Another Chuck Review

[Porphy]

NOTE: To anyone wanting a quick simple anecdotal review, please go find another Chuck review. This will be a lengthy and in-depth look into the Chuck as a mod.

Part 1 - Performance Review

Part 2 - Initial experiences and impressions

[Porphy]

The Chuck Review

This will be an initial impressions and performance overview of the “Chuck” battery modification created by Jeffakamax on the ECF forums. The performance review will cover battery life, durability, construction, aesthetics, connection performance, and an overall impression of the unit and all functions in unison. The impressions section will cover my experiences with ordering, processing, delivery, initial impression, 1st day and 2nd day.

Product website: THAG BUILT: You think you can break it?

Product type: Battery modification (casing) w/ model 510 connection

Batteries: #18650 - 3.7 volts – 3000maH

Performance review:

Battery Life

This is the main reason I was in the market for a battery mod and the reason I opted for a “Chuck”. I researched battery mods and most advertized 11 hours or less of total battery life, one mod flaunted a 24 hour time frame on a battery charge under ideal conditions. Jeff was one of three mod makers that responded to my inquiry (out of 7) and of those three one wouldn’t go “on record” about the life of their battery, one admitted that 7 hours was the top limit, and Jeff replied, without hesitation, that his mod would perform for 2 days of battery life for a heavy vaper using a 18650 battery rated 3000maH and up to 4 days for an average vaper. So, it was under these assumptions that I tested the battery life:

Does it perform at, or better, than standard 3.7v batteries through out its charge: Yes

Does it perform for more than 24 hours (best advertized battery life for other mods): Yes

Does it perform for 48 hours under heavy vaping: Perhaps* (max under testing was 43 hours)

Is the performance constant throughout the charge: Primarily. Initially out of the charger the battery performs a bit above normal for around an hour and then plateaus into a nice performance until the last 30 minutes to an hour of battery life. Overall the performance is constant.

* For the duration of the test I increased my own vaping frequency and duration. Considering that I am a heavy vaper and I added approximately 25% more drain through my testing it’s a fair to believe that these batteries could last 48 hours under normal heavy vaping conditions.

Durability and Construction

There is not much to cover on the whole of the unit; it is comprised of a copper tube with two brass end caps, and a switch. The rear end cap is knurled and makes getting the battery in and out simplistic. The rear cap has a recessed inner thread to keep the battery spring in place but also allows for easy removal and maintenance. The forward end cap is lathed with a reservoir and recessed connection. The reservoir is designed to catch any overfill leakage from the atomizer and the recessed connector keeps the connection end safe from accidental injury.

Durability testing – I put the unit through a few tests to check the paint finish, connection integrity, battery spring security, and switch integrity. All tests were performed with due consideration to “normal use”. I did not, nor will I, perform factory grade testing, such as a 50,000 press switch test to find the fail limit. I was working to test the craftsmanship and durability under higher than expected normal use. I did pay for this mod with the intention of using it for more than a weekend.

Paint finish – I emptied the unit and gave it a wash with a moist and rough scrubbing pad to check for flaws in the clear coat (“holidays”). No flaws were found and the clear coat remained seemingly untouched. The second test was to check for light degradation in the coloring. This test was performed with the second unit I purchased. The unit was placed under a high watt UV lamp (used for drying lacquer) for 14 hours to simulate extended periods of sun exposure (the battery was removed for this test). No apparent degradation in color was found. The third, and final, test was an impact test directly to the finish, for this test I used the edge of my marble counter top and gave it a few generous “thumps”… I know my level of precision is astounding. This test was to simulate normal use and abuse or wear and tear. The clear coat under close inspection is a bit indented but nothing visible from any considerable distance, the under coat was unaffected.

Connection integrity – This test was to apply general disturbance to the recessed connection on the forward end cap to simulate dropping the unit from a distance and having it land on the atomizer end. The attempt was to break the connections ability to perform or to loosen the connection from the end cap. I threaded a standard 510 atomizer into the unit removed the cart and tapped on the atomizer with a ball peen hammer to jar the connection. 15 “tests” were performed amidst grunting and cussing once when I missed and dented my counter top. The atomizer met its maker but the connection remained firmly in place and functional. This was by far the most rigorous test I performed.

Battery spring security – This is less of a test and more of an observation. I purchased two units and in one the spring fits into the threading nicely and needs to be turned to actually get it out while the other doesn’t want to stay in side the threading. I remedied this with my trusty ball peen hammer and flattened the lower most coil of the spring to fit better into the threading. I’m not sure if the threading was cut too thin or if the spring coil was too fat but they didn’t mesh well until the fix.

Switch integrity – I was concerned over this test because it has been the issue of major contention between advocates for the “Chuck” and those against it. The test was performed over the 48 hour period in which I was testing the battery. The test consisted of wiggling, knocking, twisting, prying, bumping, pushing, and shoving the button while in or not in use, along with the normal pressing of use over a 48 hour period. The button and switch have remained true, secure, and functional within the unit and perform the same in the same fashion that they did out of the box. I subjected the button to every avenue of force shy of gnawing the damn thing off and it doesn’t even look phased. I did not, nor will I, try to simulate a drop on the switch of the “Chuck”.

Aesthetics (looks)

For me the “selling point” of the Chuck was the battery life but for some it will be the personalized graphics and myriad of colors that the Chuck is available in. I bought two units one was a mirror black finish and the other emerald green illusion finish. I was impressed by the finish and craftsmanship in the application of the paints. Pictures and videos do not do these units justice in terms of showing the public how good the paints look in person.

Connection performance

Before I touch on this aspect of the Chuck I’d like to make a note, warning, or disclaimer to those reading this review:

No singular aspect of a personal vaporizer (PV) creates good vapor or strong throat hit. In fact many facets of the PV’s use or manufacture can create a deficit in vapor production and throat hit. If the battery is low, the atomizer’s connection is faulty, or your e-juice is low you’ll get less vapor. If your atomizer is flooded, your e-juice is low strength or badly made you’ll get a decline in vapor and less of a throat hit. With that in mind, it is only under normal operation of each and every piece of the PV and with an understanding of use from the user that a person gets “great vapor!” and “awesome throat hit!” I cannot with good conscience make a claim that any one singular piece creates an experience.

With that being understood, the connection performance review is an overall review of the Chuck with a 510 atomizer and Tropical Punch e-juice from the DIY Flavor Shack and comparisons are made against a stock 510 model battery with a 510 atomizer and the same e-juice.

With a 3.7 volt connection the Chuck is able to get me the same vapor cloud as a stock 510 in a lower amount of time. A normal (lung) drag for me is 8 -10 seconds with the Chuck I am able to cut that time down and get the same results in 6 - 7 seconds. I prefer to maintain an 8 – 10 second drag time and therefore see more vapor production from the whole unit. I am noticing a higher rate of e-juice consumption throughout the day but after the testing period this equated to more down time from the PV. In other words, I was able to put the PV down longer before feeling the urge to grab some nicotine.

Overall Impression

Here’s the anecdotal review you’ve all been waiting for. Vaping the Chuck is like getting a 5 volt mod for the price of a 3.7 starter kit. The batteries run at 3.7 volts but perform much higher and longer. This thing is constructed to withstand a nuclear winter and keep your tootsies warm through it all. I’ve tried and tried to find a serious flaw in this device. I really hate not being able to find one thing that annoys me… I like being annoyed, it’s a family trait. The Chuck is a solid mod and that’s about the best review I can give any mod.

[Porphy]

Personal experiences and impressions:

Ordering

I came across the “Chuck” before Jeff became an official supplier and so my contact method was through private messages (PM’s) on the forum. He replied in kind with the ordering details and where to make payment, all of which is now located on his website listed at the top of this review. He also mentioned that at the time he was out of model 510 connectors and that if that was my choice for a connector that I would have to wait for his supplier to send him the new shipment. My order was placed through PayPal and within 2 hours I had a confirmation e-mail from Jeff.

Processing

Here is where we had hang-ups. Prior to ordering I was made aware that the 510 connectors had yet to be shipped to Jeff so I was expecting a wait. At the same time he also ran out of the switches he uses for the manufacture. He ordered some other switches from a different supplier. He experimented with the new switches and found them to be lacking so instead of putting out a substandard product he informed me that my order would be another week in the waiting. He finally received the original switches and my order was shipped 3 weeks after my order was placed. Generally his orders go out in about a week but as he was just starting up this modification as a business he had the normal hiccups that accompany such a change in venue.

Delivery

Loads of hang-ups here but none that can be attributed to Jeff. The order was shipped on the 17th and I received a tracking number for USPS that day. USPS never updated the tracking so I was totally unaware as to when it would arrive. This isn’t normally an issue in the states but as I am overseas it gets tricky to know when your package will arrive. 5 business days later I called my post office and it seems they had the package for a day and was wondering where to send it to… this happens quite often in my neck of the woods, so I was ready for it.



Initial impression

After taking the Chuck out of the box I realized three things:

-It was much smaller than the pictures led me to believe.
-The pictures do not do the paint finishes justice.
-The weight seems odd for the size.

The look of the paint was just amazing. My mirror black finish was nice but in comparison to my wife’s emerald green illusion finish… I can only say that it truly is “gem-like”, both units however looked many times better than they did in the pictures Jeff posted.

I tossed my charged batteries in and began to vape. I immediately noticed that the vapor production was more consistent than with the standard battery and that it took less time to get a full drag. Secondly, I noticed the weight. Perhaps I am too used to aluminum built items but it felt heftier than it looked in my hand. The unit isn’t heavy by any stretch of the imagination but it isn’t feather light either. It lets you know that you’re holding onto a mod versus a standard battery.

1st day

My throat is shot. I’m noticing a bit more use in my e-juice but I doubt I really need to be using this much. It is consuming more juice but I feel satisfied a lot earlier in the vaping process. For the sake of testing I’ll keep going but you ****ers owe me, this crap is killing my throat.

2nd day

For the first time in my vaping experience I switched to 18mg juice… that’s half of what I normally vape, but it seems to have helped. I’m doing everything that I know how to test this dab-burned thing but it keeps coming at me. I’ve wasted one atomizer in the pursuit of killing this beast and so far it shrugged and laughed it off. I’ll try more in a bit.

Okie dokie! Hour 43 the battery died. I was stumped for a second trying to figure out what went wrong with the unit, the battery has been going so long it was the third thing I checked. Vapor production didn’t die off for me like normal it just stopped, this could be an issue if you plan to use the batteries to their full extent. I don’t see it being an issue for me as I will likely switch out the battery everyday… hell, one full day is plenty for me.



Alrighty,

Sorry for the long review but I wanted to be thorough and precise. I would recommend this mod to anyone, customizable graphics that look great, long ass battery life, durability, great construction, performs better than a standard battery, 1 year warranty, and a dirt cheap price in terms of battery mods. This really is a good deal for the money. Go forth now and buy this beastly mod!

[doots]

nice review porphy. would concur w/everything

[AngusATAT]

Much more verbose than my review, but I agree 100% with your points. I liked my Chuck at 6v, but I like it even more at 3.7v (which is actually 4.2v on a full charge). My first battery died on me tonight, and it took me a minute or so to realize it was the battery. Performance didn't seem to drop off before it died. At first, I thought I fried an atty. But when I put my other battery in, I was right back into vaporland.

I enjoy my 510. I enjoy it at least 50% more on my Chuck. I was vaping like a fiend, and it still lasted nearly two days, and I got the 2600mAh 18650.

I've looked at other mods, and was on the verge of buying another one when I discovered the Chuck. The customization is what made up my mind for me, since I'm a sucker for anything Firefly/Serenity. I'm glad I bought it, not only for the personalization, but the performance is outstanding.

Thanks for your review! And thanks for being so rough with your Chuck while testing it, because I couldn't bring myself to do it. It's just too darn sexy for me to scratch it, hehe. My next purchase will be a Little Chuck. The wrinkled black looks awesome.

[Porphy]

Originally Posted by AngusATAT

Much more verbose than my review.

Translation: you talk too much.

I totally agree.

Originally Posted by AngusATAT

I enjoy my 510. I enjoy it at least 50% more on my Chuck. I was vaping like a fiend, and it still lasted nearly two days, and I got the 2600mAh 18650.

Yep. I'm sure I'll get at least three days out of this new battery now that I've cut back to vaping normally. Plus I'm noticing that I'm getting away from my PV for longer periods of time.

Originally Posted by AngusATAT

And thanks for being so rough with your Chuck while testing it, because I couldn't bring myself to do it. It's just too darn sexy for me to scratch it, hehe.

I didn't expect to be as rough as I was with it but it just kept not getting hurt! I hate it when inanimate objects don't bend to my will! I also had another Chuck here and was planning on making another order of 2 more Chucks if the tests went well (they did and I am) so I was more inclined to be rougher with this than I normally would have been.

[MHR7331]

Soooo glad to hear it works well at 3.7, because I was iffy on potentially annihilating atomizers at 6. This waiting is killing me... good thing the batteries haven't shown up yet either

[youtubecommercial]

Great Review! I was a 5V - 6V vapor, (That was the only way I could not get the hit I wanted) Now I have put all batteries away except my Ultrafire 3.7 3000mah I get 2 days of vaping and the same vapor throat hit production as a 5V... I really love my Chuck on all aspects!

[AngusATAT]

Just so you know, Porphy, I felt obligated to report you to the ASPCC for cruelty to Chucks. Just because your Chuck can take the abuse, doesn't mean you have the right to abuse it!



I was going to amend my review with some comments about how it ran at 3.7v, but since you have all the bases covered, I now feel that I can kick back and be lazy.

[justrubl]

I am totally loving my chuck. When I first got it I wasn't able to use it because I only had one atty that I could use because it was old and the plastic ring had broken off but the rest of the atties I had were the 3 hole from puresmoker that he started selling with the prodigy and they wouldnt make connection but I ordered some 801 atties from altsmoke.com and they work perfectly with no modification at all and the chuck works wonderful. I have a baby pink one and I have asked him for another one with some personalization for me (I am an er nurse) so I am waiting for that one.