KingPin!
In my defence, I was left unsupervised ^^
VU Donator
Platinum Contributor
Member For 4 Years
VU Challenge Team
Reviewer
Hello Folks,
Impressive flavour, a novel build deck, controversial leaking issues, noisy and a steep wicking learning curve….As an early adopter of the original Kylin these were all things I experienced. Regardless of how I or indeed many felt about it there is no avoiding the fact VanvyVape enjoyed sales success. It was only a matter of time before we saw a follow up.
The Kylin Mini wasn’t born free of its own controversy with the whole “who’s idea was it anyway” Seemingly all is calm in the land, Andrei and Stefan have now become BFF’s, issued a joint statement that it was all just a big misunderstanding and are even looking to get a place together. Well maybe the last bit wasn’t true but what the hell, it ended up with a happy ending for someone……Sooooo with that lot out of the way is the Kylin Mini any good?….I’ll share my findings and you can be the judge.
I should mention - I won this from a competition at Vaping Underground and received it directly from VandyVape. So with the customary review clause out of the way I shall commence.
Manufacturer Specifications
Product Information: http://www.vandyvape.com/detail/atomizer/Kylin_Mini_RTA/
Impressions and Build Quality.
Bear in mind my findings are based on a sample version, they didn’t send out a production version.
The kit comes with a decent amount of spares, I like the bubble glass lowering its profile. We’ve seen a lot of this lately and it does make a difference both in flavour and wicking in my opinion.
My tank was absolutely covered in a Vaseline type grease. I have to give it VandyVape they do a decent job of plating because this thing was sitting in the Ultrasonic Cleaner for a good 35 minutes in hot soapy water before I felt comfortable removing it. Seriously I know people think reviewers get all the good bits in sample packages but I assure you if this is anything to go by that really isn’t the case!
The O-rings on the base was lose and just falling out….one was stuck to the glass and left residue which I had to peel off (this was pre cleaning).
You get a Resin Drip tip with a 10mm bore and a Delrin Shorty with an 11mm bore. Both are comfortable to use although I feel the Mini shines better using the adaptor with one of my own 510 drip tips with a reduced wattage.
The threading needs a little bit of attention. Whilst the chamber screws in pretty well you will need to be careful with cross threading because it’s not machined deep at all, additionally the top cap always has trouble catching after a refill.
Both glass tank options stick out further than the top cap so I would suggest running a vape band with it. Also I noted that the bubble tank length is not equal both ends, one end is slightly shorter than the other. I made sure to always orientate the longer bit at the top of the tank because I had a nightmare of a time wicking this thing and found it helped.
I took out my original Kylin (pre-tweaked version) to do some side by side pics. There are some modifications including:
1) Narrowed outer diameter of the top cap. Looking underneath the cap it also features a different attachment approach.
2) The Mini has an “all-in-one” refill ring and chamber design which shortens is profile since the original, there’s not a huge difference though once you take into consideration how they thread to the deck.
3) The Mini has lost the conical design of the original inside, instead opting for an angular top portion to focus on a single coil funnel.
4) Obviously the Decks are different.
5) Glass sections have changed in height and width, along with the narrowing of the Mini as a whole from the base up (instead of having it flair out like the original).
6) The Airflow Control ring used to be visible under the base, they have got rid of this and it now sits as an enclosed ring. They also got rid of the click position turning from the original, its smooth for minor adjustments, but still features a stop.
So what remains the same?
1) The awful two part positive pin. I don’t know why VandyVape insist on using this pin on all of their products it’s prone to snapping if over-tightened.
2) The have kept the signature plastic insert inside the base, again not a huge fan of this it’s a weak point that snaps if you tighten the screw a little too hard.
3) There is negligible difference in base diameter
4) Airflow slots are identical 15mm x 2mm each
5) When assembled both tanks have identical space between the glass and chamber for wicking and juice movement.
6) Machining and finish are similar, lots of scratches, although I will give this to VandyVape they do gold plating very well, I’ve never had a problem with plating on any of their products (even the screws)
7) The top caps could easily be the same if you look top down, just a bit trimmed away, they even share similar knurling.
8) Both decks are a press fit design
9) Both break down into 5 parts (7 if you take out the positive pin)
Actually I really want to go over the “what remains the same”. I wish VandyVape would stop using the mass production template in their RTA’s. Simply stamping in a different deck into the same or a similar sized base featuring all of the same flaws then calling it a new product serves as a shortcut to get products to market quickly and cut costs. If they continue on this path why not just take a leaf out of IJOY’s book and release decks Combo style so I can purchase the different decks and screw them into the base?
So ill end this bit by saying I’d much rather they slow down their releases and spend time doing different things inside the base itself, have a go with other top cap designs and refill mechanisms, airflow options all of those kind of things. If they can do it on their RDA’s and RDTA’s have a go on the bulk of the RTA’s they release as well.
Impressive flavour, a novel build deck, controversial leaking issues, noisy and a steep wicking learning curve….As an early adopter of the original Kylin these were all things I experienced. Regardless of how I or indeed many felt about it there is no avoiding the fact VanvyVape enjoyed sales success. It was only a matter of time before we saw a follow up.
The Kylin Mini wasn’t born free of its own controversy with the whole “who’s idea was it anyway” Seemingly all is calm in the land, Andrei and Stefan have now become BFF’s, issued a joint statement that it was all just a big misunderstanding and are even looking to get a place together. Well maybe the last bit wasn’t true but what the hell, it ended up with a happy ending for someone……Sooooo with that lot out of the way is the Kylin Mini any good?….I’ll share my findings and you can be the judge.
I should mention - I won this from a competition at Vaping Underground and received it directly from VandyVape. So with the customary review clause out of the way I shall commence.
Manufacturer Specifications
- Diameter: 24.4mm
- Height: 40mm With Drip Tip
- Threaded Top Fill Design
- Capacity: 3ml Standard (5ml bubble glass)
- Weight: 150g
- Postless Deck (single coil)
- Airflow Slots: 2 adjustable
- Bottom Airflow Honeycomb Design
- Material: SS304 with gold plated deck, Pyrex Glass tank
- 810 Drip Tip (Resin & Delrin included)
- Kylin Mini RTA
- 1 x 18mm wide resin drip tip
- 1 x spare 5ml Bubble Glass
- 1 x Accessory Bag
Product Information: http://www.vandyvape.com/detail/atomizer/Kylin_Mini_RTA/
Impressions and Build Quality.
Bear in mind my findings are based on a sample version, they didn’t send out a production version.
The kit comes with a decent amount of spares, I like the bubble glass lowering its profile. We’ve seen a lot of this lately and it does make a difference both in flavour and wicking in my opinion.
My tank was absolutely covered in a Vaseline type grease. I have to give it VandyVape they do a decent job of plating because this thing was sitting in the Ultrasonic Cleaner for a good 35 minutes in hot soapy water before I felt comfortable removing it. Seriously I know people think reviewers get all the good bits in sample packages but I assure you if this is anything to go by that really isn’t the case!
The O-rings on the base was lose and just falling out….one was stuck to the glass and left residue which I had to peel off (this was pre cleaning).
You get a Resin Drip tip with a 10mm bore and a Delrin Shorty with an 11mm bore. Both are comfortable to use although I feel the Mini shines better using the adaptor with one of my own 510 drip tips with a reduced wattage.
The threading needs a little bit of attention. Whilst the chamber screws in pretty well you will need to be careful with cross threading because it’s not machined deep at all, additionally the top cap always has trouble catching after a refill.
Both glass tank options stick out further than the top cap so I would suggest running a vape band with it. Also I noted that the bubble tank length is not equal both ends, one end is slightly shorter than the other. I made sure to always orientate the longer bit at the top of the tank because I had a nightmare of a time wicking this thing and found it helped.
I took out my original Kylin (pre-tweaked version) to do some side by side pics. There are some modifications including:
1) Narrowed outer diameter of the top cap. Looking underneath the cap it also features a different attachment approach.
2) The Mini has an “all-in-one” refill ring and chamber design which shortens is profile since the original, there’s not a huge difference though once you take into consideration how they thread to the deck.
3) The Mini has lost the conical design of the original inside, instead opting for an angular top portion to focus on a single coil funnel.
4) Obviously the Decks are different.
5) Glass sections have changed in height and width, along with the narrowing of the Mini as a whole from the base up (instead of having it flair out like the original).
6) The Airflow Control ring used to be visible under the base, they have got rid of this and it now sits as an enclosed ring. They also got rid of the click position turning from the original, its smooth for minor adjustments, but still features a stop.
So what remains the same?
1) The awful two part positive pin. I don’t know why VandyVape insist on using this pin on all of their products it’s prone to snapping if over-tightened.
2) The have kept the signature plastic insert inside the base, again not a huge fan of this it’s a weak point that snaps if you tighten the screw a little too hard.
3) There is negligible difference in base diameter
4) Airflow slots are identical 15mm x 2mm each
5) When assembled both tanks have identical space between the glass and chamber for wicking and juice movement.
6) Machining and finish are similar, lots of scratches, although I will give this to VandyVape they do gold plating very well, I’ve never had a problem with plating on any of their products (even the screws)
7) The top caps could easily be the same if you look top down, just a bit trimmed away, they even share similar knurling.
8) Both decks are a press fit design
9) Both break down into 5 parts (7 if you take out the positive pin)
Actually I really want to go over the “what remains the same”. I wish VandyVape would stop using the mass production template in their RTA’s. Simply stamping in a different deck into the same or a similar sized base featuring all of the same flaws then calling it a new product serves as a shortcut to get products to market quickly and cut costs. If they continue on this path why not just take a leaf out of IJOY’s book and release decks Combo style so I can purchase the different decks and screw them into the base?
So ill end this bit by saying I’d much rather they slow down their releases and spend time doing different things inside the base itself, have a go with other top cap designs and refill mechanisms, airflow options all of those kind of things. If they can do it on their RDA’s and RDTA’s have a go on the bulk of the RTA’s they release as well.
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I found it most fiddly Went through 4 different wicking materials and 6 or so variations before I got to this point ...having said that anyone that does get this at least has a head start over me with the guide in here haha
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Glad it worked out for you hearts! Keep an eye out when it comes to refilling because it’s the only time I had problems. There’s a pressure effect when taking the top off ...I found leaving it off for too long oversaturated the cotton leading to seeping ...once I started vaping it stoped though
