Average lifespan of clearomizer heads?

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FinchX

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I was planning on purchasing an Aerotank Mega and a Nautilus with my next paycheck in a couple weeks. However, I've been seeing mixed reviews regarding the lifespan of the atomizer heads.

First off, I'm a very heavy vaper, which I know will affect how long they last as well. But I've read ECF members who complain about their heads lasting only a couple of days (unacceptable in my opinion) where as other members praise these products and claim their heads last 10+ days (which I'd think is reasonable).

So first off, I'm asking for any input as far as your personal experiences with atomizer heads in your clearos from Kanger and the Nautilus.

At the same time, I'd like to hear your opinions on this... For the price of those two tank systems and replacement heads, I can get an EHPro kayfun clone, and order a few items off amazon to assist me in building the coils and whatnot. I don't own a torch, so I found an inexpensive one on amazon, along with a recommendation from another ECF member called the Artistic Wire Gizmo which seems to make building your coils a snap. I even have a spool of kanthal and a package of rolled chem free cotton in that wish list. My physical location is very remote so the more I can simply order online the better.

Please keep in mind a couple of things before I ask my next question. First, honestly I'm accustomed to fill-it-and-go vaping. Quick and simple. Second, my last attempt with a rebuildable was a Genesis clone using SS mesh wick that I never got to work correctly, so I'm slightly hesitant to purchase another rebuildable even though it did look much easy to do in the Busardo video I watched where he reviewed the kayfun and Russian 91%.

So my 2nd question is (taking into account what I just wrote about easily refilling low maintenance tanks and my bad experiences) should I get the clearo tanks and just buy new heads regardless of how often they go out? Or would I be better off biting the bullet and getting the EHPro kayfun clone plus the items to go with it that I mentioned?

I know a lot of your first instincts are going to be recommending the kayfun. But before you answer with that, fellow heavy vapers, is it as easy to fill the kayfun on the go as it is to fill, for example, a carto tank or a clearo like the two I was looking to purchase? What's the capacity of the EHPro clone for liquid in the first place? And can even completely uncoordinated sausage fingers build the coils and wick for it?

If the atomizer heads for those clearos last even 5 days then I honestly couldn't complain regarding price (even though it WOULD add up) I wouldn't mind putting the kayfun on hold for later. It's what I've read where some ECF members go through them in two days or less that I simply can't justify. But given what I've said, if extremely short lifespans on the heads is in fact the case then do you really think the kayfun is where I should turn to instead?
 

Nat79

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Way too many variables to make any useable average. Juice, ohm rating, wattage/voltage used, airflow, and the users draw all effect the coil not to mention what you consider acceptable performance. All of that on top of mfg variances you may find your average but no real standard.

edit: I read your whole post now, I can say that many (myself included) find rebuilding their heads to be a good place to start before going to a Kayfun. Also a Kayfun is about the easiest deck to build on if you have any issues it will always be the wicking just takes a little practice (luck and research) and they hold more juice than most clearos. I would suggest checking out Pbusardo's you tube vid on it before you buy.
 
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Cullin Kin

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I have the nautilus on my variable voltage and they last about 9-11 days. I vape a lot too.

Sounds like you got a dud on your rebuildable. Go with the patriot or something similar like the nimbus.

Honestly, I hear so many good things about the kayfun, that may be your best option. I've never used one though so I can't really comment on ease of refill.

By on the go, do you mean driving? Or just out and about?
 

FinchX

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Nat79, I've checked out his videos for the aero tanks, the nautilus, and the review he did of the kayfun and Russian 91%. Phil makes creating the coils and wick look easy, but he's had a lot if practice with rebuildable as well.

I'm not too sure how to describe my own vaping either so that would be left in the air.

Cullin, what vv mod do you have it hooked to and at what settings? By on the go, I simply mean being able to go to my desk, take it off my mod, pop off or unscrew one or two parts and refill it and have it back together in 1-2 minutes just before leaving the house.

Bacc.vap, to be perfectly honest, I don't think I'd even clean them. I know on the kayfuns, you have to rewick them every few days, and to me that'd be no different than cleaning the replaceable heads. Basically the same reason I wouldn't get into rebuilding them either. The entire reason for my purchasing those clearos is just that, the heads are replaceable and I wouldn't have to rebuild or clean them.
 

NathanielFT

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I had a nautilus, coils lasted me anything between 3-8 days, but some were rubbish and didn't work at all, which is why i sold both my nautilus tanks as the coils aren't cheap.

Got the aerotank mega, coils are lasting me 1-2 weeks each and I haven't had a bad one yet. Coils for this are so good and reliable, and the tank is great, so i got a few and no issues with any of them.

Also worth adding i am a heavy vapour and tend to use a lot of dark sugary liquids, as this does bring down coils lifespan.

Got a joyetech delta but it aint being used yet as i'm waiting for my variable power device to come first (this tank is supposed to shine at high power, 24w is apparently the sweetest spot). Joyetech estimate the coils on this to last a minimum of 2 weeks each, and they are the first triple coil system on a stock coil.

Going by what i've tried, i'd say the nautilus is a very good tank, but the quality of kanger coils make it a much superior and better value for money device - plus it looks a lot nicer, but that's obviously subjective :)
 

Miata GT

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IMO the most variable, um, variable is the ejuice. I generally prefer a lights, less sweet, ejuice so a coil will last me a goooood long time. The biggest culprit for a coil going 'bad' is ejuice residue building up on the coil which changes the ability for heat tranfer to the liquid to produce vape and also the nasty taste of the residue on the coil.

Some older coils, like those on the PT2 can be easily taken apart, cleaned, dry-burned, and re-wicked which GREATLY extends their service life. The new ones not so much for most people although I have had decent luck soaking the Nautilus coils in Volka overnight, rinsing them in water, letting them dry out, then pulsing power to them at about 3.5v to burn off that nasty residue.

Can't hurt to try it!
 

Baditude

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Based on what you said, you'd probably do best by going with the Aero Tank and Nautilus. As easy as the Kayfun is, it can have a learning curve. To change the wick in the Kayfun, it requires disassembling the entire tank just to get to the wick. And the tank needs to be empty. Not difficult or that time consuming, but it sounds like more than you are willing to do every 3 - 4 days.

It only takes me several minutes to disassemble the tank, dry (pulse) burn the coil, make a new wick from cotton, feed it through the coil, cut off the excess cotton, prime the cotton with juice, and reassemble the tank. Some may consider that "high maintanance" to have to do that every 3 - 4 days.

I fill and empty my KFL via the fill screw on the bottom of my KFL+. This requires a blunt needle and syringe. This can be purchased from a tractor supply store in the vet section. Or online like at My Freedom Smokes in the DIY section. The KFL has a 4 ml juice capacity.

I've not had experience with either the Kanger Aerotank or Aspire Nautilus. I know that I had muted flavors with ANY clearomizer compared to my cartotanks or KFL. I no longer use clearomizers because of the muted flavors and inconsistancy.
 
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Paradicio

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I have an Aspire Nautilus.

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/new-members-forum/562776-bad-aspire-nautilus-coils.html

I was getting a horrible burned taste on 100% of the coils I tried. Though I hear the failure rate is actually closer to 40%.

I also have an Aerotank Mega, it leaked so bad it was like drinking juice from a straw.

I have a Russian 91% that has never leaked. I've never gotten a horrible burned taste unless I did something wrong. In which case it was easy enough for me to fix.

I have a KFL+ that follows the exact same experience as my R91.

RBAs have been far less "trouble" for me than the screw in and go "easy" tanks. :D
 

FinchX

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After reading some of your experiences, I believe I'll forget the nautilus and just purchase the Aerotank Mega.

ALL of my liquids are tobacco flavors, so nothing sweet by any means.. Seems that will help a bit.

Baditude, I'm somewhat in agreement with you. My perspective on the matter is that, the ones I'd be ordering from mvs anyway, the heads are just under $2 each. It's just my personal opinion that if they end up lasting me 5 days to a week or more, then I have no complaints.

However, if I end up being one of the people who's heads last, at best, a few days... Then I can't justify spending all that money on heads I'm constantly changing out. It's in this situation that I think it'd be worth the time to sit down and practice with a kayfun until I get to a comfortable point with building. If it's between spending the money on a new head every 2-3 days or simply taking the kayfun apart, giving it a dry burn and rewicking it every 3-4 days, it's my opinion that only the kayfun makes sense monetarily.

It seems the lifespan of the heads for the clearos is just far too subjective, and I won't have my answer until getting one in the mail and seeing how long they last for me personally.

For me at this point, getting a kayfun would be a product of not wanting to waste the money on heads every couple of days. The idea of customization by building your own coils and wicks isn't honestly important to me at this time. I'm sure I'd learn to appreciate it after owning and experimenting with one for a while, but it's not a feature I'll die without for the time being.
 

Wow1420

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Based on what you said, you'd probably do best by going with the Aero Tank and Nautilus. As easy as the Kayfun is, it can have a learning curve. To change the wick in the Kayfun, it requires disassembling the entire tank just to get to the wick. And the tank needs to be empty. Not difficult or that time consuming, but it sounds like more than you are willing to do every 3 - 4 days.

It only takes me several minutes to disassemble the tank, dry (pulse) burn the coil, make a new wick from cotton, feed it through the coil, cut off the excess cotton, prime the cotton with juice, and reassemble the tank. Some may consider that "high maintanance" to have to do that every 3 - 4 days.

I fill and empty my KFL via the fill screw on the bottom of my KFL+. This requires a blunt needle and syringe. This can be purchased from a tractor supply store in the vet section. Or online like at My Freedom Smokes in the DIY section. The KFL has a 4 ml juice capacity.

I've not had experience with either the Kanger Aerotank or Aspire Nautilus. I know that I had muted flavors with ANY clearomizer compared to my cartotanks or KFL. I no longer use clearomizers because of the muted flavors and inconsistancy.

I fill my KFLs through the bottom fill hole using any plastic bottle tip. The long tips are better,but any will work if you keep good contact between the bottle and the fill hole. I thought it would be messy since the tip is wider than the hole, but it's really not.
 

NerdVap0r

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The consensus, light vapors could last up to a month on a single head BUT thats if its not duds (60% of my nautilus heads taste lasted 2-4 days :/). Kanger heads have a much higher consistency as i personally havnt run into a dud head yet & use each for 2 weeks. I used about 30 heads b4 i started rewicking/recoil.
 

FinchX

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Thanks for the added info everyone. I'll be saving that much extra by avoiding the nautilus. Seems as though far too many have had bad experiences with it.

I'll see how I enjoy the Aerotank Mega and how the heads for it last me. If I'm satisfied with it I probably won't even move onto a rebuildable like the kayfun. Curiosity suckered me into buying a Genesis clone that still frustrates me just thinking about because I could never get it to work. Like the kayfun clones, it wasn't expensive but I think we can all agree that we hate wasting money...lol
 
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