Sigeli T Max-first thoughts

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the_vape_nerd

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These seem like a just released item and when I looked I couldn't find any reviews on them. So while this isn't going to be a complete long term user review I will try to give out some facts about the device for those considering this purchase. I may give a more complete review later on and will hope Busuardo does a review.

Price- I got mine at vapor alley for about $80. I've seen a deal on vapor joes though for $67. Don't know if it is still good but check there first. Even at $80, I feel the device is worth it- see below.

Size- You can read the site for the dimensions etc., but I'm here to tell you that for a box mod I feel this thing is huge. I've got a vv gripper and an iTaste MVP. It dwarfs both. It's about the size of a flask you might sneak into a college football game. It's also fairly heavy. They claim it's made of stainless steel and from the weight, I don't doubt it. Once the batteries are in the thing it's pretty weighty. It's the heaviest device I own. For those of you wanting a pocketable device, this might not be for you. I figure I have pretty average size hands for a guy and it's a decent fit in mine. If you are say a woman with small hands, it might not be a good fit.

Batteries- It's designed to work with an 18650 or an 18350. There are two battery compartments here for the respective battery sizes. How it works is, only one of the caps is spring-loaded so you can just switch the caps to use the other battery. The concept of spare battery on-board storage is a neat feature. Vapor Alley advised getting flat top batteries. I did buy a few 18350s from them and the device works well with them, but I also had some 18650 with a button top (Tenergy 2200s) that fit and worked as well. One thing I don't like about this facet of the device is that the end caps, while chrome in color appear to be plastic with a coating. This creates a weak point in vital function area of the device. I also had a bit of trouble getting them to thread in properly. If you get one, go slow and maybe use some noalox or vaseline.

510 and Ego Connection- It has both. Putting a stardust type clearo in sort of countersinks it a bit for a nice look. There's also a fairly large overflow reservoir in there for you sloppy drippers. I haven't needed to clean that out yet but it seems fairly easy to q tip liquids up.

Sigeli Menu- The lcd interface is nice. It has 8 menu options and I won't list them all here but there are also some sub menus. This is where you change voltage or wattage, figure out battery charge etc. I have never owned a Sigeli device before some I'm a bit unfamiliar with how it all works. Some playing around allowed me to change the voltage but I need to look into this further. It doesn't come with any kind of instruction manual so if anyone reading this has a link to it, I'd appreciate you hooking up a vape brother. There's one feature that is noticeably absent (or maybe I just haven't found it yet) but that is I couldn't find and onboard ohm meter.

Finish and looks-I ordered the dark blue color. It does have a certain bling factor to it. The finish is not rubberized like say an ego or the VV gripper. And while it is a shiny type blue color it isn't a fingerprint magnet. It's more like a brushed finish. Overall, I'd say it looks pretty classy but then again my wife says it looks absurd. Eye of the beholder I guess but if you take it to say a bar, it's going to be a conversation starter for sure.

Performance- It's a VV/VW device. I didn't take a meter out or anything and do any checking of the output, but it fired everything pretty nicely and in the way I might expect. I tried about 6 different delivery systems on it and it seems to work pretty well.

Pros/Cons- On the pro side I'd say, for the money the overall build quality is high (except the plastic end caps), it has a nice lcd interface and appears to have all the current bells and whistels one would expect in an APV these days, I think it looks really neat, it has on-board spare battery storage, vapes well and offers some flexibility in battery type. On the con side, it's almost too heavy, isn't really pocketable and then there are those end caps.

Conclusion- For the money, it's a good value especially if you can get it for 67$.
 

t8kiteasy

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I am thinking about getting in on a pre-order for the 18650-18350 T-Max at exhalevapors for $67.18.I have a couple box MODs already and still not sure i want another yet.I have heard it is built like a tank and i do like the form factor which is swaying me towards pulling the trigger for it.Missing the ohm reader really sucks,i would have thought that would have been a given for this particular device??I also have the metallic groove(SS in four colors so far) pre-order in mind too for $54.00 at vaportekusa.Both being box MODs the only difference is non removable batt in the groove(has usb charge port and 3800mah batt pack),and it has resistance check.I prefer where the button placement is on the T-Max over the Groove.Hopefully there will be some reviews popping up on both shortly?
 

madstabber

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anyone know where i can find some written instructions...i mean i kind of know how to work it but kind of not

would like to see what the instructions are...if there are any

On the vapor alley site if you click on the sigelei zmax and scroll down there is a clickable HERE for instructions on the menu system which I believe is the same for both devices. I hope that helps.
 

the_vape_nerd

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Plastic battery caps?!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

its my opinion that yes they are plastic but coated with like a chrome colored film

why they would go to all the trouble of building the box out of stainless steel and then give us plastic end caps is baffling to me...i would have paid the extra $5 for metal end caps
 

Baditude

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its my opinion that yes they are plastic but coated with like a chrome colored film

why they would go to all the trouble of building the box out of stainless steel and then give us plastic end caps is baffling to me...i would have paid the extra $5 for metal end caps

Does seem strange, doesn't it? Probably a cost saving move. The price for milling a stainless steel cap with some quality threading might have pushed the final cost up another $25, and considering that the TMax uses TWO caps could push the price up to $50 for both.

This brings up an interesting question. Why two battery size options? And why two battery compartments? Why not just go with the single 18650 battery for all day use, eliminate the "spare" 18350 battery space altogether and make the device more pocket-worthy?

I get the feeling that the designers were not completely in sinc with this device. First they release photos of a prototype that uses only an 18350 battery - this generates very little enthusiasm from the vaping community for a relatively underpowered battery considering the overall size of the prototype. Segelei listens to the feedback, holds up production to reconsider their design. The result is an even larger device that uses both the original 18350 AND the 18650 batteries. :blink::facepalm:

segelei_Tmax.JPG
Thanks for a very nice review of the Segelei TMax by the way. :thumb:
 
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muzichead

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Does seem strange, doesn't it? Probably a cost saving move. The price for milling a stainless steel cap with some quality threading might have pushed the final cost up another $25, and considering that the TMax uses TWO caps could push the price up to $50 for both.

This brings up an interesting question. Why two battery size options? And why two battery compartments? Why not just go with the single 18650 battery for all day use, eliminate the "spare" 18350 battery space altogether and make the device more pocket-worthy?

I get the feeling that the designers were not completely in sinc with this device. First they release photos of a prototype that uses only an 18350 battery - this generates very little enthusiasm from the vaping community for a relatively underpowered battery considering the overall size of the prototype. Segelei listens to the feedback, holds up production to reconsider their design. The result is an even larger device that uses both the original 18350 AND the 18650 batteries. :blink::facepalm:

View attachment 207310
Thanks for a very nice review of the Segelei TMax by the way. :thumb:

Actually, the original design was to be used with a single 16340 battery... Two things put me off of this device. First is it the same board that has failed in quite a few other VV/VW APV's of late!!! Second is, did they really leave the end caps sticking out like the picture shows? This is a problem, (especially if they are plastic), and would be prone to breaking if not handled properly. What were they thinking? Were they thinking at all? The answer to that could probably be answered in $$$$.... In my opinion, they have made way too much money off this community for sub-par devices!! When are they going to make a quality product??????
 

DPLongo22

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I should expand on that. I actually LOVE the design (look, feel, etc.), and was VERY bummed out that it did NOT perform they way everyone posted that the ZMAX family did. I expected the equivalent of a ProVari, for a lot less money.

Silly me.

The only reason it's not posted classy yet, is because I DO like it so much. Physically, at least. So, the question is, do I keep something that I only like to look at, and play with in my hands? I've been dumped by a few girls on the very same basis, so I'm inclined to say "No!".
 
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