Hcigar Aqua Vaper/Flav - Airflow?

[i_L1fe]

Been using a genuine KFL+ for a few months now and have left my Gennys behind. Microcoil + cotton 1.3 ~ 1.8 ohm using 5/64 drill bit w/ 28 awg kanthal. A great vape.

So jumped on the Aqua hype and picked up a hcigar clone of the Aqua.

So far out of many builds ranging from .6 - 1.0 ohm I am not impressed with the Aqua's performance or flavor. I've finally realized that flavor was lacking (at least in my builds) because I had the coils to high above the airflow. Got them lower by changing the positive post nuts so I could connect 1 lead lower of each coil lower and thus have coil directly above the airflow holes. Flavor is improved but not great.

It still is no where near my KFL+ in all aspects. Vapor, flavor, TH. I'm getting way more vape on a 1.3ohm single coil on my Vamo @ 12W than the Aqua at .6 ohm on a Altsmoke Omega mech. (Do plan on testing on another mech tomorrow)

So I did a bit a comparing airflow between the two and find the KFL+ draw is more open than my Hcigar Aqua. I find this strange. (Note both tested airflow control wide open)

I know the Hcigar Aqua is newer but wondering if anyone has found it to be a tight draw. Or if the Aqua in general has options for increasing airflow (Aside from airflow tank control). I've yet to take the Aqua completely apart.

Thanks!

 

[i_L1fe]

Well I took it apart and believe found the culprit. On the genuine Aqua photos show the air holes in between the juice channels. Believe they are meant to be centered to give even flow of air between the holes on the deck. Also to be guided by the plastic groves. On my Hcigar, the airflow holes are directly centered on a juice channel so they are not even distance between the two airflow holes on the deck.

 

[danimal40]

I have the tobeco aqua and find it has tons of air flow I only open the control 1/4 to 1/2 at most. Did you clean it, looks a lil dirty in pic. I had to scrub mine with acetone after 2 soapy soaks (plus scrubs) and vodka bath didn't get rid of metal taste. Flavor while not super great got much better

 

[i_L1fe]

I gave it a little soapy bath. Little dirty from me playing with it. Bad lighting in pics. The airflow just isn't quite right...seems why I need to get the coils just above the deck air holes before it even started to get near my KFL+ in terms of flavor. Vapor production poor compared to KFL+

Curious. Is your Tobeco aqua have it's air holes directly on a juice channel or are they centered in between two juice channels?

Also could anyone share what the size of the air hole are on there Aqua? Don't presently have a tool to get an exact measurement of mine but do know that they are smaller than 1/16 drill bit. Also my 16/18 awg needle bottle tip doesn't fit in the side air hole but does fit inside the deck's air holes.

 

[dwcraig1]

The draw on an Aqua is more airy than most other tanks. I should have looked at your pics before responding in the Aqua clone thread.
Another thing:
Someone mentioned that the o-ring is missing from the tank top on some Hcigar Aqua's, I don't see yours in the picture, does it have one?
The holes are in the 1/16 ballpark

 

[i_L1fe]

The draw on an Aqua is more airy than most other tanks. I should have looked at your pics before responding in the Aqua clone thread.
Another thing:
Someone mentioned that the o-ring is missing from the tank top on some Hcigar Aqua's, I don't see yours in the picture, does it have one?
The holes are in the 1/16 ballpark

Interesting. It's a tighter draw than my KFL+.

Your correct, it doesn't have a oring. I thought it was strange but wasn't sure if it was by design. I do have the spare oring that probably meant to be the bottom oring replacement. I'll give that a shot.

Not certain on the awg of my needle tip...thinking 16...It's much smaller than a 1/16 drill bit and I cannot insert in either side air holes. Doesn't seem right. I mean a KFL+ air hole comes close to a 5/64. Seems they slapped this together quick. Found few other pictures with the side air holes drilled on different locations of the side deck. Probably going to take this thing to a drill press for 1/16 on all 4 holes.

 

[i_L1fe]

Ya the two replacement orings I have seem to be too big for top cap to screw on. Gonna look up some pics on that.

 

[i_L1fe]

Saw that the genuine Aqua has that black oring at top. Always missed that in watching vids of builds. Found spare AGA-T2 oring that isn't perfect but works. Thanks pointing that out.

Attached few photos to give an idea of air hole sizes. First pic showing needle tip not inserting. Next comparing 1/16 drill bit to needle tip.




(No idea whats up with the forums attach photo function glitching on the first image?)

 

[danimal40]

I gave it a little soapy bath. Little dirty from me playing with it. Bad lighting in pics. The airflow just isn't quite right...seems why I need to get the coils just above the deck air holes before it even started to get near my KFL+ in terms of flavor. Vapor production poor compared to KFL+

Curious. Is your Tobeco aqua have it's air holes directly on a juice channel or are they centered in between two juice channels?

Also could anyone share what the size of the air hole are on there Aqua? Don't presently have a tool to get an exact measurement of mine but do know that they are smaller than 1/16 drill bit. Also my 16/18 awg needle bottle tip doesn't fit in the side air hole but does fit inside the deck's air holes.

Just took mine apart to check air holes they are pretty much centered between juice channels. My holes are bigger then 1/16 not sure exact size but the rod I use to make coils on (which I thread 2mm wick thru) fits in holes perfectly so im going to say they are 2mm.
I read that the tank oring from ithaka clone fits top cap if you have 1.

 

[i_L1fe]

Well took the Aqua deck to a drill press today. 90% sure I destroyed it beyond repair.

Drilled first top deck hole out with 1/16 bit just fine. Second one the drill bit broke off in the hole. Tried to pry out but ended up taking the next smallest bit I had 5/64 and started making a larger hole. Broke that bit too. Possibly get some more drill bits and give it another go but deck is pretty messed up.

$50 trashed. Probably a good time for Anti clone spectators to have a good laugh.

I'll stick with the genuine KFL+ addys.

 

[danimal40]

still will work just do single coil over good hole, as long as other hole is plug

 

[i_L1fe]

Yeah, that true. I's plugged. Maybe down the road try a twisted 28awg single coil. Or maybe just give it the office space printer repair.

Thanks for your assistance.

 

[bwhitt]

Got my Hcigar Aqua clone today and the airflow is noticeably lighter than my Kayfun and Kayfun lite. I also noticed that all my drip tips are compatible with the unit. I know that the original Aqua tank does not fit standard drip tips.

Going to let it soak in a glass of whiskey overnight, probably build it up this weekend if time permits. So far, all the parts look good. Threads are smooth and everything goes together nice and tight.

 

[i_L1fe]

Thanks for sharing. O ya. All the parts looked good. My tips would fit very loosely. Only noticeable items on mine was that the drip tip they provide is not the primary tip that the genuine Aqua comes with and it had a little play/wobble to it. If you really tightened up the juice control then the drip tip won't grab the chimney tight enough to open it back up after filling. I got by this by just not cranking on the juice control. Also top cap oring was missing on mine. Otherwise machining good. They just screwed up on a key factor for any addy...air flow. It's certainly not 1:1 to a real Aqua as all discussions I've had it should be more open draw than a kayfun. I vape my KFL+ around ~10-13W single micro coil with more airflow...I was attempting builds on this of 17-29W. Tighter airflow with that much heat just makes for a poor vape.

Build recommendation: Swap the nuts on the positive post so you can mount the coil leads one low and one high. Makes it easier to get it right above the airflow holes.

If you do end up drilling it out to get more airflow. Don't do what I did DRILL SLOW!

 

[levisdaddy]

i have an aqua en route from slowtech, they have two on thier site, a 20$ with red o-rings and a $25ish one with clear orings?

which is tobecco and which is hcigar??

its like my nemesis quest again.....

 

[i_L1fe]

The Tobecco has the clear. Hcigar has red. Perhaps other cloners out there using red rings...not sure.

 

[ianmcconnell]

I just ordered one here.... Aqua Hybrid Clear Tube

Oops.... Please ignore.... wrong thread.... lol.

The Tobecco has the clear. Hcigar has red. Perhaps other cloners out there using red rings...not sure.

 

[Mike4177]

I called ultravaping.com about the air hole size on the real aqua. It is 1/16 inch on the afc and in the deck. If that helps