ProTank Head Longevity Study

So a couple of months ago, it occurred to me that I should really try and figure out how long these heads REALLY last.  But as I tested them, I discovered something that really surprised me...


I started to use the ProTank just shortly before I conducted the CCVapes eLiquid review.  During my initial testing for the ProTank I used a lot of different eLiquids for testing, but I was using mostly 50-50 eLiquids at that time.  My very first atomizer head lasted me 10 days before it needed to be replaced.  Based on my experience with so many different devices, I believed both then and now that the ProTank was going to save me a lot of money and a lot of wasted time dealing with spent heads.

Well, here we are 5 months from the initial review and I'm still using both the ProTank and the KamryTech X10 as my primary Vaping devices.  Except I'm no longer "testing" the ProTank for a review, I'm USING IT every day, because I want to use it.  Since I'm no longer testing it, that means I don't switch eLiquids as often.  For the past couple of months, I've been using a HIGH PG content eLiquid from Hangsen and I discovered something new.

When I decided that I was going to do a ProTank Head Longevity Study back in August, I thought that I would also conduct another study.  I discovered a way to "renew" a ProTank head.  It's a little bit fiddly to do, but it can make a single head last WAY beyond "normal".  So the test that I performed for longevity was working side by side with the head-renewal experiment.  I really should make a video of how to do it...

Anyway, here's what was used and the results:

eLiquid: Hangsen USA Mix - Mint - 12mg (High PG - 80-100%)
Device: KamryTech X10 @ 2.5Ω
Battery: VAMO V3 & eGo-C 1100mah (both @ 3.7V)

Date Installed	Total Days
August 5, 2013	---
August 13, 2013	8
August 15, 2013	2
August 19, 2013	4
August 22, 2013	3
August 25, 2013	3
August 26, 2013	1
August 27, 2013	DEAD

So as you can see from the chart above, I got 8 days from a fresh 2.5Ω head.  That's pretty close to 10 and to be honest, I've had heads last me 2 whole weeks!  So whether I get 7 or 14 days out of a head, I'm thrilled!  I can afford $1.50 a week (less if you shop around).

The other part to this was the experiment.  As you can see, "renewing" the head does NOT make the head "like new".  It WORKS like new, but it doesn't LAST like new...  Of course who can argue that a little bit of fiddling isn't worth 21-22 days in total?

Hey, even Jesus has something to say about not being wasteful!

John 6:12 - So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, "Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost."

Yes, I know that's out of context of that passage, but all too often we can find wisdom in what is said about one thing and easily apply it to another.  For those of you who don't know, as you continue to read this passage, Jesus was using this exercise to prove that He is indeed God and so much more than the Prophet that some of them thought He was.

Now a few days ago I went ahead and stocked up on Boba's Bounty.  OOH!  I need to report that I am now DOWN to 6mg nicotine!  WOO-HOO!  That's a far cry from the 18mg that I started with!  So I decided to spend some time using BB with my X10, just to see how both of them work together as an All-Day Vaping solution.

Not well...

Boba's Bounty is a 100% VG eLiquid.  VG is much thicker than PG or a blend.  I've had no flooding at all, no gurgling and the flow of eLiquid to the flavor-wicks has been excellent too.

The problem I'm having, is that the heads don't last more than *2 days* without seriously fouling.  The difference between the fouling you get after 8 days with 100%PG and 2 days with 100% VG is night and day.  After 2 days the coiled wick was 5 times more fouled than when I used 100% PG for 8 days!  YOWZA!

The other thing, is that Boba's Bounty really doesn't taste too great with the ProTank heads. I've experimented with different voltages by using my VAMO 3 and I've even tried the 1.8Ω and 2.2Ω heads as well.  There's just no combination that helps the flavor or longevity of the heads with 100% VG.  As a side note, I'm having to Vape the 2.5Ω heads @ 3.6V in order to get a reliable Vape out of the ProTank heads with Boba's Bounty.  Same goes for the 2.2Ω heads.  It seems that 3.6V is the sweet spot for both eLiquid absorption AND to produce the "best" flavor.  Again, BB doesn't taste that great with the ProTank heads.  It'll get ya by, but it'd be like eating pretzels with NO SALT AT ALL.  Pfft...  Yuk...  It's edible, but you don't really enjoy it 100%. (Remember, a pretzel without salt isn't a pretzel... It's an over-toasted bread-stick!  LOL!)

If you want to get the best performance out of Boba's Bounty, you're going to need to stick with an RBA or a Dripper of some sort.

So that's my first review since the Blog Reboot...

There's no question in this reviewers mind, that the ProTank heads are currently the #1 solution for your long-term / all-day Vaping needs.  They've been serving me perfectly for 5 months now, a far cry from the CE4-CE5 Clearomizers that I started with!  If you're still riding the fence, get off and go get one of the many devices that use the ProTank heads.  You'll be glad you did!

As always, thank you so very, very, very much for your continued support, thank you for your comments and thank you for Liking it, Tweeting it, Sharing it, +1ing it and telling your dog about it, etc...  ;)

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(image used in the post is mine)