not have been able to afford without a scholarship. I remember him being so hard on me when I was younger. One time he was furious because I won a match, but I did not stick to my technique to win because my opponent wasn't very good. It was hard to find good guys in the Heavyweight division. He explained to me that simply overpowering my opponent wasn't going to be enough when it came to higher caliber wrestlers and he was right. Every day after that I always attempted to execute with the best technique I could regardless of who I was matched up with in the matches or tournaments.
My whole point is that if I think of myself as a person of limited talent in building than you are right in the sense that it will be a self fulfilling prophecy. I have to believe I am capable of being better, put myself outside of my comfort zone like you said, and have the will power to make the time I do have to build count. If I can manage to do that, than I will continue to get better just as I did in wrestling. You know you were kind to even read my post and take the time out to give me the lesson, so to speak, that I needed to hear. When a person of your ability, who commands my admiration for your discipline and ability, takes the time to even acknowledge that I have a skill set, it's a tremendous thing in terms of encouragement. Thanks for the perspective and thank you to referring to standardized limitations to help me understand your message. I appreciate you.
). The only thing holding them back form doing any of these is not a handicap of talent or of the mind, but a handicap of effort and understanding.
I haven't been able to do anything at all with it other than straight fuse Fused claps and framed staples. I did get about an inch of 2 core 32/46 SFC just fooling around one night. But the only thing I've given a good hard shot at was some 3 core aliens. Maybe 5 or 6 attempts. The problem is my fuse tension. My hands are shaky and it's hard for me to grip at a consistent tension. I get little twitches/spasms that cause my fingers to act up. Not even anything you can see happening. But a tiny little pinch with decored 46 means a mess lol. I can see the path to victory, but my body just wont cooperate for long enough. I'll continue to try and look for different techniques to subvert my physical shortcomings. But, if I can't ever get it I'll be ok with that. Cause I know it's a limitation of my body not my mind or willpower
Yah I've found ways to deal with a lot of problems with things like you mentioned. Aliens are where the problem really shines for me since you don't really have any options but to pinch and guide. Even with a perfect stretch you still have to have some way to hold the wire in a way that doesn't deform it. I've gotten around this issue up to this point with clean hands and juice on the fingers. But even that isn't quite enough with the 46 decores so far. Would love some ideas if you got any?!?
you are doing great for a guy with shaky hands dudeI haven't been able to do anything at all with it other than straight fuse Fused claps and framed staples. I did get about an inch of 2 core 32/46 SFC just fooling around one night. But the only thing I've given a good hard shot at was some 3 core aliens. Maybe 5 or 6 attempts. The problem is my fuse tension. My hands are shaky and it's hard for me to grip at a consistent tension. I get little twitches/spasms that cause my fingers to act up. Not even anything you can see happening. But a tiny little pinch with decored 46 means a mess lol. I can see the path to victory, but my body just wont cooperate for long enough. I'll continue to try and look for different techniques to subvert my physical shortcomings. But, if I can't ever get it I'll be ok with that. Cause I know it's a limitation of my body not my mind or willpower
when i do them, my grip changes as my wrap gauge goes higher. with lower gauges (< 40) i tend to hold the decore like i would hold the wire for claptons (between my thumb/index) and apply tension there...when i go > 40, i find myself settling into a 'sabre grip' on the decore. i dont actually apply tension to anything by squeezing it between two parts of my hand/fingers, but there are a lot of points of contact between the decore and my hand as it passes through. you can angle your hand so that the wire has an easier/harder time slipping through. it just slides over my index, and the angle i hold my hand (the point of your 'sabre' to the sky) will determine how much it stretches as it does. i usually stretch from 50-75% on >40 decores and the rest just happens as a result of that angle and the speed of the drill pulling on it. anyone else doing 40+ aliens got any thoughts on the matter?
the build gods often seem cruel with their 'lessons', but i think you summarized what they actually mean to teach us quite nicely
Yea, dont make 46g aliens
Well the whole story is - I don't really have "shaky" hands. I have severe upper back issues that cause unsteady hands and spasms and twitches and fatigue in my arms and hands, mostly on the right side. I've considered swapping build hands, but I think that will be even worse since that would mean my right arm is up all the time on the drill. To counter that would be a foot peddle, which I haven't researched yet. As far as your 'sabre grip' I'm not sure I understand completely. Could you get a shot of it for me?you are doing great for a guy with shaky hands dude
i know our hands (and everything else) are different, but it always helps me a lot to 'think things through' with the builders here, so i present you with all the information and observations i made
great posts @raymo2u
lol Yah I'm not ready to give up on the aliens yet. I hadn't considered hand chalk!!! Definitely have to give it a tryYea, dont make 46g aliens
I would do the same except I wouldnt advocate for equid as its too viscous, try sanding your fingers tips smooth with some 2000-3000 grit sand paper and then baby powder them (or that chalk stuff for pool). Dry lubricant will last longer and wont add tension.
its the way you hold a knife so its pointing forward when you extend your hand (as opposed to an 'icepick' grip, which is similar to a kid holding a crayon in his fist). heres a couple pics with a big white string for visibility....
thats what i like to do too, but i am not gentle enough to do it passed 40 or 42 gauge
That's how I do up to 40. 42 and up I lube up my index and thumb and let the decore slide up between them.thats what i like to do too, but i am not gentle enough to do it passed 40 or 42 gauge
Sweet!! Thanks for the tutorial
i have never tried lube, but i will sometimes press my thumb into the side of my index finger to make a 'v' so the wire doesnt slide to the side/off my knuckle (which would force me to change the angle of my hand to stop it, which would make me lose all my carefully adjusted points of tension, or drop the decore)...
never hurts to see another way to do it. for me, this is the only way to do it at these gauges...hopefully there is some tip or idea in there that will help you find a way that works for you
boy o boy, your worlds gunna be rocked after you try some
i enjoy pulling my wire as much as the next builder, but are you trying to say there is a product that could make it even better? 
i havnt tried kd, but i remember someone saying you gotta get it way hotter for the color to pop.
Kanthal D likes SERIOUS HEAT....
36g hedgehogs are easier if you oversize the decore (or undersize the cores) by a little bit. It allows for less fuse tension. And, personally, I find single wire 40g hedgehogs difficult. They get easier with interlocks as that gives the fuse a little more stoutness. I've been working on getting consistent razorback hedgehogs. I find them to be infuriating.
The colors from Kanthal will never "pop" like Ni or SS. They are beautiful when done right. But they are soft pastels, not bright and vibrant.
Man that's beautiful!! Wish I had the ability to plan something out like that. I can't see past what's in front of me lol
It’s working boys.
I’m thinking I’m going to end up making my own bolts for the top but for now these’ll do. Gotta put these fuckers in the top and grips today and then it’s on to shaping the grips to be a bit more ergonomic like myaaa
I should be able to get the shaping done today and then the finishing done in the next few days when I have time.
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That's my whole point ... I can't see the end of a project until I get there lol
i have one question though, why are you holding out on us man? post one of your crazy meticulous staggered-fused cable-core builds man
NICE!!! Yah I've definitely found that working with new fuses is much easier with a fraple core. I know you hate wasting ribbon, but wasting 10 ft of wrap wire is more expensive than wasting a couple ft of ribbon.Took a swing at stitched hedgehog. 5x28, 40g, 46g. Couldn’t really see what I was doing but got a couple cool little spots. I’m thinking a little more stretch next time and definitely not round cores.. I knew they’d collapse but I tried anyway. Also made some more 46g framed staples.
Edit: looks more echidna than hedgehog
That is HAAAARRRDDD stuff. I've tried a few times. Always get the helix.Today I tried to make a squalien with one round core - almost got it, after about 5 tries, figuring out how to get it to stay and not twist, interlocking, stitched, over a claptoned core, etc - will be a cool build, I have some other plans with it to complicate things further
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ooohhhh yah ... That's rough. Your best bet is to use the softest ribbon you have. KA is going to be miserable to razorback onto 30g
that's holding my mod together! LOL That is my beater mod. I switched to my Voopoo after everything was done
