Tag: Vaping Diaries

Super-T Manufacturing’s Precise Simplicity 18650 features impeccable craftsmanship, like many of the company’s other products. Unlike other products in the Super-T lineup, the Precise Simplicity 18650 is relatively inexpensive and easy to acquire. In my opinion, Super-T is the best manufacturer of mechanical mods in America. The Precise Simplicity 18650 is finely crafted, performs well, and priced low, making it one of the best deals in mechanical mods today.

Build Quality and Construction: The Precise Simplicity 18650’s body and caps are made from stainless steel. The mod is lightweight and sturdy. It has adjustable brass contacts that are coated with palladium. According to Super-T, the coating, “Will never oxidize or corrode making for reliable consistent firing without the need for constant sanding and cleaning!” For vapers, that means high performance and low maintenance. One reason the Precise Simplicity line is cheaper than other Super-T products is that it uses palladium instead of rhodium. Although the palladium coating is cheaper than rhodium, very few manufacturers offer either as a coating option.

Like Super-T’s other mods, the Precise Simplicity 18650’s construction is exceptional. The lines are clean and the threads are silky smooth. When taking the mod apart, it’s hard not to admire its machining. The workmanship is extremely impressive — some of the best you’ll ever see in vaping.

One possible downside of the mod’s exactness and precision construction is that it can be annoying to vapers that use different brands and types of batteries. To get an exact fit that’s free of battery rattle, the Precise Simplicity 18650 uses different O-rings and washers. Out of the box, it’s fitted for AM IMR protected batteries. I currently have mine set up for Sony 18650 VTC3 batteries, which are relatively small flat-tops. If I want to use a slightly larger AM IMR 18650 button-top, there’s an aesthetically unpleasing gap. The performance is fine, but the gap takes away from the mod’s look. Again, this is a minor problem that’s only an issue for vapers that use different types and brands of batteries.

Aside from that minor issue, the Precise Simplicity 18650’s build quality and construction are tremendous.

Ergonomics and Design: The main body of the mod is grooved, which gives it a unique appearance and enhances grip. The top and bottom caps have a polished finish for contrast. The bottom cap has the “P” logo, which stands for my last name (and also Precise). While some people don’t like the grooved finish, I love it. It’s different and it doesn’t pick up fingerprints. Mod looks are a very subjective thing, but I feel that the Precise Simplicity 18650 is a beautiful mod that looks different from most of what’s out there.

Using the Precise Simplicity 18650 is a breeze. The default spring has a very light touch. The throw can be adjusted by using the included washers. I have it set up with four washers, for a feathery feel. The downside is that the mod has to be locked when not in use; it will fire if placed down while unlocked. Vapers that prefer a tighter feel and/or that want to be able to place their mod down while unlocked can purchase a heavier spring from Super-T.

One feature I particularly love about this mod is its locking mechanism. The bottom cap attaches to the main body with a screw, making it completely secure. With many mods that use a locking ring, it’s easy to unscrew the entire cap if you’re not being mindful. With the Precise Simplicity 18650’s design, that will never happen (unless you’re the Incredible Hulk).

Adjusting the Precise Simplicity 18650’s top pin can be done with a flathead screwdriver. While it’s not as mindless as using floating pins or self-adjusting pins, it’s relatively easy and the design helps cut down on voltage loss.

Performance: As expected, the Precise Simplicity 18650 is a great performer. It’s not the hardest-hitting mod I have or have used, but it’s up there. It’s the same deal with voltage loss, it’s very low, but I’ve used a few mods with lower voltage loss. The great news is that output and voltage loss are strong and will remain that way for a long, long time thanks to the mod’s palladium-coated contacts. Silver, copper, and gold are more conductive (in that order) than brass and palladium, but contacts using those materials require more maintenance.

Overall, I expect many vapers to be very happy with the Precise Simplicity 18650’s performance, while everyone will appreciate its low maintenance.

Verdict: The Precise Simplicity 18650 offers incredible craftsmanship, unique looks, and strong performance. It’s also backed by a lifetime warranty. It’s available for $134.99 (plus shipping), which is crazy low for a top-quality mod that’s made in the U.S.A. As I said in the intro, Super-T Manufacturing is the best mod maker in America and I think it’s up there with the best in the world. The Precise Simplicity 18650 is an excellent mod that’s comparable to or better than those in the $180-$250 price range. For $134.99, it’s a brilliant deal and I highly, highly recommend it.

Indigo Vapor gets a lot of hype for its tobacco juices, from fans of naturally-extracted tobaccos as well as fans of synthetic tobaccos. I recently vaped Indigo Vapor’s Indigo Classic, Indigo RY, and Captain Oohrah juices and was very, very impressed. The company serves up complex concoctions with tobacco bases that are cut above most lab-made tobacco e-liquids.

Indigo Vapor juices come in clear glass bottles with dripper caps. The bottles are secured with rubber bands and placed in bubble wrap. As an added bonus, you get lollipops with your Indigo Vapor e-liquids. As you know, lollipops are awesome.

The solid packaging job is a nice touch, but what’s most important are the juices themselves. These Indigo Vapor e-liquids are high-quality blends that exceeded my expectations. Read on for the flavor breakdowns and steeping notes.

Indigo Classic: A “classic” RY4 from an American e-liquid company is unusual; most offer “modern” RY4s that emphasize the sweet flavors. This is a classic RY4 that’s done well — very, very well in fact. It has a great tobacco taste that blends together nicely with the caramel and vanilla flavors. Unlike most American RY4s, this juice isn’t dominated by one particularly flavor. Instead, it blends together nicely for an enjoyably balanced vape. Those accustomed to modern RY4s might find the balance almost too good since the flavor isn’t in your face like with many Western RY4s. Those that enjoy classic RY4s will be very surprised that an American company pulled of an Asian-style RY4 so well.

This juice vapes very cleanly and is suitable for any type of juice delivery system. It tastes good fresh and starts to blossom after 10 days of steeping.

Indigo RY: While this juice has more in common with other Western RY4s, it still stands out for its quality and balance. It’s definitely sweeter than its sister juice, but not nearly as sweet as many American RY4s. The stronger caramel and vanilla flavors are complemented by a touch of cocoa, giving the juice a unique twist. The tobacco is very, very good. While I generally prefer Janty DK RY4 and RY4s made with naturally-extracted tobacco over Western RY4s, I very much enjoyed this Indigo Vapor juice. It’s easily one of the best modern RY4s I’ve had. It has elements that will appeal to fans of both classic and modern RY4s. Indigo Vapor did a great job at making Indigo RY a standout juice in a crowded market.

This juice vapes very cleanly and is suitable for any type of juice delivery system. It tastes good fresh and starts to blossom after 10 days of steeping.

Captain Oohrah: This tobacco e-liquid surprised me. I love juices made with naturally-extracted tobacco and have middling or low expectations for “lab-bacco” juices. Captain Oohrah is a wonderfully complex mix of Indigo Vapor’s Captain Ron and Oohrah juices. You get multiple tobaccos, banana, coconut, graham, cocoa, and more that mix together beautifully. The tobacco in this is so good that I could see some vapers mistaking it for a naturally-extracted tobacco blend. For me, the tobaccos were that stars of the show, but numerous complementary notes fused together for a very unique vape. While I greatly enjoyed all three of these Indigo Vapor juices, Captain Oohrah was my favorite and made me want to explore Indigo Vapor’s other tobacco offerings.

This juice vapes very cleanly and is suitable for any type of juice delivery system. It tastes good fresh and starts to blossom after 14 days of steeping.

Steeping Notes
On the advice of Wlad from Ahlusion, I’ve been trying a new steeping method starting December 27, 2012. When the e-liquids arrive, I leave them uncapped for five minutes. Previously, I left them uncapped for about two days. After the liquids are given a few minutes to oxidize, the caps are put back on. The bottles are shaken every day for at least two weeks before vaping.

Indigo Classic
50/50 PG/VG ratio, 6mg nicotine
Born On: May 22, 2013
Uncapped: May 24, 2013 5:11PM
Vaped: July 30 – August 7, 2013

Indigo RY
50/50 PG/VG ratio, 6mg nicotine
Born On: May 22, 2013
Uncapped: May 24, 2013 5:11PM
Vaped: July 30 – August 7, 2013

Captain Oohrah
50/50 PG/VG ratio, 6mg nicotine
Born On: May 22, 2013
Uncapped: May 24, 2013 5:11PM
Vaped: July 30 – August 7, 2013

Review Process (Updated February 17, 2013)
RPad.TV e-liquid reviews focus on the flavor of the e-liquids, since throat hit and vapor production can be altered by the PG/VG ratio and nicotine level selected. Each juice is vaped over a period of days in an atomizer, a cartomizer/tank setup, and a clearomizer. The exception is naturally-extracted tobacco (NET) juice; since those are known to clog up cartomizers quickly, those are vaped in atomizers and clearomizers.

The Phantom Mod v2 by AD Vaping has what many vapers have come to expect from Filipino mechanical mods — unique looks and strong performance. What it doesn’t have is a high price tag. In America, many Filipino mods costs between $180-$250 at retail. In the Philippines, the Phantom Mod v2 retails for 2,500 pesos, which is around $57. If you’ve always wanted a hard-hitting Pinoy mod but were put off by the prices then the Phantom Mod v2 could be just what you’re looking for. Here’s my rundown of the Phantom Mod v2 after using it for several weeks.

Build Quality and Construction: The Phantom Mod v2 is primarily made from stainless steel. The main tubes have a brushed finish, while the top and bottom caps have a polished finish. The upper tube has two vent holes to help heat dissipation. The main tubes have fine grooves, which give them a shiny appearance while warding off fingerprints.

The pins are made from copper, which is one of the best metals for conductivity. The upper-pin floats, allowing a wide variety of atomizers to sit flush on the mod. I used the Phantom Mod v2 with a Jeyps Nimbus, a Grand Vapor Trident, and a Kebo “The Russian” atomizers; all of them sit flush on the mod. Silver pins are available as a premium option for even higher performance. Unfortunately, I was not able to test the silver pins at this time.

The mod’s threads were mostly good. The top cap and the main body screwed in smoothly. The bottom cap was slightly rough, but totally acceptable considering the price.

The materials used to make this mod are great and the overall build quality is very good. The Phantom Mod v2 doesn’t have the cleanest lines and smoothest threads, but for the price you’re getting a lot of mod for your money.

Ergonomics and Design: The Phantom Mod v2 uses a telescoping design that accommodates batteries as small as 18350 and as large as 18650. It works with an Evolv Kick using 18350 or 18490 batteries. I used the mod with a relatively thin Sony 18650 VTC3 and a thicker Panasonic NCR18650B. The Panasonic battery can be too thick for some mechanical mods, but it worked in this one just fine.

The lower tube of the Phantom Mod v2 has an interesting design. Some people call it a “palm tree” shape, but I like to say that it’s ribbed…for your pleasure. The grooves make holding the mod easier for people that like to hit the firing button with their pinky finger. Personally, I think it looks cool and distinct. Practically, I don’t see the ribbing as a big help with ergonomics because…

…the mod’s firing button is tight. It uses a heavy spring, which makes for some firm action. Button action is subjective, so some people will like it and some people won’t. Although the spring loosened up a tiny bit after several weeks of use, the action was still on the heavy side. If you’re the kind of vaper that likes a firing button that requires a light touch then you probably won’t like using the Phantom Mod v2.

The Phantom Mod v2 doesn’t have a locking ring, but I found it wasn’t necessary considering that the button throw is long and the spring action is heavy. This is one of two mechs that I have that doesn’t have a locking ring and it’s nice to be able to mindlessly place a mod on a table without having to worry about it firing. You also don’t have to worry about the Phantom Mod v2 going off in your pocket, bag, or purse. Although it’s possible that it can fire under those conditions, it’s highly unlikely.

While I loved the appearance of the Phantom Mod v2’s brushed steel, the industrial design was merely okay for me. I found it generally attractive, but it didn’t wow me by any means. Design is totally subjective though; check out the images in the review video to see if this mod’s appearance works for you.

Performance: The Phantom Mod v2 hits fairly hard, which is expected from a mod that uses copper pins. Performance was strong using setups from 0.5 ohms to 1.2 ohms. There are many mods that hit harder, but most of those use more expensive pin materials and/or designs that limit voltage loss. For the price (there’s that line again), the Phantom Mod v2 offers quality performance.

Verdict: There’s a lot to love about the Phantom Mod v2. It’s made from quality materials, it has a unique design, and it performs well. With the large amount of Chinese clones flooding the market, it’s refreshing to see an original product that’s sold at an inexpensive price. If you’re looking for a starter mod and want to support an original maker or if you have a bunch of mods and are looking for a “beater” (i.e. drinking mod!) then the Phantom Mod v2 is a great choice. That’s the good news.

The bad news is that American retailers can get…creative with Phantom Mod v2 pricing. While it retails in the Philippines for roughly $57, don’t expect that price here. Of course retail markups and import costs are expected, but some retailers push the envelope a bit too far. $100 or so is a fair price for the Phantom Mod v2 in America. When it gets into the $120 to $140 range, that’s when the Phantom Mod v2’s value isn’t as great; you can get a nicer and better performing Pinoy mod for a little bit more money.

If you can find a Phantom Mod v2 for a $100 or less then I recommend picking one up. It’s a nice mod that offers good performance. While I have a bunch of nicer and more expensive mods in my arsenal, I use my Phantom Mod v2 a lot. It performs well and looks good, but it’s inexpensive enough that I don’t worry about dinging it up. For people that have moral issues with cloning (vaping products, not animals), you can feel good about your money supporting an original product from the original maker.

Earlier in the year, I reviewed three Highbrow Vapor e-liquids and was very impressed. I recently vaped three juices from Highbrow Vapor — Exotic Blend, Menthol, and Peach Thymbra — and the results were mixed. All three are high-quality juices and very distinct, but flavor-wise they were all over the place for me. That said, there’s a chance that all three could be what you’re looking for.

Highbrow Vapor e-liquids come in sturdy PET bottles, which I prefer over LDPE bottles. The bottles are covered in plastic and wrapping paper, tied together with decorative green string for a classy look. The package comes in a bubble-wrap envelope. The company does a good job at protecting the bottles while offering charming presentation. Highbrow Vapor juices are fairly priced at $15.00 for a 30ml bottle.

Here are the flavor breakdowns and steeping notes.

Exotic Blend: This is a cigarette-style tobacco e-liquid that’s very distinct, but also very polarizing. Exotic Blend is very much a love-it-or-hate-it juice. It’s almost like Highbrow Vapor tried to approximate the gruff ashiness of a burning tobacco cigarette. It offers an earthy flavor with a pine-seed taste. Most of the naturally-extracted tobacco e-liquids I enjoy use pipe or cigar tobaccos, so this one was definitely out of my wheelhouse. I thought I’d love Exotic Blends since I love tobacco e-liquids and have been very impressed with Highbrow Vapor. While this e-liquid is certainly unique, it’s not what I enjoy in a tobacco vape. Having said that, there are a lot of vapers that miss the “burning” taste of tobaccos cigarettes and this juice could be a great substitute for them.

This juice is moderately heavy on coils. You can vape it in a carto/tank, but don’t expect long life. A month or more of steeping helps cut down on the pine seed and gruff flavors.

Menthol: While Exotic Blend on its own wasn’t to my liking, I actually liked Menthol. It uses Exotic Blend with crushed menthol crystals. The menthol is strong and very refreshing, but it also counteracts some of the coarse qualities and the pine-seed flavor of Exotic Blend. It’s funny how an extra ingredient can change an entire recipe and that’s exactly what happened with Highbrow Vapor Menthol. It just had a better balance for my tastes. I didn’t love it, but I found it much more enjoyable that its sister juice. Again, this could possibly be a great choice for people that smoked menthol cigarettes and miss the “burning” taste.

Like its sister juice, Menthol is moderately heavy on coils. You can vape it in a carto/tank, but don’t expect long life. A month or more of steeping helps cut down on the pine seed and gruff flavors.

Peach Thymbra: After my first Highbrow Vapor review, my expectations for the company were pretty high. This juice exceeded those expectations. If you’ve read or watched my reviews then you know that I love natural peach flavors and dislike Gummi Rings peach flavors. Peach Thymbra is easily one of the best peach e-liquids I’ve ever had, with a slightly tangy, wonderfully clean, and utterly delicious peach taste. Highbrow Vapor makes this juice using a peach reduction, so it’s no wonder that the flavor is so accurate. This is an outstanding juice that I highly recommend to fan of natural fruit flavors.

Peach Thymbra vapes cleanly and is suitable for any kind of juice delivery system. The flavor is subtle out of the mail, but opens up after two weeks of steeping or more. Even then, it’s not an in-your-face juice, but a moderately sweet one (which I prefer). If you want in-your-face sweetness, there are options to up the amount of flavor used.

Steeping Notes
On the advice of Wlad from Ahlusion, I’ve been trying a new steeping method starting December 27, 2012. When the e-liquids arrive, I leave them uncapped for five minutes. Previously, I left them uncapped for about two days. After the liquids are given a few minutes to oxidize, the caps are put back on. The bottles are shaken every day for at least two weeks before vaping.

Exotic Blend
50/50 PG/VG ratio, 0mg nicotine
Mix Date: April 25, 2013
Uncapped: April 29, 2013 4:34PM
Vaped: July 14-30, 2013

Menthol
50/50 PG/VG ratio, 0mg nicotine
Mix Date: April 25, 2013
Uncapped: April 29, 2013 4:34PM
Vaped: July 14-30, 2013

Peach Thymbra
50/50 PG/VG ratio, 0mg nicotine
Mix Date: April 25, 2013
Uncapped: April 29, 2013 4:34PM
Vaped: July 14-30, 2013

Review Process (Updated February 17, 2013)
RPad.TV e-liquid reviews focus on the flavor of the e-liquids, since throat hit and vapor production can be altered by the PG/VG ratio and nicotine level selected. Each juice is vaped over a period of days in an atomizer, a cartomizer/tank setup, and a clearomizer. The exception is naturally-extracted tobacco (NET) juice; since those are known to clog up cartomizers quickly, those are vaped in atomizers and clearomizers.

A friend of mine from the Ahlusion forums recently started selling Twik Ekowool. This is a modified version of Ekowool silica cord, which is one of the most popular wick materials for rebuildable atomizers. Many vapers love it for its superior flavor (over standard silica) and durability. Twik Ekowool adds an organic cotton core to the mix. On paper, it offers improved wicking and flavor. I’ve been using Twik Ekowool for the last few weeks and was mostly impressed. Here’s a breakdown of my Twik experience (which is like the Jimi Hendrix Experience, but with organic cotton).

Wicking: Twik Ekowool’s super wicking was easily noticeable. I tried it out on a variety of atomizer setups from 0.5-ohms to 1.5-ohms. I purposely took longer-than-normal drags just to see if Twik could keep up…and it did. In the case of my 0.5-ohm dual-coil setup, Twik Ekowool was able to wick longer and faster than standard Ekowool. Generally speaking, the faster wicking was more beneficial as I lowered resistance, which makes sense since e-liquid is being vaporized faster because of the higher heat. If you’re using a dual-coil low-ohm dripping atomizer or a bottom-coil silica atomizer, then you’ll likely benefit from Twik Ekowool’s superior capillary action. (Hmmm, I think I’ll call my next band Superior Capillary Action.)

Flavor: Many vapers believe that cotton offers the cleanest and truest flavor. Flavor is also subjective, so your results will definitely vary. Personally, I have no problem with the flavor that standard Ekowool produces, but a few of my friends think that it adds an earthiness to e-liquid. While I found that Twik Ekowool offers slightly better flavor than standard Ekowool, I can totally understand someone else saying that the cotton core makes a big difference as far as flavor goes.

Workability: For the most part, Twik Ekowool is as easy to work with as the original. Since it’s softer than standard Ekowool, you’re able to squish it (technical term) into atomizers that have tight spaces. One minor drawback is that you can’t torch it when it’s dry. Torching has two benefits: it helps eliminate frayed ends and it stiffens up the fiber. If you like to use atypical shapes for your wicks, the latter comes in handy. For example, when I use a dual-coil setup in a dripping atomizer, I use one piece of wick shaped in a loop (affectionately called The Jacoji Loop). Torching makes it easier to get the precise size and shape of the loop. While I was able to make a Jacoji Loop with Twik Ekowool, it was a little harder because the soft fiber wouldn’t always stay where I wanted it to. All that said, most vapers use a straight setup and shouldn’t have any problems working with Twik Ekowool.

Maintenance: This is one area where standard Ekowool has a clear advantage; maintaining it is idiot-proof. You can torch and dry burn Ekowool all you want. Since Twik Ekowool has a cotton core, you shouldn’t dry burn it, since the cotton will burn. Torching it dry is out of the question too. You can torch the coil while the wick is still wet, but you have to be careful (I’ve messed this up a few times). This isn’t a big issue for vapers that enjoy clean juices, since rinsing will be enough. It can be an issue for vapers that enjoy heavy e-liquids that gunk up coils, like those made with naturally-extracted tobacco. Since it can’t be dry burned or torched dry, more vapers will get longer life out of standard Ekowool than Twik Ekowool.

Price: Twik Ekowool is very fairly priced at $4.99 for two feet with free shipping. That’s inline with prices for small quantities of unmodified Ekowool; Kidney Puncher sells straight Ekowool for $4.45 for two feet, while Stormy’s Vapor Cellar sells two feet for $3.99 — shipping is an additional charge for both vendors. Considering the extra labor it takes to thread the cotton core through hollow Ekowool, Twik’s price is great. Of course some people are going to say that they can buy dozens of feet (or meters, as Ekowool’s Russian creators measure it in) for less, but we’re talking about small quantities here.

Verdict: At the very least, Twik Ekowool is definitely worth trying. The price is comparable to the going rate for small quantities of standard Ekowool. You get superior wicking and better flavor. Just keep in mind that maintaining it isn’t as idiot-proof as caring for standard Ekowool. Vapers that are unsatisfied with the flavor and wicking of Ekowool should definitely give Twik Ekowool a shot. Even those that are happy with Ekowool should try it. The price is low enough that it’s worth experimenting with to see if the addition of a cotton core will make a significant difference in your vaping.

Personally, I’m going to keep buying both. I’ll use Twik Ekowool for most of my setups and standard Ekowool for when I want to build things like The Jacoji Loop. If you try Twik Ekowool, please leave a comment below and share your experience with it.

Buy Twik Ekowool

Clever Vape is a relatively new e-liquid company that sells some interesting juices. There are several unique blends in the Clever Vape lineup and I recently vaped three of them: Nostalgia, Brooklyn Pop, and Abandon Mint. They’re three very different e-liquids that will appeal to all sorts of vapers. For the most part, I was very pleased with my first Clever Vape experience.

The company’s 30ml bottles are glass and feature stylish labels. The juices are fairly priced at $14.99 ($18.99 with a flavor boost). Abandon Mint and Brooklyn Pop vaped very cleanly, while Nostalgia was a “dirty” juice. This wasn’t surprising, since it’s made with real tobacco in a process that the vendor calls “true tobacco synthesis.” Nostalgia gunks up coils quickly and probably isn’t the best choice for a carto/tank.

Abandon Mint and Brooklyn Pop are good to go straight away, with only slight changes after a month of steeping. Nostalgia changed more and I suggest giving it at least two weeks of steeping.

Here are the flavor breakdowns and steeping notes for these Clever Vape juices:

Nostalgia: Vapers looking for a bittersweet tobacco e-liquid should definitely give Nostalgia a try. It’s a lovely melange of tobacco and black honey. The mix is very flavorful, with a medium-strength tobacco playing off the honey flavor nicely. As a huge fan of tobacco e-liquids, I enjoyed this juice. It almost reminded me of something that Heather’s Heavenly Vapes would make.

Just keep in mind that it’s heavy, so you’ll have to dry burn your coils relatively frequently and probably shouldn’t vape it in a carto/tank; when I was dripping it in a Nimbus, I couldn’t even get a full day of vaping before a large chunk of buildup appeared on my coils. As I said before, the taste is worth it.

Brooklyn Pop: This is a great black-cherry-cola juice with an excellent kick of spice. The cola flavor is authentic and not candied. The end result is similar to a gourmet soda. It was a close call between Nostalgia and Brooklyn Pop being my favorite Clever Vape juice of the bunch, but Brooklyn Pop gets a slight edge for its addictive spiciness.

This juice is a good choice for vapers trying to lower their nicotine levels. The spicy kick adds a sensation that helps compensate for loss of throat hit you get as you go down in nicotine. Even though I was born in the Bronx, I have to give it up for Brooklyn Pop. Clever Vape did an excellent job with this juice.

Abandon Mint: This was my least favorite of the bunch, but it’s a good choice for those that want a combination of sweet and minty. When I was dripping it, I could make out the different mints and menthols used in the juice (spearmint, wintergreen, etc.). In a cartomizer and clearomizer, the separation was lost to the sweetness. I would have loved this juice if the sweetness was toned down and the various mints were played up. Vapers that like mint candies will probably enjoy this juice, but for me the sweetness negated the complexity.

Steeping Notes
On the advice of Wlad from Ahlusion, I’ve been trying a new steeping method starting December 27, 2012. When the e-liquids arrive, I leave them uncapped for five minutes. Previously, I left them uncapped for about two days. After the liquids are given a few minutes to oxidize, the caps are put back on. The bottles are shaken every day for at least two weeks before vaping.

Nostalgia
50/50 PG/VG ratio, 6mg nicotine
Uncapped: July 5, 2013 6:56PM
Vaped: August 18-24, 2013

Brooklyn Pop
50/50 PG/VG ratio, 6mg nicotine
Uncapped: July 5, 2013 6:56PM
Vaped: August 18-24, 2013

Abandon Mint
50/50 PG/VG ratio, 6mg nicotine
Uncapped: July 5, 2013 6:56PM
Vaped: August 18-24, 2013

Review Process (Updated February 17, 2013)
RPad.TV e-liquid reviews focus on the flavor of the e-liquids, since throat hit and vapor production can be altered by the PG/VG ratio and nicotine level selected. Each juice is vaped over a period of days in an atomizer, a cartomizer/tank setup, and a clearomizer. The exception is naturally-extracted tobacco (NET) juice; since those are known to clog up cartomizers quickly, those are vaped in atomizers and clearomizers.

The Avid Vaper AMP Tank is a juice delivery system that’s fantastic for a very specific type of vaper. It uses old-school dripping atomizers and submerses them in a pressurized tank. The result is the full flavor of dripping combined with a sizable amount of juice capacity. It takes a little time to get the hang of, but vapers that enjoy dripping atomizers and want a simple solution for capacity should strongly consider the AMP Tank.

Build Quality: The AMP Tank is a well-made device with smooth lines. The threading and machining are high-quality. One minor criticism I have with the device is that the materials don’t feel particularly luxurious. It costs $120 and doesn’t feel like it should. Of course you’re paying for the research and development that went into the product, as well as the performance, but several high-priced atomizers feature more expensive metals, such as high-grade stainless steel. Remember, this is only a minor criticism; I was generally happy with how the device was made.

Design: The AMP Tank is available in three anodized colors black, clear, and gold. The different colors complement a wide variety of mods reasonably well. Vapers that use standard-sized atomizers get 3ml or capacity, while users of long-barrel atomizer get 5ml. The device has AMP printed on its base using a stylish, but subtle font. The black model I reviewed looks great on white and steel mods. A friend of mine has the gold model and it looks nice on brass mods. The clear coating is probably the most diverse finish, since it looks good on a variety of mod colors and finishes.

Performance: Once you understand how the AMP Tank works and know how to control juice flow, the performance is brilliant. I’ve used it successfully with atomizers from a number of companies: Avid Vaper, Boge, Empire Mods, Joyetech, and Vapage. It took me a little under a week to get used to manipulating air flow and juice flow; since then, the AMP Tank has become one of my favorite juice delivery systems.

I’ve used the AMP Tank for several months with 70/30, 60/40, and 50/50 juices (PG/VG). I haven’t had any leaking issues after my first week with the device and I rarely had to adjust from the default juice-flow setting. For the first half or two-thirds of the tank, the automatic juice flow worked perfectly. Towards the end of the tank, I’d have to manually manipulate juice flow. It really varies from juice to juice, but in my experience, it works fantastically. That said, I have seen reports from vapers of thicker juices (high VG content) saying that they had problems with getting juice to flow to the atomizer.

Avid Vaper should be commended for its great instructional video (embedded below) on how to use the AMP Tank. While it does require some finessing — particular as the tank gets low — I loved how the AMP Tank performed with my juices. If you vape thicker juices then there’s a chance that the device isn’t for you.

Ease of Use: There is a learning curve with the AMP Tank and there are a few things vapers have to be careful with. Like I mentioned in the performance section, using the device for the first half or two-thirds of a tank couldn’t be simpler (again, it depends on the thickness of your juice). When the tank gets low, it’s simply a matter of covering the air hole, inhaling to draw juice into the atomizer, and slowly removing your finger to get the vacuum flowing again. Yes, it’s not as simple as direct dripping, but it’s still a relatively easy process and you get the benefit of capacity.

Replacing the atomizer and refilling the AMP Tank are simple, common-sense processes. While I don’t recommend this device for beginners, most intermediate to advanced vapers should find using it a cakewalk.

As for what I mentioned about requiring care, this isn’t a device I’d recommend sticking into your pants pocket. The O-rings aren’t snug (by design) and you can have an embarrassing juice explosion on your jeans. Changes in air flow and juice flow can cause leakage out of the air hole. If you’re not careful with juice flow and you start taking trying hits on your atomizer, the coil can pop prematurely. Again, once you learn how the AMP Tank works, that becomes a low-risk issue.

Verdict: Vapers that want the full flavor of dripping have a lot of choices. There are Genesis-style atomizers and bottom-coil silica atomizers (like the excellent GP Spheroid). Those juice delivery systems require some extra work and there are some people that simply aren’t comfortable with rebuilding. While those types of rebuildable atomizers are more cost effective, this one is more accessible. The Avid Vaper AMP Tank fills a niche and does it very, very well. If you want maximum flavor and minimum fuss then the AMP Tank is a fantastic solution.