Is this normal?

[sk25411]

hello all,

I recently purchased my first rta, the Ares, and I’m not sure what “normal” use on a coil and cotton looks like.

I figured I could post a few pics and see if it’s normal looking. This was a rewicl from this morning, and I vaped a tank (not too low).

I used the supplied pre-made coil, it’s 1 ohm-ish, and I went slowly from 9, to my max of 13 w. It seems pretty black to me, I’m using a 50/50 mix, 12mg nic, 3% gold ducat.

Thanks for feedback

 

[the wind]

that coil looks like mine after a month of vaping but my cotton looks better.dry burn it and rewick and post another pic.

 

[sk25411]

that coil looks like mine after a month of vaping but my cotton looks better.dry burn it and rewick and post another pic.

Here’s a few.

 

[the wind]

don't have that tank but it does look like you have to much cotton on your tails.if you tried it how is the flavor?

 

[AzPlumber]

More than likely it is to much cotton

 

[the wind]

should have added to thick and to long.

 

[puffon]

Could just be the gold ducat juice.
If it's anything like a NET, it will gunk up quicker.

 

[sk25411]

Ok, I’m not quite sure on how thick to make the cotton with a 50/50 mix. I tried to emulate Phil’s video when wicking, but this has happened twice now.

The tank itself, I really like. I have very limited experience, and can only compare it to nautilus v1, and v2.

 

[Mr. Relentless]

Second set of pics look good. Maybe try to cut your tails so they just barely touch the bottom or even 1mm above. Dry burn the coils every cotton change.

 

[the wind]

the amount of cotton needed for big diameter coils make the tail too thick but it could be just the pic.as said above the tails are to long too.

 

[the wind]

Could just be the gold ducat juice.
If it's a anything like a NET, it will gunk up quicker.

that is a good point.do need more info like how many ml have been vaped and any problem with flooding or dry hits.

 

[AzPlumber]

Ok, I’m not quite sure on how thick to make the cotton with a 50/50 mix. I tried to emulate Phil’s video when wicking, but this has happened twice now.

The tank itself, I really like. I have very limited experience, and can only compare it to nautilus v1, and v2.

When using cotton a sign of too much is a coil that gets blackest in the center. The cotton swells a bit when wet and too much cotton will choke at coil ends and restrict wicking to the center of the coil.

 

[sk25411]

that is a good point.do need more info like how many ml have been vaped and any problem with flooding or dry hits.

As far as I know, I wasn’t experiencing any flooding or dry hits. The first set of pics was after only 4ml vaped.

The juice is yellow-ish, but never gunked up the aspire bvc coils that I’ve been using for a few months. I had to change those once a week at MOST.

I got into RTA to save $, and less hassle, hopefully I can figure this out.

I will see how the second set of pics goes, then try less cotton after that!

 

[IDJoel]

Could just be the gold ducat juice.
If it's anything like a NET, it will gunk up quicker.

Gold Ducat is an Inawera tobacco concentrate. And, as @sk25411 knows the specific percentage (written as "3% gold ducat"), I am assuming he is DIYing his juice. It is a pretty dark concentrate; but it is not an NET.

 

[vapdivrr]

I would say the issue is not how much in coil, but the tail amounts ...imo it's hard to actually use to much cotton in coil, but easy to have to much bulk where it goes into the channels. ...I would trim some from the lenght and reduce your tail bulk by 20 to 30 percent ...do you think your coils diameter is the same as in phils?

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

 

[vapdivrr]

As far as I know, I wasn’t experiencing any flooding or dry hits. The first set of pics was after only 4ml vaped.

The juice is yellow-ish, but never gunked up the aspire bvc coils that I’ve been using for a few months. I had to change those once a week at MOST.

I got into RTA to save $, and less hassle, hopefully I can figure this out.

I will see how the second set of pics goes, then try less cotton after that!

This is just your first attempts and first rta, it takes a bit of time to work out what works best in a particular tank. I would say an rta is better and cheaper, but not necessarily less hassle then a drop in tank...I have been rebuilding rta's for 6 years and still can put in a build that off a bit....patients my friend

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

 

[Coastal Cowboy]

If this is your first attempt at setting up an RTA, color me impressed.

I agree that the tails might be a bit bulky. As long as the tail ends are in juice, they'll wick.

Looking at the coil, I'd be suspect of the juice chemistry and airflow more than anything else. The top of the build is much darker than any other part. That could mean air is not moving just above the coil and that area is not being kept as cool as the bottom and sides.

A smaller diameter coil might help. My Serpent Mini gave me fits with a 3mm coil. Going to 2.5-ish improved airflow around the coil and I could increase starting wattage in TC mode.

 

[sk25411]

If this is your first attempt at setting up an RTA, color me impressed.

I agree that the tails might be a bit bulky. As long as the tail ends are in juice, they'll wick.

Looking at the coil, I'd be suspect of the juice chemistry and airflow more than anything else. The top of the build is much darker than any other part. That could mean air is not moving just above the coil and that area is not being kept as cool as the bottom and sides.

A smaller diameter coil might help. My Serpent Mini gave me fits with a 3mm coil. Going to 2.5-ish improved airflow around the coil and I could increase starting wattage in TC mode.

Thank you, cowboy! This is my first RTA, and I only own a nautilus 1, 2, and now 2x Ares.

I rewicked both Ares last night, and trimmed the cotton “bulk” down quite a bit. The statement about the cotton swelling and choking the ends of the coils seemed accurate. I will recheck them tonight and try to finish each tank to see how they look.

I’m going to take your suggestion and try a new coil at 2.5mm using the build tool from the Ares to space it.

This hobby is getting interesting!

 

[sk25411]

So, after a few days of playing around and retesting the Ares, I think I have wicking figured out.

I was using WAY too much cotton in those pics. I’m seriously using half of that, and it’s working grand.

The vape is smooth, and no burning or black cotton after only 5ml. Some of my juice really does gunk coils, but without the cotton choking the coil, it’s much less noticeable.

I don’t see ever going back to drop in coils!