*GEM: A new RTA by MarkBugs

[TheotherSteveS]

I havent tried it but the AFC ring movement is restricted by a segment of rubber/silicone o-ring pushed through the little hole (easy to lose it). If you can find a ring of same thickness (1.5mm I think), just cut a piece a little longer so as it sticks out above/below the AFC ring surface just a tad. That should do it!

 

[TheotherSteveS]

For anyone interested and who isnt taking @qorax up on his kind offer to send out oring spares, and is in UK, I just ordered a complete set of viton orings for the GEM (10 of the drip-tip and center fill, 10 of the side holes on the top-fill and 1 37.5mm didmater 1.6mm for the AFC) for a grand total of £8.45 delivered on ebay! Should last a while!

edit: the recommended thickness for the AFC is 1.5mm but I thought I would give 1.6 a try as it might stay put better - i will report back when I get them!

 

[xtreme101]

Finally got a build on the GEM. First shot out of the box w/6 wraps of 28ga Ni200 on a 2.5 coil master. Fired right up no shorts or dry hits (using Japanese cotton).

Easiest build I've done in a while! Thank god it BARELY came in above .05 ohm (lowest the SX mini can fire) because I don't see getting more than 6 spaced wraps in there comfortably without shorting.

I think the flavor profile is stronger than what I get with my Erls, not quite as much vape, but comparable.

My only complaint so far is the AFC spins way to easily. Would be nice it it had some resistance so it would stay in place.

If this is more resistant to leaks than my Erls it's definitely my new go to rba!


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I havent tried it but the AFC ring movement is restricted by a segment of rubber/silicone o-ring pushed through the little hole (easy to lose it). If you can find a ring of same thickness (1.5mm I think), just cut a piece a little longer so as it sticks out above/below the AFC ring surface just a tad. That should do it!

 

[TheotherSteveS]

does it work?!?!

 

[xtreme101]

does it work?!?!

That is original oring insert. Just posting pic for better illustration.

 

[JeepR KReapR]

Wow, I don't recall seeing that on the AFC ring...just the metal knub to limit how far it can be turned. That's by design? What holds the rubber in there??

 

[jazzvaper]

Wow, I don't recall seeing that on the AFC ring...just the metal knub to limit how far it can be turned. That's by design? What holds the rubber in there??

Fiction...I mean friction. [emoji8]

 

[TheotherSteveS]

This has probably been dealt with but here goes anyway,

tried yesterday sticking a 24g Ti coli in there. Aimed at 0.1 ohms came out at 0.95 or so on the mod mounted with the firing base. Great! Loaded into the GEM and it read anywhere between 0.15 to 0.28!
Threw in a 26g and its fine.

Now, I hear the cries of 'positive screw shorting against the chimney cos the wire's too thick' but that cant be the case surely as it isnt shorting, its just a wandering resistance. The 24g build was as good as I can do. Absolutely solid, screwed in tight, non-touching - beautiful if I may say so Except it just didnt work!

Any ideas?!?!

 

[IanDVaypes]

This has probably been dealt with but here goes anyway,

tried yesterday sticking a 24g Ti coli in there. Aimed at 0.1 ohms came out at 0.95 or so on the mod mounted with the firing base. Great! Loaded into the GEM and it read anywhere between 0.15 to 0.28!
Threw in a 26g and its fine.

Now, I hear the cries of 'positive screw shorting against the chimney cos the wire's too thick' but that cant be the case surely as it isnt shorting, its just a wandering resistance. The 24g build was as good as I can do. Absolutely solid, screwed in tight, non-touching - beautiful if I may say so Except it just didnt work!

Any ideas?!?!

Now that is just weird. If it shorted, it should read lower or as shorted.

 

[TheotherSteveS]

Now that is just weird. If it shorted, it should read lower or as shorted.

Hi Ian,
Absolutely! I tried everything. Took it off, tightened down screws again (they were tight already), back on mod - fine with the firing base, crazy in the tank assembly. Gave up in the end. Literally threw a 26g build in, hardly paying any attention to whether it was properly spaced or whatever and it was absolutely fine...Beats me!

Doubt whether anyone has tried 24g of anything else. Kanthal would be crazy and Ni would be pointless (and resistance-less..). I guess it must be user error but I am damned if I can see how...

Anyway, its firing like the elegant, flavourful little beauty that it is so I guess I'll just stick with 26g!

Wonder if @Yozhik has tried 24g Ti??

 

[IanDVaypes]

Hi Ian,
Absolutely! I tried everything. Took it off, tightened down screws again (they were tight already), back on mod - fine with the firing base, crazy in the tank assembly. Gave up in the end. Literally threw a 26g build in, hardly paying any attention to whether it was properly spaced or whatever and it was absolutely fine...Beats me!

Doubt whether anyone has tried 24g of anything else. Kanthal would be crazy and Ni would be pointless (and resistance-less..). I guess it must be user error but I am damned if I can see how...

Anyway, its firing like the elegant, flavourful little beauty that it is so I guess I'll just stick with 26g!

Wonder if @Yozhik has tried 24g Ti??

Glad you got 26 to work great. I guess that the gem isn't meant to do anything bigger than 26.

 

[TheotherSteveS]

Glad you got 26 to work great. I guess that the gem isn't meant to do anything bigger than 26.

Lol! Looks that way. It just doesnt like it and that's that!

 

[JeepR KReapR]

So I cut off a few pieces of O-ring I had lying around until I found one that fit without just dropping out (hole goes all the way through) and it does help, not as much as the other GEM I have that still has a stock one in there...but it doesn't just spin freely anymore.

I'll keep fiddling with it between builds. Ideally whatever you thread through there would be slightly larger than the hole so it doesn't just fall out when you take the ring off between builds.

If anyone finds out what size fits best please post it up. Maybe Q can add it to the first page so it's easy to find for future reference.

 

[TheotherSteveS]

So I cut off a few pieces of O-ring I had lying around until I found one that fit without just dropping out (hole goes all the way through) and it does help, not as much as the other GEM I have that still has a stock one in there...but it doesn't just spin freely anymore.

I'll keep fiddling with it between builds. Ideally whatever you thread through there would be slightly larger larger than the hole so it doesn't just fall out when you take the ring off between builds.

If anyone finds out what size fits best please post it up. Maybe Q can add it to the first page so it's easy to find for future reference.

I just received a 1.6mm ring so I'll try that later...stay tuned!

 

[TheotherSteveS]

I think someone mentioned this but my spare glass tank is, not to put too fine a point on it, garbage! I just had a look the other day out of curiosity as I havent done anything other than use the stock
tank so far. Both ends are very...errr... featured. Its neithe flat nor level. I sincerely doubt it will seal at all given the o-ringless GEM design

 

[qorax]

I think someone mentioned this but my spare glass tank is, not to put too fine a point on it, garbage! I just had a look the other day out of curiosity as I havent done anything other than use the stock
tank so far. Both ends are very...errr... featured. Its neithe flat nor level. I sincerely doubt it will seal at all given the o-ringless GEM design

That is absolutely unacceptable. Have you contacted MB about it - and seeked a replacement?

 

[TheotherSteveS]

That is absolutely unacceptable. Have you contacted MB about it - and seeked a replacement?

Not yet. I only noticed it yesterday...I was very suprised to be honest..

 

[qorax]

Not yet. I only noticed it yesterday...I was very suprised to be honest..

Yep, I'd be astonished too. And would be saddened as well. Definitely needs a replacement asap - it's an important spare.

 

[raitizz]

@qorax, any news on spare glass tanks?

R

Edit: oh, you are already discussing this..

 

[TheotherSteveS]

Yep, I'd be astonished too. And would be saddened as well. Definitely needs a replacement asap - it's an important spare.

Absolutely. I'll have another look when I get home this evening and see just how bad it is but I can say that if you run your finger around the end (either end actually) it really feels very uneven indeed. Stay tuned. If I can i'll post a pic although it might be difficult to show...