1st Build on Trident Clone... 1st Build Ever

[Jazzman]

This is my 1st build ever. Worked out pretty well, but I know I'll get better with practice. Vapes really nice, I can't keep up with the amount or vapor, but oooh the flavor.

This is a Trident clone from NHale. Not bad for a clone but the threads are pretty bad, very catchy both on the 510 connector and on the terminal posts. Screws on OK, but I have to be very careful starting the screw caps and screwing on to my Provari. Other than that it work great.

I used 28ga kanthal, 8 wraps on a 5/64th bit and it came out at 1.2ohms. Probably a little low and I should have done a few more wraps. I have no real idea what voltage I should be using so I have it set to 3.4v right now. Dry burned well, glowed from the middle out and glowed consistently bright once lit up with no glowing on the legs.

Comments and suggestions are appreciated. What voltage should I be vaping this at? What would be the preferred number of wraps and what size bit?

Crappy pic... best I could do with my iPhone 4s.

 

[savagemann]

Congrats. Looks pretty good!
I'd probably start around 3.7v and work your way up.
You'll find the sweet spot.
Only thing I would change, is to shorten that wick a hair.
Maybe cut it near the posts.
It'll wick better that way.
I think you're on the right path around 1.2ohm.
5/64" bit is good.
You could also try a 1/16" bit and do around 10 or 11 wraps, but you're not gonna get a bad vape with how you have it setup.
Vape on!

 

[Jazzman]

Congrats. Looks pretty good!
I'd probably start around 3.7v and work your way up.
You'll find the sweet spot.
Only thing I would change, is to shorten that wick a hair.
Maybe cut it near the posts.
It'll wick better that way.
I think you're on the right path around 1.2ohm.
5/64" bit is good.
You could also try a 1/16" bit and do around 10 or 11 wraps, but you're not gonna get a bad vape with how you have it setup.
Vape on!

I'll try shortening up the wick a bit, I appreciate the suggestion (that's the long side of the wick right?). Should I tuck it down between the post closer to the well? I noticed Rip Trippers had it stuck up a bit like that and wasn't sure, I was thinking having it a bit more in the well might be better. I'll start upping the voltage also and see how that goes.

Thanks again for the advice.

BTW, I just recoiled my Aspire Nautilus head and that went really well too. Great flavor, better than the original head. I'm really pleased with it and it was very easy.

 

[savagemann]

I'll try shortening up the wick a bit, I appreciate the suggestion (that's the long side of the wick right?). Should I tuck it down between the post closer to the well? I noticed Rip Trippers had it stuck up a bit like that and wasn't sure, I was thinking having it a bit more in the well might be better. I'll start upping the voltage also and see how that goes.

Thanks again for the advice.

BTW, I just recoiled my Aspire Nautilus head and that went really well too. Great flavor, better than the original head. I'm really pleased with it and it was very easy.

Yea, shorten up the long side a hair.
Maybe have it extend to the posts on the opposite side of the coil.

Was it a pain to recoil your Nautilus heads?
I seem to remember rips video made it look a little fiddly.

 

[Jazzman]

Yea, shorten up the long side a hair.
Maybe have it extend to the posts on the opposite side of the coil.

Was it a pain to recoil your Nautilus heads?
I seem to remember rips video made it look a little fiddly.

Nautilus head was very easy. 15 minutes start to finish, and that was my first one and my second recoil. Not fiddly at all really, took about 3 minutes after the coil was built and wicked to put it together. Hardest part for me was cutting the wicks with my dull scissors. I need to get a really good pair to cut cotton.

BTW, 3.7 volts made the Trident come alive. Almost doubled the vapor production and flavor is still great.

 

[savagemann]

Nautilus head was very easy. 15 minutes start to finish, and that was my first one and my second recoil. Not fiddly at all really, took about 3 minutes after the coil was built and wicked to put it together. Hardest part for me was cutting the wicks with my dull scissors. I need to get a really good pair to cut cotton.

BTW, 3.7 volts made the Trident come alive. Almost doubled the vapor production and flavor is still great.

Good to hear Jazzman.
You can play with the voltage up or down to fine tune.
Keep the wick wet and go up .1volt at a time until it tastes off, then back down .1 or .2 volts.

I may have been confusing the Nautilus heads for the Aspire BDC heads video that RIP did.
I remember one of his recent vids made it look a bit of a pain to rebuild.

 

[sandt38]

Why shorten the wick, if you don't mind my asking? I am playing with a Nimbus now and have been messing with my wick and I know I can make it taste better. I just want to understand the reason why a shorter wick is better, the mechanics behind it. My Nimbus seems to perform better with longer wick, but it could be that I haven't tried with a short enough wick.

 

[Jazzman]

Congrats. Looks pretty good!
I'd probably start around 3.7v and work your way up.
You'll find the sweet spot.
Only thing I would change, is to shorten that wick a hair.
Maybe cut it near the posts.
It'll wick better that way.
I think you're on the right path around 1.2ohm.
5/64" bit is good.
You could also try a 1/16" bit and do around 10 or 11 wraps, but you're not gonna get a bad vape with how you have it setup.
Vape on!

Took your advice and re-wicked my coil with less cotton. Much better results. Good call on the less cotton. I also tucked the short end under the coil, not sure if this is a help, but saw a few doing this. Cotton wicks great now and the flavor is even better. Thanks again for the suggestions Savagemann. Oh, also got some 6mg juice. Was about to OD on the 12mg! Just love the intense flavor of an RDA.

Here's the new wick pic:

 

[savagemann]

Glad I could help Jazzman.
Wick looks good!
Yea, I dropped from 12mg to 6mg when I started rebuilding.