Building on Oxva Solo

Berenulf

Senior Member
Jan 1, 2023
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447
92 seems like ok on thinner wires like 30 or 32, but its tad slow on the 28g, atleast for me, it works but the flavour isn't anything special. I just recently found out that when my atty has been long enough in certain temperatures, it is relevant to disconnect and reconnect and doing so, calibrate it to the conditions you are vaping at, because in cold, it will not fire, and when going from cold where it works into a lot warmer enviroment, bang you get a burnt hit.
Update!

I didn't go further then 96 on the tcr because I noticed a slight spitback at 105, but today I went there and upped the temp to 240, and it was just wow.

The clouds were tense, no spitback and bubbles emerging from beneath the bell over the chimney was a sign my wicking was keeping up just fine.

Atm at 290 puffs vaping on 70vg 30 pg lemon mango, no sign of cotton giving in to the heat...so far.
 

Berenulf

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Jan 1, 2023
158
447
Had some fun today.

So I got out about 450 puffs, until I started noting that the flavours got a little rounder, and exhaling had a tad harsher feel to it.

So I opened up my deck, and discovered, the coil was somewhat gunked, the wicking could have kept going for atleast a solid 200-400 puffs.

So I tought I'd give it a try, why shouldn't I?!

Twisted together a 26g ss316l wire, 7 twists 3ID, spaced, about same ohms as my last 28g 5 twists, which was about 0.56-0.58 the new one came out as 0.52 ohms.

Used up my last piece of Thunderhead Creations Elite premium wicking cotton, shoelace style. I have nothing but praise for this wick, extremely fluffy, long continuous threads of fine cotton that wicks like nothing, even if you do your hardest to stuff the ports tight, this wick still keeps on wicking.

So the 3 ID coil, flavour good, but the draw came to be a lot tighter then expected from a full open RDL airflow. Also I managed to stuff the uncut piece of lace cotton trough the coil unharmed. I combed out as much as I could and the full piece seemed still almost too much for the small wickingport holes. Dropped a little juice into ports, and wow the thunderhead didnt dissapoint, it still wicked and way better then any other wick I had tried so far, stuffed full tight it even outperformed any other wick stuffed loosely.

Conclusion, I could maybe even manage a 3,5 round wire coil into this atomizer.....but honestly.....do I have to?! Seems like 2,5ID fits just perfectly in, keeping the airflow fluent and the wick you manage to stuff trough a 2,5 is just about right for the wicking ports.
 

Berenulf

Senior Member
Jan 1, 2023
158
447
I'm make my own e-liquids and usually with a single flavor and without nic, so they are quite clear - cleen... !
how come you make them without nic? It would be like drinking beer without alc?

So you go for flavour and the feeling alone? You quit nic?

I am puzzled, you got to be a real fan of the thing for that, if it wouldnt contain nic I wouldnt be doing it most probably.
 
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Berenulf

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Jan 1, 2023
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When i started i had very bad coughing on every puff... so i had to try all the configurations... so i had to cut down PG and Nic... !
Oh, I am so sorry, didn't mean to be rude. I've heard a lot of people have all kind of complications with vaping, some don't tolerate PG some VG and some have an allergic reaction towards some flavour components.

I myself prefer higher VG liquids to lower, but with the right setup higher PG is doable to me, but not so enjoyable.

Also I start coughing with some menthol blends, not all of them but some, I've found salt nic to be the smoothest, I don't like freebase, it has some rough feeling to the draw.

Have a nice Valentinesday!
 
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Berenulf

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Jan 1, 2023
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Update!

Been silent for a while, and with a good cause.

Tried 26g ni80 7twist 2,5 ID coil, came out 0.67 ohms, vapes like a dream in my oxva solo.

Can't say I regret at all. I was fixed on the battery life at the beginning thats why I was so obsessed with ss316l, which gave me rougly 1,5-2 days constant vaping, 400-600 puffs on average 2-5 secondw draw. Now with ni80 its almost a day 200-400 puffs.

The difference with ss316l is that I get so much more flavour out of the vape and I vape a lot less because each draw is so mich more satisfying.

After 500 puffs decided to take open my tank and see what was going on. The wicking was just slightly brownish on a few parts on a microscopic level, so the wicking can handle easily another 500 puffs, coil was slughtly gunked, no burnt hints in the draw still. So I'd suggest the coil could go another 200-300 puffs until I would have to change. The flavour has settled back a little, but it doesen't bother, the draw has become smoother and taste a little rounder.

Haven't cleaned the ni80 yet but I bet it's way easier then ss316l and it's way more re-usable. Ss316l I managed to reuse only starting from 26g because I tried pulse and clean the 28g and as I was almost about done cleaning with the last pulse it interwire shorted on me, totally over heated one section in one leg, so I trashed it.

Ss316l, I have re-used a coil while it did once a short like that, can't say it changed much only that the coil gunked up twice as fast after that burntrough. And I don't consider re-using ss316l wire that has been heated to glow temperatures, a healthy practice anyway.

Conclusion.....the battery life I win with ss316l is far outweighed by the flavour and experience I get from a ni80 coil, plus the wick and coil life seems to be triple or quadruple in favour of ni80.

A dual battery lasts me for a day easy, so the benefit of battery life I won with ss316l was thwarted by the constant toil and trouble of changing wicks and coils, usually the re-use succeeded in 1/3 attempts.

Will I drop using ss316l - not entirely
Do I prefer ni80 to ss316l - definitely, since I have no allergy towards nickle

The clouds from this little chamber with ni80 coil compare to a dual coiler that almost puts on as much clouds as a mini version of a mesh rta would.

If I'd want I could install a 24g wire with lower ohms and put in, let's say 80vg/20 pg, but will the wicking keep up, since the ports are quite narrow and by the juice thickness at hand, the bubbles seem to have a hard time emerging beneath the chimney.

I am further astounded by the capabilities of this little chamber rta, which can handle a lot and very versatile builds.

Hypothetically you could blast humongous clouds with it, reaching almost to a dual coil rta, and even surpassing some builds on a dual, in regards of cloud-chasing.

My next experiment is planned with kanthal wire, the same gauge ID and twists count as the ni80 was, really excited about trying it out.

Peace!☮️✌️
 

AXIOM_1

Vaping Master
ECF Veteran
  • Jul 6, 2015
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    Pennsylvania, USA
    Update!

    Been silent for a while, and with a good cause.

    Tried 26g ni80 7twist 2,5 ID coil, came out 0.67 ohms, vapes like a dream in my oxva solo.

    Can't say I regret at all. I was fixed on the battery life at the beginning thats why I was so obsessed with ss316l, which gave me rougly 1,5-2 days constant vaping, 400-600 puffs on average 2-5 secondw draw. Now with ni80 its almost a day 200-400 puffs.

    The difference with ss316l is that I get so much more flavour out of the vape and I vape a lot less because each draw is so mich more satisfying.

    After 500 puffs decided to take open my tank and see what was going on. The wicking was just slightly brownish on a few parts on a microscopic level, so the wicking can handle easily another 500 puffs, coil was slughtly gunked, no burnt hints in the draw still. So I'd suggest the coil could go another 200-300 puffs until I would have to change. The flavour has settled back a little, but it doesen't bother, the draw has become smoother and taste a little rounder.

    Haven't cleaned the ni80 yet but I bet it's way easier then ss316l and it's way more re-usable. Ss316l I managed to reuse only starting from 26g because I tried pulse and clean the 28g and as I was almost about done cleaning with the last pulse it interwire shorted on me, totally over heated one section in one leg, so I trashed it.

    Ss316l, I have re-used a coil while it did once a short like that, can't say it changed much only that the coil gunked up twice as fast after that burntrough. And I don't consider re-using ss316l wire that has been heated to glow temperatures, a healthy practice anyway.

    Conclusion.....the battery life I win with ss316l is far outweighed by the flavour and experience I get from a ni80 coil, plus the wick and coil life seems to be triple or quadruple in favour of ni80.

    A dual battery lasts me for a day easy, so the benefit of battery life I won with ss316l was thwarted by the constant toil and trouble of changing wicks and coils, usually the re-use succeeded in 1/3 attempts.

    Will I drop using ss316l - not entirely
    Do I prefer ni80 to ss316l - definitely, since I have no allergy towards nickle

    The clouds from this little chamber with ni80 coil compare to a dual coiler that almost puts on as much clouds as a mini version of a mesh rta would.

    If I'd want I could install a 24g wire with lower ohms and put in, let's say 80vg/20 pg, but will the wicking keep up, since the ports are quite narrow and by the juice thickness at hand, the bubbles seem to have a hard time emerging beneath the chimney.

    I am further astounded by the capabilities of this little chamber rta, which can handle a lot and very versatile builds.

    Hypothetically you could blast humongous clouds with it, reaching almost to a dual coil rta, and even surpassing some builds on a dual, in regards of cloud-chasing.

    My next experiment is planned with kanthal wire, the same gauge ID and twists count as the ni80 was, really excited about trying it out.

    Peace!☮️✌️

    Thanks for the informative info....... Don't know what I am doing wrong as I get poor flavor from the solo..... Maybe I am too used to using an RDA which provides intense flavor and expecting too much from an RTA............

    I have tried every possible build you can imagine on that deck and with the same results..... I have used single wire coils (2.0, 2.5, 3.0 ID) as well as various types of wire...... I have tried 24 gauge, 26, gauge, and 28 gauge.... I have made my own fused claptons out of 2 strands of 30 gauge wrapped in 40 gauge.......... I also have placed the coil at various heights above the deck....

    Just like yourself, I am currently using 26 gauge, single wire.....

    The solo does produce very good vapor production and the airflow is not too bad.... But for flavor, I can't experience much of it from the tank (some flavor but not intense). I certainly do not know what it is I am doing wrong (if anything) because there basically is nothing left for me to try..... Personally, I think that it has to do with the airflow design..... In RDL mode, and as far as side airflow is concerned, there is only one single hole providing air that is hitting the coil on one side of the coil.... There are two holes for side airflow but unfortunately only one of them is used and functioning.....

    I use the solo a lot (I am using it right now) ....... I just wished it would provide more intense flavor.... Lots of people love the solo and claim they are getting great flavor from it..... Like I said, I am used to using a dripper and maybe that is why.... Thoughts welcome.
     
    Last edited:

    Berenulf

    Senior Member
    Jan 1, 2023
    158
    447
    Thanks for the informative info....... Don't know what I am doing wrong as I get poor flavor from the solo..... Maybe I am too used to using an RDA which provides intense flavor and expecting too much from an RTA............

    I have tried every possible build you can imagine on that deck and with the same results..... I have used single wire coils (2.0, 2.5, 3.0 ID) as well as various types of wire...... I have tried 24 gauge, 26, gauge, and 28 gauge.... I have made my own fused claptons out of 2 strands of 30 gauge wrapped in 40 gauge.......... I also have placed the coil at various heights above the deck....

    Just like yourself, I am currently using 26 gauge, single wire.....

    The solo does produce very good vapor production and the airflow is not too bad.... But for flavor, I can't experience much of it from the tank (some flavor but not intense). I certainly do not know what it is I am doing wrong (if anything) because there basically is nothing left for me to try..... Personally, I think that it has to do with the airflow design..... In RDL mode, and as far as side airflow is concerned, there is only one single hole providing air that is hitting the coil on one side of the coil.... There are two holes for side airflow but unfortunately only one of them is used and functioning.....

    I use the solo a lot (I am using it right now) ....... I just wished it would provide more intense flavor.... Lots of people love the solo and claim they are getting great flavor from it..... Like I said, I am used to using a dripper and maybe that that is why.... Thoughts welcome.
    Totally could be it, I haven't tried a single dripper so far, but I've tried mesh, and comsidering flavour the mesh would have upper hand, but it is a very consuming setup. The flavour to clouds ration oxva definitely wins, because with a lot less steam the output is more.

    So far I think 24g would be too much, but I have to try it yet to say for sure. Considering the airflow, it's a bit tricky to get it all right, becaue a longer coil tends to bend at legs while a shorter one for the rdl seems to suffocate one hole, ps maybe its just me but it seems the airhole placement is not idendical.

    Considering the airflow, I go for as many twists needed and use spaced coil to get the cotton as far from the airholes, shorter coils seem to block one of the airflows, which ultimately seems to zero the whole flavour production, plus the coil overheats and might spitback on longer draws. In RDL with a 26g my airflow is all the way open and you have to make sure you have tuned the top cap on RDL, cause after refill it seems to slide into mtl, which will kill all the flavour for rdl.

    I'd try that 30x30/40 wire again, make it spaced and add a few twists if needed, and make sure you aren't putting as thick juice as usually used to your dual or mesh. I think 70vg30 pg is perhaps the limit, might try 65/35 or 60/40 aswell.
     

    Berenulf

    Senior Member
    Jan 1, 2023
    158
    447
    Thanks for the informative info....... Don't know what I am doing wrong as I get poor flavor from the solo..... Maybe I am too used to using an RDA which provides intense flavor and expecting too much from an RTA............

    I have tried every possible build you can imagine on that deck and with the same results..... I have used single wire coils (2.0, 2.5, 3.0 ID) as well as various types of wire...... I have tried 24 gauge, 26, gauge, and 28 gauge.... I have made my own fused claptons out of 2 strands of 30 gauge wrapped in 40 gauge.......... I also have placed the coil at various heights above the deck....

    Just like yourself, I am currently using 26 gauge, single wire.....

    The solo does produce very good vapor production and the airflow is not too bad.... But for flavor, I can't experience much of it from the tank (some flavor but not intense). I certainly do not know what it is I am doing wrong (if anything) because there basically is nothing left for me to try..... Personally, I think that it has to do with the airflow design..... In RDL mode, and as far as side airflow is concerned, there is only one single hole providing air that is hitting the coil on one side of the coil.... There are two holes for side airflow but unfortunately only one of them is used and functioning.....

    I use the solo a lot (I am using it right now) ....... I just wished it would provide more intense flavor.... Lots of people love the solo and claim they are getting great flavor from it..... Like I said, I am used to using a dripper and maybe that is why.... Thoughts welcome.
    Also could try ailien claptons just for kicks.
     

    Berenulf

    Senior Member
    Jan 1, 2023
    158
    447
    Thanks for the informative info....... Don't know what I am doing wrong as I get poor flavor from the solo..... Maybe I am too used to using an RDA which provides intense flavor and expecting too much from an RTA............

    I have tried every possible build you can imagine on that deck and with the same results..... I have used single wire coils (2.0, 2.5, 3.0 ID) as well as various types of wire...... I have tried 24 gauge, 26, gauge, and 28 gauge.... I have made my own fused claptons out of 2 strands of 30 gauge wrapped in 40 gauge.......... I also have placed the coil at various heights above the deck....

    Just like yourself, I am currently using 26 gauge, single wire.....

    The solo does produce very good vapor production and the airflow is not too bad.... But for flavor, I can't experience much of it from the tank (some flavor but not intense). I certainly do not know what it is I am doing wrong (if anything) because there basically is nothing left for me to try..... Personally, I think that it has to do with the airflow design..... In RDL mode, and as far as side airflow is concerned, there is only one single hole providing air that is hitting the coil on one side of the coil.... There are two holes for side airflow but unfortunately only one of them is used and functioning.....

    I use the solo a lot (I am using it right now) ....... I just wished it would provide more intense flavor.... Lots of people love the solo and claim they are getting great flavor from it..... Like I said, I am used to using a dripper and maybe that is why.... Thoughts welcome.
    Considering the coil placement...

    I place my coils so the airflow hits the bottom half of the coil. Hits the sideds and goes beneath the coil and up again from other sided, thats why the dual airflow holes to for a twisting tornado like airflow arounf the coil.

    I peep trough the airflow holes to get the coil height right.
     
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    AXIOM_1

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  • Jul 6, 2015
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    So far I think 24g would be too much, but I have to try it yet to say for sure.
    I have tried 24 gauge...... I think I have tried them all LOL.... In RDL mode, 26G seems to work the best for me.......

    When I switched from RTAs to RDAs a whole new flavor experience happened........ RDAs aren't for everyone though as many people prefer tanks instead of dripping.......... There are some very good RTAs out there for flavor and some of them I have to try yet.............

    There are good singe coil RTAs for flavor such as the Kylin mini v2 or the Destiny and a couple of other main stream tanks....... The more airflow you can get to hit the coil from as many angles as possible then the better the flavor.... The Kylin for example has airflow that hits the bottom of the coil as well as both sides of the coil..... Same with the Blaze solo RDA......

    Anyway, I hope you find your sweet spot with the solo as I certainly can't find it......

    I am getting "some flavor" off of the solo but on a scale of 1 to 10 I am only getting about a 5 or 6.....
     

    Berenulf

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    Jan 1, 2023
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    I have tried 24 gauge...... I think I have tried them all LOL.... In RDL mode, 26G seems to work the best for me.......

    When I switched from RTAs to RDAs a whole new flavor experience happened........ RDAs aren't for everyone though as many people prefer tanks instead of dripping.......... There are some very good RTAs out there for flavor and some of them I have to try yet.............

    There are good singe coil RTAs for flavor such as the Kylin mini v2 or the Destiny and a couple of other main stream tanks....... The more airflow you can get to hit the coil from as many angles as possible then the better the flavor.... The Kylin for example has airflow that hits the bottom of the coil as well as both sides of the coil..... Same with the Blaze solo RDA......

    Anyway, I hope you find your sweet spot with the solo as I certainly can't find it......

    I am getting "some flavor" off of the solo but on a scale of 1 to 10 I am only getting about a 5 or 6.....
    Idk if its connected to flavour at all, but I tried a scottish rolled cotton bacon prime and ever since, stuck with it. I also comb out as less as possible with this ID and rta. Sometimes when I have extra time on hands I pick the cotton bacon into filament strips, put together and scottish roll into nice density, when needed I add some and roll a bit until its just right in the coil.
     

    AXIOM_1

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    Idk if its connected to flavour at all, but I tried a scottish rolled cotton bacon prime and ever since, stuck with it. I also comb out as less as possible with this ID and rta. Sometimes when I have extra time on hands I pick the cotton bacon into filament strips, put together and scottish roll into nice density, when needed I add some and roll a bit until its just right in the coil.
    I have never tried the stuff..... Sounds good though............ I have tried various cotton and also rayon and the type of cotton used certainly makes a difference when it concerns wicking......... I love using rayon as it wicks way better than any cotton I have ever used........ I don't know if many people here still use rayon or not (they did at one time) but I know that some folks will not try it because it is a synthetic product and they have concerns that it may some how poison them LOL Yet, they suck a bunch of synthetic e juice/flavorings into their lungs but don't worry about that LOL..... Doesn't make much sense to me.....
     

    Berenulf

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    Jan 1, 2023
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    I have never tried the stuff..... Sounds good though............ I have tried various cotton and also rayon and the type of cotton used certainly makes a difference when it concerns wicking......... I love using rayon as it wicks way better than any cotton I have ever used........ I don't know if many people here still use rayon or not (they did at one time) but I know that some folks will not try it because it is a synthetic product and they have concerns that it may some how poison them LOL Yet, they suck a bunch of synthetic e juice/flavorings into their lungs but don't worry about that LOL..... Doesn't make much sense to me.....
    Sounds about really good, i'd try rayon if I only had access to it, not sold in local vape shop.
     

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