I've hit a building wall - advice needed

[smokin909]

Hi all,

A bit of background to set the scene:
I've been vaping for 14 months now which ended 10 years of pack-a-day cigarette smoking (except for two months earlier this year where I relapsed).

My first device was a Sigelei Zmax Mini with a Kangertech Pro tank and 1.5 ohm coils.
I then picked up a Provari Mini and used that with LR Cartos and a Nautilus Mini 1.8 ohm coils.

I loved both devices until I dropped my Zmax and the cartridge snapped on the 510 connecter so that was that.

I moved into the world of rebuildables and bought a Kayfun Lite, Igo's on my Provari and went from there and picked up a couple of mech mods along the way.

Moving into drippers and mech mods really changed the way I vaped. I'm a flavour chaser - if the clouds follow so be it - but I love my flavour. I settled into a nice groove with a 4Nine and and Origen dripper as my ADV device and my Provari with Cartos or Kayfun for out and about.

My 'out and about' set up is great. No issues there - but my home based ADV setup has hit a wall for me.

I just don't feel like I'm getting the same punch anymore - or perhaps I should say I'm craving more from my setup - so it's under review.

When I first switched to a mech and the Origen I felt I had found my sweet spot. A dripper (1.4 ohm) with airflow options that worked more me, good flavour and the hit from a hybrid mech mod.

Fast forward 6 months and I just don't get the same satisfaction. The setup is not packing the same punch anymore and I don't think I'm getting the fullness of flavour from my juices anymore.

Last week I decided to put my Origen dripper on the Provari and I was really surprised - whilst the build/flavour is still not satisfactory - the consistency of the vape was excellent. It's what I'm wanting now - a regulated, consistent vape.

So...In the past 6 months I have been rocking single coil builds from 1.2 - 1.8 ohms on my 4Nine. I'm a mouth-to-lunger and I like my draw tighter than not. I use the smallest hole in single mode on the Origen.

I've got an IPV Mini 30 watt on its way - my first foray into a VW device to test the waters.

Any suggestions as to builds that will give me more of a 'hit' and flavour with my IPV (or Provari)?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Tom Forde]

I just picked up a Hobo v3.1 and it's great for a single coil build. The flavor production is amazing as well. The airflow is adjustable enough to have just enough air for a nice mouth to lung draw as well.

 

[Tagi]

My preferred origen regulated build is 28 gauge 1.2 ohms. Pick your preferred coil diameter and adjust the wraps.

Coil wrapping | Steam Engine | free vaping calculators

 

[smokin909]

Thanks for the Hobo recommendation Tom - just what I'm looking for as an addition to my RDAs.

 

[ong.kelvin]

I have no experience with your RDA but for my 454 Big Block and Derringer with Cuttwood juices, single twisted 28g, 2mm diameter, 7/8 wraps 0.8ohm, vaping at 18 watts.

 

[Tom Forde]

Thanks for the Hobo recommendation Tom - just what I'm looking for as an addition to my RDAs.

No problem. They fixed the issues of the v3.0 perfectly with the 3.1. Since you're looking to run single coils, this should be perfect for you. The positive post on it can be rotated around the deck to accommodate different types of builds. With a single coil for me personally, I prefer it running straight through the posts, like you would see in many 2 post atty's. Here's an (ugly) example of the first lazy coil I threw in my hobo

You don't have to build between the posts like that, as the positive post can be rotated so that you can pretty much have your coil placement anywhere on the deck.
As for a build, try a parallel "zipper" 28g coil. It's where you have one strand of clockwise twisted 28g wrapped parallel to counterclockwise twisted 28g. I suggest a 2.5mm bit, you can fit a ton of wraps on this deck.

 

[smokin909]

Thanks Tom! That's very handy to be able to spin the pos post around - sometimes I like coil to be parallel with the posts instead of in between like you have above - having the option is great - depending on the build.

I've been playing with 2 x 30g twisted making a single strand - I can't say I've found my sweet spot with a twisted build yet. I need to play around more with different gauges- but I've had success with 2 x 28g parallel coming in at 1.6ohm. I enjoyed the vape off that build. I never thought to twist up each strand and then run them parallel.

What's the reasoning behind having the twists counterclockwise to each other? Does it trap more juice and enhance the flavour?

 

[smokin909]

I have no experience with your RDA but for my 454 Big Block and Derringer with Cuttwood juices, single twisted 28g, 2mm diameter, 7/8 wraps 0.8ohm, vaping at 18 watts.

Currently running a single 28g 2mm ID that comes in a hair under 1.6ohm on my brass 4Nine. I'm using an Origen dripper and I'm down to my last ml of Charlie Noble Custard

I re-coiled this two days ago and noticed that playing around with the position of the coil in relation to the air hole made a big difference. So I think I've got that part nailed. Now to play with some twisted setups. Then when the IPV eventually turns up by FT mail it will be interesting to see how it plays out on that device. Never used a VW device before.

I have a derringer that I also coiled the same time as the Origen - but I think it's too airy for me. Great atty, well finished, easy to build on - MUCH easier than the Origen - but even with the airhole closed down in single coil mode it feels really airy to me. I even closed that down further and it didn't work for me. It's my first 'mini' atty - maybe I'm used to a larger chamber or maybe I haven't found the right build yet for it. I really want to make it work - it's such a cute looking thing. Looks great on my 18350 mechs.

 

[Tom Forde]

Thanks Tom! That's very handy to be able to spin the pos post around - sometimes I like coil to be parallel with the posts instead of in between like you have above - having the option is great - depending on the build.

I've been playing with 2 x 30g twisted making a single strand - I can't say I've found my sweet spot with a twisted build yet. I need to play around more with different gauges- but I've had success with 2 x 28g parallel coming in at 1.6ohm. I enjoyed the vape off that build. I never thought to twist up each strand and then run them parallel.

What's the reasoning behind having the twists counterclockwise to each other? Does it trap more juice and enhance the flavour?

The twists in the wire make little juice pockets inside of the grooves so the wire actually holds juice better. That's why claptons & fused claptons are great for flavor. If you think of every Clapton wrap on a piece of wire as a juice pocket, the wire is physically able to hold onto liquid before the liquid reaches the wick.
Try this out, it's a twisted build that's great for flavor. Take about 4 feet of 30g, fold it in half so you have a 2 foot loop of wire and put the two leads into your drill chuck. Twist it CLOCKWISE until it's tight and then cut it in half so you have 2 strands of clockwise twisted 30g. Then, take those two strands and put them in the drill chuck, and twist them together counterclockwise. It'll start to look like a chain link at first but twist it super tightly together and it'll start to form an interlocking shape. Great flavor build

Edit: as for the derringer, it's easy to fit complex builds on it when using thinner wires. I've had a few builds on mine, these were the ones I took pictures of:

3 strand 28g fused Clapton wrapped up with 34g (or 36g, I forget)

Fused 26g Clapton with .5x.1mm ribbon

The first build I put in my derringer: loosely twisted 26g 1 strand N80, 1 strand A1 kanthal.

 

[smokin909]

Thanks for tips and the pictures Tom. I've tried that 'chain link' coil build you suggested - I thought I was using 30g wire but realised yesterday I'd been using 32g. It took a couple of goes but now my wires come out nice and straight. The first couple got a bit 'crinkly' when I did the final anticlockwise twist. I've built my first coil using 2 x 32g 'chain link' twisted Kanthal 2.5mm ID. Here it is on my derringer clone - this wire isn't from the good twist I did - but it fires up evenly and quickly:

It comes in at 1.08 ohms - I haven't vaped it yet. I was waiting to use it on my forthcoming IPV mini 30 watt which has now been confirmed lost by FT so I'll be waiting for the D2 now (kind of a blessing in disguise).
I'll take it for a spin on my 4nine in 18650 mode and see how it goes.
I'd been playing around with regular twisted builds this week. I've just found my sweet spot for my Tugboat V2 running in single coil mode: standard 2 x 32g twisted 2.5mm ID at 1.2 ohms running it in stealth mode on an 18350 4nine or 18490 mode. Next build is a 1.2ohm using the 2x32g 'chainlink' twisted so I can get more wraps on the coil. Then I'll play around with 30g wire to see if there's a difference. I did a standard 2x32g twisted build on the Tugboat with a 2mm ID but I didn't like the vape as much. Funny how such a small detail can effect the outcome.

 

[Two_Bears]

Hi all,

A bit of background to set the scene:
I've been vaping for 14 months now which ended 10 years of pack-a-day cigarette smoking (except for two months earlier this year where I relapsed).

My first device was a Sigelei Zmax Mini with a Kangertech Pro tank and 1.5 ohm coils.
I then picked up a Provari Mini and used that with LR Cartos and a Nautilus Mini 1.8 ohm coils.

I loved both devices until I dropped my Zmax and the cartridge snapped on the 510 connecter so that was that.

I moved into the world of rebuildables and bought a Kayfun Lite, Igo's on my Provari and went from there and picked up a couple of mech mods along the way.

Moving into drippers and mech mods really changed the way I vaped. I'm a flavour chaser - if the clouds follow so be it - but I love my flavour. I settled into a nice groove with a 4Nine and and Origen dripper as my ADV device and my Provari with Cartos or Kayfun for out and about.

My 'out and about' set up is great. No issues there - but my home based ADV setup has hit a wall for me.

I just don't feel like I'm getting the same punch anymore - or perhaps I should say I'm craving more from my setup - so it's under review.

When I first switched to a mech and the Origen I felt I had found my sweet spot. A dripper (1.4 ohm) with airflow options that worked more me, good flavour and the hit from a hybrid mech mod.

Fast forward 6 months and I just don't get the same satisfaction. The setup is not packing the same punch anymore and I don't think I'm getting the fullness of flavour from my juices anymore.

Last week I decided to put my Origen dripper on the Provari and I was really surprised - whilst the build/flavour is still not satisfactory - the consistency of the vape was excellent. It's what I'm wanting now - a regulated, consistent vape.

So...In the past 6 months I have been rocking single coil builds from 1.2 - 1.8 ohms on my 4Nine. I'm a mouth-to-lunger and I like my draw tighter than not. I use the smallest hole in single mode on the Origen.

I've got an IPV Mini 30 watt on its way - my first foray into a VW device to test the waters.

Any suggestions as to builds that will give me more of a 'hit' and flavour with my IPV (or Provari)?

Thanks in advance.

There are so many possible things going on that you hardly know where to look.

You are using wire with a different resistance.

Your mod may not be packing the same power.

Your ejuice may have changed formulas, or your juice is going bad. Heat, light and oxygeb are the three biggest killers of juice.

You have grown accustomed to a certain power level and you may need to go to a higher wattage.

You may have a spool of defective or mislabeled wire.

The list of things is practically endless.