People may choose to vape for a number of reasons, but according to some studies and surveys, the social allure of it all continues to grow. 

It’s no secret that the tech behind vape mods is a bit confusing and convoluted to newcomers. There is somewhat of a steep learning curve if you’re trying to figure this all out for the first time, but for some people, that’s actually part of the fun. 

The great aspect about the vape community is that it’s so warm and welcoming to newbies. It’s a great chance to learn something new and make new friends along the way. 

Today, we’ll get you started with a guide about all the latest tech to help you build a vape mod. 

Before You Build a Vape Mod

Before you go any further, you should know that a building box mod is an intermediate level of vaping. 

It’s doable, but it’s not exactly the easiest for someone who has no former knowledge to work off of. Rest assured, though, that there is “level one” vaping devices readily available if you need something a little simpler to get going. 

Vape pens, in particular, are great starter devices that usually are sold in a single package, are easy to use out of the box, and don’t require a lot of prior knowledge. If you want to get into the hobby without learning about custom vaporizers, then it might be a good place to start, instead. 

Dissecting Vape Mods

You also need to understand the basic building blocks of what makes a vaping device a vaping device. Because when it comes down to it, a vape pen and a homemade vape mod have largely the same components and functions. 

The Tank

Most devices have some type of tank. There is some chamber where an e-liquid (or e-juice, or “juice”) is held or dispensed into. 

Heating Element

There needs to be a way for the juice to heat up and vaporize. This is usually in the form of a metal coil, and the coil is often somewhere inside the tank. 

Mouthpiece

Obviously, you need to have something to put your mouth on so that you can inhale the vapor. There is often a mouthpiece that fits into the tank, and is sometimes called a “drip tip.” 

Box Mod

When building box mods, you can’t forget its very namesake! A box mod is the part of the device where you can control and manipulate your vape experience. 

It’s an electronic device that allows you to adjust temperature, power, various modes, etc. 

Batteries

They can come in many different shapes and sizes, but you need batteries for a power source. Ultimately, your chosen box mod will determine how many and what type you need. 

How to Put It All Together

As you can see, there are a number of elements to consider when you build a vape mod. Certain tutorials, such as this guide, can help you make sense of it all. 

By and large, it’s all about making sure you have the right pieces and put them together: 

Mouthpiece > Tank (with coil) > Box Mod > Batteries

You need to make sure your components are compatible, though, before you go and buy the latest and greatest. 

Fitting Mouthpieces

First up, let’s take a look at mouthpieces (or drip tips). 

They come in different sizes, but the two most common are “510” and “810.” Basically, 510-sized drip tips are narrower and 810s are wider. 

If you want a more constricting draw to your vape experience, get 510 drip tips, and if you want looser, go for 810. That being said, the size you should get is determined by your custom vape tanks. 

Most will only fit one or the other, although some include adapters that allow you to use either. The other thing to consider is that most tanks include drip tips already. But if you’re trying to customize your vaporizer to impress friends, then you may want to buy them separately. 

Figuring Out Coils

Coils are the common way to get heat to your liquid. Some tanks – often called sub-ohm tanks – come with prebuilt coils. They’re very simple, you simply screw them into the tank and you’re ready to go. 

Other custom vape tanks require you to build coils yourself. You have to buy wire and usually wrap it around a coiling jig (or rod) to make the coil yourself. 

You can also buy these coils prebuilt by others to make your life simpler. 

Box Mods and Batteries

Box mods can come in a number of different sizes and forms with various functions. Mainly, you want to choose one that is ergonomically comfortable for you to carry and hold. 

You also want to make sure it is capable of what you want. Common functions include:

• Power Mode (setting your power by wattage)
• Temperature Mode (setting by Celsius or Fahrenheit)

Some people only need one or the other, and some people want the freedom to switch between both. 

How high the wattage goes or how hot the temperature can be set is often determined by the batteries. Some box mods use internal batteries – you can’t remove them, change them, or mess with them.

Some box mods allow you to use your own batteries, which usually come in various sizes, including:

• 18350
• 18650
• 20650
• 20700
• 21700

These numbers simply determine the width and length of the battery, and your box mod will only take certain kinds and certain amounts.

Obviously, the larger the battery and the more the mod can hold, the more powerful your device will be. But only you can determine how much power you require compared to how small and discreet you want your device to be. 

Making Sense of Custom-Built Vape Mods

As vaping becomes more and more common, people are getting more and more stumped on the specifics of it all. The good news is that it can be as simple or as complicated as you want it to be. 

If you want more control and customization for your vape experience, then you’ll want to consider asking for help to build a vape mod. Thankfully, many people out there have already done the legwork for you and there are plenty of guides to follow. 

Hopefully, this guide gave you some information to help get you started with putting your own together. If you need more help with buying your vaping parts, check out our buying guide here!