Hmmmm. Here we go.

Decent 18650 are a bit of a pain to get hold of.

Try Peter at SIMpower, he's put together a guide for these, and has a stock of pretty much anything.

For Vapes?

Vape shops do bulk lots. Or PBtech do individuals. 

For the likes of Nitecore and other 'real' makers, they can get pricey. But are improving. Jaycar use to be one of the earlier places before vapes were popular to do generic Panasonics to put in tool packs etc. And they were in the range of 12-20 each. Can get LG/Sammy/Pannys at PBtech in 2 packs thanks to vape chuggers making them popular

https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/NBBOEM1865006/Samsung-Genuine-2pcs-35E-18650-Li-ion-Battery-3500 

Vape stores I've found are the best 18650/21700 etc suppliers.

Don't vape, but have two 18650 torches

Neither truth be told. I needed some for some LED torches I imported.

I ended up getting a 2400 nitecore on clearance from PB for $9 or so. It's 'OK'. But they're super bright and don't last long

Using a fancy hobby charger I put them in an old drill pack to charge. Along with 3 cells recovered from an old drill pack.

But the nitecore 2x bay + battery packs from Mr Positive are a little appealing. They're backward compatible sliders with standard NiMH batteries too.

peejayw: No not for vapes 😄

Apologies if I have the wrong end of the stick here - Are you dismissing 18650's bought from an vape store as not precisely not the same 18650's you buy from anywhere else?

Vape store 18650s actually tend to be higher quality I've found. I regularly buy VAPCELL 18650s for my S21a Convoy as I need a sustained high amp output. 

Haha, no, was just saying I dont Vape. Will check out the local store if we have one (Pukekohe).

tehgerbil:

 

I regularly buy VAPCELL 18650s for my S21a Convoy as I need a sustained high amp output. 

 

You do realise they're rechargable, right?

frankv:

 

tehgerbil:

 

I regularly buy VAPCELL 18650s for my S21a Convoy as I need a sustained high amp output. 

 

 

You do realise they're rechargable, right?

 

peejayw: I bought some from a seller on TradeMe but they were only 1000mAh instead of the quoted 3600. 

I got caught out like that the first time I bought 18650's but then I learnt no one makes cells with that many mAh (or 4,100 in my case), so it should have been/is now days, dead obvious they are fakes.

I just pull them out of other packs now, but you have to be a little careful not to use them in poor quality devices or where they are used in series. 18650's made for consumer goods (vapes etc) have a protection circuit built in to prevent over charging/discharging, but the 18650's in battery packs don't have that built into the cell. Those without protection are usually a few mm shorter and have flatter positive terminal.  

The last pack I bough contained 40 name brand cells, and was from an e-recycler who was scrapping 3 month old e-scooters that had been withdrawn from service. They tested up exactly as specified and will keep me going for a few years to come.

What about aliexpress?

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32917418246.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.5d006be5qBJ8WM&algo_pvid=0ad7af4c-c944-4cb1-ad73-eeaafa29e696&algo_exp_id=0ad7af4c-c944-4cb1-ad73-eeaafa29e696-5 

2nd for Simpower

I use them for those and other products.  There is not much they dont have ready available.  A couple of weeks ago they made a custom one for a small project

Gordy7:

What about aliexpress?