Merlin Mini Review By DeucesJack
Finally I got my hands on a Merlin Mini. This RTA was sent to me by Augvape for the purposes of this review. This will not affect, alter, or change my opinion in anyway whatsoever. As per my history here you will get an honest straight forward review. Because of all the different ways you can set this tank up this review will be longer than most of mine.
First impression of this tank out of the box is its well made with no burrs or machine oil. One wash and rinse was all it took and she was ready to vape. The packaging on the tank is well done. It comes in a tube with plenty of insulation. The package contains The fully assembled tank along with a second deck, obligatory o rings, spare grub screws, allen key, spare glass, 2 airflow restrictors, coils, and cotton. This tank is available in Black, SS, and now Gold.
Let's start at the top and work our way down. In case you haven't heard I love the original Merlin drip tip. For me it's one of the most comfortable delrin DT’s on the market. I was very happy to see Augvape go with it on the Mini. The threading on the top cap is smooth and the juice fill holes are large enough to accommodate any type of bottle. The top cap also has a bit of knurling which is a nice touch. The barrel section has a slight conical design towards the top that tapers down to a much smaller chimney. The Mini does have juice flow control and the base is press fitted with two narrow openings for the airflow control. This is an extremely versatile tank that can accommodate most styles of vaping due to the numerous airflow adjustments that can be made.
The Decks
This tank comes with two decks. A dual post velocity style deck for dual coils and a single post velocity styled deck for single coils. The single coil deck has the posts pushed back to the furthest point of the deck allowing you to run really beefy single coil builds. Just like the original Merlin. Because of the versatility of the single coil deck in this tank it took me quite a while to thoroughly test all the available airflow configurations. Let me explain. Not only does this tank come with two decks but in single coil mode you can run it with three different airflow configurations. Augvape includes 2 airflow restrictor pins (arp), one for a tight MTL draw, and one for a medium MTL draw. The tight draw pin is 1.5mm and the medium is 2mm. If you don't use any of the pins the airflow hole beneath your coil is 4.5mm. It’s really simple to switch between both decks. Simply screw out one deck and replace it with the other. There is no 510 pin to remove like other tanks with swappable decks. Kudos to Augvape on this design. It’s definitely a huge pro.
I tested out the tight (1.5mm) MTL draw first. For this build I used a simple 24 gauge SS coil of 8 wraps around a 4mm bit. It ohmed out at around .5 ohms. I wanted to use a simple coil for this test because most MTLers run low wattage on their builds. I ran this build at between 40-50 watts. Flavor on this build was really nice but the DT that I love so much really did not contribute very well to the whole MTL experience. Augvape would have been better served if they included a tighter, narrower bore MTL DT. It was a problem that was easily remedied by using my MTL DT but it would have been nice to include it especially if that’s the market you're targeting. This is a very capable MTL tank but to be honest it’s just not my style of vape when the tank is set up this way.
Next, I tested the medium (2.mm) draw. This draw is more of the way I like to MTL vape. It can be adjusted from a loose MTL draw to a restrictive lung hit. Again though, the stock DT really does not compliment this type of vape. When I run this setup I like to use a smaller bore MTL DT. Flavor this way is just fantastic. I used the same build as I did on the tight set up and I enjoyed the vape much better this way. Definitely a noticeable difference between the two and much more enjoyable this way.
Next, I ran the the single coil with no ARP. In my opinion this is where this tank really excels. For me this is the perfect restricted lung hit. The flavor this way is just fantastic. I did change coils for this set up and ran a nice beefy Alien Ohming out at .55 at 60 watts. The vape was flavorful, thick and wet. I took this build as high as 75 watts and it wicked fine while chain vaping. The cloudage was really nice for a single coil. This is exactly the type of vape I enjoy. When you set this tank up this way she’s a true flavor machine. I love running it with no ARP and the AFC wide open. For me this is exactly where this tank shines. I get a satisfying vape using half the coils I normally would, half the juice, half the wattage and half the cotton. It’s just a really efficient way to vape while still getting a truly great vape.
Lastly, I tested the dual coil deck. I ran the same exact Aliens I ran in single coil mode. Don’t let this lil guy fool you. In dual coil mode this thing can chuck clouds. The downside being because the tank is so small you'll be filling it up a lot. I mean she drinks the juice in single coil mode but in dual coil mode, fuggedaboutit. I would have loved to have seen some type of extension kit with it to make running dual coils on this tank more feasible. I chain vaped this tank in this mode just to see if the wicking would keep up and it wicked like a champ.
Building and Wicking
Building and wicking both decks is super easy especially on the single coil deck. If you're a beginner to building than this is the tank to start with especially in single coil mode. Plus as your skills increase this tank will be able to grow with you. The grub screw holes on both decks are 2.2mm and 2.5mm so you can really jam in some nice beefy coils. The deck itself is 18mm. Grub screws are really nice and solid. They work very well with the provided allen key. Simply wick your coil, cut you cotton and gently tuck the cotton into the juice ports. One improvement they made over the original Merlin is instead of having the grub screws on the side they can now be accessed from the top of the posts. Yes, the new post design can now only accommodate a single coil but to be totally honest I don’t think I ever ran a dual coil setup on my original Merlins. Besides, if you want to run dual coils on the Mini all you have to do now is switch decks. This is an extremely well thought out deck system.
Juice Flow Control
This is the only real con on this tank besides a few nit picky ones I have. I really don’t think this tank needed any JFC. It just seems a little wonky to me. It’s really hard to adjust the JFC while the tank is screwed down. It has one of those JFC’s that require you to actually screw off the base for about a quarter of a turn. I've never been a fan of that style. So far when I fill mine I don't even shut the JFC down. I just open her up and fill. Never once has it leaked on me doing this. If you wick this tank right you just don't need JFC. So far no seeping at all through the base.
Conclusion
This is probably one of the most versatile RTA’s I have ever had the pleasure of owning. With all of the airflow options, deck options, and coil options this tank can accommodate almost any style of vaping. Definitely a worthy addition to almost anyones collection. This tank has the rare ability of being able to satisfy the beginner as well as the advanced user. I also really like the way this tank looks on almost every mod. This tank is one of my personal favorites and it’s definitely DeucesJack Approved. If you like this review and found it helpful feel free to give it a thumbs up and give me a follow.
Pros:
Versatile
Two decks
Drip tip
Flavor
Machined well
Many different airflow combinations
Ease of use
Accommodates big single coils
Easily switch between decks
Great tank for beginners that can grow with you as your building skills develop
Cons:
JFC could be better
Needs a MTL DT (should have been included)
Capacity when ran in dual coil mode
Specs:
– 24*42.3 mm
– Capacity: 2 ML
– 304 Stainless Steel
– Come With 2 pcs 18mm Decks
– Single Coil Deck Pre-installed
– 2*2 mm Squared Post Holes
– Single 4.5 mm Internal Air-holes
– Come With 2mm & 1.5mm Airflow Hole Inserts
– 3*4 mm Juice Holes
– Dual Coil Deck
– Velocity Style
– 2*2.5 mm Post Holes
– Dual 3*5 mm Squared Air-holes
– 3 mm Diameter Juice Holes
– Peek Insulator
– Gold Plated Brass Contact
Pics on different mods:
Next tank up for review is the Oumier White Bone. You won't want to miss this one.
Variety's the very spice of life, that gives it all it's flavour.
-William Cowper
Finally I got my hands on a Merlin Mini. This RTA was sent to me by Augvape for the purposes of this review. This will not affect, alter, or change my opinion in anyway whatsoever. As per my history here you will get an honest straight forward review. Because of all the different ways you can set this tank up this review will be longer than most of mine.
First impression of this tank out of the box is its well made with no burrs or machine oil. One wash and rinse was all it took and she was ready to vape. The packaging on the tank is well done. It comes in a tube with plenty of insulation. The package contains The fully assembled tank along with a second deck, obligatory o rings, spare grub screws, allen key, spare glass, 2 airflow restrictors, coils, and cotton. This tank is available in Black, SS, and now Gold.
Let's start at the top and work our way down. In case you haven't heard I love the original Merlin drip tip. For me it's one of the most comfortable delrin DT’s on the market. I was very happy to see Augvape go with it on the Mini. The threading on the top cap is smooth and the juice fill holes are large enough to accommodate any type of bottle. The top cap also has a bit of knurling which is a nice touch. The barrel section has a slight conical design towards the top that tapers down to a much smaller chimney. The Mini does have juice flow control and the base is press fitted with two narrow openings for the airflow control. This is an extremely versatile tank that can accommodate most styles of vaping due to the numerous airflow adjustments that can be made.
The Decks
This tank comes with two decks. A dual post velocity style deck for dual coils and a single post velocity styled deck for single coils. The single coil deck has the posts pushed back to the furthest point of the deck allowing you to run really beefy single coil builds. Just like the original Merlin. Because of the versatility of the single coil deck in this tank it took me quite a while to thoroughly test all the available airflow configurations. Let me explain. Not only does this tank come with two decks but in single coil mode you can run it with three different airflow configurations. Augvape includes 2 airflow restrictor pins (arp), one for a tight MTL draw, and one for a medium MTL draw. The tight draw pin is 1.5mm and the medium is 2mm. If you don't use any of the pins the airflow hole beneath your coil is 4.5mm. It’s really simple to switch between both decks. Simply screw out one deck and replace it with the other. There is no 510 pin to remove like other tanks with swappable decks. Kudos to Augvape on this design. It’s definitely a huge pro.
I tested out the tight (1.5mm) MTL draw first. For this build I used a simple 24 gauge SS coil of 8 wraps around a 4mm bit. It ohmed out at around .5 ohms. I wanted to use a simple coil for this test because most MTLers run low wattage on their builds. I ran this build at between 40-50 watts. Flavor on this build was really nice but the DT that I love so much really did not contribute very well to the whole MTL experience. Augvape would have been better served if they included a tighter, narrower bore MTL DT. It was a problem that was easily remedied by using my MTL DT but it would have been nice to include it especially if that’s the market you're targeting. This is a very capable MTL tank but to be honest it’s just not my style of vape when the tank is set up this way.
Next, I tested the medium (2.mm) draw. This draw is more of the way I like to MTL vape. It can be adjusted from a loose MTL draw to a restrictive lung hit. Again though, the stock DT really does not compliment this type of vape. When I run this setup I like to use a smaller bore MTL DT. Flavor this way is just fantastic. I used the same build as I did on the tight set up and I enjoyed the vape much better this way. Definitely a noticeable difference between the two and much more enjoyable this way.
Next, I ran the the single coil with no ARP. In my opinion this is where this tank really excels. For me this is the perfect restricted lung hit. The flavor this way is just fantastic. I did change coils for this set up and ran a nice beefy Alien Ohming out at .55 at 60 watts. The vape was flavorful, thick and wet. I took this build as high as 75 watts and it wicked fine while chain vaping. The cloudage was really nice for a single coil. This is exactly the type of vape I enjoy. When you set this tank up this way she’s a true flavor machine. I love running it with no ARP and the AFC wide open. For me this is exactly where this tank shines. I get a satisfying vape using half the coils I normally would, half the juice, half the wattage and half the cotton. It’s just a really efficient way to vape while still getting a truly great vape.
Lastly, I tested the dual coil deck. I ran the same exact Aliens I ran in single coil mode. Don’t let this lil guy fool you. In dual coil mode this thing can chuck clouds. The downside being because the tank is so small you'll be filling it up a lot. I mean she drinks the juice in single coil mode but in dual coil mode, fuggedaboutit. I would have loved to have seen some type of extension kit with it to make running dual coils on this tank more feasible. I chain vaped this tank in this mode just to see if the wicking would keep up and it wicked like a champ.
Building and Wicking
Building and wicking both decks is super easy especially on the single coil deck. If you're a beginner to building than this is the tank to start with especially in single coil mode. Plus as your skills increase this tank will be able to grow with you. The grub screw holes on both decks are 2.2mm and 2.5mm so you can really jam in some nice beefy coils. The deck itself is 18mm. Grub screws are really nice and solid. They work very well with the provided allen key. Simply wick your coil, cut you cotton and gently tuck the cotton into the juice ports. One improvement they made over the original Merlin is instead of having the grub screws on the side they can now be accessed from the top of the posts. Yes, the new post design can now only accommodate a single coil but to be totally honest I don’t think I ever ran a dual coil setup on my original Merlins. Besides, if you want to run dual coils on the Mini all you have to do now is switch decks. This is an extremely well thought out deck system.
Juice Flow Control
This is the only real con on this tank besides a few nit picky ones I have. I really don’t think this tank needed any JFC. It just seems a little wonky to me. It’s really hard to adjust the JFC while the tank is screwed down. It has one of those JFC’s that require you to actually screw off the base for about a quarter of a turn. I've never been a fan of that style. So far when I fill mine I don't even shut the JFC down. I just open her up and fill. Never once has it leaked on me doing this. If you wick this tank right you just don't need JFC. So far no seeping at all through the base.
Conclusion
This is probably one of the most versatile RTA’s I have ever had the pleasure of owning. With all of the airflow options, deck options, and coil options this tank can accommodate almost any style of vaping. Definitely a worthy addition to almost anyones collection. This tank has the rare ability of being able to satisfy the beginner as well as the advanced user. I also really like the way this tank looks on almost every mod. This tank is one of my personal favorites and it’s definitely DeucesJack Approved. If you like this review and found it helpful feel free to give it a thumbs up and give me a follow.
Pros:
Versatile
Two decks
Drip tip
Flavor
Machined well
Many different airflow combinations
Ease of use
Accommodates big single coils
Easily switch between decks
Great tank for beginners that can grow with you as your building skills develop
Cons:
JFC could be better
Needs a MTL DT (should have been included)
Capacity when ran in dual coil mode
Specs:
– 24*42.3 mm
– Capacity: 2 ML
– 304 Stainless Steel
– Come With 2 pcs 18mm Decks
– Single Coil Deck Pre-installed
– 2*2 mm Squared Post Holes
– Single 4.5 mm Internal Air-holes
– Come With 2mm & 1.5mm Airflow Hole Inserts
– 3*4 mm Juice Holes
– Dual Coil Deck
– Velocity Style
– 2*2.5 mm Post Holes
– Dual 3*5 mm Squared Air-holes
– 3 mm Diameter Juice Holes
– Peek Insulator
– Gold Plated Brass Contact
Pics on different mods:
Next tank up for review is the Oumier White Bone. You won't want to miss this one.
Variety's the very spice of life, that gives it all it's flavour.
-William Cowper
Last edited:
. Kudos man 
