Hercules Rebuildable Atomizer (Ithaka Clone)

Status
Not open for further replies.

dwcraig1

Vaping Master
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Mar 17, 2012
9,013
49,388
Imperial Beach, California
Yes, the contents of the tank quickly drain out the bottom without anything to plug the feed holes. The screw will help the kit's post clear the 510 or GG base, but with those holes exposed... it's just not going to work.

I think you have to plug the holes, shave down the Herc's basic feeding piece or wait for a new version of the kit!

(Or just use it on something else, which is what I'll do.)

Except for wanting an easy build I see no "upgrade" just a "downgrade" with putting the kit into an Ithaka.
 

lumberjack

Super Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Aug 30, 2012
350
299
TX, USA
Except for wanting an easy build I see no "upgrade" just a "downgrade" with putting the kit into an Ithaka.

It's a lousy upgrade for the Ithaka, but an astounding upgrade for the Tobeco Oddy! (If you have 2 tank sections for that thing.)

If you sand the bottom off the basic feeder would you be able to thread it down far enough to cover the holes?

No, because of that ledge right under the holes of the basic feeder.

Actually, I don't think grinding from the top would work either because of the notches next to one of the feeding holes.
 
Last edited:

dwcraig1

Vaping Master
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Mar 17, 2012
9,013
49,388
Imperial Beach, California
My FastTech Ithaka clone should be showing that it's in San Francisco before long, all the stuff so far that I ordered from them didn't get checked by US customs so delivery time is about 7 days.

Monday morning: processed through San Francisco, should arrive Wednesday or Thursday.

Left San Francisco 07/29
 
Last edited:

walt

Senior Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Jun 9, 2011
90
42
36
Foresthill, Ca
FastTech Ithaka Stuff

Which day was your FT package shipped? Mine left HK on the 26th. At this point i'm just worried I will have trouble using this atty with my all day juices that degrade plastic tanks... if the GG or herc steel tank section fit i am SET! Also hoping the drip tip juice control thingie will thread onto the rebuildable part! :p If Tobeco didn't fudge this up too bad I just may order a couple more to get some matte and brushed finish options as well as polished... if you can't tell, i'm trying to be optimistic aha.
 

Ratman

Ultra Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Jul 10, 2012
1,432
3,831
Tulsa OK
It looks to depend on where you buy it from, some come with the drip tip mouthpiece, some don't I believe.

Got ya, mine is the RH version and due in the mail today. Will check it when it gets here this afternoon. Found some custom drip tips for my upcoming ELA but not cheap and not going to bother if they won't fit.
 

Mark Todd

Reviewer / Blogger
ECF Veteran
  • Apr 4, 2012
    450
    2,918
    56
    Fife, Scotland
    www.toddsreviews.com
    Yes, the contents of the tank quickly drain out the bottom without anything to plug the feed holes. The screw will help the kit's post clear the 510 or GG base, but with those holes exposed... it's just not going to work.

    I think you have to plug the holes, shave down the Herc's basic feeding piece or wait for a new version of the kit!

    (Or just use it on something else, which is what I'll do.)

    Agreed, just tested it out here and bye bye juice, straight through the holes :(


    EDIT - There is a big thick black O ring that comes in bag with the kit, put that on the base of the kit and hey presto, the holes are blocked off :D

    EDIT AGAIN - But it still bloody leaks :(
     
    Last edited:

    lumberjack

    Super Member
    ECF Veteran
    Verified Member
    Aug 30, 2012
    350
    299
    TX, USA
    Darn you for motivating me to try again!

    Here's one solution - screw in the rebuildable part from a Terminator into the bottom of the Hercules feeder to close off the holes, and then screw in the kit from the top (using the provided screw extender).

    hrm.jpg

    It is working, and not leaking. The kit does end up halfway up the tank, though. :)

    hrm2.jpg
     

    hobbes4

    Ultra Member
    ECF Veteran
    Verified Member
    Jun 23, 2009
    1,030
    2,071
    i think i'm just going to use my RH Hercules as is and buy either the RH Term-C or Tobeco ODDY clone for the conversion kit. I know the Tobeco clone isn't very good but does it matter if i'm going to use the conversion kit in it? I know i'll need an extra tank section but it will still be cheaper than the RH Term-C. I don't mind paying for the RH Term-c i just don't want to waste money if i'm going to swap the guts anyway.
     

    NamVet68

    Super Member
    ECF Veteran
    Verified Member
    Feb 16, 2013
    797
    1,245
    Orlando, Florida
    home.roadrunner.com
    I've been lurking on this thread for a while, and just got my FastTech Ithaka clone yesterday, so I thought I'd throw in my 2 Centavos:

    First take: I doubt that this is the Tobeco clone, unless Tobeco has stepped up their game a bit..but I doubt its the Rainbow Heaven Ithaka clone, unless RH has degraded a bit....it falls somewhere between the two, from my experience with both of their Oddy clones.

    Came in a padded plastic bag - no spares or box, but undamaged. It looks very good, nice clean machining and polishing job (but so was the Tobeco Oddy clone on the outside).

    Biggest issue is the sloppy threading on some of the pieces. The tank sections use VERY fine threading which you need to be careful with, especially the plastic section. The plastic is somewhat soft, and when I received it, it was actually slightly cross-threaded. After I took it all apart & cleaned it thoroughly, it went back together OK, and no leaks from the tank so far. It came with a pair of coils already installed that measured out to 1.6Ω. Surprisingly, they were not NR/RE wire...just a single strand of what looks like about 32 Ga Nichrome. I will re-coil later with Silver/Kanthal, but I thought I'd give it a shot as delivered.

    Those concerned about a tight air draw definitely don't need to be concerned with this puppy - with the air control full open, it will give you all the air you could ever want....but on the knurled air control ring, the threads are pretty loose and turn with the slightest effort. I plan to use a little Teflon tape on the threads to firm it up...but they are actually the worst threading job on the atty (on my example at least). Most of the other threads are fairly decent, especially the critical ones that hold the wick/coil assemblies and the locking collar, but not as well done as on the RH Oddy clone. Definitely a bit rough, but do the job. The biggest downfall on these Chinese atty clones has always been the sloppy threading...some are getting better, this could use a little improvement, but it's better than others I've tried. Most of the RH attys I've tried have been the exception....they are pretty good in this regard.

    Vapes OK, but it will probably do better with a set of NR/RE Kanthal & better silica. After only playing with it for a few hours, I guess the bottom line is, its not too bad, but I'd love to get a Rainbow Heaven example to compare it too. For a $35 Ithaka Clone though, you could do a lot worse....

    A quick addendum after a day of working with it:

    I recoiled it with Nickel NR /30 Ga Kanthal A-1 and 2 strands of 2mm Ekowool (single coil wound around both strands - four legs). Came out to be a 1.6Ω (single) coil and it's producing an OUTSTANDING vape at 7 - 8 Watts (my sweet spot). Blowing major clouds with very nice flavor. Absolutely NO leaks either...anywhere. No gurgling either, even after laying on its side for a few hours. After doing the full re-coil & re-wick, I'm actually more impressed with it than before.

    My only modifications so far was doing a few wraps of Teflon (plumbers) tape around the knurled air control ring threads to make it less-loose, and I added a small/thin stainless washer behind the small bottom o-ring to even-out the pressure on the positive post (not really needed, but I do this with all my Oddys and I find it keeps the o-ring from deforming as easily and it seals better).

    My only concern at this point are spare parts (a few posts on Face Book Vape groups said they've already cracked the plastic tank section from known problem juices)....but hopefully those will be coming along later.

    It's rather tall & heavy too - overall height is about the same as an RSST or AGA-T with the drip tips, but even heavier...so keep that in mind. It's solid Stainless steel, so its no lightweight.

    Nice bottom-feeder/dripper tank RBA for the buck IMHO.

    Have fun guys...great thread :2cool:
     
    Last edited:

    Ratman

    Ultra Member
    ECF Veteran
    Verified Member
    Jul 10, 2012
    1,432
    3,831
    Tulsa OK
    Got mine last night and quickly set it up. Worked fine on first build attempt. Well functional anyway. Good flavor and no leaks but vapor is pretty week. Set up a dual coil build at 1.2 ohms. Looking forward to playing more with it after I finish this tank. Need to track down one of the new screws for the Ithaka and swap it out.
     
    Status
    Not open for further replies.

    Users who are viewing this thread