*GEM: A new RTA by MarkBugs
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How does he fill the tank without closing the AFC? I've done about 10 builds on mine with varying amounts of cotton and Rayon,closed the AFC ring fully each time, tried both fully tightening the top before opening and partially closing the top before flipping it then tightening before opening the AFC and I have yet to have one successful fill without either a ton of leaking or at least some flooding. Even after I get through the flooding and it starts to vape normally the flavor is very sub-par to non existent and I still come back after a few minutes to juice all around the AFC and base. I've emulated what you guys all seem to be doing as well as how Qorax built his in his review and no matter what it's just a floody,leaky,flavorless mess each time. What could I possibly be doing wrong?
He closes the AFC before filling the tank...I haven't had any issues with leaking or flooding using a Kanthal build 28g using a 6/7 wrap at 1.2Ω. I cut the wick just a bit long and prime the wick then push the wick back towards the base to create the "fat shoulders" (I believe that is what Qorax called them). No issues with flooding or leaking.
I'm still on the fence about the flavor - it is good, but seems a bit off. I've been vaping my ADV and it doesn't have the same taste that I've experienced in the Calix, Ataman or Merkava. Once I've completed this tank, I will reclean the tank and rebuild to see if that makes a difference. I haven't tried a different e-liquid, but will try that also.
I stuffed a fatton of rayon in the last build, the coil moved a bit too, I think. Cut, primed, put the base in and closed the AFC. Filled, and then, shortly before the topcap is tightened, flipped it upside down and opened the AFC and then quickly tightened the topcap, thus avoiding unnecessary pressure in the tank (I think). No leaks, no flooding whatsoever. But the taste may be a bit off. For now. Needs finetuning, just like F2V said.
R
I wick very close to this method. I use just a smidgen more KGD cotton. I just received an order of Fiber Freaks, so I think I will try it in my next build.
Thanks for the tip about pushing the wick back. I've just been cutting and stuffing the channels. I'm going to give it one more go tonight and if not successful I think I'm done. It's been the biggest headache of an RTA I've had to date.
On a side not I sure did love the flavor out of the Calix as well but that was another one that really irritated me. Probably the easiest RTA to wick out of the ones I've owned but building a coil on that thing was pure torture. I sold the Calix and my Erlk to fund the GEM and so far I'm really regretting it.
I read you on the coil building for the Calix, it is a pain, but at least you can unscrew the deck a bit to be able to capture your leads - I watched the Qorax review for the Calix and it was very helpful. The Merkava is very similar to build as the Calix, but you do not have the option to get the deck over the lip, so you end up with the coil high over the air hole when capturing your leads. I finally found a video showing someone using an allen key to push the coil down.
I hope you are successful with your next build on the Gem - it is a very nice tank. After I clean it again and rebuild, I hope to find an improvement on the flavor - at the moment, it is about 75% on my flavor scale. Of course, I have found that not all tanks work equally well with all e-liquid. I found the Phenomenon was only so-so with my ADV, but much better with other secondary flavors.
Among comparable "single-coil" 21/22 mm atties, viz. GEM, Erlkonigin, Tilemahos, Phenomenon Lite, Calix, Kayfun4 and URBA, I find >>>
FLAVOR PROFILE: All the above are near similar in being flavorful - with the Erlkonigin a shade higher, GEM being a close next and K4 at the lowest end of that spectrum.
EASE OF REBUILDING: Tilemahos being the easiest, GEM following it closely and URBA taking the most time & effort/s in setting up.
JUICE CONSUMPTION: Two among the above are the most efficient in atomizing e-liquids. Erlkonigin and GEM. And K4 is a gas guzzler, consumes nearly thrice the amount of juice.
VAPOR PRODUCTION: Anytime the K4. Given everything else remaining the same between the atties (ohms, coil gauge & OD, type of juice etc.). Close 2nd being the Calix. GEM and the Erlk somewhere around the middle - and Tilemahos being at the end of the scale.
FASTEST RE-WICKING: Ah, the GEM! Closely followed by the Phenomenon Lite (Momentous base with the Straight or Bell tank). URBA being the last in line.
MOST FORGIVING: Tilemahos. Throw any build at it - and it'll vape, well. No gurgling and no dry-hits. Besides, it never leaks - fill it anyway you like, use it anyway you like. Very similar is the Phenomenon Lite. However, note that both are with Juice control. GEM can also be tamed on this front - but would need practice. Least forgiving would be the Erlks. There's a steep learning curve with this atty. But once mastered - it's a dream vape experience.
EASE OF FILLING: Phenomenon Lite (with Straight or Bell tanks). Takes the least time & effort/s - and there's no way it could leak on you. Close next is the URBA, while GEM, Tilemahos and Calix are midway. But filling the K4 is a Pita (remember the process involved).
SIZE VS. CAPACITY: The GEM. Closely followed by the Erlkonigin. Both of them are the best "space managed" atties. At the end of the line is K4. It's one big and heavy topper compared to the rest of the atties being considered here.
LOOKS: The GEM, Imho, is the best looking atty out there as of date. It's a head turner! Close on it's heels is the Phenomenon Lite and Calix. The least affable is the Erlk.
WEIGHT: Erlkonigin is the lightest among them. Remember, it's a poly tank thru-n-thru - and the steel is the lightest 316L specifically engineered for it's use - and the overall design is geared with its weight factor being seriously considered. It is as good as a Ti atty. GEM and Tilemahos are the next. While the K4 ~ ah, the heaviest!
Ps.: I've deliberately left my SquapeR out, b'coz I don't find it comparable in overall vape experience to the foregoing atties.
FLAVOR PROFILE: All the above are near similar in being flavorful - with the Erlkonigin a shade higher, GEM being a close next and K4 at the lowest end of that spectrum.
EASE OF REBUILDING: Tilemahos being the easiest, GEM following it closely and URBA taking the most time & effort/s in setting up.
JUICE CONSUMPTION: Two among the above are the most efficient in atomizing e-liquids. Erlkonigin and GEM. And K4 is a gas guzzler, consumes nearly thrice the amount of juice.
VAPOR PRODUCTION: Anytime the K4. Given everything else remaining the same between the atties (ohms, coil gauge & OD, type of juice etc.). Close 2nd being the Calix. GEM and the Erlk somewhere around the middle - and Tilemahos being at the end of the scale.
FASTEST RE-WICKING: Ah, the GEM! Closely followed by the Phenomenon Lite (Momentous base with the Straight or Bell tank). URBA being the last in line.
MOST FORGIVING: Tilemahos. Throw any build at it - and it'll vape, well. No gurgling and no dry-hits. Besides, it never leaks - fill it anyway you like, use it anyway you like. Very similar is the Phenomenon Lite. However, note that both are with Juice control. GEM can also be tamed on this front - but would need practice. Least forgiving would be the Erlks. There's a steep learning curve with this atty. But once mastered - it's a dream vape experience.
EASE OF FILLING: Phenomenon Lite (with Straight or Bell tanks). Takes the least time & effort/s - and there's no way it could leak on you. Close next is the URBA, while GEM, Tilemahos and Calix are midway. But filling the K4 is a Pita (remember the process involved).
SIZE VS. CAPACITY: The GEM. Closely followed by the Erlkonigin. Both of them are the best "space managed" atties. At the end of the line is K4. It's one big and heavy topper compared to the rest of the atties being considered here.
LOOKS: The GEM, Imho, is the best looking atty out there as of date. It's a head turner! Close on it's heels is the Phenomenon Lite and Calix. The least affable is the Erlk.
WEIGHT: Erlkonigin is the lightest among them. Remember, it's a poly tank thru-n-thru - and the steel is the lightest 316L specifically engineered for it's use - and the overall design is geared with its weight factor being seriously considered. It is as good as a Ti atty. GEM and Tilemahos are the next. While the K4 ~ ah, the heaviest!
Ps.: I've deliberately left my SquapeR out, b'coz I don't find it comparable in overall vape experience to the foregoing atties.
Q - Thanks for that review. For those of us still on the fence (or waiting on the TI) this is very helpful. I do have to say that with 20/20 hindsight it is inconceivable that a $200 atty doesn't come with any spares.
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I have shot them a mail. For (1)adding a spares baggy into the packages from now on - and (2)send the existing purchasers a baggy by post. Let's see what comes out of it.
That would be awesome! Having purchased a Gem, I would certainly be interested in purchasing an extra spares bag....
Is Mark doing any work/have plans for a WE/WAE III that you are aware?
?!?!!!!!!!!!!!!And now a hint for you all
A small and compact box mod from MB. DNA200!
And now a hint for you all
A small and compact box mod from MB. DNA200!
bottom feeder??? that would be sick
Be sure to clean your wires, preferably with an ultrasonic. The nasty machining oil is much more noticeable on the Gem, because it is not a juice-guzzler.
And now a hint for you all
A small and compact box mod from MB. DNA200!
Small and compact doesn't really suit the DNA200 all that well, unless one is willing to sacrifice battery capacity. One day usage of practical usage requires a 3S 1Ah LiPo, which is the size of two 18650s, so we're talking Opus 200 size. Evolv is also working on a 2S firmware upgrade, but that still would mean a dual 18650 (2S LiPo isn't really that much of a size saver to be worth doing), which means the smallest one can do is something like the Boxer or Vaporflask mod.
I guess one could do a small and compact box mod with something like a Zippy 3S 350mAh battery, but it wouldn't last very long. That's about the same as using a 1050mAh 18650.
I'm not interested in a DNA200 so it has no bearing on me, but we do need to keep on MB for a spears parts offer.
That (2) would be so awesome. Not so easy to get hold of them spares down here.
Don't under estimate the metal magician. The Hana V200 is already out and significantly smaller than the Opus or Vaporflask. The Vaporshark was the smallest DNA40 for a long time but then the sbody macro beat them. If Mark does go for a DNA200 I'll be very interested to see what he comes up with.
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