Need a small, VW Mod

[Tinkiegrrl]

My husband's iTaste VV v3 mods are pretty much kaputt after 6 months of heavy use. They served him well, took a beating, and were worth the money at $25. They aren't dead yet, but I can tell they're getting there, and at their size I didn't expect that they'd last very long. They're more like eGo's with some advanced features in my mind. When I get home from work, they appear to be charging more often then not lately, plus my darling husband has the nasty habit of screwing in his cartotanks pretty hard. As a result, his chameleon VVv3's battery pin usually needs to be pulled back up daily. Often, more then daily. It's time for my husband to move on I think.

The thing is, my husband is rather picky. When he decides he does like something, he tends to stick with it. He set his iTastes to the wattage he likes, and leaves it there for so long, that he forgets how to reset it he accidentally hits a button and sets it to something else. He's unfamiliar with ohms law and has no care to learn, so the set it and forget it variable wattage function is exactly why he stole the VV v3's from me in the first place. Above all, he likes the size of them. Otherwise, he'd have taken one of my MVP's, especially after I got a Provari. However, I have no desire to keep buying him these, especially with looming FDA regulation. For his next set up, I'm looking for something with removable batteries at the very least.

Does anyone have any suggestions for a small, uncomplicated, VW device that can take a beating fairly well? Price doesn't matter so much. His VVv3's have enough life in them left for us to be able to save a bit of money for his upgrade. Something that'll last a couple of years maybe? Would a mech mod with a kick set to a certain wattage be suitable you think? Any thoughts?

 

[State O' Flux]

Would a mech mod with a kick set to a certain wattage be suitable you think? Any thoughts?

That was a fun story... thanks.

I've cut out everything but this last bit. There are all sorts of replaceable battery VW mods - here's just one example of a small form factor, 14500 battery VW mod.
It sounds like you might be in better shape however, considering you're the "master of the mods", to let him pick out a mech (that will take a Kick 1/2 or Crown), fit what ever battery best serves his time needs... button it up and let him go.
My only concern is that with mechs, if you ignore locking the side or bottom button... you will have ".... firing" issues. ;-) (which with APVs is less likely to occur)

There are "semi-mechs", at the far end of the "fancy scale", that might suit your somewhat unique needs... like the Aerovapes "Aero S", with adjustable touch and/or motion sensing button.

Good luck...

 

[Tinkiegrrl]

Sorry. Felt I had to give a full background so hopefully someone could make a recommendation. Here's what I am looking for in a list form.

Ability to last years
Super simple to operate (fool proof)
Small
Variable Watts so he can set it to his optimal 7 watts and never touch a setting again
Not an Innokin product - Worried about the same battery pin issues Innokin has with the MVP and VVv3

That's a combination of what he'd want, and what I'm willing to maintain for him so I can work on my own toys. I'm getting into building. I don't want to worry about him, or anyone else for that matter. In short, being tech support is sucking all the fun out of my new hobby.

The variable volt 14500 mod is interesting, however it would require that he adjust the settings according to the topper he's using. He'd pick the VVv3 again over that, and I'll be back at square one, pulling up the battery pin and fielding phone calls through the day about it as he attempts it alone. He's not slow or anything. If he wanted to, he'd learn. He doesn't want to. He'd rather smoke and picked up vaping strictly because I did and he felt guilty. I never forced it on him, but I'm not going to let equipment failure be a handy excuse to stop vaping either.

 

[Ed_C]

Yeah that's kind of a hard one. I would like something like that as well. I think I'll end up with a mech and a kick. I've been using VV3s and if my first one hadn't had issues after two months and if Innokin returned any of my emails, I might have thought about getting another. I really don't trust any of the Chinese APVs to last.

 

[edyle]

My husband's iTaste VV v3 mods are pretty much kaputt after 6 months of heavy use. They served him well, took a beating, and were worth the money at $25. They aren't dead yet, but I can tell they're getting there, and at their size I didn't expect that they'd last very long. They're more like eGo's with some advanced features in my mind. When I get home from work, they appear to be charging more often then not lately, plus my darling husband has the nasty habit of screwing in his cartotanks pretty hard. As a result, his chameleon VVv3's battery pin usually needs to be pulled back up daily. Often, more then daily. It's time for my husband to move on I think.

The thing is, my husband is rather picky. When he decides he does like something, he tends to stick with it. He set his iTastes to the wattage he likes, and leaves it there for so long, that he forgets how to reset it he accidentally hits a button and sets it to something else. He's unfamiliar with ohms law and has no care to learn, so the set it and forget it variable wattage function is exactly why he stole the VV v3's from me in the first place. Above all, he likes the size of them. Otherwise, he'd have taken one of my MVP's, especially after I got a Provari. However, I have no desire to keep buying him these, especially with looming FDA regulation. For his next set up, I'm looking for something with removable batteries at the very least.

Does anyone have any suggestions for a small, uncomplicated, VW device that can take a beating fairly well? Price doesn't matter so much. His VVv3's have enough life in them left for us to be able to save a bit of money for his upgrade. Something that'll last a couple of years maybe? Would a mech mod with a kick set to a certain wattage be suitable you think? Any thoughts?

a mech with a kick that he can't accidentally change; yeah that sounds good.

 

[edyle]

Sorry. Felt I had to give a full background so hopefully someone could make a recommendation. Here's what I am looking for in a list form.

Ability to last years
Super simple to operate (fool proof)
Small
Variable Watts so he can set it to his optimal 7 watts and never touch a setting again
Not an Innokin product - Worried about the same battery pin issues Innokin has with the MVP and VVv3

That's a combination of what he'd want, and what I'm willing to maintain for him so I can work on my own toys. I'm getting into building. I don't want to worry about him, or anyone else for that matter. In short, being tech support is sucking all the fun out of my new hobby.

The variable volt 14500 mod is interesting, however it would require that he adjust the settings according to the topper he's using. He'd pick the VVv3 again over that, and I'll be back at square one, pulling up the battery pin and fielding phone calls through the day about it as he attempts it alone. He's not slow or anything. If he wanted to, he'd learn. He doesn't want to. He'd rather smoke and picked up vaping strictly because I did and he felt guilty. I never forced it on him, but I'm not going to let equipment failure be a handy excuse to stop vaping either.

I don't thnk the battery pin issue is an Innokin issue; it's really more of an problem with the 510 interface; maybe Provari's are built to a better standard in which case maybe it's worth getting one for him if that's the case.

With a mech there's mechs with floating pin design to help with the pin issue.

 

[Tinkiegrrl]

I don't thnk the battery pin issue is an Innokin issue; it's really more of an problem with the 510 interface; maybe Provari's are built to a better standard in which case maybe it's worth getting one for him if that's the case.

With a mech there's mechs with floating pin design to help with the pin issue.

I always thought it was Innokin, as it never happened to out eGo's. The Provari is still brand new, so I can't say if it'll develope the same issue. I switched to the Provari largely becUse I didn't want to deal with issues like that though. I'm going to be peeved if it happens!

 

[kiwivap]

Does anyone have any suggestions for a small, uncomplicated, VW device that can take a beating fairly well? Price doesn't matter so much. His VVv3's have enough life in them left for us to be able to save a bit of money for his upgrade. Something that'll last a couple of years maybe? Would a mech mod with a kick set to a certain wattage be suitable you think? Any thoughts?

What is the budget here? And also what is small? I think the smallest you'll be looking at will be a box mod if you want removable batteries.

ETA: The Sigelei Zmax mini might be something to look at.

 

[Tinkiegrrl]

a mech with a kick that he can't accidentally change; yeah that sounds good.

So, it's hard to accidentally change the setting on a Kick? Awesome. Good to know. I think I'm starting to lean that way then. Perhaps something with an 18500/18490 tube and an 18350 battery.... That'll be one of the smallest combos with a kick, correct? Are button tops or flat tops better for a Kick, and which mods are recommended? I hear the Stingray is rather small. Will a Kick fit with that in any of its sizes? I think I'm going to go the clone route at first, to see about how a mech works and to see if there's anything about a certain model that could stump my husband as he's changing batteries or something.

That reminds me, will he have to reinstall the kick each time he switches batteries? I can picture it going in upside down or something equally careless.... I don't think he'd purposely sabotage any of his devices, but he certainly wouldn't care if it failed. He'd go grab a cigarette from my mother in law, who lives on the other side of our duplex. He'd rather be smoking.

The Nemisis has a kick ring, right? Maybe I'll go with that....

 

[Dampmaskin]

When he decides he does like something, he tends to stick with it.

Does that mean that he sticks to one type of topper (carto?), too?

If the answer is yes, then variable voltage will be every bit as good as variable wattage for him.

And then, in turn, the obvious answer is - cough - buyhimaprovari - cough - bye, I'm outta here before the haters descend on the thread.

 

[kiwivap]

Kick instructions here: Evolv LLC - Kick Instructions

There's a short video at that link. It will give you an idea of whether he will be comfortable using a kick.

I'm inlcined to think a Sigelei Zmax mini, or a DNA 30 mod like the Hana if he doesn't go below 7 watts.

 

[Tinkiegrrl]

What is the budget here? And also what is small? I think the smallest you'll be looking at will be a box mod if you want removable batteries.

ETA: The Sigelei Zmax mini might be something to look at.

Small as in I have a feeling my Provari Mini may be too large in 18350 mode. I don't think it's only the color pink that is preventing him from using it as a sleep at night (he suffers from insomnia). If he likes a device I have, I usually wake up to find it drained of power in the morning. It'll happen so much, that it'll wind up his because I'll have to leave it home to charge anyway. It's how he steals my things. Probably not intentional theivery, but the end result is the same. If he liked the feel of the Provari in his hand, I imagine i would need to change the batteries come morning. This is another reason I got a removable battery device. He can drain one and I'll still have more.

Budget is $250 or around that. I'm willing to spend as much as I spent on myself recently, although, before I drop that amount I wouldn't mind a clone to see if he likes it first.

 

[Cookster]

Most of the mechs with a Kick and an 18350 installed will be pretty close to the ProVari Mini size. Plus 18350's get about 4 hours, so he'll be swapping throughout the day, but won't have to remove the kick.

If you're not in a rush, pick up a Kick/mech on FastTech, this way you can try it out for under $50 to see if he'll like it.

328 Electronic Cigarettes (Product Type: Mechanical Mods) at FastTech - Worldwide Free Shipping

 

[Tinkiegrrl]

Does that mean that he sticks to one type of topper (carto?), too?

If the answer is yes, then variable voltage will be every bit as good as variable wattage for him.

And then, in turn, the obvious answer is - cough - buyhimaprovari - cough - bye, I'm outta here before the haters descend on the thread.

He sticks with whatever topper I tell him to stick with. At the moment, it's cartotanks. I thought about only buying cartos at a certain ohm and getting him a Provari, but the function to turn it off and on is after the adjustments up and down. This will lead to a lot of mishaps I imagine. Also, he has expressed zero interest in mine, but I don't know if it's size or if he REALLY despises pink so much that he's that unwilling to touch it.

 

[kiwivap]

Small as in I have a feeling my Provari Mini may be too large in 18350 mode. I don't think it's only the color pink that is preventing him from using it as a sleep at night (he suffers from insomnia). If he likes a device I have, I usually wake up to find it drained of power in the morning. It'll happen so much, that it'll wind up his because I'll have to leave it home to charge anyway. It's how he steals my things. Probably not intentional theivery, but the end result is the same. If he liked the feel of the Provari in his hand, I imagine i would need to change the batteries come morning. This is another reason I got a removable battery device. He can drain one and I'll still have more.

Budget is $250 or around that. I'm willing to spend as much as I spent on myself recently, although, before I drop that amount I wouldn't mind a clone to see if he likes it first.

I don't think there's going to be anything smaller than your own mini. The iTaste vv3 was the first of its size and so far I'm not aware of any others to match it. The next smallest size is the 18350 for VW.

There is a Hana DNA mini but it isn't a removable battery. Is 1200 mah. MINI PACK V3 Specs

 

[Tinkiegrrl]

Most of the mechs with a Kick and an 18350 installed will be pretty close to the ProVari Mini size. Plus 18350's get about 4 hours, so he'll be swapping throughout the day, but won't have to remove the kick.

If you're not in a rush, pick up a Kick/mech on FastTech, this way you can try it out for under $50 to see if he'll like it.

328 Electronic Cigarettes (Product Type: Mechanical Mods) at FastTech - Worldwide Free Shipping

Thanks for the link. No, I'm in no rush. If his VVv3's become unusable before anything comes for him, he has a bunch of cigalikes he can use, plus I can leave him my MVP. I mainly stick with the Provari these days. He won't use the MVP much due to size, but cigalikes don't cut it either and while he may wind up mostly using those, he'll take a hit off the MVP if he really needs more.

What would be the absolute smallest mech mod capable of taking a Kick?

 

[Tinkiegrrl]

Oh if I get a Hana, that baby will be mine.

 

[kiwivap]

There is the Evic - which looks quite stealthy in 18350. He could ignore the extra bells and whistles and just use the VW setting. There's a good pic of one here next to an ego:
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/evic/375571-evic-90-a-2.html#post8510440

The Evic 18350 tubes can be picked up for around $8-12 or so.

 

[kiwivap]

Just wanted to add - the Evic is quite light in weight compared to other mods. I'm thinking it may be the weight of your mini that he may not like. Mods are generally a lot of heavier than cigalikes or ego size devices. So I think on that point an Evic might be his thing.

 

[edyle]

I always thought it was Innokin, as it never happened to out eGo's. The Provari is still brand new, so I can't say if it'll develope the same issue. I switched to the Provari largely becUse I didn't want to deal with issues like that though. I'm going to be peeved if it happens!

Well an eGo battery is only supposed to last 300 recharges, and (with luck from the manufacturer's point of view) alot of them are going to die half way through; so they only need to design the thing to work about that long, not forever indefinitely.

So if you use the same connector materials that go into an ego battery and use that in a mod it isn't going to last very longer than the ego battery would have.

There has to be an insulator material separating the center pin from the outer body; that material has to be flexible; flexible means movement which means wear and tear; on top of that, chances are it's going to get WET! Not only if there is leaking but as long as that area is used for airflow, then you get condensation from the very fog the thing is designed to produce.

Both my sig zmax and vamo, since brand new, showed a "Low Load" error if I screwed on the tank a bit too hard. And right now my vamo is down because of the center pin problem; it will work if I leave the tank really really loose. If I can't get the top off to look inside, I'm gonna just file off the damn 510 thread well to expose the center pin completely, pull the pin up, and pack silicone around below it like a knd of spring.