SXmini M Class (TEMP CONTROL)

[TruSound]

A couple days ago I posted my guess on what the new finish is on the m class, it definitely has the look and feel of Cerakote...I'm now changing that opinion, one of the bottom front corners is beginning to show signs of wear and I can see metal showing through, it's very slight but it's there none the less, so I don't think it's a Cerakote finish, there's no way Cerakote or similar ceramic finish would have worn off in just a couple days, I carry it in an empty pocket, no loose change or anything else has touched it...I highly recommend a silicone sleeve or wrap ASAP.

 

[Quantum Mech]

Think it might be wise to keep mine in the leather pouch

It protects the bottom not just the sides

Only just arrived & don't fancy before the novelty of new wears off the paint does

 

[Yerba]

So I had to contact Cherry@Yihi about the paint in my Mini. After a couple of pics and video showing how I can scratch the paint off with my fingernail, she/he sent me a code and told me to get in touch with Varitube to get a replacement. That was easy and fast, not the same with Varitube; sent an email about a week ago, nothing/nada/zero response. Another one a couple of hours ago. Gotta leave the country in 3 weeks and would hate not taking the SX with me. Does anybody knows of another way of contact them but E-mail? There's nothing in their web page. Thanks

 

[druckle]

So I had to contact Cherry@Yihi about the paint in my Mini. After a couple of pics and video showing how I can scratch the paint off with my fingernail, she/he sent me a code and told me to get in touch with Varitube to get a replacement. That was easy and fast, not the same with Varitube; sent an email about a week ago, nothing/nada/zero response. Another one a couple of hours ago. Gotta leave the country in 3 weeks and would hate not taking the SX with me. Does anybody knows of another way of contact them but E-mail? There's nothing in their web page. Thanks

My personal feeling is that any normal paint on the zinc die casting used in the SXM will continue to be a problem. I've decided to use J wraps or silicone sleeves on all mine. If they switched to aluminum/anodized that would solve the problem as would a thick resin coating or maybe Cerakote. To me chasing returns for another paint job is likely to be fruitless.


Duane

 

[Taowulf]

I also talked to Yihi about the paint wear on the bottom of the M Class. I've decided to let it go and get a wrap from Vaporskinz in the near future. Just need to find a design I like as much as the they adapted for my Sigeli 150W

 

[HolmanGT]

My personal feeling is that any normal paint on the zinc die casting used in the SXM will continue to be a problem. I've decided to use J wraps or silicone sleeves on all mine. If they switched to aluminum/anodized that would solve the problem as would a thick resin coating or maybe Cerakote. To me chasing returns for another paint job is likely to be fruitless.


Duane

I agree with you Duane but do you have any idea why they used zinc in the the first place.

My older stainless steel attys look as good now as they did the day I got them. Even anodized aluminum would wear with time but nothing like I am hearing about the SX paint job.

As far as Yerba's comment about scratching the paint off with a fingernail. Well mine isn't scratched (knock on wood) but it has a soft rubbery feel and my opinion is that if I took a fingernail to it I would have no problem scratching the paint off.

Oh one general question to you and anyone else is why out of the blue are all these new mods coming out with painted surfaces opposed to SS or anodized?

 

[TruSound]

Silicone sleeve just arrived from Ginger Vapes, looks great right now…it likely won't in a couple of weeks, it's much to loose a fit around the bottom perimeter and it'll end up looking like the silicone case I've seen on many smartphones after a short while, the edges will be all streched and floppy, but for now it's fine, I'll likely install a JWrap when the silicone gets to loose, the maker of these sleeves should have definitely tightened them up for a much more snug fit.

 

[TruSound]

My personal feeling is that any normal paint on the zinc die casting used in the SXM will continue to be a problem. I've decided to use J wraps or silicone sleeves on all mine. If they switched to aluminum/anodized that would solve the problem as would a thick resin coating or maybe Cerakote. To me chasing returns for another paint job is likely to be fruitless.


Duane

Definitely agree with you Duane, protect it and forget it.

 

[druckle]

I agree with you Duane but do you have any idea why they used zinc in the the first place.

My older stainless steel attys look as good now as they did the day I got them. Even anodized aluminum would wear with time but nothing like I am hearing about the SX paint job.

As far as Yerba's comment about scratching the paint off with a fingernail. Well mine isn't scratched (knock on wood) but it has a soft rubbery feel and my opinion is that if I took a fingernail to it I would have no problem scratching the paint off.

Oh one general question to you and anyone else is why out of the blue are all these new mods coming out with painted surfaces opposed to SS or anodized?

Well, zinc die castings are cheaper to produce than aluminum die castings and they give MUCH greater precision. If a complex shape such as the SXM was machined from a bar of aluminum it would cost a lot more. So I have no doubt that some engineer was assigned the job of producing good precision and the minimum price and he did his job well. Unfortunately the next line up the design chain either didn't think about the paint durability issues and the cost of returns/complaints. Engineering any product takes someone with a very wide view to approve or reject the decisions of his folks. It's almost always a management issue when this sort of thing occurs.

As to why paint...you know as well as I do George. CHEAP

Duane

 

[Yozhik]

Silicone sleeve just arrived from Ginger Vapes, looks great right now…it likely won't in a couple of weeks, it's much to loose a fit around the bottom perimeter and it'll end up looking like the silicone case I've seen on many smartphones after a short while, the edges will be all streched and floppy, but for now it's fine, I'll likely install a JWrap when the silicone gets to loose, the maker of these sleeves should have definitely tightened them up for a much more snug fit.

Mine is too snug. I know it will stretch-out in time, but right now I have to keep pulling it down to fit right.

 

[druckle]

I agree with you Duane but do you have any idea why they used zinc in the the first place.

My older stainless steel attys look as good now as they did the day I got them. Even anodized aluminum would wear with time but nothing like I am hearing about the SX paint job.

As far as Yerba's comment about scratching the paint off with a fingernail. Well mine isn't scratched (knock on wood) but it has a soft rubbery feel and my opinion is that if I took a fingernail to it I would have no problem scratching the paint off.

Oh one general question to you and anyone else is why out of the blue are all these new mods coming out with painted surfaces opposed to SS or anodized?

There's this other issue on why to go quick and cheap George....
What do you think the user lifetime is for a mod now days when something more enticing comes along and the old ones get retired to a closet shelf? I bet it's not very long. I don't approve of the approach but I can imagine a buck chaser might choose to go that way on purpose.

Duane

 

[HolmanGT]

Well, zinc die castings are cheaper to produce than aluminum die castings and they give MUCH greater precision. If a complex shape such as the SXM was machined from a bar of aluminum it would cost a lot more. So I have no doubt that some engineer was assigned the job of producing good precision and the minimum price and he did his job well. Unfortunately the next line up the design chain either didn't think about the paint durability issues and the cost of returns/complaints. Engineering any product takes someone with a very wide view to approve or reject the decisions of his folks. It's almost always a management issue when this sort of thing occurs.

As to why paint...you know as well as I do George. CHEAP

Duane

"As to why paint...you know as well as I do George. CHEAP" - Well yeah but I didn't really want to hear it.

 

[Yozhik]

Well, zinc die castings are cheaper to produce than aluminum die castings and they give MUCH greater precision. If a complex shape such as the SXM was machined from a bar of aluminum it would cost a lot more. So I have no doubt that some engineer was assigned the job of producing good precision and the minimum price and he did his job well. Unfortunately the next line up the design chain either didn't think about the paint durability issues and the cost of returns/complaints. Engineering any product takes someone with a very wide view to approve or reject the decisions of his folks. It's almost always a management issue when this sort of thing occurs.

As to why paint...you know as well as I do George. CHEAP

Duane

Paint is also one of the harder things to control for a manufacturer. Rarely is it done in house, because the expertise and volume required makes it too expensive. So after the part is milled/stamped/whatever, it's sent off to paint, at which point the manufacturer gets to review it. It's easy to spot mechanical problems, but the paint's durability is harder to assess.

 

[HolmanGT]

There's this other issue on why to go quick and cheap George....
What do you think the user lifetime is for a mod now days when something more enticing comes along and the old ones get retired to a closet shelf? I bet it's not very long. I don't approve of the approach but I can imagine a buck chaser might choose to go that way on purpose.

Duane

Well my gut tells me you are spot on Duane but you would think there comes a point in such short like cycles that the Engineering and re-tooling cost have to take their toll on the bottom line.

 

[druckle]

Well my gut tells me you are spot on Duane but you would think there comes a point in such short like cycles that the Engineering and re-tooling cost have to take their toll on the bottom line.

I'm sure it does take a toll on the bottom line...but if the competition is putting out a new whizbang...what choice is there? Compete or die!

 

[SF0059]

Just put a Vapor Wrapz on mine after the black started disentigrating. Didn't feel like sending it back to VapinArt when even the newer units seem to have fragile paint. Here it is with the Velocity on top...

I also talked to Yihi about the paint wear on the bottom of the M Class. I've decided to let it go and get a wrap from Vaporskinz in the near future. Just need to find a design I like as much as the they adapted for my Sigeli 150W

 

[footbag]

Begin Rant...

USPS 2-day !

End rant.

SX Mini should be here tomorrow!

 

[dannyben]

Let us know how those LG HG2 perform. The LG HE4 work pretty well for me, but I'm always up for something better.

Too soon to tell, but I just hit 10K Joules running @ 30J 450 degrees and standard mode. Barely a dent in the battery meter.

 

[dannyben]

Silicone sleeve just arrived from Ginger Vapes, looks great right now…it likely won't in a couple of weeks, it's much to loose a fit around the bottom perimeter and it'll end up looking like the silicone case I've seen on many smartphones after a short while, the edges will be all streched and floppy, but for now it's fine, I'll likely install a JWrap when the silicone gets to loose, the maker of these sleeves should have definitely tightened them up for a much more snug fit.

Like @Yozhik, mine is a pretty tight fit. Still after a week+.
I'd be more concerned with a wrap on this unit. Especially with the paint issues. Guarantee we're going to see a bunch of posts in the next few weeks of people taking their wrap off and 1/2 the paint coming off with it. And I am sure will void the warranty.

Shame is for $200 we need to cover our unit in the first place.

 

[TruSound]

Didn't think about the paint peel, good call.