A couple questions about the Phoenix

[fatcharlie]

My fiance and I are traveling to Vegas in a month to get married. Currently I only use the Phoenix BC XL. She is refusing to let me bring a syringe through airport security (gotta pick my battles ). So I had some questions about the Phoenix line.

1. Is the fill hole on the tank versions any bigger than XL versions? I was thinking that if it were I could use one of those plastic needle tips for juice bottles.
2. I was thinking of pre-filling a buttload of XLs. If I do this, is there any prep I can do to prevent leaking/exploding during the flight? Or should this not really be a concern?

Thanks!

My last resort is to buy a few of the AlphaStars - no syringe required! I just love the flavor the Phoenix BCs produce. Unparalleled IMO. I have yet to find anything that outperforms them in flavor.

 

[rdsok]

Bottom coil carto's rely on pressure to avoid leaking... going up and down in altitude ( airplane or driving in the mountains ) will result in leaks simply because the changes in pressure

 

[zippersnapper]

I just did a round trip to Chicago and back. I had my BC xl Phoenix's on my person, had no issues whatsoever.
The Phoenix Tanks do have a slightly larger fill hole, but not large enough for a plastic tip...Syringe still required.

Also, as a diabetic, syringes as a carry on, will not be an issue with TSA either. As a matter of fact, TSA did not even question my 6 Vivi Nova's I had packed alongside my BC Phoenix's. Technically, they should have been in a 1 Qrt. zip lock baggie and were not. I simply had them in a eGo case, and they were not even given a second look.


If you really dig the BC's...I urge you to try the Full size Vivi's over anything else. They take to the sky's just great

 

[fatcharlie]

Thanks for the replies. Zippersnapper, were your Phoenix BCs full, or were they empty? I know myself that the syringes won't be a problem, the fiance just doesn't want to take any chances that a TSA agent may use them as an excuse for anything other than letting us pass right on through. She has made her stand. And that's fine. It's not worth getting into any type of argument over. I am reluctant to go with a full version Vivi because I don't see how it would be any different than the mini, and I felt the mini delivered poor flavor compared to the Phoenix. I'll probably just go with the AlphaStars or some XL cartos.

 

[zippersnapper]

Thanks for the replies. Zippersnapper, were your Phoenix BCs full, or were they empty? I know myself that the syringes won't be a problem, the fiance just doesn't want to take any chances that a TSA agent may use them as an excuse for anything other than letting us pass right on through. She has made her stand. And that's fine. It's not worth getting into any type of argument over. I am reluctant to go with a full version Vivi because I don't see how it would be any different than the mini, and I felt the mini delivered poor flavor compared to the Phoenix. I'll probably just go with the AlphaStars or some XL cartos.

Full, for sure. I didn't want the hassle of filling while on business.
I also might add, as a precaution, and while at the boarding gate, I asked airport security if I could vape prior to loading, and he said no problem. Which I did of course...

I have the mini's as well as the Full size Nova's, too me, they taste great, and of course the full size holds more juice...6 full size Nova's, loaded, will last me 5 days easily...

 

[mikecup]

The security at the airport would the least of my worries!
I would more concerned that she is telling you what to do already. Just kidding, I think.

 

[fatcharlie]

The security at the airport would the least of my worries!
I would more concerned that she is telling you what to do already. Just kidding, I think.

LOL. I hear ya Mikecup. If this were just a normal trip to Vegas, I really don't think she'd have an issue. Because this is a wedding trip she just doesn't want to temp fate in any way.

Thanks again for your insight zippersnapper. I would definitely prefer to bring the Phoenixes.

 

[fatcharlie]

I did think of two more questions:

Can I use the plastic needle tip for ejuice bottles on the Stallions?

Does anyone know of any sort of cool carry case for Phoenix XLs, whether it be metal or fabric?

Thanks.

 

[zippersnapper]

I took an "Aluma Wallet" and made a Phoenix case out of it

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...ement-all-our-ecf-members-20120610_145534.jpg

The rubber "Boots" are made from Boge Carto rubbers I cut short..

A used Altoid can works great also..

 

[fatcharlie]

Haha, nice!!

 

[Hibiscuits]

Yup, still need a syringe for the larger Phoenix tanks. They are filled the same. You have a month to give some other things a try and maybe find something that will work for your trip. Or....you know where you will be staying. Take what will get you by and your XL's with you. Then send yourself some syringes to the hotel 2 days before you arrive. Let the hotel know you are expecting a package. Just toss them before you leave. Gotta do whatcha gotta do.....

 

[fatcharlie]

LOL, now there's an option I didn't think of!!

I definitely have a list of options going right now:
SMOKtech Shorty Clear 22mm 2.0ohm .7ml Single Coil Carto
GotVapes AlphaStar - Top Coil 1.6ml 2.4-2.6ohms
GotVapes FLuXomizer™ CLEAR 510 XL 1.8ml 2.4-2.6ohm
GotVapes VISION EXTREME NANO .9ml 510 Carto 2.4-2.6ohm
E1 (from another vendor )
801 Fusion

 

[rdsok]

Mini Vivi Nova's and Startdust R's are also a good consideration...


I know zipper mentioned not having problems on an airplane with the Phoenix XL's ( which I don't doubt )... but I've read of two others that did and one that had issues even going into the mountains with them... So do have a backup plan and if you do take the Phoenix's... carry them in something that won't be hurt if they do happen to leak out on you.

 

[fatcharlie]

Thanks rdsok. I am thinking of giving my Mini Vivis another go around. I think my opinion of them is from using them with subpar juice. On my initial use I used some juice from Sweet Vapes on the day the juice was made. The flavor was GREAT, but I realized at a later date that something in the Carmel Popcorn and Butterscotch flavors was severely irritating my throat. My second use of them was with Vapor4Life Waffle. I have had very mixed results with this liquid. It's great in a Phoenix CE3 BC. In the Mini Vivi, Kanger T2 and T0, I could hardly taste it at all. And that is primarily what I've based my opinion on with top coils, because at the time, that was my only 30mL bottle of liquid. I have some House Blend from Copper Creek which I'm thinking of trying out in the Mini Vivi. I just hate putting 2mL of juice into a device that may not deliver because I'm still in the exploration phase of finding flavors and I never buy 30mL, typically 10mL or 15mL. So if I don't like how a device delivers I feel I've just wasted all that juice. Over the weekend I filled up my T2 with some Gooey Butter Cake from KBV, and I felt I could barely taste it, and the draw was extremely airy. But that juice is less than a week old, so it may need to steep to increase in flavor. I'm definitely crossing my fingers on the 3rd try with the Mini Vivis; I have two tanks and five replacement heads, so all I would need is maybe two more tanks to bring to Vegas with me.

 

[rdsok]

Steeping doesn't increase a flavor... it allows the flavors that are in a juice to blend more so the resulting flavor is more balanced as it was designed for...

Sort of the same way a food dish often tastes better after it has sat overnight and everything has had a chance to mary ( merry sp? ) only it happens slower than with food typically.

 

[fatcharlie]

I had my two Mini Vivis laying around about half full for about two weeks, one with Monkey Bread from Sweet Vapes, the other with Vapor4Life Waffle. Still the Waffle had very little flavor. The Monkey Bread was hitting like a champ with very good flavor (compared to a CE3). Unfortunately this particular Mini Vivi leaks like a sieve out the bottom and into where the drip tip goes every time I fill it. I know there's no trick to filling these aside from not getting any juice down the center post, so it'll need to be replaced. The other one I emptied, put on a new head and put 1mL of Copper Creek House Blend. So far it is underperforming in every aspect. Is there a break in period with new heads? If there is I suppose that is both good and bad. Good because I don't have to think the House Blend is not a good flavor for the Mini Vivis, nor this is a bad Mini Vivi; bad because I feel all the juice burned during a break in period is completely wasted. I don't really mean to sound like a snob or a baby when I say that, but I really hate wasting juice and not enjoying my vape.

If I do decide to go with the Mini Vivis for the trip maybe I can pre-break them in before the trip. I still would like to give the AlphaStars a try. I don't know why they intrigue me so much, but they do!!

 

[zippersnapper]

Well said rdsok.

Hell, it could have been the rubber boots I keep on my Phoenix's that kept them from leaking?
Seriously though, the mini Vivi's are quite good. One nice thing I have found out about them is they dont require maintance as often as the BC Phoenix's. I can vape about a tank and a half of Boba's Bounty in my Phoenix XL, and she's ready for a cleaning.

In my full size Nova, I have vaped a tank and a half before I had to give it a soak in everclear/dryburn. I would say 4 to 5 times the consumption at a minimum..

I used to be one of those rebuild guys who made up their own wick and coil, but with the Nova heads, a soaking and good dry burning keeps em' trucking for tank after tank. Havn't burned one up yet. IMO, mind you, rebuilding these things is way to much hassle..

 

[rdsok]

There are a few things that have been mentioned with Vivi's....

Shorter wicks seem to have more flavor on juices like the dark ones... the theory is that they don't have as much filtering going on. The down side is that they will require you keep them tilted more... I just tilt all of mine to where the juice is almost at the head whether or not the wicks are short or long.

Keep the power ( wattage ) up... within reason and your own preferences .... On non-variable PV"s that means using a lower ohm head... on a variable PV it won't matter so much since you can adjust the voltage or wattage to suit the head ohms you are using.

Make certain you got them from a reliable vendor such as GotVapes... there are a lot of fakes out there and they don't perform like real Vision's.

 

[fatcharlie]

Congrats on 1000 posts rdsok!!

I did buy my Vivis and replacement heads from GotVapes. I try to buy everything from there whenever possible. I'll keep puffing away on this head for a couple more days and see if it improves. It's a 2.4ohm head, vaping at 3.8V. The Copper Creek liquid is 70PG/30VG, the Monkey Bread is 80/20. If I can get the House Blend to perform like the Monkey Bread I think I'll use these for the trip. I tried my Kanger T2 again and I have to cover up one of the airholes for it to feel like a good vape - no thanks.

Thanks a lot for all of the replies, you guys have been very patient and helpful!!