All,
I have been tinkering with rba's for a very short time. I am new and know almost nothing about this. I have been reading the forums, watching videos, and am learning as fast as I can, but it is a LONG road. I am confused about several things and would appreciate some guidance. I know there are many opinions out there as to what is better than that other thing, but what I am looking for is a general consensus on some guidelines. My priorities are flavor first. I want that in your face smack of flavor.
1. When is a straw type SS wick preferred over a solid one? Is it a question of a particular fluid mix (I use 50/50) or particular model of atomizer? or is it according to the goal of either more vapor, flavor, or TH? Might it be due to the planned specs of the coil? For example, would you use a solid wick for a higher resistance coil and a straw when a lower resistance is planned?
2. Ideal use of a micro coil? Is there a time when it should NOT be used?
3. RSST #2 (notes below) is probably the most satisfying vape so far, of the ones that I have made. I would welcome any help in getting that bottom wrap to heat up. I feel that there is wasted wire there that might make it a truly great vape. I am loathe to tear it apart (but I will if necessary) because I finally have something that makes my vanilla taste like vanilla.
4. After reading some of the thread possible Chromium dangers (i got tired after the first 20 or 30 pages), I attempted to wrap my SS wick with cotton. It was a new unoxodized wick. I cannot remember the name of the person but it was bluegrass or something like that whose example I used. This was completely BLECH! All I could taste was burning cotton. I had made a wick with a hole in the center big enough for a heavy duty paper clip to fit. It was just loose enough to move freely in the wick hole.This is an interesting idea and I would like to be able to do this successfully, so any tips or suggestions here would be helpful.
5. Generally speaking, what advantages do SS wicks have over Silica or vise versa? Only seeking a general consensus. I know everyone has their own perfect build that works for them.
My current builds:
AGA-T2 = wick: 500 SS mesh, solid style wick ( 2 3/4 inches width before rolling), Oxidized using the Jack Frost method, five turns of 28ga kanthal ribbon. Air hole has been drilled out slightly. fill screw NOT removed. Seems to be wicking ok so far, but definite metal taste.
RSST #1 = wick: 500 SS mesh, straw style wick (approximately 3/4-1 inch width before rolling), oxidized using the Jack Frost method, six turns of 30ga kanthal ribbon. 1.4Ω as seen on my SID. Fill plug NOT removed. No great problems with this but would like more taste, vapor. Wicking is fantastic at any angle, and no tipping is required.
RSST #2 = wick: 325 SS mesh, straw style wick (approximately 3/4-1 inch width before rolling), oxidized using the Jack Frost method, five turns of 30ga kanthal ribbon. 1.3Ω as seen on my SID. Fill plug NOT removed. Cannot seem to get the bottom wrap of the coil to glow when dry burning. It is clean where the others are now discolored.
I have been tinkering with rba's for a very short time. I am new and know almost nothing about this. I have been reading the forums, watching videos, and am learning as fast as I can, but it is a LONG road. I am confused about several things and would appreciate some guidance. I know there are many opinions out there as to what is better than that other thing, but what I am looking for is a general consensus on some guidelines. My priorities are flavor first. I want that in your face smack of flavor.
1. When is a straw type SS wick preferred over a solid one? Is it a question of a particular fluid mix (I use 50/50) or particular model of atomizer? or is it according to the goal of either more vapor, flavor, or TH? Might it be due to the planned specs of the coil? For example, would you use a solid wick for a higher resistance coil and a straw when a lower resistance is planned?
2. Ideal use of a micro coil? Is there a time when it should NOT be used?
3. RSST #2 (notes below) is probably the most satisfying vape so far, of the ones that I have made. I would welcome any help in getting that bottom wrap to heat up. I feel that there is wasted wire there that might make it a truly great vape. I am loathe to tear it apart (but I will if necessary) because I finally have something that makes my vanilla taste like vanilla.
4. After reading some of the thread possible Chromium dangers (i got tired after the first 20 or 30 pages), I attempted to wrap my SS wick with cotton. It was a new unoxodized wick. I cannot remember the name of the person but it was bluegrass or something like that whose example I used. This was completely BLECH! All I could taste was burning cotton. I had made a wick with a hole in the center big enough for a heavy duty paper clip to fit. It was just loose enough to move freely in the wick hole.This is an interesting idea and I would like to be able to do this successfully, so any tips or suggestions here would be helpful.
5. Generally speaking, what advantages do SS wicks have over Silica or vise versa? Only seeking a general consensus. I know everyone has their own perfect build that works for them.
My current builds:
AGA-T2 = wick: 500 SS mesh, solid style wick ( 2 3/4 inches width before rolling), Oxidized using the Jack Frost method, five turns of 28ga kanthal ribbon. Air hole has been drilled out slightly. fill screw NOT removed. Seems to be wicking ok so far, but definite metal taste.
RSST #1 = wick: 500 SS mesh, straw style wick (approximately 3/4-1 inch width before rolling), oxidized using the Jack Frost method, six turns of 30ga kanthal ribbon. 1.4Ω as seen on my SID. Fill plug NOT removed. No great problems with this but would like more taste, vapor. Wicking is fantastic at any angle, and no tipping is required.
RSST #2 = wick: 325 SS mesh, straw style wick (approximately 3/4-1 inch width before rolling), oxidized using the Jack Frost method, five turns of 30ga kanthal ribbon. 1.3Ω as seen on my SID. Fill plug NOT removed. Cannot seem to get the bottom wrap of the coil to glow when dry burning. It is clean where the others are now discolored.
