First Post and question

[Hakej]

Hello:

I have been a lurker for over a year and thought it was time to post and say hello to all members here.

My wife and I have been vaping for several years, went through a "vape only, cigarette-free" phase, fell off the wagon, then went back to vaping. She barely smokes at all anymore, I average about 2-3 cigarettes a day (down from a pack a day for the last 40+ years). This site has been very useful to us over time, so thank you.

After all this time with still struggle with one vaping issue and that is leaky tanks.
We clean ours at least every other day, that's the only way we've found to limit the problem, but it still plagues us: nothing is more annoying than a good tank turning into a gurgling juice straw.

In our experience all tanks leak to some extent. I am talking about leaks from the bottom of the tank, where it connects to the battery's thread.
We have ISmoka, IClear 30 and 60, Kanger Unitank and dual coil Unitank.

In our experience, the worst leakers are the Unitanks. Every time we refill them, they stop drawing and we have to wipe both the tank's and battery's thread several times with Qtips and paper towels, wasting a lot of juice before they function again. We also use pipe cleaners for the central part of some tanks. The IClears leak less, but still require thread cleaning every other day or so. The ISmokas barely leak and are reasonably maintenance free.

Why not stick to the ISmoka and ditch the others? Because in terms of taste, the order is reversed: Kanger tastes best, IClear second and ISmokas last. The ISmokas are not bad, but there is a noticeable difference.

So my question is: Are other people experiencing similar leakage issues? Is there any way to avoid these leaks?
Also: All of these tanks are advertised as "leak proof"... Is it just us mis-using them, or just, let's be kind and call it "marketese"?

We are not resellers or dealers of either juice or hardware. Just users. I think that professionals should identify themselves on this forum when they post outside of their reserved areas. Just my opinion.

Anyway, thanks for any help you could give us in solving this problem, and thanks again for the site.

 

[daviedog]

Leakproof? No such thing. The Unitanks are legendary in their ability to leak. Sent mine to urologist..

 

[DreamWithin]

I'm not personally familiar with those particular devices so can't offer too much insight. Perhaps if you browse around in the Clearomizers forum you might find some posts of other people's solutions for some or all of them: Clearomizers

Leaking is, unfortunately, something that happens with all liquid reservoirs when subjected to the correct circumstances. There is usually some way found by the community to mitigate most instances of leaking. Hopefully you can find the solutions for your particular gear

 

[Hakej]

This is in reply to Daviedog's post. I didn't use the right option in answering.

LOL. Thanks. On one hand I'm a bit reassured, because I thought we were just not doing it right. On the other, I'm a little bummed out. Not an auspicious start...
Any recommendations on tanks that are "almost leakproof"?

 

[Wolfenstark]

I had leaks on an aspire ce5 clearomiser so don't use those.
My aspire nautilus had leaks into the coil and chamber but no leaks to he outside and the other leaks i fixed by putting it back together correctly after refilling it.

My ehpro kayfun has not leaked and my plume veil rda does not leak unless I was to put way too much liquid in it and it comes through the air slots.

 

[Kevin littell]

The only 2 tanks I have that dont leak are all re-buildable..... 1 Kayfun lite V2 and one Erlkönigin.


The least leaky of the clearomizers that I've owned is the Nautilus.....Although temp extreme's and Altitude changes cause it th mark its spot.


If you could wrap a coil and wick it (and its not that hard to do) I'd personally look into the Kayfun's....The clones aren't hard to figure out, 12 bucks buys a years worth of wire and cotton.....I re-wick once a week and recoil once a month.....


And the vape will not only keep you off the stinkies, you'll refuse to spend another dime on store bought coils. Wear tight fitting socks the first time you take a pull off a well wicked Kayfun.

 

[Hakej]

I'm not personally familiar with those particular devices so can't offer too much insight. Perhaps if you browse around in the Clearomizers forum you might find some posts of other people's solutions for some or all of them

Leaking is, unfortunately, something that happens with all liquid reservoirs when subjected to the correct circumstances. There is usually some way found by the community to mitigate most instances of leaking. Hopefully you can find the solutions for your particular gear

Thanks, I'll go look at the area.

 

[Lanore]

I didn't look up the exact model, but if it is a Kanger I am going to assume it is a bottom coil tank.

I eventually stopped using premade coils and built my own. Then I quit using silica and started wicking with cotton. These things helped but didn't fix the problem entirely.

In my experience there are a few other things left to do. Aside from building a wicking it yourself, make sure to keep it full. I refilled mine every time it got half empty. When it empties pressure inside the tank changes and the liquid just falls through the bottom coils. When you refill, male sure to blow out the tank, that is blow through the chimney and through the backside of the coil. This will force out condensation that builds up and eventually floods your tank. It will also kick out excess liquid from your coil. After you've blown it out and refilled, you should be a happy vaper again.

However, the constant tedium of tanks eventually drove me batty and I switched to an RDA. It requires some maintenance but in my opinion is far more tolerable and satisfying. RTAs exist as well, but I have no experience with them. If you want the convenience of an RDA with the benefits of a tank, without the actual tank, bottom feed systems exist. However I don't have any experience with bottom feeds either.

Aside from my experience with tanks, which I shared above, I simply wanted to make sure you knew there were other options and that ego tanks aren't the end all be all of vaping. Hopefully my advice on cleaning and filling the tank works, but if not, perhaps another system will suit you much better.

Good luck and happy vaping. Sorry for the Wall of Text.

 

[Hakej]

The only 2 tanks I have that dont leak are all re-buildable..... 1 Kayfun lite V2 and one Erlkönigin.


The least leaky of the clearomizers that I've owned is the Nautilus.....Although temp extreme's and Altitude changes cause it th mark its spot.


If you could wrap a coil and wick it (and its not that hard to do) I'd personally look into the Kayfuns....The clones aren't hard to figure out, 12 bucks buys a years worth of wire and cotton.....I rewick once a week and recoil once a month.....


And the vape will keep you off the stinkies.

Thanks Kevin. I have to admit I'm a little nervous about wrapping and wicking, but I might just give it a shot. Read in several places that it helps with leaking some, and improves the flavor overall, not to mention the savings. As far as the stinkies go... that would be great.

 

[Lanore]

Also, new tank systems like the Smoktech T-Dux, which I am assuming is a ripoff of some other model I am unaware of, uses an entirely different type of coil setup. They aren't rebuildable, but apparently they are very nice. My grandmother loves hers, and she was about to quit vaping over leaky tanks. They use a ceramic cup and some different design, almost like a carto from what I've read. But I'm not sure honestly. Worth looking into though.

 

[Hakej]

I didn't look up the exact model, but if it is a Kanger I am going to assume it is a bottom coil tank.

I eventually stopped using premade coils and built my own. Then I quit using silica and started wicking with cotton. These things helped but didn't fix the problem entirely.

In my experience there are a few other things left to do. Aside from building a wicking it yourself, make sure to keep it full. I refilled mine every time it got half empty. When it empties pressure inside the tank changes and the liquid just falls through the bottom coils. When you refill, male sure to blow out the tank, that is blow through the chimney and through the backside of the coil. This will force out condensation that builds up and eventually floods your tank. It will also kick out excess liquid from your coil. After you've blown it out and refilled, you should be a happy vaper again.

However, the constant tedium of tanks eventually drove me batty and I switched to an RDA. It requires some maintenance but in my opinion is far more tolerable and satisfying. RTAs exist as well, but I have no experience with them. If you want the convenience of an RDA with the benefits of a tank, without the actual tank, bottom feed systems exist. However I don't have any experience with bottom feeds either.

Aside from my experience with tanks, which I shared above, I simply wanted to make sure you knew there were other options and that ego tanks aren't the end all be all of vaping. Hopefully my advice on cleaning and filling the tank works, but if not, perhaps another system will suit you much better.

Good luck and happy vaping. Sorry for the Wall of Text.

Not at all, thank you very much for your helpful advice, Lanore. I'm also in Canada, and we do not seem to have access to as wide a choice as in the USA.

 

[Hakej]

I had leaks on an aspire ce5 clearomiser so don't use those.
My aspire nautilus had leaks into the coil and chamber but no leaks to he outside and the other leaks i fixed by putting it back together correctly after refilling it.

My ehpro kayfun has not leaked and my plume veil rda does not leak unless I was to put way too much liquid in it and it comes through the air slots.

Thanks for your help, Wolfenstark.

 

[Susan~S]

The newer tanks on the market have coils that are sealed on the bottom so you won't have leaking that goes through that connection into the battery.

Look at the Kanger Aerotanks or Aspire Nautilus (or mini Nautilus) with the new BVC's (bottom vertical coils). They are both glass tanks and both have airflow control.

 

[daleron]

Lot's of great replies Hakej, so welcome!

 

[Warpigs]

Welcome to ECF!

 

[Lanore]

Not at all, thank you very much for your helpful advice, Lanore. I'm also in Canada, and we do not seem to have access to as wide a choice as in the USA.

God I love the free market. ( /sarcasm. Forgive my humor. )

As others have said, take a look at the nautilus/aerotanks, or as I suggested the T-dux by smok, which my grandmother uses and loves.

Hopefully with the hundreds if not thousands of options available on the market, some will be available to you in Canada.

Edit: Oh, and welcome to ECF. Where are my manners?

 

[Kevin littell]

Thanks Kevin. I have to admit I'm a little nervous about wrapping and wicking, but I might just give it a shot. Read in several places that it helps with leaking some, and improves the flavor overall, not to mention the savings. As far as the stinkies go... that would be great.

Youtube will be your friend if you decide.


I was adamantly opposed to being anything but a disposable vapor because I hate tinkering with the same old @##* all the time. It took an hour to watch some video's, another hour to coil and wick the first time successfully and I made sure I had some fresh new coils around in case it didnt work.


EHPro makes the nicest clones, the authentics are pricey but can be found (and well worth the money for the fashion conscience.....The machining is on the "next Level.") A Russian 91% is the same build and vape quality AND after practice it takes about 5 minutes to rewick from empty.


They are well worth the time expended....

 

[cn777]

I've tried evod, evod 2, pro tank mini, kanger MOW, and Nautilus Mini.

Kanger MOW 99.9% leak free
Apire Nautilus Mini 100% leak free
★these are my experiences so far anyway..

In defense of the MOW, I was probably doing it wrong.
The other tanks besides the MOW and ANMini all leaked though, at some point or another.

Right now, my main squeeze is the Nautilus mini, but will go back to the MOW for a bit to compare some more. I've only used each tank for a week… but no leaks (nothing major with the MOW.. Like I said.. I was probably doing it wrong..)