MTL advance setup, Nautilus 2, eleaf iStick query

Smokey_Robinson

Smokey_Robinson

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Hi...
I please need assistance in the following matter:
I started vaping 4 years ago, and due to personal issues, stopped about two years ago. Recently I had a heart attack and I know I have to start again vaping.

I started two months ago vaping again and moved into the pod system and nic salt route (aspire breeze 2 and 25mg salts). I haven't smoked in a month, but a month ago I started realizing the pod and salt system wasn't helping as a permanent device. Luckily I still had 3 x Eleaf Istick 20/30watt rechargeable battery kits from when I started and 3 Aspire Nautilus mini tanks. So I bought BVC 1.8ohm coils and 12-18mg normal juices, and at this stage I prefer them over the salt nics, probably old school loving the throat hits.

My question is that after 2 years not using these Istick batteries would they still be save to use in the long term, they still charge and hold a day to day and a half on 2000mha capacity. I normally vape on 4 - 4.8V (8.8 - 11W) settings on these VV/ VW batteries/mini mods.
I'm looking to replace the mini tanks with new nautilus 2 tanks as after two years the bases had a lot of gunk at bottom and in the process of cleaning them, I found the springs mounted on base had all broken in half or partly, but they still seem to work, should I go on with them or should I replace them? Looked on all SA websites, no replacement base sections.

My issue is not finding any battery/mod that falls within the 20-40 Watt range as I think 50/60 W is an overkill for me, and those available do not have the display/led screen with VV/VW settings and also not a big fan op pen styles. It does seem in the time I stopped vaping there has been a move away from MTL advanced kits and a move to sub ohms, and now these mini kits for salt nics, which is not working for me, only kit I could clearly find in S.A was the Aspire Zelos 50w kit, which seems to have issues also on the battery/mod section i.t.o. charging pins.
And I get mixed feedback, some say the mini tanks better then the nautilus 2 and visa versa.

Any assistance would be appreciated.
 
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i think most starter kits can go fairly high with watts these days, you are going to struglle to find starter kits that are not pod systems that work in that low Watt range only.

here are some starter kit options i've found online:

https://www.vapeking.co.za/geek-vape-lucid-80w-kit-with-lumi-mesh-tank.html
https://www.vapeking.co.za/vaporesso-swag-80w-starter-kit.html

http://vapeguy.co.za/starter-kits/eleaf-amnis-mesh-kit
http://vapeguy.co.za/starter-kits/eleaf-pico-x-kit

https://www.vapecartel.co.za/collections/starter-kits/products/simple-ex-squonk-kit

https://www.thevapeden.co.za/collections/mods/products/vapor-storm-puma-baby-80w-box-mod
https://www.thevapeden.co.za/collections/mods/products/geekvape-flint-aio-mtl-kit-1000mah


The Pico's and the Swag kits are good starter mods and people use them often.


most of these kits can be bought with the mods alone at lower prices, the best is to have a look around, see what is in your budget and then ask on the forum for opinions from the people that have used them.

Good luck, and welcome back to the stinkie-free life!
 
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Have a look at the following MTL Starter kits that will work great with high free base Nic.

Geekvape Flint MTL Kit - heard good things about it.

OBS Cube MTL Kit - also gets rave reviews

Uwell Whirl 20 & 22 Kit - Haved tried these kits in person, being Uwell they give awesome flavour.

All of these seem to give better flavour than the pod systems but still use replacement coils so you retain the ease of use and don’t have to worry about rebuilding coils and wicks.
 
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Smokey_Robinson said:
Hi Elmien.

Sorry forgot how to highlight/quote avatar names.
I have seen this, but did a search and if I remember correctly coils search only gave Vapeking as supplier, so that is a issue.
Click to expand...

That's a pity. It would be nice if they made standard or cross compatible coils for these types of tanks. Probably won't be that good for the manufacturers.
 
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CaliGuy said:
Have a look at the following MTL Starter kits that will work great with high free base Nic.

Geekvape Flint MTL Kit - heard good things about it.

OBS Cube MTL Kit - also gets rave reviews

Uwell Whirl 20 & 22 Kit - Haved tried these kits in person, being Uwell they give awesome flavour.

All of these seem to give better flavour than the pod systems but still use replacement coils so you retain the ease of use and don’t have to worry about rebuilding coils and wicks.
Click to expand...

Hi @CaliGuy .
Thanks for reply.

OBS cube is currently out with budget.

UWell Whirl, only issue I have is the fact the tank has no bottom section and coil is inserted directly on battery, use to separate tank and battery.

Geekvape Flint: seriously liked the look, and size. And it has constant voltage? Seems you have 3 voltage settings and unlike other starter kits keeps vaping constantly at that voltage no matter the battery charge. Seems like a good tank also. Issue is some say the coils don't hold but that was mostly with the first 1.8 ohm ones and not the newer 1.2 ohms that might last longer. Only bad things is I could only locate 2 suppliers of coils?

Thanks again for your advice.
 
Last edited:
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Dela Rey Steyn said:
i think most starter kits can go fairly high with watts these days, you are going to struglle to find starter kits that are not pod systems that work in that low Watt range only.

here are some starter kit options i've found online:

https://www.vapeking.co.za/geek-vape-lucid-80w-kit-with-lumi-mesh-tank.html
https://www.vapeking.co.za/vaporesso-swag-80w-starter-kit.html

http://vapeguy.co.za/starter-kits/eleaf-amnis-mesh-kit
http://vapeguy.co.za/starter-kits/eleaf-pico-x-kit

https://www.vapecartel.co.za/collections/starter-kits/products/simple-ex-squonk-kit

https://www.thevapeden.co.za/collections/mods/products/vapor-storm-puma-baby-80w-box-mod
https://www.thevapeden.co.za/collections/mods/products/geekvape-flint-aio-mtl-kit-1000mah


The Pico's and the Swag kits are good starter mods and people use them often.


most of these kits can be bought with the mods alone at lower prices, the best is to have a look around, see what is in your budget and then ask on the forum for opinions from the people that have used them.

Good luck, and welcome back to the stinkie-free life!
Click to expand...


Thanks @Dela Rey Steyn , glad to be back

Geekvape Lucid : tank is disposable - me no like, otherwise seriously would have taken it @ price.
Vaporise Swag : Sub ohm setup? R750 and then another R200 for batteries and R150 for charger @ price.
Eleaf Amis : Will do research, looks interesting
Eleaf Pico X : same as swag
Simple Squonk : scared of squonk types, never used them
Vapor storm puma : awesome if battery was with it I could pare it up with a Nautilus
Geekvape Flint MTL: That does seem to be the best @ price???

Many thanks.
 
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picautomaton said:
I have an Istick 30 that has been in use for the last 3years plus and is still works fine. Good battery that iStick for MTL
Click to expand...

@picautomaton , jip loved them so much I bought 3 those days. Also bought those protective sleeves for them and even that adapter that allows you to bend over the atomizer on top for a more compact storage when carrying around. But removed them as they kept on giving "no atomizer" read out with them even when tank was on, so went back to original setup.

I see your setup is a nautilus 2? Did you also use a mini before that? How does the improved version compare? Maybe I just need to get new tanks/Atomizers and go on with my isticks.....
 
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Elmien said:
I did a search and the only compatible coils are from Innokin. None of them readily available in South Africa, unfortunately.
View attachment 162805
Click to expand...

@Elmien I have 2 x Innokin Gladius tanks still in working condition, took a chance to look for coils in S.A - no luck. Could even found coils for my old kangertech aerotank mega, and of course old dependable BVC coils of Aspire.
 
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Smokey_Robinson said:
@Elmien I have 2 x Innokin Gladius tanks still in working condition, took a chance to look for coils in S.A - no luck. Could even found coils for my old kangertech aerotank mega, and of course old dependable BVC coils of Aspire.
Click to expand...

It looks like Innokin products, in general, are very scarce in South Africa. It's strange. Maybe they are just not very popular here.
 
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@Smokey_Robinson just my thoughts. If your iStick batteries are holding charge then there’s no real need to replace them. I usually buy my batteries in bulk and the current set that I just started using was bought just over 2 years ago, and they work fine.

If you are handy with a screw driver you can replace the batteries. There are videos on YouTube detailing the process.

On the Nautilus, I’ve used both the Mini and the Nautilus 2. I prefer the Nautilus mini over the Nautilus 2 by a long way. You can still get them new at The Vape Guy.
https://vapeguy.co.za/Clearomizer-Atomisers/Clearomiser-Tanks-atomisers/Aspire-Nautilus-Mini

Having said all that, I understand the need/want to upgrade to a more modern setup. I don’t have any experience with the newer setups, so no advice there.

All the best with your Vaping journey moving forward.
 
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Smokey_Robinson said:
@picautomaton , jip loved them so much I bought 3 those days. Also bought those protective sleeves for them and even that adapter that allows you to bend over the atomizer on top for a more compact storage when carrying around. But removed them as they kept on giving "no atomizer" read out with them even when tank was on, so went back to original setup.

I see your setup is a nautilus 2? Did you also use a mini before that? How does the improved version compare? Maybe I just need to get new tanks/Atomizers and go on with my isticks.....
Click to expand...

Welcome back @Smokey_Robinson !

Those iSticks are legendary devices
I am still using my iStick20 with an Evod1 daily for MTL stealth vaping when out and about. And in the mornings - when I cant do direct lung hits. With 18mg Vapour Mountain Berry Blaze and extra menthol added. Works like a charm. That iStick20 of mine has been going for about 4 years or so - not a single problem.

I'd say keep with those iSticks of yours if you can. They are so great and a fantastic size. And the fact you have 3 of them is a big bonus.

Maybe just get some MTL tanks - cant really advise you here on ones with commercial coils (other than my Evod1) because for MTL I mainly use the Reos and rebuildable tanks (Rose MTL and Siren 2)
 
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Blu_Marlin said:
@Smokey_Robinson just my thoughts. If your iStick batteries are holding charge then there’s no real need to replace them. I usually buy my batteries in bulk and the current set that I just started using was bought just over 2 years ago, and they work fine.

If you are handy with a screw driver you can replace the batteries. There are videos on YouTube detailing the process.

On the Nautilus, I’ve used both the Mini and the Nautilus 2. I prefer the Nautilus mini over the Nautilus 2 by a long way. You can still get them new at The Vape Guy.
https://vapeguy.co.za/Clearomizer-Atomisers/Clearomiser-Tanks-atomisers/Aspire-Nautilus-Mini

Having said all that, I understand the need/want to upgrade to a more modern setup. I don’t have any experience with the newer setups, so no advice there.

All the best with your Vaping journey moving forward.
Click to expand...

@Blu_Marlin.

Thanks for your feedback, so if I understand you correctly I can open the iStick 20/30 watt and take out old batteries and replace with new ones?
Sounds awesome but being newbie I think I'd give you a jingle the day I find charging capacity gone.

I honestly have 3 nautilus mini's and replacing them will run R1500 it seems, I have started pondering the idea to contact suppliers that do stock the mini and asking them if they could get 3 bases, as the rest is available in the country. Or ask my brother in law in UK to buy and ship them....I like the bottom coil vs top coil of newer model, and seems leakage is more and gurgling issues also on newer model.

Thanks again.
 
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My main issue with the tanks are, I did not clean them as I should have 2 years ago, and the base section where the coils fit, underneath had some serious gunk that collected and well I washed them under meduim hot water, cleaned them and mostly the gunt went. The issue here is there seems to be a very small spring at the bottom of the base, that seems to act like an almost pressure plate for 510 pin on the outside side of tank bottom where it connects with 510 pin of battery/mod you screw it into. All of them broke halfway or less but when I place them on the Isticks except one, that broke halfway (to scared - not sure what will happen) they do seem to work. Any technical guys with tank building can tell me if those springs will be issue later on, or am I vaping a time bomb? Should I go ahead and replace base sections ASAP?
 
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Silver said:
Welcome back @Smokey_Robinson !

Those iSticks are legendary devices
I am still using my iStick20 with an Evod1 daily for MTL stealth vaping when out and about. And in the mornings - when I cant do direct lung hits. With 18mg Vapour Mountain Berry Blaze and extra menthol added. Works like a charm. That iStick20 of mine has been going for about 4 years or so - not a single problem.

I'd say keep with those iSticks of yours if you can. They are so great and a fantastic size. And the fact you have 3 of them is a big bonus.

Maybe just get some MTL tanks - cant really advise you here on ones with commercial coils (other than my Evod1) because for MTL I mainly use the Reos and rebuildable tanks (Rose MTL and Siren 2)
Click to expand...

Thanks, appreciated @Silver......somehow stumbled on your thread postings of nic poisoning. A real eye opener, and wake up call for me vaping high ml.

Great to hear those iStick go that long, mine stood in corner and collected dust, but it was open, ventilated room temp and never charged them in the time and thus far, so good.

Ja it seems my issue is getting a MTL tank that holds same respect and options like the nautilus mini, which surprisingly seems still to be a legend after my 3 years absence.......
 
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Guys any suggestions on which local suppliers would be able to import base and go the extra mile?

If all fails I could go this way:

https://www.fasttech.com/products/3052/10012191/5163300

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Aspire-N...re-Part-Replacement-100-Genuine-/112275456582

http://www.vapeking.com.au/aspire-nautilus-base-replacement-mini-regular/

https://triple7vaping.com/products/56-aspire-nautilus-mini-base-hardware-with-rubber-gasket/

Just find it hard to believe with all our local suppliers that there is not a few basis lying around collecting dust......hell, I'll even take second hand ones if they are clean and of course the bloody springs work:)
 
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