*GEM: A new RTA by MarkBugs

[h00ligan]

Just started the upload. Should be ready in a couple hrs.

In woefully ignorant when it comes to mesh. I skipped that part of the ecig evolution

I went from terrible hoy tech cartomizers with almost all tobacco juices available to stuff that was out in the last two years. So in looking forward to this as Leone say mesh is still the best flavor even if it's a pain to setup. And that the builds last s long long time.


So ice had a chance to try a few top tier rta now and I have to say none of them taste as good with my ADV as the gem.

The HnP v2 setup as with all the other GP stuff has amazing build quality. But so far the flavor is exactly the same as the taifun GT2 with the juices I mostly vape. The piccoloid is probably the best out and about device there's ever going to
Be. The gem still tops them for flat out flavor and in the case of the phenomenon lite which has particularly bad design choice (whole tank that spins for afc -what?!?!) and a terrible top fill system) the ease of use of the gem comes through.

I'm posting this for those who haven't run through a lot of authentics. I've tried and tried and tried by so far the gem is the best for me. Based on flavor. Hope that saves some of you some money!

As for me. I've tried just about everything I wanted to now. I can settle wih my two gems and a couple of other things.

I didn't pay any custom tax on my GEM (non-TI RTA) or my WAE II. The vendor handled all the shipping and such.

Are you in the USA and did you order direct from markbugs.

Anything over $200 has import duty afaik. Like I said if they don't include vat (and they shouldn't) the ti gem isn't taxable. So long as it's all done correctly.

I mailed them to confirm but who knows if they'll read my email in time.

 

[qorax]

For your pleasure buddies

 

[raitizz]

GEM Ti - 33g with glass tank, 35g with metal tank.

R

 

[ronholland]

Qorax, that's a great tutorial on how to do a mesh build in the gem!
But in my experience with my gem if I get that gurgling sound you have in your video when you draw on it, in mine it would mean flooding! Not only through the air hole when filling but also possibly thro the drip tip!
I've used my gem exclusively since I got it and the only way it works for me is cutting my cotton so that a little of it stays in the channel to stop the leaks!
So if you fill yours with the mesh build, do you have any leaking through the acr, or juice in the drip tip after filling? I quite fancy trying the mesh!

 

[qorax]

Qorax, that's a great tutorial on how to do a mesh build in the gem!
But in my experience with my gem if I get that gurgling sound you have in your video when you draw on it, in mine it would mean flooding! Not only through the air hole when filling but also possibly thro the drip tip!
I've used my gem exclusively since I got it and the only way it works for me is cutting my cotton so that a little of it stays in the channel to stop the leaks!
So if you fill yours with the mesh build, do you have any leaking through the acr, or juice in the drip tip after filling? I quite fancy trying the mesh!

Firstly, thanks for the appreciation buddy!

Secondly,
a) I never have dry hits or flooding or leaks in my Gem builds
b) My regular builds don't gurgle as well. It's only in this mesh build

Mesh wick being a solid piece draws-in juice more easily and faster. Thus, there will always be a gurgle during the starting few draws. It settles down subsequently.

Thirdly, I was using a 50:50 mix in the video. When I switched over to a higher VG ratio - that starting gurgle reduced. And with a [near] full VG juice ~ no gurgling at all.

Fourthly, I am now vaping a [near] full PG juice in the same build. No issues at all. But I tweaked it a little. I placed very tiny and thin amount of rayon fibres "under" the mesh wick, slightly blocking the vertical "U" of the wick channel ends. And bingo!

I prolly will make an update video about the foregoing.

 

[Sparkie1968]

Hi Qorax,

Thanks for another great in depth review and tutorial. I have never tried mesh, but have heard that many people who start using it, don't go back to cotton, except where mesh isn't an option. I emailed Mark Bugs, a month or so before Christmas asking when the GEM would be back in stock, because i could find one anywhere in the UK. Checked his site tonight after watching your GEM-Ti review, and saw he had stock - needless to say i've bought one!!.

Bought my Kayfun v4 after watching your review also!!

Will definitely be trying mesh in it, when it arrives.

 

[qorax]

Hi Qorax,

Thanks for another great in depth review and tutorial. I have never tried mesh, but have heard that many people who start using it, don't go back to cotton, except where mesh isn't an option. I emailed Mark Bugs, a month or so before Christmas asking when the GEM would be back in stock, because i could find one anywhere in the UK. Checked his site tonight after watching your GEM-Ti review, and saw he had stock - needless to say i've bought one!!.

Bought my Kayfun v4 after watching your review also!!

Will definitely be trying mesh in it, when it arrives.

Thank you dear!
And congrats on your GEM plus the K4. Yes, the K4 is Ok ~ but the Gem is just amazing IMHO!
And I am keeping my Ti with Mesh. It is vaping like a charm

 

[Sparkie1968]

Hi Qorax,

Just a question from your GEM-Ti review, what diameter needle did you use to wrap your mesh??

 

[qorax]

Hi Qorax,

Just a question from your GEM-Ti review, what diameter needle did you use to wrap your mesh??

Any needle will work just fine. I used the longest one I had ~ do not know it's exact OD, but feels like it is equivalent to a 28AWG Kanthal.

 

[kas122461]

Does anyone know if the spare parts kit for the V1 Gem will fit the TI Gem?

Thanks
KAS

 

[qorax]

Does anyone know if the spare parts kit for the V1 Gem will fit the TI Gem?

Thanks
KAS

Yes, they are the same.
And btw, Gem-Ti comes with a spares baggy.

 

[kas122461]

Yes, they are the same.
And btw, Gem-Ti comes with a spares baggy.

Thanks, I figure I should just order a spare's kit anyway, just makes sense to order the kit with it.

KAS

 

[raitizz]

Ti on Ti.

R

 

[h00ligan]

Honestly I'm pretty surprised he hasn't sold out of the ti version yet. I wonder if it's the post Christmankwanza wallet hurt, price, reduced interest of people thinking the gem 2 is going to be different still than the titanium (seems unlikely).

My titanium gem shipped today. I have surgery tomorrow so even if it arrives by say Tuesday I doubt I'll build it for a while. Mesh tutorial has me excited.

@qorax and other wae ii owners - One strange thing wih the wae ii is the rebooting thing. Anything it doesn't seem to like it reboots. Rather than giving error messages. Low battery it reboots. Short it reboots. Sometimes randomly awakening it reboots. Is this just me or ?

You know what his thread needs ? More pictures of the gem on various mods. From cheap and cheery beater mods to high end mechs and temp control devices. Let's see some pics. Once you get in the top atomizers you're really dealing with a few percent here and there for flavor. Density and volume of vapor. It starts to be about ergonomics and design/ looks.

@qorax did I miss the answer to the Clapton coil
Questions? I still can't find smaller diameter Clapton or twisted 32 or something premade yet. I'd appreciate any guidance on where to find the more advanced wire at a decent price so I can build a bit more advanced in the small space of the gem deck. One change is hoped to see was a larger diameter of the circle in the build deck. Not the air hole but the large circle in the center. I feel that could have been widened around the current air hole and allowed for more space for different builds


More pics!


Edit
---

Wow super fast shipping. Shipped Monday arrival set for Wednesday. That's super impressive to the left side.

 

[qorax]

[REPLY TO "h00ligan, post: 17127287]
@qorax and other wae ii owners - One strange thing wih the wae ii is the rebooting thing. Anything it doesn't seem to like it reboots. Rather than giving error messages. Low battery it reboots. Short it reboots. Sometimes randomly awakening it reboots. Is this just me or ?

Yes, in DNA30 it does so sometimes. Not in DNA40. But no, it doesn't do that for anything else than when shorted. At least in my case.

@qorax did I miss the answer to the Clapton coil Questions? I still can't find smaller diameter Clapton or twisted 32 or something premade yet. I'd appreciate any guidance on where to find the more advanced wire at a decent price so I can build a bit more advanced in the small space of the gem deck. One change is hoped to see was a larger diameter of the circle in the build deck. Not the air hole but the large circle in the center. I feel that could have been widened around the current air hole and allowed for more space for different builds

I have never used Clapton wire / coils. The max I do is twisted Kanthal. And that too self rolled, not pre-purchased twisted wires. I use a length of 32AWG - fold it over thru a drill - then start rolling it till it breaks free.

 

[h00ligan]

Oh ok thanks. I thought that's hot if the gem was Clapton wire. Sorry if I missed a precious answer

 

[kas122461]

WooHoo! The Ti Gem Just ordered!
I am a bit excited.

KAS

 

[h00ligan]

For your pleasure buddies

I just did the mesh no figured if I can't rebuild after today may as well make one I can use for a couple months.

It wicks perfectly with 90% vg so far. The flavor is very different than cotton. No gurgling. I don't anticipate leaking but can't speak to it yet. Great tutorial. First mesh I've done that wasn't for feeder straws and was for an actual wick.

I'll have to decide kver some time of the flavor is preferable or not. Try a few juices. But it sure is going to be convenient.

Also if you go just a bit longer on the wick you can go through this process and cut it in half to make two wicks. Just as a time saver.

Thanks !

 

[Vaper Bob]

Ti on Ti.

R

Pretty nifty. But it would look better with the 22mm adapter ring that comes with it.
I got my Ti gem this morning. 24 hours after it left the Mark Bugs facility in Romania. Impressive shipping service. I'm a Provape fan and seriously thinking of getting the Titanium P3 for the Ti Gem.

 

[qorax]

Pretty nifty. But it would look better with the 22mm adapter ring that comes with it.
I got my Ti gem this morning. 24 hours after it left the Mark Bugs facility in Romania. Impressive shipping service. I'm a Provape fan and seriously thinking of getting the Titanium P3 for the Ti Gem.

CONGRATULATIONS!