BombShell Stinger 26650 Mod - quick review

[ZW99GT]

Hi guys, I ordered the Bombshell Stinger 26650 mod from Hotvapes.com on my birthday and have been using it for a few weeks. It's built really really sturdy. I strongly prefer using a 26650, as I've had great luck with them in flashlights from years past. Ultra Hi-drain 18650's weren't anywhere close to as awesome/available as they are now, and 4000mah is pretty hard to beat while offering an EASY 20A continuous. I already had two batteries, so I figured I'd order the Stinger as my first unregulated device.

Out of the box it was about as electrically conductive as a tree branch. On a freshly charged MNKE 26650 I was getting a working voltage of 2.98V. A voltage drop of 1.22V on a .5ohm coil. Being my first tries on rba's I recoiled and rechecked everything to make sure it wasn't my fault, testing several other devices, and it was just always the same story. It was giving a .7V drop on a single coil cartomizer! I've cleaned and lubed everything, but it's still hovering around a 1V drop on anything sub-ohm. The threads are a little crude and needed some lube.

I'm not super excited with it for sub-ohming, It will probably end up going VW with a kick and going into rotation of mods that might get a puff or two a day if they're lucky. I have a few mod clones coming from fasttech that I hope will provide much much better performance for 75% less money. Just wanted to let everyone know my findings.

 

[Symmetry]

Ick, that's disappointing...a waste of a good battery IMO. Have you heard of the BAM (Big ... Mod)? They might be available.

 

[samcm010]

ZW99gt I got a Bombshell stinger a couple of weeks ago and when it arrived it might as well have been a tree branch it was DOA. I tried everything and then emailed Hot Vapes. They were polite but somewhat in disbelief. They said if I send it back they would fix and send me some E Liguid for my trouble. I got it back a bit later (after emailing to remind them they still had it). They did not send any juice for my trouble. It does work and for me it works pretty darn well with and AGA-t at 1.2ohms. I am not savvy enough to test the voltage drop so I do not know where that is. I have to say though I like the feel and I love the battery it lasts forever. I am a little concerned because when I bought it they had the button top available for purchase at a reasonable price. I had heard the button goes bad and considering my first was not working I figured tonight I would pick up an extra. Well they are not on the site anymore so I have emailed to see if I can get another. Finally I have 2 smoktech Kick's and they dont work at all the compartment is to tall so there is no connection. I guess the actual Evolve kick must be taller.
On a very positive note I do own a BAM mod and it is EXCELLENT I love it! I love the size and feel and it is rock solid. I have had it for 5 months with not a single issue and it hits HARD. It works with the kick but with a 26500 battery which I have only been able to find 1 of. The BAM is in and out of stock but I would really suggest giving it a try.

 

[Roccov]

ZW99gt I got a Bombshell stinger a couple of weeks ago and when it arrived it might as well have been a tree branch it was DOA. I tried everything and then emailed Hot Vapes. They were polite but somewhat in disbelief. They said if I send it back they would fix and send me some E Liguid for my trouble. I got it back a bit later (after emailing to remind them they still had it). They did not send any juice for my trouble. It does work and for me it works pretty darn well with and AGA-t at 1.2ohms. I am not savvy enough to test the voltage drop so I do not know where that is. I have to say though I like the feel and I love the battery it lasts forever. I am a little concerned because when I bought it they had the button top available for purchase at a reasonable price. I had heard the button goes bad and considering my first was not working I figured tonight I would pick up an extra. Well they are not on the site anymore so I have emailed to see if I can get another. Finally I have 2 smoktech Kick's and they dont work at all the compartment is to tall so there is no connection. I guess the actual Evolve kick must be taller.
On a very positive note I do own a BAM mod and it is EXCELLENT I love it! I love the size and feel and it is rock solid. I have had it for 5 months with not a single issue and it hits HARD. It works with the kick but with a 26500 battery which I have only been able to find 1 of. The BAM is in and out of stock but I would really suggest giving it a try.

That must be their MO. I had the same conversation with them 10 months ago. They acted very surprised that the button had gone bad and told me to send the control head back. What I received back was a scratched and dinged refurbished piece. The problem is the totally cheap switch that is inside. I have since bought about a dozen switches and have had to replace it about every month. It is poorly designed and engineered IMO. If it was not for the fact that my sweetheart bought it as a birthday gift, it would have been disposed of already. I keep trying to figure a way to turn it into a full mechanical or get a more substantial switch in there.

 

[samcm010]

I guess that is why they are no longer in production. I love the size and feel of the device I read elsewhere on here that they are willing to put in a mosfet switch. I am sure they are charging for this though. Have you looked at or heard anything about the Curve at NHALER as far as a 26650 mod? They look pretty nice and have a mechanical button.

 

[Baditude]

The BAM is available in several colors at Vaporcast.

 

[Roccov]

I guess that is why they are no longer in production. I love the size and feel of the device I read elsewhere on here that they are willing to put in a mosfet switch. I am sure they are charging for this though. Have you looked at or heard anything about the Curve at NHALER as far as a 26650 mod? They look pretty nice and have a mechanical button.

This thread was the first time I heard about the mosfet option. I will ask Tim about it when I see him at the Richmond Vapercom on the 1st. You are correct about the size and feel, I just hate having to swap out the switch every 4-6 weeks. The curve also looks nice but a little pricey for my taste. I'll let you know what I hear at the meet. Enjoy the day!!

 

[BardicDruid]

Out of the box it was about as electrically conductive as a tree branch. On a freshly charged MNKE 26650 I was getting a working voltage of 2.98V. A voltage drop of 1.22V on a .5ohm coil.

Of course you're going to get a voltage drop, you're not measuring voltage drop of the device, you're measuring the device under load, those are two different things. If you want to see if the device has any voltage drop, first measure the voltage on the batt, then place it in the device and measure the voltage at the 510 connector with nothing attached. If you measure the voltage with a clearo, carto or RBA attached, you're measuring the voltage drop caused by the clearo, carto or RBA that's attached, not any voltage drop in the mod.

 

[double_aa_ron]

Sucks to hear all the problems people are having with their bombshells. I have had one for about six months now with no problems. I love the size and feel. A 26650 with a kick is a wonderful thing. I'm a carto tank kind of guy so I have mine kicked. I have no idea about voltage drop because the only thing I use with RBAs is my Reo. Rebuilding a coil every few days is too much of an inconvenience to me.

I have two BAMs as we'll. While the Bam is much more well made (think silver bullet on steroids), it's heft and size verses it's battery capacity with a kick make it not as attractive an option when compared to the Bombshell Stinger.

 

[samcm010]

Sucks to hear all the problems people are having with their bombshells. I have had one for about six months now with no problems. I love the size and feel. A 26650 with a kick is a wonderful thing. I'm a carto tank kind of guy so I have mine kicked. I have no idea about voltage drop because the only thing I use with RBAs is my Reo. Rebuilding a coil every few days is too much of an inconvenience to me.

I have two BAMs as we'll. While the Bam is much more well made (think silver bullet on steroids), it's heft and size verses it's battery capacity with a kick make it not as attractive an option when compared to the Bombshell Stinger.

I guess I should clarify. I only had problems with the first one to arrive and to Hotvapes credit they did fix it. (although I paid to return it which added to the original cost of the device). I have had no problems with the one I have now. I do love the size and feel and it hits fine for me. As I said I have no idea about drop off so for me if I like the way it vapes I dont really care about the drop off. I have only used it with an AGA-t2 at 1.3 ohms which has been great. I am just concerned if the button goes as many here and elsewhere have said I have no way to correct it.

I am going to Richmond as well and will ask as well if they are there about the mosfet switch.

 

[Roccov]

I guess I should clarify. I only had problems with the first one to arrive and to Hotvapes credit they did fix it. (although I paid to return it which added to the original cost of the device). I have had no problems with the one I have now. I do love the size and feel and it hits fine for me. As I said I have no idea about drop off so for me if I like the way it vapes I dont really care about the drop off. I have only used it with an AGA-t2 at 1.3 ohms which has been great. I am just concerned if the button goes as many here and elsewhere have said I have no way to correct it.

I am going to Richmond as well and will ask as well if they are there about the mosfet switch.

Samcm010 (guessing sir) I also enjoy the Stinger and use it in the rotation daily. I'm not saying that they were not helpful but after three returns I decided to just deal with it myself. Tim did mention something about talking to the manufacture about changing the switch and maybe the mosfet was the solution. I last dealt with them in March so maybe problem solved. I'll be driving down there and going both days so hopefully we can compare notes. Just curious did you get the stainless or anodized? I have a theory but could just be totally wrong. Enjoy the day!

 

[double_aa_ron]

Just curious did you get the stainless or anodized? I have a theory but could just be totally wrong. Enjoy the day!

I have a red anodized one. I know your post wasn't directed towards me but I thought I'd chime in. Maybe it'll help with your theory.

 

[samcm010]

Samcm010 (guessing sir) I also enjoy the Stinger and use it in the rotation daily. I'm not saying that they were not helpful but after three returns I decided to just deal with it myself. Tim did mention something about talking to the manufacture about changing the switch and maybe the mosfet was the solution. I last dealt with them in March so maybe problem solved. I'll be driving down there and going both days so hopefully we can compare notes. Just curious did you get the stainless or anodized? I have a theory but could just be totally wrong. Enjoy the day!

I have the red anodized I am curious about your theory. I love the size although I just got my first "high end" mod in a trade yesterday a poldiac and it is making me re-think what I like. The BAM and Stinger are always on my side table and now that I have the stinger I drive with it instead of BAM. I will be in Richmond on Friday probably only day but I am looking forward to finding out more.

 

[Roccov]

I'm thinking the andonized has less area for a short to occur than the ss (andonized aluminum doesn't conduct electricity well at all). Like I said, could be off base with this theory. I'll send a pm to you Samcm sir with my text number to chat while there if you have some time.

 

[pucho]

I've had my Stinger from hotvapes about a week and I'm tickled pink! Love the heft, battery life and consistent vape quality. I should point out I'm a chain vaper and get about a day and a half battery life. I use it with an enlarged air hole Igo L 1.3 ohm microcoil with cotton wick. Threading trough silica in the microcoil works well also.
Hope I don't run into trouble with the switch as I couldn't happily go back to anything else mod wise.
Does not seem to work with a Smoktech kick but it doesn't really need it in my setup.

 

[ZW99GT]

Of course you're going to get a voltage drop, you're not measuring voltage drop of the device, you're measuring the device under load, those are two different things. If you want to see if the device has any voltage drop, first measure the voltage on the batt, then place it in the device and measure the voltage at the 510 connector with nothing attached. If you measure the voltage with a clearo, carto or RBA attached, you're measuring the voltage drop caused by the clearo, carto or RBA that's attached, not any voltage drop in the mod.

I appreciate the input, but that's wildly incorrect. The device that delivers the power to the atomizer is also responsible for the voltage drop. I have a nemesis clone that runs that same atomizer and .5 coil at 3.95 volts. The stinger does it a full volt lower because of the design of the mod, wires and switch.

I've tested and charted this with all my mechs, same battery, same atomizer and they are all different. Have you ever heard someone say a device "hits hard" compared to another? It's a reference to the voltage loss through the device, not the atomizer.

 

[ZW99GT]

I've had my Stinger from hotvapes about a week and I'm tickled pink! Love the heft, battery life and consistent vape quality. I should point out I'm a chain vaper and get about a day and a half battery life. I use it with an enlarged air hole Igo L 1.3 ohm microcoil with cotton wick. Threading trough silica in the microcoil works well also.
Hope I don't run into trouble with the switch as I couldn't happily go back to anything else mod wise.
Does not seem to work with a Smoktech kick but it doesn't really need it in my setup.

Thanks for the heads up on the smoktech kick guys, I was considering grabbing one soon. I feel like I put the bombshell stinger through it's paces with several .5ohm weeks and I haven't had any issues yet.

 

[pucho]

Well, my Bombshell Stinger switch died. I have made many attempts to contact Hotvapes. Nothing, Nada. Not buying anything more from them as their service really stinks. Too bad the Stinger is exclusive to them and its too bad that there are no alternatives on the market that I can find. Really liked it while it worked.
Pucho