Hello ECF peeps!
Been an avid lurker here for security reasons at work, I couldn't register, sign-in nor post anything. Anyway, I've been vaping for almost 2 years, started with egos and since updgraded to many (too many) PVs since. It's the same old story of some Reonauts, had a bunch of PVs and sold them all after grabbing a hold of one. My real problem with other mods is the pocketability and where to put it in a car or on a coffee table or in a bar. The Reo provides the solution of having squared edges and not running the risk of rolling off to oblivion. And it's not making me polish it every now and then after every vape.
The other main feature that I liked with the Reo on top of the bottom feeding wonder is the finish. My sweaty hands have eaten away chrome/nickel on brass (local mod) in a matter of days, satin finish on the original Provari, paint in SBs and Omegas even Egos. So naturally, when I first touched a Reo I was saying "finally", the mod that could survive... But... 3 months in with the Reo I've noticed a slight lightening of the anodizing on the sides where my palm rests. So I said to myself, okay, its probably just a surface thing so a few weeks have passed and black dots started to form. A few weeks more and the lighter color turned really damn light almost revealing the silver beneath...
To make the long story short, the Reo didn't measure up to sweaty palms... My, sweaty palms... But I've learned to let go of surface imperfections since it still gives me the vapeing convenience of someone who doesn't fancy tube-styles anymore (unless if its a Precise). Me and the Reo have been through so much and so many places together. It even got lost one drunken night at the beach and it magically found its way back 2 days after... (someone returned it not knowing what it was)
So now, I will not trade this one for anything, but I'd like to give it a facelift after recently getting a shiny bottom feeding ERA RBA on it. Thanks Melvyn! I could probably get another Reo but I'd like to know if there's a way to send it back and have it re-anodized? Have it stripped and re-anodized here locally from motorcycle shops, if so, will it turn out the same as the original? I've read somewhere that the anodizing is too think for sanding by hand but seems not too thick for sweat in my palms. I could try sanding it with a power drill or something but seems too much work for someone who just wants to strip it naked or repaint it or restore it the easiest way. If possible, the DIY way.
Experts might say that its already been posted, I only saw one which was done in shiny mirror finish and the guy had it done somewhere. There was also this story about powdercoating and such and general aluminum-stripping research pointed me to Grease Lightning or oven cleaners just to strip it to bare aluminum. I've also seen the post/question about removing the 510 pot for cleaning and some guy said that it was pressured in and there's no way to take it out without a drill.
So what I'd like to do is to disassemble it, down to the 510 pot and magnets to prepare it for the facelift or some DIY sorcery. Has anyone found a way to remove the 510 connector the easiest and most painless way?
So far, I could imagine sanding this baby all over no matter how long it takes and paint it matte or even camo-fy it myself. But the biggest remaining challenge is the 510 connector which will either eat any kind of chemical I decide to use to strip the anodizing chemically, or be scratched up if I sand the juice well to match everything else... I'm in the market for a used Reo just so I could rehabilitate my favorite PV to perfection once again. I hope to get suggestions on how to remove the 510 pot in a good smart kind of way. I've seen removed pots in refurbished Reos in the past and it doesn't look good. Anyway, I hope to hear your suggestions... Remember, this is totally DIY. Things I could get my hands on without having to go to a shop. I own basic car tools, no power tools whatsoever... I guess you could think of this as a challenge... it's been occupying my mind for a while now too...
Screenies for your pleasure. You can probably sense I love this thing and almost dont' let it go. I use it with the atty side resting on the thumbside of my palm while firing the button using my index finger. Its strange that the door does not show any signs of fading, I fiddle with it all the time with my thumb... Love the clicking sound. Heh heh...
Early signs of ageing (cameo of my friend's black Reo):
REO Grande - a set on Flickr
The Reo now:
REO_Now | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Been an avid lurker here for security reasons at work, I couldn't register, sign-in nor post anything. Anyway, I've been vaping for almost 2 years, started with egos and since updgraded to many (too many) PVs since. It's the same old story of some Reonauts, had a bunch of PVs and sold them all after grabbing a hold of one. My real problem with other mods is the pocketability and where to put it in a car or on a coffee table or in a bar. The Reo provides the solution of having squared edges and not running the risk of rolling off to oblivion. And it's not making me polish it every now and then after every vape.
The other main feature that I liked with the Reo on top of the bottom feeding wonder is the finish. My sweaty hands have eaten away chrome/nickel on brass (local mod) in a matter of days, satin finish on the original Provari, paint in SBs and Omegas even Egos. So naturally, when I first touched a Reo I was saying "finally", the mod that could survive... But... 3 months in with the Reo I've noticed a slight lightening of the anodizing on the sides where my palm rests. So I said to myself, okay, its probably just a surface thing so a few weeks have passed and black dots started to form. A few weeks more and the lighter color turned really damn light almost revealing the silver beneath...
To make the long story short, the Reo didn't measure up to sweaty palms... My, sweaty palms... But I've learned to let go of surface imperfections since it still gives me the vapeing convenience of someone who doesn't fancy tube-styles anymore (unless if its a Precise). Me and the Reo have been through so much and so many places together. It even got lost one drunken night at the beach and it magically found its way back 2 days after... (someone returned it not knowing what it was)
So now, I will not trade this one for anything, but I'd like to give it a facelift after recently getting a shiny bottom feeding ERA RBA on it. Thanks Melvyn! I could probably get another Reo but I'd like to know if there's a way to send it back and have it re-anodized? Have it stripped and re-anodized here locally from motorcycle shops, if so, will it turn out the same as the original? I've read somewhere that the anodizing is too think for sanding by hand but seems not too thick for sweat in my palms. I could try sanding it with a power drill or something but seems too much work for someone who just wants to strip it naked or repaint it or restore it the easiest way. If possible, the DIY way.
Experts might say that its already been posted, I only saw one which was done in shiny mirror finish and the guy had it done somewhere. There was also this story about powdercoating and such and general aluminum-stripping research pointed me to Grease Lightning or oven cleaners just to strip it to bare aluminum. I've also seen the post/question about removing the 510 pot for cleaning and some guy said that it was pressured in and there's no way to take it out without a drill.
So what I'd like to do is to disassemble it, down to the 510 pot and magnets to prepare it for the facelift or some DIY sorcery. Has anyone found a way to remove the 510 connector the easiest and most painless way?
So far, I could imagine sanding this baby all over no matter how long it takes and paint it matte or even camo-fy it myself. But the biggest remaining challenge is the 510 connector which will either eat any kind of chemical I decide to use to strip the anodizing chemically, or be scratched up if I sand the juice well to match everything else... I'm in the market for a used Reo just so I could rehabilitate my favorite PV to perfection once again. I hope to get suggestions on how to remove the 510 pot in a good smart kind of way. I've seen removed pots in refurbished Reos in the past and it doesn't look good. Anyway, I hope to hear your suggestions... Remember, this is totally DIY. Things I could get my hands on without having to go to a shop. I own basic car tools, no power tools whatsoever... I guess you could think of this as a challenge... it's been occupying my mind for a while now too...
Screenies for your pleasure. You can probably sense I love this thing and almost dont' let it go. I use it with the atty side resting on the thumbside of my palm while firing the button using my index finger. Its strange that the door does not show any signs of fading, I fiddle with it all the time with my thumb... Love the clicking sound. Heh heh...
Early signs of ageing (cameo of my friend's black Reo):
REO Grande - a set on Flickr
The Reo now:
REO_Now | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
