Kayfun v5 - The Best MTL Tank Ever?

[Deleted]

After a few weeks of use I have just elevated the Kayfun v5 to my personal number one favourite MTL tank. The UTA2 drops to second place, with the Kayfun Mini v3 in third.

I have three Kayfun v5's now and will be buying a couple more for spares. With the TPD size squeeze looming I thought I would just post this to gently remind anyone (who builds) who hasn't taken the plunge on one of these yet that, well time is possibly running out. Yes, the Kayfun Mini v3 will still be available once the smaller tank law kicks in, but IMO the v5 is just a much much better tank.

The v5 has the larger capacity obviously. It has a bigger build deck and much larger juice holes that make it difficult to wick poorly even when you are in a rush. It has an easier to use and safer build deck too, and a simple but genius improved air flow control system, as well as a better designed internally slanted refill cap. Small things, but together they all add up, and when Svoe said the V5 was their best tank ever I think they were spot on. They significantly improved on the great Mini v3 in a very short space of time.

Some have said the draw is too airy for MTL on the v5 but I don't find this to be the case at all, at least with the 3mm-d coils I use anyway. I purchased the reduction kit with my first v5 and I have used it but it makes it far too restricted for me. I like a tight(ish) draw and I find the second or third setting on a stock v5 to be ideal, but the reduction kit is always available for anyone who prefers more restriction.

I sung the praises of the Mini v3 when they came out - they are great tanks and I still have five of them including a genuine, but the V5 is just a much better tank in every way in my opinion. I've tried to think of any negatives but I can't think of any other than the cost of the genuine, as well as I can't use them on my lovely Pico mods because the AFC control on the tank touches the top of the protruding battery cap on the Pico (safety concern?), but that's a design feature/fault of the Pico I guess, not the V5.

So, with the new laws looming I just wanted to highlight this excellent MTL tank one final time while it is still available to be purchased in the UK legally. I hope that Svoe eventually bring out a squat 2ml version of the v5 with the same build deck proportions and features, but who knows.

As for purchasing. There are concerns on the FT forums that FT have been selling a clone of the SXK clone can you believe (no idea if actually true), but I read enough comments/concerns that I decided to buy all mine from Pro Vapes who are selling genuine SXK v5's in the UK for £32.99 + postage with the bonus of fast delivery. But be warned that all three of mine had machine oil in them, including in the internal chamber/pin, so a complete disassemble and thorough clean WILL be required on these.

[Lee]

FocalEcig do both the SXK $24.00 and the SJMY $24.99 versions
I managed to get one of each for $43.54 inc tracked postage
Discount for registering on their site etc

If they are any good or ones better than the other, I will get another two

Looking forward to these turning up

[Deleted]

Nice one lee. They seem to speak highly of the SJMY version on the US forums and regard them as equally as good as the SXK, so I think you got a good price there for those two :-)

Quick tip. Grab some spare VG and put it in a little juice bottle. Use it to lube up the two upper black o-rings on the build deck column (just under the deck) each time you re-wick. This was suggested by Svoe themselves and helps with pressure (seal) as well as keeping the juice flow control moving smoothly. It does make a difference IME.

[djs]

Impressive & helpful write up. I have one on the way and will get 2 or 3 more before the zombies hit town. If I was a betting man, I'd say there'll be buying from China options for some time but safest to get ordering now.

[Deleted]

Have no need/desire

Been using a KFL+ v.2 for over a year including clones

Don't want to spend 2 weeks of my life playing with the wicking on a new tank when the KFL+ does me perfectly fine

Only the other day I found a new tweak I had to do (nothing was on the forums about it)

Really life is too short to get a new tank!!!

But whatever floats ya boat!!!

[Lee]

What kinds of builds are you guys using for mtl on the kayfuns?

[pipeman01]

i use 28g kanthal over a 2.5 drill bit (5.5 winds i think) giving me 1.2ohm and at 13.5w it's good flavor and decent clouds

[djs]

Aug 26, 2016 15:50:06 GMT @johanino said:

Have no need/desire

Been using a KFL+ v.2 for over a year including clones

Don't want to spend 2 weeks of my life playing with the wicking on a new tank when the KFL+ does me perfectly fine

Only the other day I found a new tweak I had to do (nothing was on the forums about it)

Really life is too short to get a new tank!!!

But whatever floats ya boat!!!

I'm banking on less finicky wicking. Every generation seems to get easier and more reliable. Its all about juice flow and you can't knock that.

[SteveF]

you beat me to it although my post would have been titled .... SXK Kayfun V5 I may have to eat my own words!

But then the threads started to grind and bind at about 1.5 turns when closing the juice control and either dry hits or weeps constantly from the airflow between 1.5 and 2 turns.
Joys, a one off first time wicking success and now it's like any week old clone, questionable.

[Deleted]

Aug 26, 2016 19:07:51 GMT pipeman01 said:

i use 28g kanthal over a 2.5 drill bit (5.5 winds i think) giving me 1.2ohm and at 13.5w it's good flavor and decent clouds

My clouds are very good . Set off my smoke alarm a treat LOL

[Deleted]

Really sorry to hear it's giving you trouble stevef . I waited a few weeks this time before posting to make sure it was consistantly good and on more than one tank as well. The first time I vaped the v5 I was so pleased with the build experience and how well it vaped that I had the urge to post immediately, but this time I wanted to make sure it wasn't just a fluke. I re-wick every two days and rebuild every 14 days on average, now with 3 tanks, and time and time again they are all performing as well as the first time.

I use a 3mm-D coil, sat as close to the airhole as possible for flavour and airflow restriction, and vape at low watts (9-12w), with two full turns of the juice flow (sometimes two and a quarter - I like the logo facing me), so a prime candidate for leaking, but I never get any. With the Mini v3 I occasionaly had to close off the juice flow and give it a blow through into a tissue to clear out a little bit of gurgling/flooding, but not so with the v5 as yet.

On my second two tanks I did swap out the build deck o-rings for fresh ones from the pack. Not sure why really, but as I had completely stripped the tank down for cleaning I just thought I would do it. Air flow and juice flow are smooth as silk on all 3.

Perhaps you have dodgy o-rings? Do you lube those two o-rings (under the build deck) I mentioned in a previous post when you re-wick? This was suggested by Svoe themselves on their website as it aids with smooth juice flow control and I'm guessing also sealing for pressure. I used to just use ejuice to do it, but now use some plain VG I put in a little juice bottle.

Out of interest, when you remove the build deck from the tank, and look down at the coil/wick from above, can you see a big "SXK" etched onto the top of the air flow control plate?

[Deleted]

Aug 26, 2016 21:04:21 GMT djs said:

Aug 26, 2016 15:50:06 GMT @johanino said:

Have no need/desire

Been using a KFL+ v.2 for over a year including clones

Don't want to spend 2 weeks of my life playing with the wicking on a new tank when the KFL+ does me perfectly fine

Only the other day I found a new tweak I had to do (nothing was on the forums about it)

Really life is too short to get a new tank!!!

But whatever floats ya boat!!!

I'm banking on less finicky wicking. Every generation seems to get easier and more reliable. Its all about juice flow and you can't knock that.

@djs. Trim your wick ends at the point where they reach the first upper o-ring on the column beneath the deck to get the ideal length for your chosen coil height. Fold them back so they drop into the juice well. Pat them down gently to make sure they are just touching the bottom of the juice well and spread out a little to fill the well if needed (make sure you have no loose ends hanging on or near the central air chamber to cause flooding. All done! For 3mm-D+ coils, I just trim off a bit of wick from the sides before putting into the well to reduce the amount of wick by a little. That's honestly it.

I use the scottish roll method to prepare my wick now and it performs so much better than anything else I've tried. For a 3mm-D coil, I cut a 0.8cm strip from a muji pad, gently remove the very thin course layer from top and bottom. Then I gently tease that strip apart until I have a very thin sheet about 3-inch in length. I then gently re-roll this back into a wick and it fits snugly but not tight and vapes like a dream. 

[Lee]

Aug 26, 2016 11:24:03 GMT @hondo said:

Nice one lee . They seem to speak highly of the SJMY version on the US forums and regard them as equally as good as the SXK, so I think you got a good price there for those two :-)

Quick tip. Grab some spare VG and put it in a little juice bottle. Use it to lube up the two upper black o-rings on the build deck column (just under the deck) each time you re-wick. This was suggested by Svoe themselves and helps with pressure (seal) as well as keeping the juice flow control moving smoothly. It does make a difference IME.

Mine are in separate denture cleaner baths at the moment

But the feel of the two whist stripping them down etc, the SJMY feels just that little bit better quality

Both are fully etched with the logo's, unlike the FT SXK version

See how they vape in a couple of hours

[Lee]

With the o rings lubed, both units vape equally as good as each other
Trying a month old chock milkshake, mixed at 15% its still a very subtle flavour
The SXK has made it a decent vape

Vaping both on 8 wraps of 28 gauge kanthal on a 2.5mm coil, with about 1.5cm of wick either side of the coil

Custard (200ml of the damn stuff steeping in the cupboard for a month) in the SJMY

Cant see me returning to the Kanger tanks now I have these

[Deleted]

Excellent news Lee!

I also use 28AWG kanthal, 3.0mm coil, 8 wraps, for about 1.65 Ohms. Vary between 9.5w and 12w depending on the juice, all of which is mixed at 50/50 now.

Based on what you've said I'm going to try and grab an SMJY version next week I think, so thanks for the heads up.