[HELP] Druga RTA is tasteless

[Alamoudi.moh]

As I am fed up with spending money on pre-made sub-ohm coils, I decided to move to RTA and loved the review about the Druga RTA since the build is simple and easy, and Druga is known for its flavor.

I initially use LUXE 2 with their GT Coils (Mesh GT and CCell) coils and enjoying the flavor.

I used a pre-made AUG Vape coil reading at around 0.37 and LUXE 2 recommended 40w, (I tried different range up to from 25w up to 50w). I have another device SMOK RPM2 vaping the same juice to test and it is totally different in rpm2 (simply great) but with my build it is weak and not that good, it is like I am getting just 10-20% of the flavor (vapor production is great, but taste is bad).

I have tried different airflow levels & tried 3mm coils and 2.5mm coils.

My testing juices are (Loaded, Nasty Mango) as I love them and I know them very well.
So with the Nasty Mango, I get the menthol taste but like where is the Mango!!!

NOTE: I am using NRG-S tank with GT Coils and the RPM 2 to compare (I know GT Coils are good in flavor)

The pictures below show different builds I have made.

1. Is it the cotton?
2. Is the the coil placement?
3. Should I expect different taste with rebuildable? better taste or worse taste (started losing it)
4. Is it just me? and I am not a rebuildable guy?

 

[SP013]

Try to put the coil a bit more down and also try to just 'lay' the cotton on the wicking port and do not stuff it in there. Is your airflow wide open or not? Closing down the airflow will improve the flavor.
It might also be the coil material, maybe try some nichrome or SS.

 

[Kn0ttYFive]

By the looks of the pics, your wire isn't burning evenly. You can tell by the difference in the wicking material color. (darker on one end compared to the other side)
Also the coil looks a bit burnt, and choking the wick. Try a different type coil, a basic one that requires less power.
Place the coil a little higher to get some more airflow under it.

 

[Seiggy]

Just my @Alamoudi.moh.
1) The wick end that's darker is actually pulling juice from the coil. You might want to thin your wick ends.
2) It looks like the cotton within the coil got burnt (coil got dry). Thin wick ends and as stated just have the wick ends going into the wick slots but not too tight.
3) Because the cotton looks burnt under the coil, it's possible the cotton was too tight when built, and being that cotton swells when wet it may have choked juice flow after use.
4) Start low on the watts to break in the coil (say 25 watts), and work you way up to 40 watts if that turns out to be your sweet spot.

Keep at it, you'll get it and yes all RTAs are a little different but basically the same.

I also agree with the above from @SP013 and [URL='https://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/members/kn0ttyfive.149045/']@Kn0ttYFive with their comments. You may want to try some simple coils to get the wicking and flavor down then go for your clapton coils.[/URL]

 

[vaper1960]

I have less experience than many others here, but I agree with all comments above. Sometimes simple is better (coils)
Did you do a "dry burn" on the coils first (just lower wattage pulses... don't fry it)? Look for even glow and avoid hot spots. Otherwise, airflow and coil placement can be so important (not familiar with your specific RTA so can't say) Also (as mentioned) wicking is so critical. Many people make the mistake of using fancy coils that really just have slow ramp-up time (too much mass... slow to heat/slow to cool) Have you tried Rayon? It's really cheap on Amazon. Also, check the resistance of your (installed) coil... before and after putting the rest of the RTA together. I'm kinda tired... not sure if I'm just posting nonsense

 

[Superuser187]

I argee with all the above...
What I want to say is to take it slow and be patient...
Stick to one coil type for now and focus on how u build the cotton...
At first need sometime to get used to building...not that u did a bad job for first time but the more u build the better it gets..
Different coils and wattages and atomizers can give different flavour from the same juice Soo it's not wierd if u feel the juice taste differently...
Also I don't know the gt coils but i an guessing they are mesh and mesh is very different in the flavour it gives...some swear it's better but for me some juices taste better on coils and some better in mesh...
Anyways don't stress and keep building and u gonna find your sweet spot I am sure....and save lot of money

 

[Alamoudi.moh]

Try to put the coil a bit more down and also try to just 'lay' the cotton on the wicking port and do not stuff it in there. Is your airflow wide open or not? Closing down the airflow will improve the flavor.
It might also be the coil material, maybe try some nichrome or SS.

By the looks of the pics, your wire isn't burning evenly. You can tell by the difference in the wicking material color. (darker on one end compared to the other side)
Also the coil looks a bit burnt, and choking the wick. Try a different type coil, a basic one that requires less power.
Place the coil a little higher to get some more airflow under it.

I am bit confused (Higher or Lower), I heard on one of the YouTube reviewer it is more of a personal preferences


@SP013 any specific brand you are recommend for Nichrome, I would properly buy it from AliExpress, would SS be suitable option for beginner? also what ga is suitable, I personally prefer low wattage?

@Kn0ttYFive I think the coil is burning evenly, but my wicking it too tight

I just made a new build simple one (Coil Master Kanthal wire, reading at 0.67ohm), I will post pics in the next response, to see if my wicking skills has improved, just wanted to have some puffs before posting the pics. Even though the vaping is not that good with it, but let me take it one step at a time.

 

[Alamoudi.moh]

I have less experience than many others here, but I agree with all comments above. Sometimes simple is better (coils)
Did you do a "dry burn" on the coils first (just lower wattage pulses... don't fry it)? Look for even glow and avoid hot spots. Otherwise, airflow and coil placement can be so important (not familiar with your specific RTA so can't say) Also (as mentioned) wicking is so critical. Many people make the mistake of using fancy coils that really just have slow ramp-up time (too much mass... slow to heat/slow to cool) Have you tried Rayon? It's really cheap on Amazon. Also, check the resistance of your (installed) coil... before and after putting the rest of the RTA together. I'm kinda tired... not sure if I'm just posting nonsense

Would you please share a link/ or full name of the Rayon you are referring to?

 

[Alamoudi.moh]

@SP013 , @Kn0ttYFive , @Seiggy, @vaper1960 , @Superuser187


I honestly appreciate all your comments, Thank you for your support I am confident I will make better coils and enjoy rebuildable with your support

please see pics attached, let me know what you think?

 

[Superuser187]

@SP013 , @Kn0ttYFive , @Seiggy, @vaper1960 , @Superuser187


I honestly appreciate all your comments, Thank you for your support I am confident I will make better coils and enjoy rebuildable with your support

please see pics attached, let me know what you think?

By looking at pic we can see any obvious big mistakes and we kinda guess by the looks of it if the amount of cotton may be high or low...
This setup seems great to me by looking at it when dry..
When it's wet tho seems very dirty and I don't know how much u had vape this to become like it is...I wonder what kind of wire is this tho and how many watts u vape it...

 

[Superuser187]

About the coil placement...

All coils heat from the center and out and that cause the center to be little hotter...
That matters in the placement of the coil to the airflow hole on the deck....we want the air to hit all the coil (can be one wrap bigger than the airflow) to cool it nice and we want to have it centered...
Some say place it very close some say not...
In my opinion it's all about the airflow hole SIZE and SHAPE compared to the coils size....and I mean it's wirth(wraps) and internal diameter...

If the coil is very close to the airflow and it's internal diameter is lot bigger than the airflow can support this can cause turbulence and mess with the flow of the air and that won't give good flavour ...also heats the chamber a little more......plus feels a little tight when u vape it...

Like u must think about the air as it passes must just slide on the sides of the coil...that's how I visualize it to kinda estimate the placement...but ofc I make tests...

Soo for me in any case is not good to have it very close tothe airflow... With one exception...some atomisers have honeycomb airflow on the deck...i mean like it has many smaller holes and those atomizers u can put the coil very lose i mean even one millimeter away but still I go for a little more...

That's all my experience and opinion ofc...from the few attys I have build and attys I have seen...

Peace!

 

[Seiggy]

I honestly appreciate all your comments, Thank you for your support I am confident I will make better coils and enjoy rebuildable with your support

Every thing looks good to me also.
I personally would space/gap more between your coil wraps. I try and keep my legs coming straight out from the base clamp/screw (or as close as possible). This will add some length to the over all coil.
It also looks like the one side of your wick is not as tight (darker side). I try to get a little shoulder to the wick at the coil ends (lighter side). When I wick I go back and forth with the wick a few times to try and even out the thickness. For me anyways it always seems that the end of the wick I first pull into the coil is always thin. I guess it's just me wetting the end and tightly rolling it to get it started. I hope this makes sense and helps some.
Keep at it. It's great when you get it just right. Then the only problem will be when you ask your self "What did I just do, What did I do different".

 

[vaper1960]

You are doing fine (tell us what kind if wire that is) Personally, I would have mounted the coil "upside-down"... leads coming from the bottom of the coil (but I would need to see the build deck to decide) The way you have it requires bending/forcing the leads to fit. I would have mounted it my way then (using a coil rod) lift the coil to desired level. Learn how to "rake/stroke" the coil too (between dry burns) A slight spacing would also help (and avoids hot spots) Making a spaced coil with regular round wire is very easy... I'l post a video that shows the technique.

 

[vaper1960]

Found it (I use the second method):

 

[ShowMeTwice]

Personally, I would have mounted the coil "upside-down"... leads coming from the bottom of the coil (but I would need to see the build deck to decide)

In other words --- YOU DON'T have this RBA.

I've said it BEFORE --- STICK TO WHAT YOU KNOW.

 

[vaper1960]

Just watched a video on the Druga... I like it (also including a video from Matt SMM about flavor):

 

[ShowMeTwice]

 

[vaper1960]

In other words --- YOU DON'T have this RBA.

Technically... it a RTA Do you have this specific RTA? If not, why are you even responding yourself.
Not trying to make issues... just trying to help the OP.

 

[ShowMeTwice]

Technically... it a RTA Do you have this specific RTA? If not, why are you even responding yourself.
Not trying to make issues... just trying to help the OP.

It's an RTA you don't have any clue about. You can't really HELP if you don't have ANY hands on experience with it. Duh!

You do KNOW better. Myself and others have been down this road with you before.

Remember all your DIY nonsense?

Also your BS nonsense about oxidation in the other thread.

 

[vaper1960]

Remember all your DIY nonsense?

This has nothing to do with DIY...