Just a few newb questions

[PTFD243]

1. What are some disadvantages of the genesis style atty like the new smoktek rba that pbusardo just reviewed? I've heard that they leak a lot maybe? What other type of RBA should I be looking at?

2. I just got a Vivi Nova and am thoroughly disappointed. I want to like this thing but there is absolutely no taste and I've done almost every mod I could find on here to fix it minus rewicking/New coil. If I did do this would I noticeably improve anything?

3. Is there a FAQ somewhere that shows me advantages/disadvantages of the different types of wicks? And how the heck am I supposed to know what size wire to get?!?!?! I've heard 32g kanthal is pretty standard. Am I wrong?

4. All in all I'm pretty happy with cartomizers. I keep hearing all this talk about boge this boge that. Are they really that much better than my smok dct carts? And anyone got any recommendations on larger style carto tanks. I use a Vamo so I'm pretty sure I can use most of em.

Thanks in advance guys!

 

[noi_max]

I just got a cheapo 5ml Smok carto tank with the "stainless" caps for around 10 bucks and it works great. Good match on the Vamo.
I didn't care for the dual coil carts though. I mean they worked fine but it was a lot of heat and it killed my battery quicker. I just get the 2 ohm single coil ones now.

*edit* here is said tank. Looks great on the Vamo. I guess it was 11 bucks instead of ten. Ah memory leak.
Chrome Cartomizer Tank - 5ml - $11.00 : Heathers Heavenly Vapes, Top Quality Custom E-Liquids

 

[wandawag]

welcome to ecf. more experienced people will be along to answer your questions...i just wanted to say congrats on your decision to vape.

 

[PTFD243]

Thanks for the link! I was looking for something a little bigger than the 2.5 tanks I have.

And thanks for the welcome here!

 

[steved5600]

Here are my answers calling on my experience.
1. RBA's that you rebuild with stainless steel mesh require a little more art than science when rewicking. Shorts between the mesh an wire are not uncommon. I found that if you do the usual process of oxidizing the wick and then wrap a piece of Cig. Paper around the wick where the coil well be wound you can almost eliminate that.
Filling of some models is a bit harder. Cleaning usually requires a lot more work. Parts can become a problem as often the parts that fail usually are hard to get like the insulator grommets for the center post IME. I have two AGA's. You usually have to buy a whole kit to get the part you want. IME.
If you rewick with silica rather than SS mesh the AGA's seem to not feed very well. Note I'm spoiled by using the Vivi Nova!
2. I have not had a taste issue but I mix my own and I use a higher flavor percentage than some. Had a mouth injury that took out some of my tongue. Some flavors will cause a heavy build up of Burnt crust on the coils that affect flavor, liquid and air flow. I am use to rebuilding them and rebuild with .8mm wicks and 30 or 32 gauge wire after a few uses as they become impossible to clean because of that crust and I have tried every thing. I soak in alcohol, denture cleaner and even put them in a jewelry cleaner the crust will not go. Dry burning the crust off will help but at the cost of shortening the live of the silica as you have to heat the coil red hot. Rewicking will fix it for a couple or so fills.
3. IME Silica wick size is dependent on a couple of factors. The liquid thickness, size of the tank. I tend to like multiple small wicks but in a pinch a big wick that you unravel some at the end works pretty good. SS mesh you have to pretty much use what the hole will allow but you can double wick by doing a coaxial wick and one of my AGA's you can do a dual SS mesh wick but it makes the refilling harder.
The size of the heater wire depends on how long the coil needs to be. The longer the coil the larger the wire should be to keep the ohms down below 3 ohms IME. I use 30 to 32 gauge kanthal but have some 32 gauge nichrome wire as that has a lower resistance.
When doing the coils try to keep as good a separation between the loops as you can as it will allow better flow and IME last longer before clogging with that crust.
4. Never tried the Boge but good advise for any venture if your happy with what you got stay with it. There will always be a new gimmick and of course the folks will tell you the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. I gave up on Carto's as I felt them to be more trouble to fill and keep clean etc. But that's me. Lots of folks in my circle of friends use them. If you never drive a Maserati you will not regret driving that 4 year old Sedan nor will you find the need to spend the crazy cash amount for the perceived gain. IF it ain't broke don't fix it.

 

[PTFD243]

Thanks for the detailed reply Steve! Couple questions for ya if you peek your head back in here.

Am I really only supposed to expect a couple fills before rewicking a nova? I was under the impression that this stuff would outlast a carto in terms of length of time I could use it before having to do anything with it (eg. Replace or rewick).

Is this the same deal with ss mesh? And I've heard people get a metallic taste with mesh. Is this true?

And last but not least. How do cotton wicks hold up? Seems like a lot of people like them but they say the cotton gums up in a couple days.

 

[PTFD243]

Can we bump here?

 

[Vapoor eyes er]

Been using the Vision Mini Vivi Nova 2.0 ml for 7+ months and heads are lasting 10+ weeks. Little less taste but I also DIY and add extra flavor. I found the 3.5 ml have taste issues. I wash and dry burn my heads without damage to the silica wick. No need to re wick as my heads are only $1.50 each. Using it on a Vamo, Spinners, and Kgo 1100.

 

[Katya]

1. What are some disadvantages of the genesis style atty like the new smoktek rba that pbusardo just reviewed? I've heard that they leak a lot maybe? What other type of RBA should I be looking at?

Can't help you here. I'm not advanced enough to build my own atomizers.

2. I just got a Vivi Nova and am thoroughly disappointed. I want to like this thing but there is absolutely no taste and I've done almost every mod I could find on here to fix it minus rewicking/New coil. If I did do this would I noticeably improve anything?

I also just got a Vision mini ViVi Nova and didn't modify it at all. I rinsed it under hot water, let it air dry, filled with e-juice and it's working fine. What kind of modifications have you done? Are they irreversible? Can you grab a new coil and start all over, as per video instructions below?

Since ViVi coils are inexpensive, I just replace them. Those coils last a long time and can also be cleaned and dry burned.

Please watch this video and see if it can help:

3. Is there a FAQ somewhere that shows me advantages/disadvantages of the different types of wicks? And how the heck am I supposed to know what size wire to get?!?!?! I've heard 32g kanthal is pretty standard. Am I wrong?

There is a modding forum here where you can find all kinds of tips on modding.

4. All in all I'm pretty happy with cartomizers. I keep hearing all this talk about boge this boge that. Are they really that much better than my smok dct carts? And anyone got any recommendations on larger style carto tanks. I use a Vamo so I'm pretty sure I can use most of em.

I suggest switching to single coil cartomizers, Boge or Smoktech. They are far superior to dual coils, for many reasons.

 

[PTFD243]

Sorry for the double post. Please delete!

 

[PTFD243]

Can't help you here. I'm not advanced enough to build my own atomizers.



I also just got a Vision mini ViVi Nova and didn't modify it at all. I rinsed it under hot water, let it air dry, filled with e-juice and it's working fine. What kind of modifications have you done? Are they irreversible? Can you grab a new coil and start all over, as per video instructions below?

Since ViVi coils are inexpensive, I just replace them. Those coils last a long time and can also be cleaned and dry burned.

Please watch this video and see if it can help:





There is a modding forum here where you can find all kinds of tips on modding.



I suggest switching to single coil cartomizers, Boge or Smoktech. They are far superior to dual coils, for many reasons.

Yes the stuff I have done is reversible. Unfortunately I don't have the supplies to try to make a new coil but I would definitely make the purchase if it would give me a noticeable difference. I'm already kind of scared away from buying new replacement heads as 2 out of the 3 that came with the thing taste like crap.

And would you care to elaborate on the single vs dual coil statement?

 

[Katya]

OK, I understand. Are you sure you got a genuine Vision ViVi Nova and not a knockoff? There are some bad ones on the market--I've seen a lot of complaints about them lately. If you have a knockoff Vivi, don't bother. If you have a Vision Vivi, I'd get another coil or two--just to make sure. They are not very expensive; try a 2.4Ω coil. Or maybe those are just not your thing; a lot of people dislike ViVis because of poor wicking. Try Kanger bottom changeable coil clearomizers like T3 or eVod, or Kanger top changeable coil T2.

Vaping a 1.5 Ω DC carto is very much like vaping two 3.0Ω cartos at the same time--the amount of vapor is double that of a single coil, but the temperature of the vapor is still that of a 3.0Ω coil. Your battery will drain faster because of the low resistance of your atty, and your juice will be vaporized at double the rate of a single coil. Dual coils only work well on very high voltages, provided that your battery can supply the amps needed. Waste of time, IMO.

If you want a more scientific explanations, please read this post:

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...-decided-try-12mg-nicotine-3.html#post9238841

Either way, the Ohm's law cannot be defied.

 

[hvac999]

Get yourself a carto tank- http://www.surevapes.com/Boge-F17-Cartomizer-Tank-clear_p_369.html or http://www.surevapes.com/Boge-F16-Cartomizer-Tank-Clear_p_233.html Free Shipping

 

[PTFD243]

OK, I understand. Are you sure you got a genuine Vision ViVi Nova and not a knockoff? There are some bad ones on the market--I've seen a lot of complaints about them lately. If you have a knockoff Vivi, don't bother. If you have a Vision Vivi, I'd get another coil or two--just to make sure. They are not very expensive; try a 2.4Ω coil. Or maybe those are just not your thing; a lot of people dislike ViVis because of poor wicking. Try Kanger bottom changeable coil clearomizers like T3 or eVod, or Kanger top changeable coil T2.

Vaping a 1.5 Ω DC carto is very much like vaping two 3.0Ω cartos at the same time--the amount of vapor is double that of a single coil, but the temperature of the vapor is still that of a 3.0Ω coil. Your battery will drain faster because of the low resistance of your atty, and your juice will be vaporized at double the rate of a single coil. Dual coils only work well on very high voltages, provided that your battery can supply the amps needed. Waste of time, IMO.

If you want a more scientific explanations, please read this post:

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...-decided-try-12mg-nicotine-3.html#post9238841

Either way, the Ohm's law cannot be defied.

Thanks for the very informative post! I just picked up some single coil cartos so I'll see how I like em.

And I have a box that says Vision vivi nova on it with smoke on the back. Isn't that the right one? Purchased it from aquavapes because I thought they were authorized sellers of Vision products.

 

[Katya]

This is what a genuine ViVi box looks like:

SmokTech Vivi Novas: