WISMEC Reuleaux Tinker 2 Mod Kit Review

Introduction to the WISMEC Reuleaux Tinker 2 – At the risk of alienating our younger (read: mid-20s) readers, I’m SO glad WISMEC no longer wants to “be like Mike.” If you remember the original triple-18650 WISMEC Tinker device, you know the design concept was centered on the classic “Air Jordan” sneakers from the late ‘80s. But the mismatched name, oversized footprint and overall lack of purpose kinda relegated the Tinker to the back of the shelf.

Though they kept the name, the new WISMEC Reuleaux Tinker 2 moves away from 300-watt claims and Nike brand infringement to make a more-ergonomic dual-18650 mod that shares enough of the same DNA to keep it familiar but streamlines the entire package for an improved experience. Is this enough to warrant your dollars? Well, read on…

First, the “Official” Description

The WISMEC Reuleaux TINKER 2 200W Starter Kit is a powerful and well-crafted vaping system. Integrating the new AVATAR Chipset with Instant Firing, dual 18650 platform, and shock & water-resistant design to pair with the new TROUGH Sub-Ohm Tank.

Starter Kit

The TINKER 2 Starter Kit is equipped with a wide range of wattage options, spanning from 1-200W. Powered by the dual batteries, the Tinker 2’s battery bay can be found underneath the bottom spring loaded hinged battery access panel hiding a pair of 18650 batteries that are unfortunately not-included.

Pairing with the WISMEC Trough Sub-Ohm Tank, the TINKER 2 takes advantage of the relatively large diameter and neatly situates the sub-ohm tank on the threaded 510 connection. In addition, the Trough Sub-Ohm Tank uses a slew of coil options to find the perfect coil layout to satisfy even the pickiest of vapers.

Impressions/Aesthetics Tinker 2

I’ll never quite be “good” with the name “Tinker,” but at least the leather-like trim on the second edition doesn’t make me want to buy overpriced sneakers. Instead, this tri-colored device balances the multiple materials well, creating a nice visual contrast (not to mention a better feel in the hand).

My green and grey test model surprised me with its aesthetic appeal. Though green isn’t a color I like on too many vape mods, the 200-watt Tinker 2 doesn’t go overboard with flashy design elements or severe cutouts, which do nothing but add to the visual confusion. The zinc alloy is extremely thick, weighty and durable – which goes right in line with the kit’s main selling points, being waterproof, dust proof and shock proof.

(In other words, WISMEC already covered “Air Jordan,” so consider the Tinker 2 to be the “Land and Sea Jordan.”)

Bad jokes aside, the Tinker 2 DID prove to be extremely durable, since the heavy mod/tank combo fell out of my pockets several times. Not intentionally, but appropriately. Though the solid metal frame landed on concrete with a defined “thud,” the Tinker 2 was no worse for wear, with nary a scratch or dent to be found, even after multiple impacts.

It’s not all about being rugged, though. The Tinker 2’s construction and button quality are top-notch throughout, with comfort and performance standing out just as much as its ability to withstand abuse.

Standout Features

If you thought “Tinker” was an odd name, wait until you fire up the included companion sub-ohm tank, the delightfully named “Trough.” Whether or not WISMEC is calling us pigs for using this new tank remains to be seen, but the bigger pigs were the companion coils that came with it. If you use the Trough, be prepared to carry an e-liquid slop bucket with you, because you’ll be refilling most of the night.

6.5mL Capacity

Visually, the 6.5mL capacity Trough likely earns its name from the shorter, squattier design. It’s not far removed from the 18.2 billion other sub-ohm tanks vying for your attention these days, but as a companion atomizer, it fits well with the Tinker 2 mod, with no overhang and seamless fit on the mod’s 510 plate.

One item that drove me mad during testing was the narrow fill port, which is covered by a thin silicone barrier to prevent leaking and e-liquid evaporation. Almost ALL of my chubby 120mL bottles had spillage problems when trying to fill this paper-thin slit, to the point where I first modified it with an X-Acto blade, then eventually removed it altogether.

Fill Port

On its own, the fill port is STILL too narrow, but no modern tank should see more liquid seeping down the side of the tank than going into it, yet that’s what the Trough has to offer. Sloppy as a… never mind, that metaphor is already huffing and puffing.

The included mesh coils were standard-fare performers, delivering enough flavor and vapor to keep me coming back, but not standing out enough in any category to make me want to buy more coils down the line. This was a little surprising, considering how strongly WISMEC promoted the cotton/wood pulp blend for wicking and flavor.

Replacement Coils

Like most stock coil heads, the included single- and dual-coil heads gave me about 3-4 days of good performance, a few more days of middling performance and then a few hours of off flavors before tapping out entirely. If you own a tank and enjoy it, there’s a good chance you don’t need the Trough in your life – keep it as a backup and wait for something easier to fill.

Vaping the WISMEC Tinker 2 Kit

While the coils might not last long, the Tinker 2 mod definitely has stamina in its veins, delivering a full workday of use before the dual-18650s waved the white flag and needed replacement. And this was under fairly heavy testing conditions, swapping tanks and modes like Axl Rose swapped outfits on their reunion tour.

And for the most part, they were highly enjoyable workdays. Thanks to rapid-ramping, excellent coil detection and a great, linear menu system, putting the Tinker 2 through its paces was a breeze. Comfortable, responsive and user-friendly, right down to the color display, I was floored by how much of a performance improvement WISMEC made from v1 to v2 of this series.

Sub-Ohm Performance

Using a wide range of sub-ohm tanks and RTAs, the Tinker 2 effortlessly performed in all of its modes, even delivering above-average temperature control vaping, at a price point where you don’t typically get pinpoint accuracy. But even if you’re only looking to vape in power mode, the Tinker 2 isn’t going to let you down.

So, where’s the obligatory “but” statement? Well, sadly there is ONE sticking point – heat. Particularly around the 510 connection, when vaping above 100 watts. While most of my Tinker 2 test model stayed cool to the touch during heavy operation, the 510 section – even with grooved cutouts for airflow – was practically hot enough to burn my lips.

200W Mod

Likewise, several tanks conducted just as much heat throughout their bodies and mouthpieces, making the Tinker 2 a mildly risky proposition for those who drip or vape regularly at high wattages. The fact that a mod gets heated during heavy use isn’t alarming to me. But the lack of venting in this area of the device IS. And it really reared its head when cranking a few 120+ watt draws… even though the device can easily hit 200 watts. I won’t say it’s dangerous, but it bothered me.

When maintaining more-reasonable wattages and temps, there wasn’t any concern, and the Tinker 2 performed as advertised with no errors, hiccups or confusion along the way.

Pros:

– Much-improved design and comfort

– Fast-ramping and precise

– Durable beyond belief

Cons:

– Weird, unnecessary companion tank

– Heat, heat and heat

– Design won’t likely have “universal appeal”

Spinfuel VAPE Recommendation and Score

The WISMEC Tinker 2 kit is a nice step forward for a series I wrote off as gimmicky, less than a year ago. While it’s hardly perfect, the power and precision the Tinker 2 offers is well beyond what mods in this category usually provide.

Coupled with the water/dust/ding-proof chassis, and the Tinker 2 brings you a really good mod for active use. The tank might underwhelm, and there’s still some design work that needs to happen but consider this a solid move in the right direction for the series.