Is the Kamry K100 Still a Good Mech Mod Choice?

[traten]

I've gradually gone up the vape ladder over a year's time. Have reached the MVP 2, Eleaf Istick and Mini Istick level. These have been easy to use and understand, and vape well with my Aspire Mini Nautilus tank clearomizers with 1.6 bottom vertical coils .

I use Nicoticket's line of juices: The Virus, Wakonda, Custard's Last Stand, etc., with great cloud and flavor results.

In short, I'm very happy to have gotten this far with an enjoyable and trouble-free outcome.

But I'm always looking to expand the experience. Everything I read on ECF points to Mechanical Mods as the ultimate vaping experience. I'm also a cheapskate going in, like entry level deals, and learning the ins and outs before dropping bigger bucks.

In reading about Kamry K100s they seem to fit my situation, although they have been around for some time and may have better competition today at comparable price points. A full kit goes for about $30, shipping included, from elementvape.com. I'm sure there are others, too.

Is there anyone out here who's had experience with K100s along with other mechanical mods that would like to share their experience? Thanks.

Sam

 

[Fattlestar]

I believe the k100 is still a fine workhorse of a mod. The "full kit" is kind of useless though. The cartos that come with it aren't great, the batteries that come with it should be recycled and replaced with good IMR's from the usual suspects instead. It is certainly not worth $30, you would be better off buying the body alone.

The main issue I have with the k100 is that there are other 'just as dependable' mods with better (or just newer, I suppose) features that come in at a similar price point. If you're going to spend $30 on a mech, you'd be far better served by getting one of the more popular clones. For $18 you can get a launcher v2 from fasttech that is stainless steel, where the k100 is aluminum I think. Stainless will last you a lot longer and survive better through daily use.

Now, on to your "expanding" into a better vape idea.

Mechs are a cheap way to get into higher power vaping. They are NOT the easiest or best way to go about it now though. I love mechs, they are right for me. But regulated mods are easier, safer, and require less input and knowledge to use properly to get the same or better quality vape you get with a mech.

A decent regulated box mod (istick 30 watt for a beginner, 50 watt for more advanced, and then replaceable battery type units like the IPV series for serious) will run you under $50. The iStick type mods that have built in batteries require no special charger and no extra batteries. You just plug it in and go.

A mech requires 1: A mech ($10 and up), replacement batteries (usually 3 to start, minimum here is around $20-$25), a GOOD charger (Think Nitecore or XTAR etc, starting around $15) which ends up around a minimum (MINIMUM - that's a rock bottom mech) of $50. Same price, requires far more input, far more knowledge to run properly.

Also, if you are going to use a mech, you're PROBABLY going to want to get into rebuildables. The only way to truly adjust the power your atomizer is getting from a mech is by manipulating the resistance of the coil in the atomizer. Putting a stock coil on a mech means you're getting whatever vape that stock coil will give based on the voltage of the battery.

Using a regulated device, you can adjust by the output instead, giving you full control of your vape experience.

What I'm wondering is, do you really want a mech? Or do you just want high power vaping?

 

[traten]

Fattlestar, it's not so much I want a mech, or high power vaping. It's more a curiosity thing. I want to know more about the whole universe of vaping. Reading is where I start, but hands on is how I really learn. I usually start at the bottom, or near bottom, and work my way through the fundamentals. So I'm looking for rock-bottom simplicity and that's why I went out looking for an earlier iteration of mechanical mods.

Your explanation is just what I am looking for. I thank you for that.

Sam

 

[Fattlestar]

I appreciate your situation

If you are SURE that you want to get into mechanical mods, then there are some great rock-bottom places to start. But, unless you plan on using a Subtank or Atlantis or other sub-ohm device (which still benefit more from a high power regulated mod in comparison to a mech), you really need to learn about rebuilding to get the most out of a mech. That's where you should be dedicating your learning/reading first, along with battery safety (which I'm sure you've seen touted around here all over the place). A simple RDA clone will cost you less than $20 and the supplies needed to actually build a coil shouldn't cost you more than $40 total (rock bottom budget). If you're interested in all of that, I can make some suggestions. If you aren't, you probably won't want a mech (unless you just want something "pretty" which mechs certainly can be, and is why I made the jump into mechs honestly!)

I feel like there are better options still. The Launcher V2, or a Nemesis, or a Stingray or Stingray X are all excellent entry level clones. They range in price from around $15-$40. You may see a lot of recommendations for SMPL and 4nine's now, but those are hybrid only, and require additional safety and care - not great for a beginner.

You can get two Samsung 25r's for $14 at Lightning Vapes, good starting batteries (and a discount code to bring the price down another two bucks probably). You can also pick up a decent charger for about $15. If you spend $25 on a mech and $30 on the peripherals you're in a good place. If you want some other suggestions, feel free to ask, there are lots of great opinions out there (besides my own).

(EDIT: Removed broken link.)

 

[havoc1967]

I have been doing this for a couple of years now and have become a dedicated mech mod user. I have quite a few mechs, some clone and some authentic. I have also sold/given away quite a few mods for various reasons. That being said, the K100 and K101 Empire clones are fine devices. I have several that I still use often.

 

[Bad Ninja]

Nothing wrong with the k100, but as mentioned there are other odd that are a much better value for your money.
The K100 was great when choices were limited.
The funky top cap and finicky switch aren't state of the art anymore.

 

[roxynoodle]

I would recommend the SXK Stingray X from the Focalecig US Warehouse. I love it as much as my authentic mechs. Its beautiful, has perfect, seamless maching, is easy to set up, has good venting and very low voltage drop.

 

[BuddJohnson]

One design drawback to the K100 is the 20mm tube section, beveled to 19mm. The popular 22mm RBAs and RDAs look lamp-postic sitting on it.
Otherwise, it's a great device. The perfect fit for 18/19mm atties like the Aero/Protank, 30s, Nautilus Mini etc.
Avoid a cheap clone that is out there under the H100 logo. Make sure you get the KeCig.

 

[Bad Ninja]

Much more for less.
Solid as a tank, better quality than most authentics, copper contacts, recessed button, under $18 shipped.

$17.64 Launcher V2 Telescopic Mechanical Mod - with logo at FastTech - Worldwide Free Shipping

 

[cstone1991]

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is an ohm reader. That is a requirement with your first order if you decide to get a mech, as you will almost definitely end up getting a rebuildable of some type to go with it and you never want to fire new coils before testing their resistance. I recommend one that goes to the tenths digit (2 decimal places) as they are more accurate.

Someone mentioned the Nemesis for beginners. That's what I started with, and while it isn't bad, there are definitely better options out there. Set up is easy with it and it performs well but in my mind the negatives outweigh the positives for someone new to mechs. On clones at least, the switches tend to be "crunchy" which can be fixed with a little buffing so not that big of a deal. My main complaint is the very fine threads on the lock ring which makes it more of a pain to lock and unlock it than many others. The other complaint I have is that if you screw the lock ring all the way to the unlocked position it blocks the vent holes so you have to remember to leave it partially unlocked in case you ever have a battery vent. A friend has the Stingray X and has let me use it quite a bit and IMO, that would be a much better choice to start with.

 

[traten]

I'm the original poster in this thread. I did get the K100 --it's the K eCig gold version-- and have been using it for more than a week now. I took all the useful advice and bought the proper batteries, charger, and ohm/volt meter. I've used both the drip cartomizer(s) that came with it, and Aspire Mini Nautilus tanks w/1.6 coils I'd already had. Both methods have given me the cleanest, tastiest vapes I've had yet. I didn't think my Nicoticket Wakonda could get any better, but it did.

This is my first mech mod. I have RDAs and RTAs on order so I'll be building my own coils to find the sweetest spot.

What impresses me is the K100s general quality, along with its sculptured, architectural, appearance. I understand it's a clone of the Empire, named after the skyscraper. Looks like it!

I'm happy.

Sam