Absolutely, I still drip and build coils! There's definitely a smaller community now, but it's still alive. I started around the same time as you and also cycled through tanks, dripping, then back. You're right—flavor from a well-built RDA is unmatched. The Magma is a classic! I’ve kept a few RDAs for that very reason. Disposables just aren’t satisfying and feel wasteful. With so many tanks discontinued, rebuilding is the best way to keep control over your vape. Glad to hear you're back to building—it really brings the experience full circle!
Oh gosh. I started dripping in 2011. Back then it was with a Joytech LR 510 on an eGo battery.
Then came the 1.5ohm HH 357 on a ProVari. Cleaning the damn things every day got old really fast!!
By the time 2012 rolled around RDA's were popping up everywhere, and I tried most of them.
Hated the leaking little suckers, and trust me, if you fall asleep with one lying in your lap ..... they leak!!!
But then I discovered the lil A7 RDA, and have never looked back.
I'll turn 84 next month, and I still wrap my own coils; and DIY my own liquids, and I still drip !!
Everything I use is over 10 years old, and none of it is even made anymore. (except wick & wire)
32ga Kenthal A1 still works, and silica (Ekowool) wicks still work.
Then came the 1.5ohm HH 357 on a ProVari. Cleaning the damn things every day got old really fast!!
By the time 2012 rolled around RDA's were popping up everywhere, and I tried most of them.
Hated the leaking little suckers, and trust me, if you fall asleep with one lying in your lap ..... they leak!!!
But then I discovered the lil A7 RDA, and have never looked back.
I'll turn 84 next month, and I still wrap my own coils; and DIY my own liquids, and I still drip !!
Everything I use is over 10 years old, and none of it is even made anymore. (except wick & wire)
32ga Kenthal A1 still works, and silica (Ekowool) wicks still work.
Last edited:
Started around the time you did with an ego pens. Moved through those to sub ohm tanks, on up to rebuilding- magma was one of my first. Here long enough to remember the veritas and the marquis - two of the most interesting MTL tanks ever made imo… maybe marquis wasn’t so MTL as just interesting.
The goon decks and twisted messes decks came along. I learned to build exotics. It was a good time. The velocity deck dominated everything and I never cared for it to be honest - it would warp the coils since the screws came at the wire from the wrong angle - but I’m in the minority there. Everyone seemed to love that thing.
RDTAS saw a bit of a resurgence but we were still tucking our wicks an inch down into the tanks and tilting our vapes to resaturate our cotton danglers. I stuck to squonk.
Innovation really started to take a back seat around the time Hellvape and GeekVape started recycling their designs ad nauseum and I stepped away for a while. Chose my favorite dripper threw it on a squonk mod and I’ve been content drawing the curtains and blissfully laying in the dark here for years.
Seems that while I was sleeping RDAs have not evolved in any particular fashion. But RDTAs took a step backward and a step forward at the same time and we’re seeing a resurgence in the use of steel mesh and steel cable being utilized to feed shorter cotton wicks.
Back in the day - maybe a little before my time, but they were still around when I was getting in to building - there were genesis atomizers. And we would coil our wire around vertical rolls of steel mesh and drop those down into the tank reservoir. No cotton. I think I had one hit off of a dry Genesis atomizer clone and that put me off of them forever. Like taking a shotgun hit from the devils mouth! Was like death! Never again.
But this business of using mesh as a capillary feeding vehicle for liquid up to shorter coils. Brilliant. Golf clap. Whoever thought of that - it was worth napping several years to come back and find That little game changer.
Since I’ve discovered these style RDTAs my squonker and RDA are like Woody watching Andy playing with Buzz. That’s been the past month or so. Haven’t been able to put this new hotness down. Love!
Squonking is great, don’t get me wrong. But if I’m honest about it it’s only slightly less messy than straight dripping, which is just not all that convenient. And the squonk bottle definitely affects the flavor IMO.
With these mesh fed RDTAs flavor is preserved. Mess is reduced 99%. I’m in heaven.
The goon decks and twisted messes decks came along. I learned to build exotics. It was a good time. The velocity deck dominated everything and I never cared for it to be honest - it would warp the coils since the screws came at the wire from the wrong angle - but I’m in the minority there. Everyone seemed to love that thing.
RDTAS saw a bit of a resurgence but we were still tucking our wicks an inch down into the tanks and tilting our vapes to resaturate our cotton danglers. I stuck to squonk.
Innovation really started to take a back seat around the time Hellvape and GeekVape started recycling their designs ad nauseum and I stepped away for a while. Chose my favorite dripper threw it on a squonk mod and I’ve been content drawing the curtains and blissfully laying in the dark here for years.
Seems that while I was sleeping RDAs have not evolved in any particular fashion. But RDTAs took a step backward and a step forward at the same time and we’re seeing a resurgence in the use of steel mesh and steel cable being utilized to feed shorter cotton wicks.
Back in the day - maybe a little before my time, but they were still around when I was getting in to building - there were genesis atomizers. And we would coil our wire around vertical rolls of steel mesh and drop those down into the tank reservoir. No cotton. I think I had one hit off of a dry Genesis atomizer clone and that put me off of them forever. Like taking a shotgun hit from the devils mouth! Was like death! Never again.
But this business of using mesh as a capillary feeding vehicle for liquid up to shorter coils. Brilliant. Golf clap. Whoever thought of that - it was worth napping several years to come back and find That little game changer.
Since I’ve discovered these style RDTAs my squonker and RDA are like Woody watching Andy playing with Buzz. That’s been the past month or so. Haven’t been able to put this new hotness down. Love!
Squonking is great, don’t get me wrong. But if I’m honest about it it’s only slightly less messy than straight dripping, which is just not all that convenient. And the squonk bottle definitely affects the flavor IMO.
With these mesh fed RDTAs flavor is preserved. Mess is reduced 99%. I’m in heaven.
Last edited:
I still drip every day. Sometimes I drip using a mech tube other times via a regulated mod.
Although I also have RTA's in rotation. Have some RDTA's, those come out every now and then.
And I always have a couple mech squonks going. Occasional regulated squonk.
For me, dripping is very Zen-like, in the very "truest" sense.
Although I also have RTA's in rotation. Have some RDTA's, those come out every now and then.
And I always have a couple mech squonks going. Occasional regulated squonk.
For me, dripping is very Zen-like, in the very "truest" sense.
today's gear of choice............
Atmizoo Creek on the SMPL tube and a FLVR RDA on the Limelight Freehand mech squonk.
Atmizoo Creek on the SMPL tube and a FLVR RDA on the Limelight Freehand mech squonk.
I've been using rta's for the last few years and now and then an RDA, recently bought a squonk mod and have been squonking ever since
yep, even though I have a couple of monster RDTAs on the go (SC Ragnars) I still use my RDAs,
Always felt that whilst tanks are ok for convenience there are times even with big coils and plenty of airflow (and juice) flavours are muted.
So much easier to rig up for flavour testing too, whether thats a simple 1ohm at 15w or a pair of fused claptons.
Always felt that whilst tanks are ok for convenience there are times even with big coils and plenty of airflow (and juice) flavours are muted.
So much easier to rig up for flavour testing too, whether thats a simple 1ohm at 15w or a pair of fused claptons.
Similar threads
