Am I advanced enough to try an RBA?

[niczgreat]

It's indisputable, everyone who has ever tried a well built rba feels it blows away the stock solutions in terms of taste.

My bottom feeders are in the shop and I have 1 on order. So part of the time I'm on a MVP I with a Iclear 30s and the rest of the time on K100 and a IGO W Dual Coil and Eko Wool with a slug build at .47Ohm. [Don't drip and drive]

The Igo Setup is so much more flavorful.

 

[niczgreat]

The reason why I ask, is that I have been looking at RBA's for several days now as well as watching lots of you tube videos. My worry is, all the warnings that RBA's are for advance vapers only. Well I've only been vaping for almost 2 months now. I've went from EVODs, to ProTanks to 901 Drip atomizers and the battery's were from 650mah, to variable spinners to the Itaste v3 and now the MVP2.

I really love how the drip atomizers really give off good flavor but I am not liking the fact that I have to keep adding drops so quickly. I tend to chain vape sometimes . So I'm thinking about a dripping atomizer like and IGO L or W or something like that and try my hand at building my own coils. I don't want to sub ohm, I want coils around 1.8 ohms.

So after watching many videos, I get the wrapping coils, preparing the wire, putting them on the atomizer (IGO L needs to put the wires on the screws while others tighten them in holes) they look really similar to hooking up a stereo speakers to me... well the old fashion ones, checking the ohms, checking to make sure all of the coils glow evenly.

So do you think I'm ready to try this? or do I need to go to school and get some sort of engineer degree to be advanced enough?

I just don't want to blow myself up or destroy my gear.

Advice?

Back to being serious.

I invented the are you ready test?
Do you look like the bird on our left? or the bird on our right? If like bird on left,you are advanced enough.

 

[nova_did_it]

I'm the same way, it's ridiculous before I make a purchase I do Google Searches, ECF Searches, and You Tube Searches to try to find reviews and investigate the products. I was very hesitant before I began to RBA. I'm a little less nervous because I've experienced two situations of Hard Shorts with Imr batteries and I've seen that they heat up fairly slowly and their was plenty of time to correct the situation. The first was when my Keychain shorted a battery in my pocket, and the second was when I put a voltage indicator on another persons mod and it started to short. The battery got hot and I quckly unscrewed the atomizer. Fried my ECD meter. Sigh...

On the other hand, ICR batteries are pretty terrifying because they don't heat up slowly they burst into flames. So one of the posts about paying attention to batteries is very pertinent.

I can completely relate. This is how my whole journey has been. When I began I was flying blind and made a few mistakes so I learned quickly to do a lot of research. This is how I found this place Ever since I have researched, reviewed and watched videos. By doing this my mistakes have diminished a lot. But now that I want to try rebuilding I knew I needed to really know what I'm doing so I'm taking my time to really understand what I'm supposed to do. But then for me learning new things is a fun hobby for me.

 

[nova_did_it]

i know that you said you were gonna be building coils above 1 ohm but if you do end up venturing into sub ohm territory using mechanical mods make sure you know what the amp rating on your battery is (should probably check your batteries now too if using unregulated device) so that you know you are vaping at a safe level. Saftey first! I was always so focussed on the mods and atomizers but lately iv been realizing the importance of batteries. Seems like youve done your research though. Just be sure to always do a little more whenever trying something new

I have no mods with removable batteries... yet. So I think I can say I will not be traversing into sub ohm territory at this time. I will definitely make sure too learn about the batteries as well. Thank you for the reminder.

 

[nova_did_it]

They're really quite simple to build. Get a dripper like an Igo-L and build a microcoil on it with some sterile cotton. Then you will see what all the fuss is about. Gennies are a bit more challenging because of the wick preparation, but still very doable. Needless to say there are a lot of videos out there to help out. Just make sure, especially when you are getting started, to meter your resistance before you fire it up on the mod. If you can, score one of those little $25 own meters. Not only are they ideal for checking your resistance, and a bit easier to use than a multimeter, but they also rock as a platform to build coils without having to attach to your mod.

Gotta plug the Reo with a Reomizer 2.0 for ease of build and overall great performance in general. It's all I use now and they work better than anything else I have ever tried. The RM is a small area for building but surprisingly easy to build. I use 28g wire and am consistently getting .78 ohms with a 7 wrap micro.

TL;DR
It's rather easy and will give you much better vapor and flavor than you have ever had before.

I really like the idea of doubling the meter as a building platform especially with the 510 connector. Thanks for the tip. I'm going to have to do a lot more research into micro coils and cotton wicking. I've already ordered ekowool and 32 gauge kanthal just need some sterile cotton. I haven't ordered a RBA yet. I think I'm settling on starting with the IGO L. Oh and getting a meter

 

[nova_did_it]

Back to being serious.

I invented the are you ready test?
Do you look like the bird on our left? or the bird on our right? If like bird on left,you are advanced enough.
View attachment 271929

Once upon a time not to long ago I was feeling overwhelmed. But time, determination and just enjoying this journey I've learned tons. I'll let you all know how my first coil building goes. Of course all of my supplies need to come in first!

 

[mackman]

Research. Watch videos. Research. Watch some videos. Research some more.

Your MVP can power an RDA at the resistance you mentioned. (It won't be able to do sub-ohm.) You'll be able to check your coils with the built-in ohm meter on the MVP. The main danger of an RBA is the risk factor of sub-ohms.

Information Resources for a New RBA User

Excellent info I'd also suggest if you haven't read it already:http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blogs/baditude/4848-9-battery-basics-mods-imr-protected.html http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...eeper-understanding-mod-batteries-part-i.html http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...eper-understanding-mod-batteries-part-ii.html
Knowledge is key and here safety

You are commended to research and be cautious but don't let that stop you from jumping in. It is very rewarding and the fine tuning you are able to do is endless. Oh and it's hella lot o fun too.

 

[niczgreat]

Once upon a time not to long ago I was feeling overwhelmed. But time, determination and just enjoying this journey I've learned tons. I'll let you all know how my first coil building goes. Of course all of my supplies need to come in first!

What did you end up ordering.?
By the way one other suggestion. Many of the local vape shops will rebuild an RBA for you for free, tips, or a charge.

You can watch how they do it and imitate it. I bought a Igo W from a vape shop, very reasonable under $20.00, it's a dual coil and I was feeling lazy. The E-Cig City chain in the LA area has a policy of no more than 100% mark up so they are in the ball park on RBA. I had him coil it for me and it came out outrageous, he used a flat wire kanthal. and he did a slug build. Slug Build means that he tucked the ends under. Outrageous Vape. I provided him with the Eko Wool 4mm that I bought from OKC Vapes and Chris went to town.

This brings up an option for those who want to get into rebuilding. Have it re-built for you the first time or times or maybe every time. Depending on your Geographic Area there may be a store that will do it for you. My experience is that A Eko Wool Sub Ohm build lasts over a month. So the $5.00 to $10.00 charge actually ends up very reasonable.

Do try ekowool, it's great stuff.

 

[EddardinWinter]

It's indisputable, everyone who has ever tried a well built RBA feels it blows away the stock solutions in terms of taste.

My bottom feeders are in the shop and I have 1 on order. So part of the time I'm on a MVP I with a Iclear 30s and the rest of the time on K100 and a IGO W Dual Coil and Eko Wool with a slug build at .47Ohm. [Don't drip and drive]

The Igo Setup is so much more flavorful.

I recently purchased an IGO - T and it is the cat's meow. I love the easy, slotted head, dual coil set up. I am using two rather large micro-coils (2.0 ohms) at 4 volts and the flavor is absolutely blissful. Simple, easy, not need to delve into sub-ohm until you are ready. The IGO - T has a small chamber to really concentrate the vapor, and the micro-coil with cotton wicking (I use organic cotton balls from Walgreens-$4/bag) makes huge vapor with no delay. You can use silica to start, but I don't waste my time with it anymore.

The IGO-T was 25 dollars. It is one of my favorite toppers now.

 

[niczgreat]

Back to being serious.

I invented the are you ready test?
Do you look like the bird on our left? or the bird on our right? If like bird on left,you are advanced enough.
View attachment 271929

I should mention sometimes when I'm investigating something I get so much information and conflicting information that I start out looking like the bird on the left and end up looking like the bird on the right!!!

 

[nova_did_it]

Excellent info I'd also suggest if you haven't read it already:http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blogs/baditude/4848-9-battery-basics-mods-imr-protected.html http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...eeper-understanding-mod-batteries-part-i.html http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...eper-understanding-mod-batteries-part-ii.html
Knowledge is key and here safety

You are commended to research and be cautious but don't let that stop you from jumping in. It is very rewarding and the fine tuning you are able to do is endless. Oh and it's hella lot o fun too.

Thanks for the information on batteries. I really appreciate it! I don't think it is something most of us new to rebuilding would have considered right off the bat considering anyone like me thinking about this would be thinking coils first, not batteries. I knew you guys would be awesome!

I'm itching to give my first build a try.. but worried about shorting out my first coil.

 

[nova_did_it]

What did you end up ordering.?
By the way one other suggestion. Many of the local vape shops will rebuild an RBA for you for free, tips, or a charge.

You can watch how they do it and imitate it. I bought a Igo W from a vape shop, very reasonable under $20.00, it's a dual coil and I was feeling lazy. The E-Cig City chain in the LA area has a policy of no more than 100% mark up so they are in the ball park on RBA. I had him coil it for me and it came out outrageous, he used a flat wire kanthal. and he did a slug build. Slug Build means that he tucked the ends under. Outrageous Vape. I provided him with the Eko Wool 4mm that I bought from OKC Vapes and Chris went to town.

This brings up an option for those who want to get into rebuilding. Have it re-built for you the first time or times or maybe every time. Depending on your Geographic Area there may be a store that will do it for you. My experience is that A Eko Wool Sub Ohm build lasts over a month. So the $5.00 to $10.00 charge actually ends up very reasonable.

Do try ekowool, it's great stuff.

This is supposed to be arriving tomorrow:
32 gauge Kanthal
2mm Ekowool

Ordering:
Ohm Meter (but where that isn't out of stock? must be a pretty popular piece.)

Need to get and trying to decide:
RBA: Most likely IGO-L

I love the idea of being able to see a coil built. I only know of two shops near me. One I'm pretty sure caters more towards new people getting into vaping. The second shop has helped me fixing some of my Evod tanks and seem more knowledgeable. I checked on their website to see what they have and they only have a SmokTech RDA, what do you guys think about this unit?

 

[nova_did_it]

I recently purchased an IGO - T and it is the cat's meow. I love the easy, slotted head, dual coil set up. I am using two rather large micro-coils (2.0 ohms) at 4 volts and the flavor is absolutely blissful. Simple, easy, not need to delve into sub-ohm until you are ready. The IGO - T has a small chamber to really concentrate the vapor, and the micro-coil with cotton wicking (I use organic cotton balls from Walgreens-$4/bag) makes huge vapor with no delay. You can use silica to start, but I don't waste my time with it anymore.

The IGO-T was 25 dollars. It is one of my favorite toppers now.

I love your setup!!! One day! But yes this is why I'm looking to do rebuildables, for flavor and not having to drip as often as I do on an atomizer. Granted I love my 901 but adding drops often is making me look towards the RBA's as an option for myself. I really am going to have to look into these micro coils! and yes.. I want them 1.8 ohms at minimum so I'm thinking this is a good thing for me.

 

[nova_did_it]

I should mention sometimes when I'm investigating something I get so much information and conflicting information that I start out looking like the bird on the left and end up looking like the bird on the right!!!

haha.. I can relate. Although I do like reading responses to "What do you think is best and why" Just got to skip all the skirmishes that happen.

 

[nova_did_it]

OMG! I am so recoiling every protank I got!!!!! Yep I've recoiled 2 kanger protanks. Yes my wire and ekowool came in! And I took your advice tomzgreat! I went to my local vape shop and for 9.99 bought a Smoktech RDA and the guy step step walked me through it and had me do a coil in front of him. I have to say.. I don't like the Smoktech RDA as the airhole is too small and doesn't line up with the air intake on the base of the atomizer very well. But it also could be, that we did a double coil on the RDA. When he wrapped the first coil it came out to 4ohms so we did a second coil to get the ohms to 2.1. The flavor is great! When you can get air into the atomizer. Regardless.. the 10 bucks totally worth the help I got!

Anyways, abandoning the RDA for the moment as I eyed my dead protank coils. I decided to try my newly acquired skills on them. The first one not so pretty. the Ekowool completely unwound itself. The nice little braids.. gone! also realized, 2mm is almost too thick for the protank base, so next round I might order the 1mm. Well, I carefully wound the eckowool with 6 coils and made the coils all even. Then reassembled the entire thing. Checked the ohms on my MVP... booyahh! 2.1 ohms.. each time!!! yay. So I primed the coils and put them on my tanks... OOOOOOOOHHHHHHH the flavors! It has to be the ekowool.. that is the only thing I can think to make this much flavor. They all woke up.

Well.. my first coil seems to do a lot of pop sizzle and pop. I'm not entirely sure why it does that. My second coil is smooth with lots of flavor and clouds! Not sure why it turned out that way either.. hmmm. And no dry hits!!! no burnt taste! again.. has to be the ekowool.

I think I'm on the right track.. I didn't blow myself up yet. woot!

 

[niczgreat]

OMG! . I didn't blow myself up yet. woot!

Great my family and I can leave the bunker.

 

[nova_did_it]

Great my family and I can leave the bunker.
View attachment 272338

Yes your family is safe for now! I'm soooooo happy! My Protanks rock now!

Thank you again for your great advice!

 

[niczgreat]

Yes your family is safe for now! I'm soooooo happy! My Protanks rock now!

Thank you again for your great advice!

Thank you for a great sense of humor , I had a blast finding those pictures.

 

[niczgreat]

OMG! I am so recoiling every protank I got!!!!! Yep I've recoiled 2 kanger protanks. Yes my wire and ekowool came in! And I took your advice tomzgreat! I went to my local vape shop and for 9.99 bought a Smoktech RDA and the guy step step walked me through it and had me do a coil in front of him. I have to say.. I don't like the Smoktech RDA as the airhole is too small and doesn't line up with the air intake on the base of the atomizer very well. But it also could be, that we did a double coil on the RDA. When he wrapped the first coil it came out to 4ohms so we did a second coil to get the ohms to 2.1. The flavor is great! When you can get air into the atomizer. Regardless.. the 10 bucks totally worth the help I got!

Anyways, abandoning the RDA for the moment as I eyed my dead protank coils. I decided to try my newly acquired skills on them. The first one not so pretty. the Ekowool completely unwound itself. The nice little braids.. gone! also realized, 2mm is almost too thick for the protank base, so next round I might order the 1mm. Well, I carefully wound the eckowool with 6 coils and made the coils all even. Then reassembled the entire thing. Checked the ohms on my MVP... booyahh! 2.1 ohms.. each time!!! yay. So I primed the coils and put them on my tanks... OOOOOOOOHHHHHHH the flavors! It has to be the ekowool.. that is the only thing I can think to make this much flavor. They all woke up.

Well.. my first coil seems to do a lot of pop sizzle and pop. I'm not entirely sure why it does that. My second coil is smooth with lots of flavor and clouds! Not sure why it turned out that way either.. hmmm. And no dry hits!!! no burnt taste! again.. has to be the ekowool.

I think I'm on the right track.. I didn't blow myself up yet. woot!

I've found that blow torching EkoWool stops the unraveling effect.
The stuff is fantastic I washed my igo w with water then patted dry and dry burned it and after 10 days of vaping it turned white as new driven snow.

 

[nova_did_it]

I've found that blow torching EkoWool stops the unraveling effect.
The stuff is fantastic I washed my igo w with water then patted dry and dry burned it and after 10 days of vaping it turned white as new driven snow.

Great I need a blow torch now... better send your family back into that bunker! Or at least a fire proof shelter

I really do like the Ekowool.. glad I bought it. Just need to control it! But I can really tell the difference, it doesn't burn easily so my flavors vape great! or maybe its just that it holds a lot of juice.