Introduction |Ergonomics |Operations |Performance |Pros & Cons |Conclusion
The VAPER V4 by Petar KA dinky little fella you might just cant live without
A. INTRODUCTION
Well, how many of you succeeded with your genny builds using the Petar K method? I did! And if I had not found the Petar K youtube videos I might never have gotten my mesh and kanthal right in the first place ~ way back in 2012. Yes, he is a genesis genius! And when he introduced his The Vaper those days - they were an instant hit. This is his last & final iteration of the Vaper ~ The Vaper V4 ~ and boy, did he do it right?
1. What is it?
Vaper V4 is a genesis hybrid in the 14xxx form factor. The Vapers had been developed to take in a 14500 battery (preferably IMRs) and with V3 - they had an optional 15mm tube extension so as to also use 14650 batteries. Now with V4 that extension tube is part of the package. Thus the Vaper V4 can be used with either 14500 or 14650 batteries.
2. Features and Basic Specs:
1) Type: Genesis Hybrid Mod
2) Form Factor: 14xxx Battery Tube
3) Airflow Control (AFC): 2 x Airholes (1.5mm each side), Adjustable
4) Finish: Available in two variants, Polished and Satin (Glass Blasted). tank section remains polished
5) Logo & Branding: Laser engraved (Galvo Vectoring for permanent rendering)
6) Switch Mechanism: Bottom Firer (first time for a Petar K Vaper!)
7) Locking Mechanism: Yes (thru slightly unscrewing the top cap or the body tube)
8) Wick hole: Isolated with a Ceramic Insulator
2) Form Factor: 14xxx Battery Tube
3) Airflow Control (AFC): 2 x Airholes (1.5mm each side), Adjustable
4) Finish: Available in two variants, Polished and Satin (Glass Blasted). tank section remains polished
5) Logo & Branding: Laser engraved (Galvo Vectoring for permanent rendering)
6) Switch Mechanism: Bottom Firer (first time for a Petar K Vaper!)
7) Locking Mechanism: Yes (thru slightly unscrewing the top cap or the body tube)
8) Wick hole: Isolated with a Ceramic Insulator
3. Size & Capacity:
1) Width: 16mm
2) Length: 14500 mode = 118mm; 14650 mode = 133mm (+/- 1mm)
3) Tank Capacity: 2.5ml
2) Length: 14500 mode = 118mm; 14650 mode = 133mm (+/- 1mm)
3) Tank Capacity: 2.5ml
4. Construction Materials:
1) Body: 316Ti Stainless Steel
2) Tank: PMMA (high resistant to corrosion, permeation, microbial stress and impact)
3) Mouthpiece: Acetal Resin (DuPont Delrin)
4) Wick hole Insulator: AIO3 Ceramic
5) Screws & Nuts: Stainless steel A4 and A2
6) POS Plate: ASTM B370 Copper
7) Switch Screw: Marine Brass
2) Tank: PMMA (high resistant to corrosion, permeation, microbial stress and impact)
3) Mouthpiece: Acetal Resin (DuPont Delrin)
4) Wick hole Insulator: AIO3 Ceramic
5) Screws & Nuts: Stainless steel A4 and A2
6) POS Plate: ASTM B370 Copper
7) Switch Screw: Marine Brass
5. Build quality:
The Vaper V4, besides utilizing top notch materials, is also built well. The genius of Petar K design aside - the machining, milling and workmanship of this device is an exemplary feat! Every part of it feels right in place and mate with each other perfectly. It is fine threaded (obviously due to its minuscule width) but coupling one to another isnt an issue. Tho we need to take extra care - so as not to ding any of the tube sections - bcoz the slightest of dents could throw off the tolerances.
As such, be extra cautious not to drop the top cap or the extension tube section on the floor. Ah, I did! And had to resort to fine tuning the top cap to minutely remove the deformation and bring it back to specs again. Not a deal breaker - but a precaution.
B. ERGONOMICS
Hmm, today there are 30mm and larger dia mods out there (the 26650 battery types) - but obviously theres also a market for slim devices (the 16-17mm types). This is one form factor that typically appeals to a more professional environment, say while you are in a business meet or in a wedding or partying out or on a hike. Especially if you are not amongst a vaping crowd!
Vaper V4 14500 mode, with all my 14500 mods
Vaper V4 14650 mode, with all my 14500 mods
In such scenarios a 18xxx mod might be too obvious and attract unnecessary attention. And Id believe a 26650 mod is best for leaving / relaxing at home! The reason why mods like the GP-Piccolo, JM16, Gus-G16, Nemi Nemesis and the like are available. Similarly their counterpart toppers like the GP-Spheroid, Gus-Aiolos-T/D, Kayfun-Mini, Taigun-GS, GG-Penelope v3 etc. The Vaper V4 positions itself in that coterie ~ an inconspicuous device but capable of immense vaping pleasure. And all in a slim, sleek complete package. Heck, it also probably is the smallest in its class!
My smallest 14500 till now was the Ba Gua!
At hand the Vaper V4 feels extremely small. Very akin to a Cigar! And bcoz the way it is constructed & finished - it looks pretty classy! The four-tone attire (Satin body, Polished Tank in the mid section, a Black Driptip atop and again Polished Switch with a hint of Brass jutting out from the bottom) actually makes it very elegant and to flaunt around. The reason why I had been carrying it around everywhere since the past few weeks, from work to friends, to a vape meet, and even on grocery errands!
C. OPERATIONS
The package arrives fully ready to vape. Yes, Petar K ensures that The Vaper V4 is ultrasonic cleaned before being packaged and thus it comes without any burrs, grime, machine oils or whatever. He also sends it to us pre-coiled and wicked ~ theres a typical 28g kanthal coil wrapped around a 400 mesh wick straight out of the box. All you need to do is add some of your fav juice. I did just that ~ and havent replaced the coil & wick yet!
As the package arrives
1. Rebuild & Setup:
This is a rebuildable atty. A genny to be precise. Thus when you like to rebuild it - you just prepare a mesh wick, coil a few wraps of kanthal around it, drop it into the wick hole and pulse it. Alternatively you may like to use the Petar K method of attaching the coil first (a micro coil also suits it, I have that in my IQ Hybrid) and then inserting a wick into it. Eitherway these gennys work fine.
Closing the Circuit and Pulsing
Note: You use the top cap to connect the POS Screw of the deck and the body to complete the circuitry while pressing the switch.
2. Filling the Tank:
3. Airflow Control:
There are two air holes, on either side of the base (below the deck). You basically twist the top cap to open or close these air holes. Anything from 0.5mm to 1.5mm on each side could be opened up. Thus a total of 3mm air intake could be achieved with The Vaper V4! And I sure am able to lung inhale when the airflow is fully open.
The all important "Negative Screw" on the deck
Airway completely "Opened"
Airway completely "Closed"
Screwing / unscrewing the Decks Neg Pole Screw - then tightening or loosening the top cap to make its insides contact with it completes the circuit. However, this negative screw, in its fully unscrewed position, still makes the top cap block the air hole marginally (when the top cap is fully tightened). Thus the full potential of 3mm air intake couldnt be achieved, at least not in my unit.
4. Switch and POS Terminal:
The switch has an O-ring loosely placed in its cavity, on which the battery sits (negative plate first). And theres just about right tolerance between them to make contact when the button is pressed.
The bottom of the tank section carries a Copper Plate in L shape, which contacts the top Pos pin of the battery (as such nipple top batteries are preferred with this mod). This same L shaped copper post is also used to negate battery rattles. Just pull open it a bit (or compress it) based on the size of your battery. An additional O-ring (a few are placed in the spares bag by the modder) can also do the trick. But I found tweaking of the top copper plate to be more effective. Thankfully our AW and Efest IMRs work just fine here.
5) Locking Mechanism:
The switch is not lockable (sigh!), but the device can yet be set to not accidentally fire. Since the neg screw on the deck makes contact with the top cap - all we need to do is to (a)Either loosen the cap a bit, or (b)Tighten the screw down (on the neg post) to its max. Note: Just one turn of the top cap is good enough. The same could also be done by turning the body tube by one turn.
D. PERFORMANCE
For its size The Vaper V4 actually vapes very well. It is no fogger and its neither intended to be one. But the VTF is adequate and nearly at par with a Kayfun Lite atop a quality 22mm mod. As with any quality genny, the flavour is supreme with The Vaper V4. And surprisingly TH is astounding too! I get serious nic rush with The Vaper V4 while using the same nic level vis-a-vis my other attys.
1) Juice Capacity and Battery Life:
It holds approximately 2.5ml of juice - and tho it might not last long for a heavy vaper or while chain vaping (it is not intended for that way too) - for a regular vape scenario and while out of home - I find a tank fill easily lasts a work day, ymmv.
Ditto for the battery life. In 14650 mod, with a 1.2Ω-1.5Ω coil (the best resistance to use on 14xxx mods) I found The Vaper V4 easily makes thru one full work day (8-hrs.) and two batteries (14650s) makes you reach home with some juice to spare. Its another matter that I find my Trustfire 14650 to be more than adequate for one full outdoor day. That is a 1600mAh battery! And theres absolutely no issues using it on this mech mod.
2) The Mouthpiece:
Heres the most noticeable difference between The Vaper V4 and its previous versions. The earlier iterations, till V3, were semi-auto firers. Meaning, they had a tactile switch grooved into the mouthpiece which we had to press by our lips to activate the device. Not anymore. The Vaper V4 is a bottom firer, akin to most of our mechanical mods. And it's a nice sweet change too!
This is not a 510 drip tip, it is screwed but it is removable. Made of DuPont Delrin - and at near 4mm it is a wide bore mouthpiece, thus a perfect companion to The Vaper V4. Feels extremely comfortable between the lips and bcoz of its internal design it seems to offer a rifling effect to the vaper. Thus the vape experience gets very satisfying.
E. PROS & CONS
We are onto a 14xxx mod here, thus sub-Ohming, reduced battery life or low juice capacity is obviously not a consideration. For 'it is what it is The Vaper V4 is one rock solid device. Not without its follies tho ~ but a very pleasant device to carry along nonetheless.
*Addendum inserted below
F. CONCLUSION
The Vaper V4 is an attractive piece of equipment. Its an epitome of 14xxx hybrid design - a very affable device, which also performs astoundingly. As a genesis atty this surpasses the vape quality of many of its kind. On VTF it is at par with many hi-end RBAs / RTAs. As a 14xxx device it is one of the best, for two reasons. One, the ability to use longer batteries in that form factor (14650). And two, it is the best looking combination of mod & atty, which is also the smallest. Design, construction. materials and ergonomics are at its best here ~ The Vaper V4 oozes quality in every aspect ~ and it shines in its performance and looks. Pocket it ~ Go for it!
Thank you Petar K for this grand finale of The Vaper!
Price: (a)Polished Version = $180; Satin Version = $190
Where: (a)www.vaporwall.com/petar-k or (b)www.facebook.com/petar.k
*ADDENDUM: I have been corrected by the modder (and found it in my spares bag too) that there is another hex nut which could be added to the Neg Post of the deck. This will make it 1.5mm longer and thus the top cap will stop well above the air holes, making them fully open. Thus, my con #4 stands obliterated.
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