*GEM: A new RTA by MarkBugs

[h00ligan]

Thanks all. I received my 1 pound / 2500 feet of 316L today and rebuilt. I took a couple shots as they better represent what I was talking about than the post yesterday. I've learned I can lift the cotton up and just cut it all level with the deck screws. That creates a kind of puffy waterfall that tapers everything from thick to thin.

Here are a few shots showing what it looks like when I use the right amount of cotton.

Sloppy top. This gets trimmed ever so slightly

It ends up being turned up as I said before. Cut to the deck screws

When it's cut and laid back flat this is what t looks like. It wicks out to very thin or next to nothing in the channels.

I hope That's a bit more clear. This is exactly the way I do it with 80% and up eliquid. It cranks out and never runs dry, floods, or leaks.

I used KGD for the first time in a log time
After using cotton bacon for almost two months. I was shocked how long it took to break in. And how much different it tastes than cotton bacon.

I hate believing in rebranded products aimed at vapers. But enough skepticism. I am a believer in cotton bacon now. After two months of trying to not be an advocate. It's worth the $5-6 every couple months to me. I've mentioned it before but I'm officially off the fence now. It's good.

Sorry I took up the space doing this twice. I'm going to remove the first attempt to show you guys I think. Sorry.

 

[h00ligan]

I'm really bummed out guys. In just about a week both my glass tanks have self destructed.

No drops
Stayed at home due to my pending surgery
No knocks I can think of
Not overtightening the top as we discussed a few pages back I prefer to leave it as loose as possible.

The first tank was scratched in shipment. I though maybe hat reduced the integrity. And it cracked on the scratch. The second tank didn't have a mark on it. I leaned back to vape and a chunk of it fell onto my chest. I didn't even know it was cracked.

Finally is say right now is the gentlest period of my life for anything I own. This tank has been in my room and on my nightstand/ bed

I can't fathom why they wouldn't be good enough for that kind of environment. I wasn't around before to know if tanks breaking is a widespread issue but it absolutely is for me. Genuinely I feel something must be wrong with production. I'd rather see the tanks thicker like the metal tank without the glass saver gap MarkBugs left.

I just don't know what happened but it's really a bummer. I just can't justify spending another who knows how much on two tanks. Especially if they can just break again.

It has to be heat and a thin wall. Must be.

[emoji174][emoji22]

Broke tonight

Broke before.

Notice how similar they are

 

[raitizz]

I'm really bummed out guys. In just about a week both my glass tanks have self destructed.

No drops
Stayed at home due to my pending surgery
No knocks I can think of
Not overtightening the top as we discussed a few pages back I prefer to leave it as loose as possible.

The first tank was scratched in shipment. I though maybe hat reduced the integrity. And it cracked on the scratch. The second tank didn't have a mark on it. I leaned back to vape and a chunk of it fell onto my chest. I didn't even know it was cracked.

Finally is say right now is the gentlest period of my life for anything I own. This tank has been in my room and on my nightstand/ bed

I can't fathom why they wouldn't be good enough for that kind of environment. I wasn't around before to know if tanks breaking is a widespread issue but it absolutely is for me. Genuinely I feel something must be wrong with production. I'd rather see the tanks thicker like the metal tank without the glass saver gap MarkBugs left.

I just don't know what happened but it's really a bummer. I just can't justify spending another who knows how much on two tanks. Especially if they can just break again.

It has to be heat and a thin wall. Must be.

[emoji174][emoji22]

Broke tonight

Broke before.

Notice how similar they are

Feel 'ya there.
IBTanked to the rescue!

R

 

[h00ligan]

Well the big question to me is why are they breaking? I'm assuming heat but I'm a moderate mouth to lung caper rocking about 460F and not chain Vaping. It seems to me the design is flawed in that the walls are too thin...any thoughts in this? How many of you have broken glass. No overtightening. So how can I stop this from happening.

Also on IBtanked aren't they still $20+ per tiny tank? If they're breaking minimum once a week I can't see how replacing them is going to happen for me at those prices. It's not like we can get a pack of five from fast tech for $8. Are their replacement tanks somehow better?

Why wouldn't MarkBugs bring the tank wall thickness out to sit flush like the metal tank? My guess is he felt the lid was too hard to remove without being able to slide w finger nail in and the squeezing would crack the tank. But decreasing the wall of the tank isn't an answer either. It may have been worth losing half a ml of capacity for a thicker more durable tank. Though ideally at these prices Pyrex could solve the issue while allowing design to stay the same.

So I guess two question runs
---
Is it possible the tanks I received were weaker due to shipping or flawed from production? Are the IBtanked ones better? Do you consider the glass a design flaw and if so shouldn't here be a fix to offer a windowed sleeve.

They have the measurements there for the tank I read so what do you do. Email them and say I need some of these tanks? Can we order like ten for a significant discount compared to one? What's the pricing?

I've broken one tank in my life before this. A aspire nautilus full size glass from overtightening with their stupid design.

Summary on this.
---
I'm afraid if I can only use the metal sleeve which won't indicate juice level due to glass tank delicacy or sensitivity to heat i have to consider that a very big design flaw. Two tanks in a matter of days says something is wrong.

Damnit I love this thing but the little things are starting to add up to be honest. They're sending me a new deck due to the base iron shredding for unknown reasons. now I have two tanks break in a week. What's next

Oh and one thing I did notice the precision of the air hole is off. Is it off on everyone's? Like it goes too far so fully open actually closes off a bit of the left side of the hole as opposed to stopping exactly where the hole ends.

Sorry for the negativity. I'm bummed out because I love this thing but I don't feel I should be having this many issues for s top of the line atomizer. Maybe I'm just super unlucky and most other people don't have issue. But looking at the fact both of my tanks broke the exact same way I have to think its to do with thermal properties of expansion and contraction on cooling. I feel pretty sure that the design with a "hot build" may cause this issue.

My surgery is in 2 weeks now. So doubtful anything will be accomplished by then. Hopefully hopefully it will be remedied when I'm back able to deal with posting things and such. Maybe Christmas time I'll have an answer and can enjoy it then with issues resolved.

If you read through all that thanks! You're a champion. I really don't mean to be Whitney. It's a composite of questions / hypothesis and disappointment

 

[TX Foilhead]

I'm not seeing that price from a quick scan of IBTanked, sloops like its $21 and some shipping for 3 clear tanks, a few more $ if you want some color.

Have you checked for nics on the top and bottom plates? You said the top plate is finger tight, what about the rings and airflow under the base? I'm not seeing anything else on mine that could cause a pressure point on the tank.

 

[nester]

Is gem wicking well 70vg juices ?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[qorax]

(1)How many of you have broken glass. (2)Are the IBtanked ones better? (3)so what do you do. Email them and say I need some of these tanks? (4)the metal sleeve which won't indicate juice level due to glass tank (5)I did notice the precision of the air hole is off. Is it off on everyone's?

1. Two Gems here, using since a year, No glass broken yet.
2. They are the same. Pyrex Glass.
3. Yes, email them with your requirement. They'll let you know the pricing and shipping.
4. You can use a piece of Kanthal as a dip-stick.
5. No. The stopper and groove combo aligns the airhole perfectly.

Yes, I did read thru your whole post.

 

[qorax]

Is gem wicking well 70vg juices ? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yes, it does. You may like to thin out your wicks a li'l tho as the viscosity of your e-liquid rises. And ensure the wick ends are flared up (fibrous).

 

[h00ligan]

1. Two Gems here, using since a year, No glass broken yet.
2. They are the same. Pyrex Glass.
3. Yes, email them with your requirement. They'll let you know the pricing and shipping.
4. You can use a piece of Kanthal as a dip-stick.
5. No. The stopper and groove combo aligns the airhole perfectly.

Yes, I did read thru your whole post.

Well I have to assume they were somehow weakened it shipping or heat. I guess I have to get some new ones from IBtanked. Still something is strange to make two tanks crack from the same part in a week. I better inspect the top cap with fill ports and make sure that's not an issue. I haven't seen anything that isn't smooth and would potentially cause this. Is it possible to choose a tank from IBtanked that's thicker walked and matches the dimensions of the metal tank ?

$21 and shipping isn't bad. Providing the tanks don't continue to break at the rate of 2/week

By the way I'm sorry it this came off as cranky. Not my intention. I'm disappointed but I'm also having a horrible couple of days. So apologies if it read as .....y

 

[qorax]

Gem spares' Baggy
I am shipping 50% of the packages tomorrow (Monday, Oct-12th/2015) and rest in a couple of days. They are going by letter post.

 

[TheotherSteveS]

By the way I'm sorry it this cake off as cranky. Not my intention. I'm disappointed but I'm also having a horrible couple of days. So apologies ignite read as bitxhy

No apologies necessary. If you want to see real cranky, check out some of my back catalogue of posts...lol!

Luckily @qorax is usually around for counselling!

Seriously, it sounds to me that the top cap might be distorted somehow. Also, have you checked there isnt something stuck in there somewhere. A small but very solid object could easily crack the tank when you tighten it down, or even after. Dont forget there is no oring up there to take up the slack! Just a thought!

 

[TheotherSteveS]

Is gem wicking well 70vg juices ?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Ive had it running with 80/20 VG but you need to get the wicking spot on!

 

[h00ligan]

Gem spares' Baggy
I am shipping 50% of the packages tomorrow (Monday, Oct-12th/2015) and rest in a couple of days. They are going by letter post.

What are the soared packages again? I know I bought mine too late to get in on t just curious o ring sets?

 

[drippaboi]

5. No. The stopper and groove combo aligns the airhole perfectly.

Unfortunately I too must report that the air inlet on my AFC ring also does not align perfectly to the inlet on the base. The AFC able turn about 1/4mm too far when fully open, nothing major and barely noticeable but this did disappoint me just a little.

 

[xtreme101]

GEM RTA by Mark Bugs in stock

http://www.vapinart.com/cart/GEM-RTA-by-Mark-Bugs-P1944.aspx

 

[distortoblotto]

Gem spares' Baggy
I am shipping 50% of the packages tomorrow (Monday, Oct-12th/2015) and rest in a couple of days. They are going by letter post.

Excuse me Q, but who's I and who is getting these?

 

[h00ligan]

I ordered a second one. Thanks for the link. I have inspected mine and I ant see what could be causing it. I will take detailed up close pictures tomorrow. I plan on selling or giving away every other RTA I own to be honest. Stick with two gem probably. The taifun gt2 is very close to flavor but I prefer the size of the gem. Someone is going to get a really cheap gt2

I was surprised they would charge more for shipping than the usps. A small flat rate box easily ships the gem and it's insured for $100 not sure why they had the priority plus insurance option. Come to think orbit if they ship me an item and I never get it. They haven't dekivered. And if it's broken

Well it seems odd to me they'd use shipping to root w couple more dollars out of customers. I can believe I bought a second one. Partially because I really hope it winds up Bette than the first. Maybe MarkBugs can see what's wrong with my current one. It seems possessed

And yes the hole doesn't line up. It's fine I just have to make sure I don't push to stop or adjust afterwards. Seems like such a minor detail to get wrong though. Though with the other issues maybe I received one that was rushed out ? Possible that quality control isn't super tight when the time crunch hits?

Here's hoping number two is perfect and number one gets sorted out.

 

[qorax]

Excuse me Q, but who's I and who is getting these?

There was a list created via PM sometime back. I received the quantity from MB and am redistributing it down.

 

[TheotherSteveS]

I ordered a second one. Thanks for the link. I have inspected mine and I ant see what could be causing it. I will take detailed up close pictures tomorrow. I plan on selling or giving away every other RTA I own to be honest. Stick with two gem probably. The taifun gt2 is very close to flavor but I prefer the size of the gem. Someone is going to get a really cheap gt2

I was surprised they would charge more for shipping than the usps. A small flat rate box easily ships the gem and it's insured for $100 not sure why they had the priority plus insurance option. Come to think orbit if they ship me an item and I never get it. They haven't dekivered. And if it's broken

Well it seems odd to me they'd use shipping to root w couple more dollars out of customers. I can believe I bought a second one. Partially because I really hope it winds up Bette than the first. Maybe MarkBugs can see what's wrong with my current one. It seems possessed

And yes the hole doesn't line up. It's fine I just have to make sure I don't push to stop or adjust afterwards. Seems like such a minor detail to get wrong though. Though with the other issues maybe I received one that was rushed out ? Possible that quality control isn't super tight when the time crunch hits?

Here's hoping number two is perfect and number one gets sorted out.

if you will ship to UK, and if the price is right, I will take the gt2 off your hands lol!!

 

[h00ligan]

if you will ship to UK, and if the price is right, I will take the gt2 off your hands lol!!

Pm me, it's a lot of kit - lot of extras. Multiple tank sleeve and chimney options. I'm from the uk so I'm not bothered on shipping it there outside of the cost/ but it's small and I'm sure we can find something economical that will allow me to wrap my "gift" well so it doesn't break.