Great pics! What kind of wire is that? Twisted?I got mine yesterday and I give it a 4.5 out of 5 (and I don't give points easily). I think this will be one of my most used tanks!
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Geekvape Griffin RTA!
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Mine came in on the 28th and I've been building and vaping on it for those two days. Here's some points on it from my vantage.
This thing was wrenched tight out of box. I had difficulty taking it apart and contemplated pliers with a washcloth to dampen the metal on metal marring that would have taken place, but I kept at it bare handed and she finally came apart. There was mention of "sharp" threads in one of the reviews I watched and I think this might be the main culprit. You've either just got to wear the threads down a bit with use, or perhaps once you get juice in every crevice it makes things easier. I found the AFC to be tight at first as well, but once lubricated by ejuice after vaping on it for a few hours it's just right, imo. Others mention the juice control being tight. I found this true if cotton wasn't wicked right. If any stray cotton finds its way outside the retaining ring it can be anywhere from slightly hard to impossible to turn, not to mention leaks like you've never seen (that was an experience...). I actually decided to keep the retaining ring out of the unit to see what happened and it was much better. I've since moved back to using it but am simply more careful with wicking and making sure there's NO stray cotton between the retaining ring and chimney. Ime, it helps to paint the wick with juice while the ring is off, get the wick roughly situated in the channels, then throw the retaining ring back on but before threading it down obviously make sure everything is good to go. Easiest method I've found, but could be the cotton I'm using, it's pretty fluffy so wicking while it's dry is very hard for me to do.
Since I heard in one of the youtube reviews the allen key that was provided would strip the screws I didn't even take it out of the bag. I'm using my own jeweler's screw driver with T6 torque bit (I think that's what it is, it's labeled as CR-VT 6, but that means nothing to me). Works well, nice and tight. I'd invest in a dollar shop variety hobbyist torque bit set (star or allen key) that's got the right size which is, I think, T6.
The deck is huge, it's a pleasure to build on. Leaps and bounds ahead of the TFV4 for the sized coils I've been building. Not sure on diameter, but I'm guessing ~3mm. Wire I'm using is 26/32 Clapton or twisted 26awg. I'd agree with what others have said about smallish juice channels per the deck volume. These small channels are imo your limiting factor on max build size w/o getting creative. I'm vaping on a triple parallel mech mod, .4 Ohm Clapton, AFC wide open, wide bore 510 drip tip (stock is too large, imo) and overall it's a pleasant vape coming from a TFV4 and Velocity RDA clone. Flavor and clouds are on point, imo. A substantial hit to my lungs which doesn't leave me craving a cig and no spit back like I get from the Velocity.
Juice capacity is kind of laughable, you've really got to fill her all the way up to get much mileage. The gigantic openings are welcome, though, and I don't too much mind the threaded top although the swivel mechanism on the TFV4 is missed slightly. Really wish I had a Crius to compare it to, but as is I'm pretty happy with the purchase and don't see myself moving onto something else anytime soon. *crosses fingers*
This thing was wrenched tight out of box. I had difficulty taking it apart and contemplated pliers with a washcloth to dampen the metal on metal marring that would have taken place, but I kept at it bare handed and she finally came apart. There was mention of "sharp" threads in one of the reviews I watched and I think this might be the main culprit. You've either just got to wear the threads down a bit with use, or perhaps once you get juice in every crevice it makes things easier. I found the AFC to be tight at first as well, but once lubricated by ejuice after vaping on it for a few hours it's just right, imo. Others mention the juice control being tight. I found this true if cotton wasn't wicked right. If any stray cotton finds its way outside the retaining ring it can be anywhere from slightly hard to impossible to turn, not to mention leaks like you've never seen (that was an experience...). I actually decided to keep the retaining ring out of the unit to see what happened and it was much better. I've since moved back to using it but am simply more careful with wicking and making sure there's NO stray cotton between the retaining ring and chimney. Ime, it helps to paint the wick with juice while the ring is off, get the wick roughly situated in the channels, then throw the retaining ring back on but before threading it down obviously make sure everything is good to go. Easiest method I've found, but could be the cotton I'm using, it's pretty fluffy so wicking while it's dry is very hard for me to do.
Since I heard in one of the youtube reviews the allen key that was provided would strip the screws I didn't even take it out of the bag. I'm using my own jeweler's screw driver with T6 torque bit (I think that's what it is, it's labeled as CR-VT 6, but that means nothing to me). Works well, nice and tight. I'd invest in a dollar shop variety hobbyist torque bit set (star or allen key) that's got the right size which is, I think, T6.
The deck is huge, it's a pleasure to build on. Leaps and bounds ahead of the TFV4 for the sized coils I've been building. Not sure on diameter, but I'm guessing ~3mm. Wire I'm using is 26/32 Clapton or twisted 26awg. I'd agree with what others have said about smallish juice channels per the deck volume. These small channels are imo your limiting factor on max build size w/o getting creative. I'm vaping on a triple parallel mech mod, .4 Ohm Clapton, AFC wide open, wide bore 510 drip tip (stock is too large, imo) and overall it's a pleasant vape coming from a TFV4 and Velocity RDA clone. Flavor and clouds are on point, imo. A substantial hit to my lungs which doesn't leave me craving a cig and no spit back like I get from the Velocity.
Juice capacity is kind of laughable, you've really got to fill her all the way up to get much mileage. The gigantic openings are welcome, though, and I don't too much mind the threaded top although the swivel mechanism on the TFV4 is missed slightly. Really wish I had a Crius to compare it to, but as is I'm pretty happy with the purchase and don't see myself moving onto something else anytime soon. *crosses fingers*
Thanks for the review, very nice. I have one on order from GB, but looks like shipping got pushed back to the end of January. I think I'm just gonna cancel and wait for the black version. Still no release date for the black version that I've seen. I did find a nicer pic of it.
I deducted 0.2 because I think they could use a little larger air intake, although it has good air flow, and deducted 0.3 for the stubby big bore tip, I don't like my lips touching the top of the tank. No dry hits and no leaks. It didn't have any noticeable machine oil but I washed it with Dawn and rinsed thoroughly before use. Nothing on mine was over tightened or too loose.
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I call it Twisted-N-Chained. Twisted pair of 28 ga. Kanthal. Then loop at half way point and twist again. This untwists one side as it twists the other tighter as it twists. Final dual coil resistance of 0.3 ohms. Wrapped on a 2.5 mm ID. Great flavor and vapor production at 30-40 watts! I run DIY e-liquid 20/80 pg/VG 3 Nic. I ran it up to 60 watts but way too warm of a vape for me!
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My 2 cents on the Griffin. Great tank, give it a 9 out of 10. From a vapor who prefers rda's, this is the closest to an rda experience on a tank. I own a UD Goblin and UD Goliath v1, so dont have much to judge rta's on.
Gave it a solid 9 for a few reasons, First the cons. The reviewers were right, my Griffin has very sharp threading. Meaning u can still screw the top cap n base into place and it aligns, but you'll feel it grind along the way. May get better over time. The removable guide ring seems to get stuck inside the chimney whenever I take off the base. Can be user error, I tend to use the top cap instead of the base to activate the juice control. And wicking above 40w seems to a b!tch. Ur first hit above 40w is like an RDA, flavorful, lots of clouds, with a warm vape. After that, u have to wait a few seconds in between puffs or take some primer puffs otherwise you'll get dry hits. 30-40W with low ohm builds is where its at, no dry hits.
As for the pro's. Great,great Flavor and good amount of clouds. Doesn't leak, with the juice control off. Very, very easy to build on. Like I stated earlier, closest thing to an RDA experience coming from an RTA. Thats Y I rate it a 9 with all its cons.
My advice, build it at low ohms ( <0.5ohms) with a 2mm drill bit. 2mm bit so it can keep up with the wicking and saturate the coils. Use Rayon instead of koh ge endo, believe it wicks alot better. And vape it in between 30-40w. Still a satisfying, flavorful vape with big clouds.
PS Thank You Voodoo and Mark S. Almost gave up on the this tank vaping at high watts. Ur advice really helped!!!
Gave it a solid 9 for a few reasons, First the cons. The reviewers were right, my Griffin has very sharp threading. Meaning u can still screw the top cap n base into place and it aligns, but you'll feel it grind along the way. May get better over time. The removable guide ring seems to get stuck inside the chimney whenever I take off the base. Can be user error, I tend to use the top cap instead of the base to activate the juice control. And wicking above 40w seems to a b!tch. Ur first hit above 40w is like an RDA, flavorful, lots of clouds, with a warm vape. After that, u have to wait a few seconds in between puffs or take some primer puffs otherwise you'll get dry hits. 30-40W with low ohm builds is where its at, no dry hits.
As for the pro's. Great,great Flavor and good amount of clouds. Doesn't leak, with the juice control off. Very, very easy to build on. Like I stated earlier, closest thing to an RDA experience coming from an RTA. Thats Y I rate it a 9 with all its cons.
My advice, build it at low ohms ( <0.5ohms) with a 2mm drill bit. 2mm bit so it can keep up with the wicking and saturate the coils. Use Rayon instead of koh ge endo, believe it wicks alot better. And vape it in between 30-40w. Still a satisfying, flavorful vape with big clouds.
PS Thank You Voodoo and Mark S. Almost gave up on the this tank vaping at high watts. Ur advice really helped!!!
You're welcome. TC, not yet. When I do, I will let you know. I'm thinking perhaps Ti, when the time comes. Right now I'm enjoying the Kanthal build. I used cotton bacon to wick it and before trimming and tucking I took a pair of pointed tweezers to thin/groom the tails. When it comes time to re-wick I will probably go cellucotton (rayon). Not because of dry hits (I haven't had that problem), I just have a lifetime supply of it... LOL
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My Griffin is still wandering around with USPS. Hopefully it comes Monday. Both it and my VF Stout got stuck in a black hole for awhile.
I'm noticing this too...on mine it seems only one hole is bubbling. I see small bubbles forming in the other holes but only one of them has the bubbles rising to the top? Also have you noticed any issues with the glass not centering? The tube that came installed seems thicker than the extra one. I thought maybe since it wasn't centering is why I only get one juice well that shows definite signs of wicking. Both glasses don't seem to seat in the upper and bottom chimney, they just sort of sit on the o-rings and slightly compress as the two are screwed together. I thought about maybe chucking it on a drill and using some sandpaper to shave of a few thousands but don't want to ruin my chances of exchanging in case I got a dud.
After using this for the day today and doing 2 builds now and after having the MT-RTA, I must say this griffin is a bit lack luster. I got it cause I could put big builds in it. Well Geek Vape needs to understand that for big builds you must have lots of juice flow. Juice flow on this is a joke, its misleading from the pics cause under the juice flow ring there is a radius and not as big as it looks on the pics. I now understand why some are using .2id so it can keep up with the wicking. And I guess I will have to try this also or put this thing in the trash. We all know this has a nice big v-deck but as far as i can see that is about all it has going for it. When the MT_RTA comes out with a v-deck I will get 10 of them cause right now in it I can run .25 id with clapitons and chain it at 80w till its dry with no dry hits at all. Griff today with a simple build and usng rayon I got to 50w before she dry hit. Like I said I will try .2id tomm and sure it will work fine , BUT that is not why I got this. What is the point of having a big deck that can hold big claptions if I cant use big claptions and have to use .2id coils? I am graduating from mechanical engineering this semester so I may see what I can do about making these juice channels bigger. Far as I can tell that is the only hope for this tank. Rant over
Can I have a look at ur wick by any chance when you rebuild it or replace the cotton please?
I haven't got mine but thought it would be OK if I don't too much cotton.
I'm waiting for the black one as i cant find any store who got Ohmega Alpha here in UK yet.
Sure you can if I can find my camera as I really just use smart phones now. If you get on youtube and look at mike vapes that is how i wick. That is the only way there is to wick it if you do a .3id coil like we are. Right below the juice ring where you wick it is not as large as it looks on the pics. The way they make it is just use an end mill or drill bit so there is a curve to it and you do not get the full use out of the juice channels that we should have. Do you have an mt-rta ? If not I would wait for it or like you said the ohmega looks good.
Would you say that the Crius RTA is better than? Considering the larger build deck on the Griffin seems useless? I am expecting a Griffin and my standard build is a 2.5 id. Will that work well in the Griffin do you think?
I am running .25id dual claptions now. I would say that the crius leaks more for sure. Not one leak from the griff. Sure your build will work but it will not wick as fast. I too have a crius and like it when I wick it just right, it can keep up and is a joy to vape. Can the griff keep up ,I do not thank so. Sorry I think we should try .2id on this one i guess. For anyone how says the flavor is great on the griff I would ask you have you tried the mt-rta. Not a fan boy of any atty at all just the mt-rta is the best I have for now.
Thanks for the opinion. I already have a Crius and do like it. I am waiting for the Griffin and want to compare the 2 and see what I think. Will be getting rid of one or the other once decided. I'm not one for fancy coils but I was hoping to put a standard RDA build in the Griffin that I like to use. 3 id with 24 gauge comes to about .25 ohms but idk sounds like it won't be successful in this tank. Guess I will use my standard 2.5 with 26 gauge that comes out about .35 ohms and see how it does.
Cool let us know how it turns out please. Or if you have any build that can keep up with this tank I would like to know. Like i said guess some are having luck with .2id builds so will try that tomm.
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