Anybody use the "pancake method" with TopTank Mini RBA?

[skeleton.man]

I've been having a hard time getting this RBA right. I've tried 26g Kanthal around both the blue screwdriver and a Q-Tip (was looking for something slightly larger, the same diameter as the interior of the coils that come with the kit, and that fit perfectly), both coming out around .5 with 5 wraps, both touching coils and spaced coils, and various types and thicknesses of cotton. I can't go over about 16w without getting very burnt hits. If I use less cotton, either I get a lot of gurgling or worse, the juice just flows right out the bottom when I'm filling the tank.

So my next idea is the pancake thing. But I haven't seen anyone use it with the newer RBA (smaller holes in the barrel and no juice channels in the bottom) and it seems to me like it'd leak like hell. I wanted to ask you guys first because I'm in no mood to give it a shot and get juice everywhere this morning.

I know Kanger tank issues have been beaten to death on this forum but I haven't found anyone discussing this newer RBA and the pancake method.

Any thoughts?

 

[GeorgeS]

While this is the wrong sub forum (your asking about an RBA after all) I think you'll find that the 'pancake' will leak like you forgot to wick at all.

I have a few STM/TTM's in rotation and find the newer RBA's (with the holes on the sides) require much more wick to be able to use the top fill feature.

Consider wrapping coils that are 2.5-3mm ID (much larger than 'stock') and leaving your wick tails long enough to 'pack' into both sides of the deck to block the juice holes.

There is considerable trade off when using the TTM top fill feature. To little wick and the juice will run right out the air holes. To much and you'll be power/hit limited as it will wick slowly.

You have to fill QUICKLY and then once the top is back on INVERT the tank so any extra juice that flooded the chamber runs out the drip tip.

The two work-a-rounds are ether forgetting about the top fill feature and simply fill from the bottom or use the v0 RBA (hard to find these days) which had/has the tiny slits for juice channels.

 

[puffon]

I found it also helps to put a vape band around the AFC (base) when filling from the top.
I've been able to use the V2 RBA (large side hole) doing this. Still have to fill quickly.
Kanger should have redesigned the AFC to seal better, when they came out with the TTM.