*GEM: A new RTA by MarkBugs

[h00ligan]

I think I finally got the wicking for flavor down. I'm quite a noob vaper so it took me awhile. I build on kanthal 28g, 2.4 mm, 6 wraps, 1ohm, wicked with muji organic cotton. The vape is seriously smooth, smooooooooth..

I have a few questions:
1) Is it normal for juice to come out of the air hole each refill? I only fill up 50%-60%. Did the close airhole. upside down thing and it still leaks. I have to prep tissue to blow juice out. I even had the shop owner who had owned a ss gem for awhile to build for me during the first few days. Same thing happens. He said its normal.

Not if you're only filling jt that amount. I can fill just about 99% without juice coming out. Are you closing airflow when you fill. Then tipping it upside down and opening airflow again?

2) when I chain vape I feel a very small amount juice in my hands but I checked air hole and drip tip nothing seems to be leaking more like condensation outside the glass tank but it smell like juice. Is this normal?

I haven't noticed that

3)is there anyway to build without the dry burn deck?

A stand like @qorax has Where did you get that buddy?

 

[qorax]

 

[ricks]

2) when I chain vape I feel a very small amount juice in my hands but I checked air hole and drip tip nothing seems to be leaking more like condensation outside the glass tank but it smell like juice. Is this normal?

If you have liquid outside on the glass, check the o-rings. Has to be coming from the o-rings that seal the glass tank.

 

[BadTrainDriver]

Some RTA vapemail! Really excited on my Gem Ti's!
By the way, I noticed that the 2.5mm coiling rod does not slide into the slotted groove perfectly on the build deck. The slots on the build deck are a little wider at the ends and seems to taper ever so slightly near the airflow region so my 2.5mm coiling rod isn't able to fit in.

Has anyone encountered such issues before?

Tested it on all 3 gems and they turned out to be the same.

I also build my 2.5mm coils on a "coiling rod", then remove the coil and insert a Q-Tip with the ends cut off. The Q-Tip will fit down in the slots of the GEM, and will keep the coil nice and neat while you tighten the screws. Give it a try!

 

[h00ligan]

So the to gem has a new partner. Here are the set of my favorite mods and atomizer. The grey and silver suits it well I need to see if I prefer the 22 mm beauty ring.

 

[raitizz]

22mm ring for me on the P3 too. Sleek.

R

 

[gempark]

Very good video @qorax

 

[qorax]

Very good video @qorax

Thank you Sir

 

[Blizzzy]

Weird that I find the afc ring tightness is totally different between the 2 gems that I got. One is very tight the other is loose. The gem with the looser afc ring has more leaking issues etc. I can't figure out why.

how about storing the tank without a mod. Do I close the AFC? I stored with the closed airflow overnight and juice leaked out all over my pouch.

 

[Kruzer00]

Couldn't be more excited as I am finally getting my first GEM. I have read and participated throughout this thread over the past few months but let's cut to the chase. Should I build it with cotton or mesh?

 

[Asbestos4004]

Couldn't be more excited as I am finally getting my first GEM. I have read and participated throughout this thread over the past few months but let's cut to the chase. Should I build it with cotton or mesh?

I'd start with cotton. Or Rayon. Watch Qorax's video while you build it for the first time. He does an excellent job explaining things and he's a "keep it simple" kinda guy. His way works. I believe in starting with a simple build so your first impression of any atty is successful. Plus, the performance will tell you what areas you want improved. The Gem is fantastic...Congrats!

 

[ricks]

Weird that I find the afc ring tightness is totally different between the 2 gems that I got. One is very tight the other is loose. The gem with the looser afc ring has more leaking issues etc. I can't figure out why.

how about storing the tank without a mod. Do I close the AFC? I stored with the closed airflow overnight and juice leaked out all over my pouch.

The air control tightness ring is controlled by a piece of cut o-ring that sits in the ring. You can make it tighter or looser by the length of the o-ring. Both mine were too loose and I made them tighter.

 

[h00ligan]

Weird that I find the afc ring tightness is totally different between the 2 gems that I got. One is very tight the other is loose. The gem with the looser afc ring has more leaking issues etc. I can't figure out why.

how about storing the tank without a mod. Do I close the AFC? I stored with the closed airflow overnight and juice leaked out all over my pouch.

That us a sign there isn't enough wicking material ime but yes closing afc is the smart thing on any tank being stored with liquid. It shouldn't leak over night at all. Thicker wick in the middle tapering to the outside may fix that. Or longer "tails" on the wick will also. Depends what your setup tolerates. How thick is your juice?

 

[Kruzer00]

Thanks guys. Unfortunately it didn't show up today so I don't get to experiment all weekend. But I will try the cotton first.

 

[Blizzzy]

Yeah I went on a wicking crash course. Wick then vape for 30 mins test flavor and leaks for like 5 times. So far I think I got it down. Had the specialist from the shop rewicked for me and got the same flavor. I think the leaking upon refills might have something to do with the slightly loose afc ring. I noticed it moving if I accidentally brushed it when I'm tightening the top cap.The other gem with the super tight afc ring hardly have refilling issues. Anyone got a vid that guides on how to tighten the afc with longer o-rings? I really don't want to screw up the afc ring. Other than that, so far so good though I'm still craving for more flavor but don't have other top end tanks to compare. Maybe time to keep an eye out for a p3 TI. The mod world is much more confusing than the tank world.

 

[h00ligan]

Yeah I went on a wicking crash course. Wick then vape for 30 mins test flavor and leaks for like 5 times. So far I think I got it down. Had the specialist from the shop rewicked for me and got the same flavor. I think the leaking upon refills might have something to do with the slightly loose afc ring. I noticed it moving if I accidentally brushed it when I'm tightening the top cap.The other gem with the super tight afc ring hardly have refilling issues. Anyone got a vid that guides on how to tighten the afc with longer o-rings? I really don't want to screw up the afc ring. Other than that, so far so good though I'm still craving for more flavor but don't have other top end tanks to compare. Maybe time to keep an eye out for a p3 TI. The mod world is much more confusing than the tank world.

Honest,y the thick center wick method I've detailed several times in this thread fixes virtually all wicking issues. It's super easy. Wick as thick as possible - turn the wick up - use the deck screws as a guide to cut - recenter - tuck the ends.

It makes a perfect cascading wick
Turn it up

Cut as close to the deck screws as possible.

See how the left side is a little bigger? That's because one deck screw is higher. So Recenter and tuck the tails in

It's a super easy method that works for virtually all juices.

 

[ricks]

Can you post a pic of the base sideways with the wick cut and tucked just before you put it together? Just curious how yours looks.

Honest,y the thick center wick method I've detailed several times in this thread fixes virtually all wicking issues. It's super easy. Wick as thick as possible - turn the wick up - use the deck screws as a guide to cut - recenter - tuck the ends.

It makes a perfect cascading wick
Turn it up

Cut as close to the deck screws as possible.

See how the left side is a little bigger? That's because one deck screw is higher. So Recenter and tuck the tails in

It's a super easy method that works for virtually all juices.

 

[Impulso]

I've personally found the reason for leaks that I had before was the way I closed the atty after I filled it. I turn it upside down just before I tighten it completely and open up the afc wide open. I haven't had a leak since I started doing that and my wicking isn't anywhere as nice as some of you guys


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[Blizzzy]

Honest,y the thick center wick method I've detailed several times in this thread fixes virtually all wicking issues. It's super easy. Wick as thick as possible - turn the wick up - use the deck screws as a guide to cut - recenter - tuck the ends.

It makes a perfect cascading wick
Turn it up

Cut as close to the deck screws as possible.

See how the left side is a little bigger? That's because one deck screw is higher. So Recenter and tuck the tails in

It's a super easy method that works for virtually all juices.

I followed your guide and I think I finally got rid of all the leaking issues. My first refill without leaking today. Did tons of tries though. For anyone who is searching for the previous pics it's at page 148. Still not getting the flavor profile that I'm expecting though. Perhaps cotton bacon is slightly different from muji? Pretty sure it's user issue from my end . Still at 1ohm vaping 12-13 watts. This juice from vape bartender is thick. Increasing wattage to 20 watts seemed to help. I'll rewick more tomorrow and report back.

 

[ricks]

I'm using Rayon in 30g kanthal wrapped 7 times around a nail that fits snug in the groove at 1.7Ω cooking at 10 watts and getting great flavor with 100% PG. I force the rayon in and cut the ends just slightly inside the groove. I find leaving a little gap keeps the wick wet. If I had the wick sticking out, I got some hints of the wick drying out. I think it choked the holes. Still playing with different wicks and wire for the heck of it seeing what works best. Always fun to experiment with vaping...