Vandy Vape Berserker 1.5 MTL Problems and Solutions

[iVapeDIY]

As a die-hard flavor-chaser, I've been rotating between three 22mm atties: Serpent Mini 22mm, Goblin Mini v3 and Oumier Whitebone Mini. All have performed admirably with the Oumier having the least condensation. I recently acquired this atty based on rave reviews and am regretting it from day one.

• Problem #1: Draw too tight. Even at the largest setting, 1.8mm, I struggled to get a satisfying vape. Solution: Remove air flow control (AFC) ring. Looks ugly, but now all the holes are drawing air in. It is Ok, but it is still not enough to get an airy MTL draw.

• Problem #2: Dry hits. Wicking specifications are unforgiving. Solution: Precisely keep wicks barely touching end of well and ensure wick is properly thinned out as many have demonstrated.

• Problem #3: So-so flavor. An inner diameter (ID) of 2.5mm is typical and pales in comparison to any of the classic atties I've been rotating. Solution: Maximize micro coil. A 26ga, 3.0mm ID with 8 wraps, ~ 1.1 ohms, curving on the deck, generated excellent results - both in flavor and vapor volume. Unfortunately, 3.0mm is the maximum clearance. Using 24ga invites a short.

• Problem #4: Heat. The default drip tip's heatsink easily comes in contact with lips and mouth. Solution: Use the supplied delrin drip tip (black, one piece) or your own drip tip.

• Problem #5: Cannot disassemble deck for cleaning. Toxic acrolein and aldehydes (aka 'gunk') accumulate at peek insulator and air intakes; it cannot be cleaned directly. Only the 510 pin can be unscrewed and cleaned. Solution: Unscrew pin, soak deck and thoroughly rinse deck every time coil is changed (and/ or use sonic cleaner); if you chain-vape custards and/ or pastries, this can mean weekly (or even daily).

• Problem #6: Juice contamination. Toxic acrolein and aldehydes (aka 'gunk') accumulate on coil and contaminates e-juice (backwash) after consuming 10ml-20ml (faster with coffee, chocolate and complex pastry juices). Flavor is radically degraded with the contaminants. Unlike old-school (leaky) tanks that isolate gunk in a pool around bottom air intake (which can be blown out), contaminants dissolve into fresh e-juice refills. Solution: Thorough and frequent cleaning (see Problem #5)

With a lot of effort I can now enjoy this atty. However, if I knew all these issues in advance, I wouldn't have bought this atty. Buyer Beware!

If anyone has a way of disassembling the apparent press fit construction of airflow segment, please post solution. TIA

 

[AngeNZ]

I'm in the airy mtl bracket also, along with a couple of other ECF members @NolaMel and @Opinionated . My perfect draw is a 2.5mm id airflow hole. Like you, I also love the 22mm serpent mini RTA

So far flavour RTAs in the bracket we've tried are the Cthulhu Hastur mtl RTA, 24mm Silver play RTA and the Damn Vape Fresia RTA (some ppl are getting vapour lock with the Fresia).

Other flavour RTAs include the Evl Reaper RTA, hussar project x and the mtl dvarw RTA.

 

[iVapeDIY]

Vandy Vape berserker 1.5 24mm with modded airflow

Drilled aperture under coil. Now MTL draw is more relaxed and flavor has improved significantly.

Ther PEEK insulator assembly can be disassembled by unscrewing the gold-plated 510 screw and its housing underneath.

 

[VAP8]

Am also having trouble retiring my Serpent mini, which would give me 3~5 days of enjoyable vape between re-wickings, was easy to wick in a few minutes, and never backwashed. Only issues I had with it was capacity too small and leaks / condensation when time to re-wick.
With the beserker, capacity is more or less the same, no trouble with wicking, but I get metallic and mouth drying vapour. It is indeed a very flavoured vape, but a rather weird one, not enjoyable. I did thoroughly wash the tank and soaked it in 90 proof alcohol before first use. I attribute this more to this RTA not being made for my juice (Halo Tribeca), or vice versa.
I also like looser MTL draws, so I carved the biggest hole and its cover to be bigger (with a Swiss army knife) and that solved it. I tried to make it work for 3 weeks and gave up.

 

[Tinksfloppyears]

I'm new to rebuildables, just built my first one on this device a half hour ago. 8 wraps 2.5 diameter using 28 g 316l SS, ohms out at .88.

So far I couldn't be happier. But for sure wicking is tricky, and we'll see how well it works in the long run.
I like the tight draw, so I can't complain on that, the largest is pretty much spot on for me.

I made the mistake of trying brand new juice with a brand new tank so I can't vouch for the flavor so much, but the throat hit and nicotine hit in general is banging. Using 25mg Pacha Mama Fuji salt nic e-liquid.

cheers

 

[JJOOHHNN]

I am loving the Berserker Mini 1.5.

 

[Tinksfloppyears]

I am loving the Berserker Mini 1.5.

How often do you find you need to re-wick?

 

[JJOOHHNN]

How often do you find you need to re-wick?

I have not needed to yet. I did rewick several times just to see how consistent I could be.

 

[Tinksfloppyears]

I have not needed to yet. I did rewick several times just to see how consistent I could be.

wow, how long have you had the same wick? I vape pretty consistently throughout the day, I work an office job so I'm out on a break close to every hour or so for a good 5 minute vape. I've found my wicks getting pretty wrecked within a day or so. A little disapointing, but I'm not sure if thats the norm or unique to my vaping style.

 

[JJOOHHNN]

wow, how long have you had the same wick? I vape pretty consistently throughout the day, I work an office job so I'm out on a break close to every hour or so for a good 5 minute vape. I've found my wicks getting pretty wrecked within a day or so. A little disapointing, but I'm not sure if thats the norm or unique to my vaping style.

This will be only the third day since I got it. I do normally use different devices. The stuff I use at home makes good paperweights. I got it for one of my portability set ups. I am loving it but it will not be used as much as some other devices.

I have decided I am gong to get the larger version for home.

 

[Tabac man]

wow, how long have you had the same wick? I vape pretty consistently throughout the day, I work an office job so I'm out on a break close to every hour or so for a good 5 minute vape. I've found my wicks getting pretty wrecked within a day or so. A little disapointing, but I'm not sure if thats the norm or unique to my vaping style.

Yeah depends on your vaping style and juices. Menthol can last me a week at a time but my main tobacco needs a new wick daily. Well it doesn't need it but I do it. Flavour starts to get a bit off and the wick and coil look like I've cleaned me boots with it.

 

[Tinksfloppyears]

Yeah depends on your vaping style and juices. Menthol can last me a week at a time but my main tobacco needs a new wick daily. Well it doesn't need it but I do it. Flavour starts to get a bit off and the wick and coil look like I've cleaned me boots with it.

Aint that the truth. I use salt-nics with lots of sweetener, and dang, they get gummed up real quick. Flavor is amazing for the majority of the first day, but come evening time when I'm vaping more and more, it'll start to discolor the fluid, and lose flavor a bit. I'm working on utilizing temp-control, experimenting to see if it'll preserve wicks a day or so longer.

 

[AngeNZ]

Aint that the truth. I use salt-nics with lots of sweetener, and dang, they get gummed up real quick. Flavor is amazing for the majority of the first day, but come evening time when I'm vaping more and more, it'll start to discolor the fluid, and lose flavor a bit. I'm working on utilizing temp-control, experimenting to see if it'll preserve wicks a day or so longer.

I'm another sweet juice lover. Temp control should help a bit, but I've also found different types of cotton make a huge difference too.

Rayon (cellulose) lasts the longest, however as rayon shrinks when juiced, you need to use a lot more in the coil than cotton, then thin out your tails. It's not a poke, cut, shove wicking job like cotton is

I've been using Cotton Bacon Prime lately and found it has been lasting a lot longer than muji pads. Native wicks is also a really good longer lasting cotton

 

[RayofLight62]

Got the 1.5. I like a cigarette style MTL, with 18 mg liquid, and the RTA is good the way it is.
But I didn't use it for long, because even if flavorful, and me using low residue e-liquids, the taste is not the one espected.
I solved the problem with a Kayfun Prime.

 

[Zazie]

I'm not madly impressed with the 1.5, but that's mainly because it's a tad too tight for me at its most open setting.

 

[KurtVD]

Aint that the truth. I use salt-nics with lots of sweetener, and dang, they get gummed up real quick. Flavor is amazing for the majority of the first day, but come evening time when I'm vaping more and more, it'll start to discolor the fluid, and lose flavor a bit. I'm working on utilizing temp-control, experimenting to see if it'll preserve wicks a day or so longer.

I have the Berserker Mini (which was replaced by the 1.5, I think they are quite similar), and I use temp. control, but I have to clean my wick and coil daily (see below) if I want to avoid juice contamination. I use pretty sweet juices.

Problem #6: Juice contamination. Toxic acrolein and aldehydes (aka 'gunk') accumulate on coil and contaminates e-juice (backwash) after consuming 10ml-20ml (faster with coffee, chocolate and complex pastry juices). Flavor is radically degraded with the contaminants. Unlike old-school (leaky) tanks that isolate gunk in a pool around bottom air intake (which can be blown out), contaminants dissolve into fresh e-juice refills. Solution: Thorough and frequent cleaning (see Problem #5)

I have found that it's enough to just unscrew the deck and give it a quick rinse, without even changing the wick. You can only rinse it softly, if you don't want to damage or move around the cotton, but even like that it cleans up nicely, you'd be surprised. And it only takes a minute. After that you're going to have to be careful (lower the wattage or temperature) until the water is vaporised and the wick is saturated with juice again, but there will be no more juice contamination.

 

[TrollDragon]

The only problem I have with the Berserker V1.5 24mm is getting it apart to fill. I like to fill it by removing the base as it holds more liquid, but the o-ring really grabs onto the tank section. They should have used silicone o-rings for easier removal so I'm going to see if I have one in my stash that fits.

 

[KurtVD]

The only problem I have with the Berserker V1.5 24mm is getting it apart to fill. I like to fill it by removing the base as it holds more liquid, but the o-ring really grabs onto the tank section. They should have used silicone o-rings for easier removal so I'm going to see if I have one in my stash that fits.

I have the same problem with my Berserker Minis, especially one of them is impossible to get apart without something to grip it (I use rubber gloves)

 

[iVapeDIY]

I've found my wicks getting pretty wrecked within a day or so.

The backwash accelerates having to rewick ... once a day (6ml to 9ml) ... now treat my Berserker as a backup. Wish I spent for a clone instead to learn from experimentation.

I solved the problem with a Kayfun Prime.

May get a KayFun Prime clone (SYK or YFTK) for experimentation.

 

[iVapeDIY]

if I want to avoid juice contamination. I use pretty sweet juices.

I love chocolate, coffee, custard and complex pastries ... pretty much all heavy duty coil gunkers