Reo Grand Initial Impressions

[clyde2801]

Nothing new to report. The sucker's still just a' vapin' away. All day vaping with just carrying the mod around. Popped one atty because I got a little too happy with the joy juice, but that's not the mods' fault.

Usually I do follow up posts it's to report new discoveries about it, or more likely report problems or flaws with the mod. This looks like it's going to be a very dull thread....day 3, enjoying the grand...day 4, enjoying the grand....day 5, enjoying the mod...

 

[clyde2801]

NO problems with the Grand whatsoever. None, nada, zip, zilch. No need for even noalox on the switch so far.

Going to swap Sterno my remaining lr510 slb's for some of this em lr510's modded by Rob. The em's work all right to Sterno, but he prefers the slb's vape.

I'm figuring the modded attys by Redeyedancer with the larger intake holes in the threads may help to keep them from gumming up with thicker VG juice.

By blue IMR flat top batteries also work well in the grand, lack of button tops notwithstanding.

Vaping sterno's ry4 flavored uber high strength venom juice. Tasty, potent vape. Today starts the 3rd day on the same bottle...

That's it, the world's dullest update. I'm almost hoping this thing has a flaw or a shortcoming that I can write about, but there's none so far. I'd almost be disappointed if I didn't like vaping the thing so much.

 

[clyde2801]

Still not a worry, or care in the sky with either mod.

May have to try a LR306 with the Grand. Sterno and a couple of other folks are singing its praises; slightly less throat hit but with improved taste. But with over 10 attys and 20 cartos in the stockpile, it may have to wait.

Speaking of stockpile, I've been dying to try some of the flavorings thrown my way, so I just ordered a quart of 36mg 100%vg juice from vapor renu, with aggressive throat hit. Figure that should give me enough base material to do mixing, and it's roughly half as much money as buying it premade from them. Been hearing rumors and speculation of impending governmental regulation by Uncle Fed*, and with a little planning and careful use, the mods, parts and juice oughta last the Andersons for a good long while.**

*Dammit, I just KNEW I shoulda voted Republican! Swear to God, Republicans want to take your rights and freedoms to protect you from others, Democrats to protect you from yourself...

**<raises his fist as he's silhouetted against the sunset> With Gawd as mah witness, ah will nevuh go vapeless agin!

 

[clyde2801]

Had a slb lr510 atty that was just starting to taste burnt, no matter what I did to it, before it stopped working. May try to boil it, but it looks like another atty bit the dust. Not too disappointed about it due to the fact that they're relatively cheap and I hit these things pretty hard. It's going into a baggie that I've marked with a question mark.

I've got 10 eastmall 510's left, including 5 specially modded by Redeyedancer himself that I traded from Sterno.

I've also got at least 20 lr510 cartos and 5 regular ones. Oddly enough, I haven't had one die on me yet. And while this may upset some-and you know who you are-my experience with 510 cartos have been entirely positive on both reo metal mods.

Pretty fail safe technique...every ten puffs or so, hold the mod upside down and give it a long, slow squeeze until vape comes out of the mouthpiece. Give it a few seconds, and start vaping away. All the juice goes into the carto and none into the reservoir at the top of the mod using this method. Still plenty of vape and taste with this method, and it may be a better way if you insist upon PG or thinner juices. It's like having a fresh carto every time you vape.

May have to try this for a while, or at least until the mega VG order gets here. Probably need to thin out the carto herd a bit, too...

 

[clyde2801]

A few final thoughts on cartos...for now. One of the most brilliant and insightful commentaries on vaping that I've ever seen was from one of igetcha69's video reviews, possibly the one on the GGTS. He postulated that people probably gravitate towards attys, draws and voltages that most naturally match their style of smoking analogs.

And just now I realized that I take long, slow, light drags off of the cartos (possibly because I'm less afraid of popping them and their ultra low cost), and short, hard puffs off of attys.

A major disadvantage of cartos is their inability to quickly change flavors. No big deal if you're a vape the same thing all day sort of guy or gal, but a dealbreaker if you jump from one to the other.

If you're not sure, go ahead and get some. Vaporkings sells packages of regular or low resistance 510 cartos for $8.95; that's less than $2 per carto. You may be able to find them cheaper at other sites. With the Reos, I'd recommend the LR version.

 

[pianoguy]

I didn't think of holding the mod upside-down to feed cartos - I'll have to give that a try, as I've got about a bajillion of them.

 

[clyde2801]

Nice little safety feature on the grand, and presumably the mini. Tried another atty on the grand which wouldn't vape, and the battery fell out, something that's never happened before.

Upon careful examination, I discovered that another mod (cough, ggts, cough) had impaled the atty and short circuited it. Basically, if there's a short the bottom spring holding the battery in will get hot and collapse, causing the batty to lose contact with the switch.

Replaced the atty, got out the little needle nosed pliers and extended the switch again. Whew...I was afraid that I'd have to go without my favorite mod for a week or two.

Don't you just love stories with a happy ending?

 

[Goldenkobold]

Nice little safety feature on the grand, and presumably the mini. Tried another atty on the grand which wouldn't vape, and the battery fell out, something that's never happened before.

Upon careful examination, I discovered that another mod (cough, ggts, cough) had impaled the atty and short circuited it. Basically, if there's a short the bottom spring holding the battery in will get hot and collapse, causing the batty to lose contact with the switch.

Replaced the atty, got out the little needle nosed pliers and extended the switch again. Whew...I was afraid that I'd have to go without my favorite mod for a week or two.

Don't you just love stories with a happy ending?

That is a nice feature.
Do you think the battery is reusable? At that point I would be wary of it I think.

 

[clyde2801]

Yep, still using it. I'll keep an eye on it, though.

 

[jcamacho]

I've had a few issues but Rob is taking care of it, very nice guy.

 

[clyde2801]

What's up with yours, machete man?

 

[clyde2801]

Well, my big- bottle of 36mg 100% VG, with aggressive throat hit, got in from vapor-renu this morning. One effing quart, thank you very much.

Threw some into my grand bottle, threw in some bananas foster (yum) and my brand new Reo atty quit on me. Tried cleaning it out, nothing. Reo mentioned that his last batch of attys from east mall were rubbish, and was expecting some improved ones soon. Yeah, I've got a stockpile, and they're only $5, but it's still discouraging for me to quickly pop an atty. Still scratching my head over that, since Reo uses 100% vg juice, so the rig and atty should handle it with no problems, right?

You know, I may have to look over some recipes and stuff for DIY juices. Maybe check on that iphone ejuice app.

Anyhou, put on a new LR 510 carto from vaporkings, and it doesn't have an issue with my first batch of juice. Thick, rich tasty vape...oww mah gawd! Some decent throat hit with a nice long inhale, even when using 100% vg and a very delicate flavor. I don't think I was getting so much vape out my avs at 7.4v. Seriously, I can fill the room with fog in four or five deep exhales.

The carto method remains the same, invert the mod and give it a good, slow squeeze until vape stops rolling out of the mouthpiece.

Again, I am seriously considering just going with cartos for a while with this mod. Cheaper, great vape, and I think more durable than attys-at least for me. I can also hit this just as hard as an atty and chain vape with this technique.

I'll get some time one of these days and go over the diy recipes and techniques for mixing juice. Until then, I'll stay just where I'm at...I'm enjoying it way too frakkin' much.

 

[clyde2801]

World's dullest followup continues. Still loving the mod. Decent throat hit with a nice, slow inhale, and incredible taste. Bit of a nice, sweet banana pudding aftertaste on the tip of my tongue. Incredible vape production. No issues with the cartos at all. Haven't had one die on me just yet. The cartos don't have quite the TH from a normal inhale as the LR attys, but they do allow for a long, slow.....flavorful draw. Crap, I don't know if I can go back to attys!

Followed bighitter's advice from the never ending thread and found a household portable steam cleaner to clean my attys with. Prolonged blast of steam opens 'em right up, vent holes and all. Brought 3 attys back from the dead with this method. BH recommended a bissell...now on sale for $19.99 at lowe's, but the wife had a shark under the counter. (Free beats twenty bucks in my book.)

Contentedly vaping my head off and enjoying the hell out of this mod.

 

[rockyroad]

good to hear Clyde and yes! please keep rubbing it in to those of us who will probably never be able to get one! I was emailing Robert with requests for a "GRAND" and it seemed as if he was too busy and stretched way too thin, which I can respect so I just said let's put it on hold for a day when you can breath. Serious though I like the fact that you keep us (or me) informed about the device as time goes by.

 

[sosolidgold]

good to hear Clyde and yes! please keep rubbing it in to those of us who will probably never be able to get one! I was emailing Robert with requests for a "GRAND" and it seemed as if he was too busy and stretched way too thin, which I can respect so I just said let's put it on hold for a day when you can breath. Serious though I like the fact that you keep us (or me) informed about the device as time goes by.

i second that! thanks clyde for giving us updates

 

[clyde2801]

Redeyedancer may start changing how he sells mods, thanks to the Grand feeding frenzy and the after effects. He'll probably start just assembling mods piecemeal (rather than 100 at a time) and start putting them up on his site when they're done.

May be easier to get a metal reo with this method. May not get the color you want...but the ascetics of this mod is a secondary consideration to how it vapes day in and day out. If you see the reo mod you want get it now; you may be able to trade with another owner later on to get the color you want.

 

[Big Hitter]

Thanks for the keeping up the thread clyde.... and thanks for the props on the steam cleaning method

 

[clyde2801]

Oh, no no no no. Thank YOU for suggesting it.

Though it may not really be relevant for me personally now. I'm just enjoying the living crap out of my LR carto on the Grand. Nice vape, and it really shines when taking a nice, long slow inhale. I don't think I can kill one of these things, especially with VG juice. Not even remotely worried about popping one like an atty, I can vape with impunity.

Going to take the time to drop by Sterno's this morning...he's going to set me up with some carmel kicker/virginia gold mixture that he's crazy about.

Started low carb again Saturday morning, and it seems I'm craving sweeter fruit and food flavors instead of old fashioned tobacco stuff. Wife was wondering if vaping these flavors could help those on a diet, too.

 

[clyde2801]

Howdy, redeyedancer. I see you!

 

[Big Hitter]

Oh, no no no no. Thank YOU for suggesting it.

Going to take the time to drop by Sterno's this morning...he's going to set me up with some carmel kicker/virginia gold mixture that he's crazy about.

Hmm wonder how it tastes mixed with Boba's ??

I've mixed the caramel kicker with his apple and its GREAT.