Flavor on RDA diminishes quickly

[Divinemadman]

Hi All,
Would really appreciate some insight and advice.
Been vaping for almost a year and have been using RDA's for the last 3 months or so.
I use a Goon 24 and Cosmonaut
The builds I put in are
A) SS316L fused claptons 26*2/32: 5wraps, with 3.5 ID the resistance is about 0.14-0.15. I use about 85-90 watts; with 4.0 ID the resistance is about 0.17-0.18. I use about 75--85 watts.

B) Ni80 fused claptons 28*3/36. 5wraps, with 3.5 ID the resistance is about 0.22-0.24 and I use about 85-90 watts. With 4.0 ID the resistance is about 0.27-0.29 and I use about 75-85 watts.

Wicking: cotton bacon (i stuff as much cotton i can in the coil)
**I always space my coils (easier to get the coils burning evenly)

The thing is after I put in a fresh build, for about 6-8 ml, the flavor is great but after that the flavor just doesn't taste as potent. For E.g. with a strawberry flavor, its like the first 6-8 ml taste like a mouthful of 5 strawberries. After 6-8 ml it starts tasting like just 1 strawberry in your mouth.
Would really appreciate any thoughts, suggestions and advice. Thank you.

 

[Izan]

Hi mate,
You didn't mention your final resistance reading for each build nor how many watts you are feeding them.
However, imo, it sounds like WAY too much cotton.

Cheers
I

 

[Divinemadman]

Hi Izan,
Appreciate your feedback.
When i use the SS316L fused claptons with 3.5 ID the resistance is about 0.14-0.15. I use about 85-90 watts; with 4.0 ID the resistance is about 0.17-0.18. I use about 75--85 watts.
When I use the Nichrome fused claptons with 3.5 ID the resistance is about 0.22-0.24 and I use about 85-90 watts. With 4.0 ID the resistance is about 0.27-0.29 and I use about 75-85 watts.
I also always space my coils (easier to get the coils burning evenly)
Thanks.

 

[BrotherBob]

After 6-8 ml it starts tasting like just 1 strawberry in your mouth.
Would really appreciate any thoughts, suggestions and advice. Thank you.

Welcome and glad you joined.
We are all different. Suggest doing a single coil around 1.5 ohms and see if that makes a difference. Could start out at 10 w. and work up till you start to get the cloud you want. RDA's are great to experiment with different coils, you may find, through trial and error, a sweet spot.
Might like to read:
Wattage vs. Flavor | E-Cigarette Forum

 

[go_player]

The thing is after I put in a fresh build, for about 6-8 ml, the flavor is great but after that the flavor just doesn't taste as potent. For E.g. with a strawberry flavor, its like the first 6-8 ml taste like a mouthful of 5 strawberries. After 6-8 ml it starts tasting like just 1 strawberry in your mouth.

What liquid are you using? The problem might not be in your hardware, but might be in the juice. A lot of juice is, IMHO, very over-flavored. That makes it taste great when you first try it, but after a while your nose (and the flavor in vaping is almost entirely a matter of smell, rather than taste) just shuts down for that flavor and you stop being able to taste it. Have you isolated this problem to just the freshness of the build?

 

[suprtrkr]

+1. Probably too much wick. Note also the builds and wattages you mention are a cloud setup, not a flavor chaser. You may be getting a slight burn on the cotton close to the coil, both from too much heat and from too much wick. Cotton tends to "choke" in the coil, meaning it won't wick very fast, if it is pulled too full. This condition is worse closest to the coil as it is most compressed there. Pull a bit less cotton. You should be able to pull the wick back and forth in the coil without moving the atty base and the build stand. And try rayon wicks. Welcome to the board.

 

[Hightech Redneck]

I agree with what suprtrkr stated, cotton.
But I tried rayon and was unsuccessful, ymmv.
You do have to remember when wicking your coil that cotton expands when it absorbs any liquid. So if too tight it will definitely choke and get dry in the center quicker.
If it is too loose in the coil you could have a wrap on your coil not touching cotton and dry firing basically.
Practice makes perfect lol.
Maybe the best rule of thumb would be the cotton should have slight resistance when pulling but nowhere near distorting the coil.
Good luck.

 

[Fozzy71]

too much cotton, rayon ftw

 

[Divinemadman]

Welcome and glad you joined.
We are all different. Suggest doing a single coil around 1.5 ohms and see if that makes a difference. Could start out at 10 w. and work up till you start to get the cloud you want. RDA's are great to experiment with different coils, you may find, through trial and error, a sweet spot.
Might like to read:
Wattage vs. Flavor | E-Cigarette Forum

Hi brotherbob,
Thanks. The thing is I started with MTL devices premade coils then moved to MTL RTAs, then on to sub ohm tanks -pre made coils, then on to sub ohm RTAs and now am at drippers.
I can say the drippers balance of cloud density and flavor is the most satisfying for me.
Just flavor for me would be a SS316L 26g 0.5ohm build in a kayfun V5(clone)
But I need the cloud density for real satisfaction. With drippers after 2-3 drags I'm done. With just a flavor build, like the kayfun v5, 10 drags later I'm still not done
Flavor is not a problem, just can't figure out why it suddenly gets muted after 6-8ml
Cheers and thanks for your response

 

[Divinemadman]

What liquid are you using? The problem might not be in your hardware, but might be in the juice. A lot of juice is, IMHO, very over-flavored. That makes it taste great when you first try it, but after a while your nose (and the flavor in vaping is almost entirely a matter of smell, rather than taste) just shuts down for that flavor and you stop being able to taste it. Have you isolated this problem to just the freshness of the build?

Seems to have happened with about 3 different flavors. But I will take note of it and keep a track. Thanks for the insight, much appreciated.

 

[Divinemadman]

+1. Probably too much wick. Note also the builds and wattages you mention are a cloud setup, not a flavor chaser. You may be getting a slight burn on the cotton close to the coil, both from too much heat and from too much wick. Cotton tends to "choke" in the coil, meaning it won't wick very fast, if it is pulled too full. This condition is worse closest to the coil as it is most compressed there. Pull a bit less cotton. You should be able to pull the wick back and forth in the coil without moving the atty base and the build stand. And try rayon wicks. Welcome to the board.

spot on! SUPRTRKR, get a lot of darkening on my cotton right near the coil. Will try to get some rayon wicks and give it a shot. Do you mean that with rayon for wicking, I will not face this issue. Is there anything I should keep in mind when wicking with rayon in comparison to cotton. Thanks and much appreciated. I shall also try stuffing less cotton in the meantime and see how that works out.

 

[Divinemadman]

I agree with what suprtrkr stated, cotton.
But I tried rayon and was unsuccessful, ymmv.
You do have to remember when wicking your coil that cotton expands when it absorbs any liquid. So if too tight it will definitely choke and get dry in the center quicker.
If it is too loose in the coil you could have a wrap on your coil not touching cotton and dry firing basically.
Practice makes perfect lol.
Maybe the best rule of thumb would be the cotton should have slight resistance when pulling but nowhere near distorting the coil.
Good luck.

thanks, and less cotton has given me some nasty spitback. I shall try with less cotton. Much appreciated.

 

[Divinemadman]

too much cotton, rayon ftw

thanks, much appreciated

 

[BrotherBob]

Is there anything I should keep in mind when wicking with rayon in comparison to cotton.

My RDA coils are at .10" ID. Using a Magma, the rayon wick fits snugly into the coil and each side touches the bottom of the deep well. Snugly equals enough rayon wick diameter to rub the inner ID of the coil but not to move it in any manner.
re: Rayon wick, better flow, flavor, saturation and Nic Hit!

 

[Divinemadman]

My RDA coils are at .10" ID. Using a Magma, the rayon wick fits snugly into the coil and each side touches the bottom of the deep well. Snugly equals enough rayon wick diameter to rub the inner ID of the coil but not to move it in any manner.
re: Rayon wick, better flow, flavor, saturation and Nic Hit!

Thanks brotherbob, trying to source some rayon. Found some on amazon (graham professional). Are you familiar with this one? Are they any good?
What do you mean by coil ID is .10". Is that like 2.5mm ID?
Much appreciate all the advice.

 

[Fozzy71]

Thanks brotherbob, trying to source some rayon. Found some on amazon (graham professional). Are you familiar with this one? Are they any good?
What do you mean by coil ID is .10". Is that like 2.5mm ID?
Much appreciate all the advice.

graham is what most people, use just make sure it says 100% rayon. 44130 is the 40' box, 44060 is the 500' box

 

[suprtrkr]

spot on! SUPRTRKR, get a lot of darkening on my cotton right near the coil. Will try to get some rayon wicks and give it a shot. Do you mean that with rayon for wicking, I will not face this issue. Is there anything I should keep in mind when wicking with rayon in comparison to cotton. Thanks and much appreciated. I shall also try stuffing less cotton in the meantime and see how that works out.

Well... YMMV. I said try rayon. I love it, but some other people not so much. I think you will face less of this issue than with cotton. And rayon doesn't choke in the coil like cotton does. You can pull the coil full. It also wicks like crazy; just a few fibers are enough. Therefore, after pulling the coil full, you can thin the tails. A lot.

 

[BrotherBob]

Thanks brotherbob, trying to source some rayon. Found some on amazon (graham professional). Are you familiar with this one? Are they any good?
What do you mean by coil ID is .10". Is that like 2.5mm ID?
Much appreciate all the advice.

Is cellucotton (also know as rayon) any good, if you do not have any allergies, it's the best. Some vape shops/on line stores carry rayon and I'm not sure if their rayon is Graham CelluCotton.
.10" = 2.54 mm
re: http://www.sallybeauty.com/cotton-coil/SBS-580100,default,pd.html

 

[Divinemadman]

graham is what most people, use just make sure it says 100% rayon. 44130 is the 40' box, 44060 is the 500' box

Thanks fozzy, will put in an order

 

[Divinemadman]

Well... YMMV. I said try rayon. I love it, but some other people not so much. I think you will face less of this issue than with cotton. And rayon doesn't choke in the coil like cotton does. You can pull the coil full. It also wicks like crazy; just a few fibers are enough. Therefore, after pulling the coil full, you can thin the tails. A lot.

thanks, does this mean that i can stuff rayon like i have been doing with cotton (stuffing as much as i can! ) and not face all the issues i do with cotton. coz i dont know if its just me but i feel i get a much richer flavor with more cotton stuffed in the coils.