A Tale of Two Atty's (First night with a couple of AGA T2's)

[Argusi]

Today I got a few padded envelopes in the mail and one of those had 2 AGA t2's. Tearing apart the packaging like a kid trying to get to his first Hot Wheel, I am triumphant! There they are! I thought my Kanger Protanks were heavy!

Forcing myself to remain calm through dinner, in my mind, I go over all of the things I learned on ECF and YouTube. Done. Casually ask if the wife needs anything. Nope. Kids? Nope. Walk slowly and calmly to my office with my little brown and white packing envelopes...

First one, out of the box. I decide to use the wick and wire that came with it and see what happens. No idea what gauge the wire is, nor if the mesh is 400 or 500. I'll learn how to tell the difference later. I have some building to do and I figure I'll mess it up anyways...

Mesh, lighter each side twice. Kanthal twice. Why twice? I don't remember if it mattered much. Keep going! Fold the end of the mesh, start rolling. Remember, tight is better... There, whoops, too tight? Dropped in the hole like a toothpick through a manhole. Hmmm, grin and bear it, I'll mess it up anyways...

Wick, pliers, burn, juice, burn, juice, burn, juice... Why 3 times? No idea! Keep going!

Now the hard part. Can't see. Dark room. Get glasses. Still can't see. Keep going!

Ground connected. Man, that's small. Wind, wind, wind, ummm. How many times? Ugh, forgot. Doesn't matter. Drive on! Connect the top trying to keep from moving things around too much. How do they make nuts this small? Done...

Now I'm almost there. Check resistance, good. Go to VV and 3v. Pulse, fiddle, pulse, wiggle, pulse, push, knock the wire out of the positive connector. Sigh, have to deal with the tiny nut again...

Time passes. Roosters crow and I'm still trying to get this thing to fire evenly. 30, yes, 30 minutes later. TADA! YES! DONE! Wet it and it smokes like a chimney. Fill it. Try it and it is sooo good. Think about building the 2nd one as I vape this wonderful goodness...

GACK! What is that? Pop the top, look at a little glowing orange spot and poke it with my finger. Slight burn (finger), but it is working again. Back to contemplating the demise of the 2nd T2...

Roll up sleeves and thing to myself, this isn't so bad...

WRONG! 2 wicks, 4 coils and 3 hours later I'm about to give up when suddenly, angels sing!

​

I seriously underestimated the difficulty of wrapping a wire around a metal mesh and successfully insulating them with heat from a Bic lighter (huh?). The hardest part of the exercise are those hot spots. Knowing theory and reading/watching everything you can only gets you so far. There is a feel to it. A technique that cannot be directly shared because it comes from just doing. I'm not there yet, but I'm on my way...

The end!

 

[trishdadish]

Congrats on your first build! Keep plugging away, and you'll get it.I found that using NiChrome was a guaranteed way for me to get a popped coil. Soon you'll be wrapping a wick and coil in under 5 minutes, and all that fiddling will be a distant memory you can chuckle about.

 

[mad maori]

nice post- i coiled up my agi last night.. got 1.7ohm and its stokinly good... like you i watched heaps of videos and you are right, that only gets you so far.. you just gotta do it and practice makes perfect i guess... im either so awesome or incredibly lucky (i think the later) i had no hot spots or shorts!!!! .. now that the first build is over one can only hope it gets better from here!!!! vape on!!!

 

[Janusxvii]

I'm at the same place you are. Got my first T2 in the mail on Monday and have been fiddling with it pretty much all week. I watched videos and read posts for the past several months before I finally took the plunge and ordered it felling like I had a good grasp on how do build an awesome coil....nope. I think I may have finally (hopefully) gotten the hot spots all worked out.

 

[Rule62]

LOL...Congrats on your first build. Welcome to the world of RBAs.

 

[Argusi]

Thanks, everyone! Decent day today. They have been fairly consistent, but at times seemed muted, but I think my tongue is tired. I'm also starting to look at mechanicals. Some of the failed coils last night were 1.1, 1.2 ohms and right on the brink of Lo or firing on my Vamo. The two I'm running now are 1.8 and 2.0. I want to bring that down next time to 1.4 or 1.5, unless I get a mech. Then I'll go lower.

I will probably wait until my IGO-L's come in and that will probably prompt me to get a mech! I'd roll a couple more, but I need to get more supplies. Ordering those soon...

All in all, very good experience. I don't think I have the perfect setup by any means, but it's good enough to make it worth it. It's only going to get better.

 

[Rule62]

Thanks, everyone! Decent day today. They have been fairly consistent, but at times seemed muted, but I think my tongue is tired. I'm also starting to look at mechanicals. Some of the failed coils last night were 1.1, 1.2 ohms and right on the brink of Lo or firing on my Vamo. The two I'm running now are 1.8 and 2.0. I want to bring that down next time to 1.4 or 1.5, unless I get a mech. Then I'll go lower.

I will probably wait until my IGO-L's come in and that will probably prompt me to get a mech! I'd roll a couple more, but I need to get more supplies. Ordering those soon...

All in all, very good experience. I don't think I have the perfect setup by any means, but it's good enough to make it worth it. It's only going to get better.

There really is no 'perfect' set up. it's all about what works for you, and being able to successfully repeat it. Eventially, you will get so you know how many ohms different wick sizes, wire gauges, and number of wraps will give you. You'll be able to say to yourself: "I'm going to build a 1.5 ohm coil", and you'll be able to do it.

 

[donnah]

LOL.. your description of asking your wife and kids if they needed anything and then calmly retreating to your office made me smile. The rsst is much easier to deal with than those tiny nuts. as much as I love my DIDs...I kinda dread when they need recoiling, with the rsst, I actually look forward to it. Now you'll be wanting a mech and wondering if you should start out cheap or just jump to a more expensive one LOL

 

[Rule62]

LOL.. your description of asking your wife and kids if they needed anything and then calmly retreating to your office made me smile. The rsst is much easier to deal with than those tiny nuts. as much as I love my DIDs...I kinda dread when they need recoiling, with the rsst, I actually look forward to it. Now you'll be wanting a mech and wondering if you should start out cheap or just jump to a more expensive one LOL

My advice: Starting out with mechanicals is like starting out with RBAs. Get a cheap one first; and see if you like them, before jumping into the high dollar ones. I have a $50 Sigelei #13 Telescope that works as well as my $190 EA.

 

[Argusi]

LOL.. your description of asking your wife and kids if they needed anything and then calmly retreating to your office made me smile. The rsst is much easier to deal with than those tiny nuts. as much as I love my DIDs...I kinda dread when they need recoiling, with the rsst, I actually look forward to it. Now you'll be wanting a mech and wondering if you should start out cheap or just jump to a more expensive one LOL

Calm on the outside, but inside, I was wanting to run back to my office like my 4 year old and start playing!

I saw the spring design on the RSST when I was researching, but I use some tank cracker juices and needed the glass tank. PBusardo, seemed to do okay on the AGA, so I thought I could handle it. All I have to say is it is TINY! LOL

There really is no 'perfect' set up. it's all about what works for you, and being able to successfully repeat it. Eventially, you will get so you know how many ohms different wick sizes, wire gauges, and number of wraps will give you. You'll be able to say to yourself: "I'm going to build a 1.5 ohm coil", and you'll be able to do it.

I hear you. Consistency and getting it right is the goal. Today I had to poke and prod some hotspots several times, while we were out because something was not right. Tonight, I decided I don't like what's happening with the two builds, so hopefully, I won't be up too late rebuilding again! Practice makes perfect. Or at least good enough!

My advice: Starting out with mechanicals is like starting out with RBAs. Get a cheap one first; and see if you like them, before jumping into the high dollar ones. I have a $50 Sigelei #13 Telescope that works as well as my $190 EA.

There are a couple of Sigelei's I have been looking at, including the #20 that we may be seeing soon. I figure 50 bucks is good. More than 100 and my wife starts throwing things at me. Although Father's Day is coming... Hmmm...

 

[Rule62]

There are a couple of Sigelei's I have been looking at, including the #20 that we may be seeing soon. I figure 50 bucks is good. More than 100 and my wife starts throwing things at me. Although Father's Day is coming... Hmmm...

The #20 is a Roller clone. It should be a decent mod. Tube mechanicals, other than all the fancy engraving, gold, silver, rhodium contacts and stuff on the higher end ones, just boil down to telescopes, solid tubes, side switches, and bottom switches. It's a matter of preference. Personally, I prefer side switch telescopes.

 

[MiamiMom63]

LOL. I love your description of escaping from your family while you are chomping at the bits. ha! It sort of reminds me of that A Christmas Story movie where the kid get his first Red Rider Bee Bee Gun. lol. Have fun!

 

[Argusi]

Update... I am really bad at this. I got my IGO-L's a few days ago and 5 minutes later was puffing away. One of the AGA T2's has a good coil at 1.7, but it is slow to heat up and is just not producing the vapor it did before. I'm thinking about cotton wrapping the top to avoid the shorts or using a cotton wrapped ceramic. Busy weekend, so I won't get to try again for a while, but I haven't given up! I have a few more 400 and 500 mesh left so I have a few more tries at this before I go an easier route.

Strange how my very first wick and coil was punch me in the face good, but was unstable, so I rebuilt it and haven't gotten it right since...
I'll drip and ponder for a while and keep reading. Hopefully something will click...

 

[FogHawg]

Strange how my very first wick and coil was punch me in the face good, but was unstable, so I rebuilt it and haven't gotten it right since...

That's exactly what happened on my first attempt. The vape quality was blowing my mind & I remember thinking 'geez, this ain't so tuff!' Then I whacked the coil while putting the topcap on & everything went downhill FAST. It was a while before I reproduced the performance of that first set-up. It seems easy now though. Be patient & work at it when you feel like messing w/it. You'll get it.

 

[grainey1968]

Today I got a few padded envelopes in the mail and one of those had 2 AGA t2's. Tearing apart the packaging like a kid trying to get to his first Hot Wheel, I am triumphant! There they are! I thought my Kanger Protanks were heavy!

Forcing myself to remain calm through dinner, in my mind, I go over all of the things I learned on ECF and YouTube. Done. Casually ask if the wife needs anything. Nope. Kids? Nope. Walk slowly and calmly to my office with my little brown and white packing envelopes...

First one, out of the box. I decide to use the wick and wire that came with it and see what happens. No idea what gauge the wire is, nor if the mesh is 400 or 500. I'll learn how to tell the difference later. I have some building to do and I figure I'll mess it up anyways...

Mesh, lighter each side twice. Kanthal twice. Why twice? I don't remember if it mattered much. Keep going! Fold the end of the mesh, start rolling. Remember, tight is better... There, whoops, too tight? Dropped in the hole like a toothpick through a manhole. Hmmm, grin and bear it, I'll mess it up anyways...

Wick, pliers, burn, juice, burn, juice, burn, juice... Why 3 times? No idea! Keep going!

Now the hard part. Can't see. Dark room. Get glasses. Still can't see. Keep going!

Ground connected. Man, that's small. Wind, wind, wind, ummm. How many times? Ugh, forgot. Doesn't matter. Drive on! Connect the top trying to keep from moving things around too much. How do they make nuts this small? Done...

Now I'm almost there. Check resistance, good. Go to VV and 3v. Pulse, fiddle, pulse, wiggle, pulse, push, knock the wire out of the positive connector. Sigh, have to deal with the tiny nut again...

Time passes. Roosters crow and I'm still trying to get this thing to fire evenly. 30, yes, 30 minutes later. TADA! YES! DONE! Wet it and it smokes like a chimney. Fill it. Try it and it is sooo good. Think about building the 2nd one as I vape this wonderful goodness...

GACK! What is that? Pop the top, look at a little glowing orange spot and poke it with my finger. Slight burn (finger), but it is working again. Back to contemplating the demise of the 2nd T2...

Roll up sleeves and thing to myself, this isn't so bad...

WRONG! 2 wicks, 4 coils and 3 hours later I'm about to give up when suddenly, angels sing!

View attachment 211025

​

I seriously underestimated the difficulty of wrapping a wire around a metal mesh and successfully insulating them with heat from a Bic lighter (huh?). The hardest part of the exercise are those hot spots. Knowing theory and reading/watching everything you can only gets you so far. There is a feel to it. A technique that cannot be directly shared because it comes from just doing. I'm not there yet, but I'm on my way...

The end!

That was excellent. I was so intrigued, that I thought I was reading a best seller! Congratulations on your build! You probably know by now that you have opened a major can of worms for yourself. You will be another who is looking for the 'Holy Grail". It is still out there!!!

 

[Argusi]

That's exactly what happened on my first attempt. The vape quality was blowing my mind & I remember thinking 'geez, this ain't so tuff!' Then I whacked the coil while putting the topcap on & everything went downhill FAST. It was a while before I reproduced the performance of that first set-up. It seems easy now though. Be patient & work at it when you feel like messing w/it. You'll get it.

The irony! It was just a tease!

That was excellent. I was so intrigued, that I thought I was reading a best seller! Congratulations on your build! You probably know by now that you have opened a major can of worms for yourself. You will be another who is looking for the 'Holy Grail". It is still out there!!!

Haha, thanks for that! I just ordered some cheesecloth and about 60 bucks of juice and am now browsing mechanicals... Can of worms, hmmm, gummy worm juice... Umm, what were we talking about?

 

[FogHawg]

Hehe...welcome to the club Argusi.

 

[Argusi]

Earlier today... Well over a week and almost out of mesh. There's a pile of wicks that I've abandoned in a small box in my desk drawer. I can't bring myself to throw them away. Have one of the AGA T2's running well and the second runs for a short time, then I have to fiddle hotspots out of it. Driving home from work and sucking on probably my 30th juice flavor and contemplating cutting my tongue out with a stiff piece of photo paper and getting it over with, because I can't find an ADV. Sad... Sad, panda...

Walk in the door and there it is. A poofy white plastic envelope... Hmmm, already? What is it, you may be wondering... Alas, 'tis my first mechanical mod. Still a bit dejected and beat down, I tear open the bag to find a box that says telescope carrying a small tube inside. Hmmm, it sure is small compared to my Vamo. I'll have to try it later.

Fast forward to later... I put in one of my gray, fully charged batteries and attach my one fully functioning AGA at 2.4 ohms and head outside. Simple device. Shiny... I cautiously take a short puff, then a long slow draw. Hmmm, no angels, no fireworks... The same as it was on the Vamo. Well, I guess that makes sense. Voltage is voltage, power is power, E=IR and all that. What was I expecting? Sigh, still a sad panda, but... At least it's smaller. Much easier to carry around.

Later still... I get some time and decide to try one of the IGO-L's. This one is at 1.4 ohms or so. Put in a few drops and puff, draw and... What the heck? I do it again. Where did my house go? Oh, I couldn't see it through the fog. What is that taste? I taste some kind of berry and cake thing going on? I actually found out how to hotbox a RDA. I refilled it twice before I decided I'd better stop before I passed out.

Now, I think I know why the AGA was bleh. Because of the high resistance, no? But, why was the IGO so darn good? I would crank the Vamo up until it started tasting burned, then knock it down a notch, which depending on juice was anywhere from 5-8 watts. This mech was like a steam train and the flavor was much better. I really don't understand why?

At this point, I think I am a mech/RDA person. This is good. Now I have a good idea what I'm after. My spending will now be a precisely focused shotgun, kind of, sort of in that direction!

I read and hear people say a particular phrase at a turning point in their RBA/RDA/mech lives. They almost always say the same thing. Well, I'm about to type it...

I get it... I don't know why, but I get it...

 

[Argusi]

Well, got a SmokTech Telescope a few days ago and love it and today a KTS Telescopic Storm came in the mail. How did that happen? I had also pre-ordered a Sigelei #20 w/ a Trident clone about a week ago. Sigh... Now I just have to get this SS wick/coil thing working well.

I've found that the IGO-L's are getting all gooey after a few hours and have to be cleaned/dry burned. Not liking that much. I guess some of the juice I randomly put in them is gumming up the works. Although the AGA's are not set up optimally, they at least are not requiring all the maintenance they did when I started and certainly not as much as these drippers. Although the drippers are MUCH easier to set up...