Status
Not open for further replies.

DP2Raja

Ultra Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Dec 31, 2012
1,051
2,272
New Mexico
Are you all finding some advantage to rebuild OCC heads that were not designed to be rebuilt? I mean, is there something better about them than the rba provided? Air/juice flow? Flavor? I am curious why all the effort to try and rebuild when you have a perfectly functional rba section. Not being critical at all, just wondering if there is a worthwhile reason to try it.
 

ahmadmfz

Super Member
ECF Veteran
Dec 9, 2014
388
368
red dot
Are you all finding some advantage to rebuild OCC heads that were not designed to be rebuilt? I mean, is there something better about them than the RBA provided? Air/juice flow? Flavor? I am curious why all the effort to try and rebuild when you have a perfectly functional RBA section. Not being critical at all, just wondering if there is a worthwhile reason to try it.
Some find the wicking on the OCC is better as the holes to wick are so much bigger. However, the newer design RBA allows for good wicking too. I use an RBA as it is just easier to rebuild + it let's you use the juice to the bottom unlike the OCC.
 

vincom

Ultra Member
ECF Veteran
Jun 19, 2014
1,151
1,948
Philippines
Are you all finding some advantage to rebuild OCC heads that were not designed to be rebuilt? I mean, is there something better about them than the RBA provided? Air/juice flow? Flavor? I am curious why all the effort to try and rebuild when you have a perfectly functional RBA section. Not being critical at all, just wondering if there is a worthwhile reason to try it.

thats what ive been saying.
rba comes w/the stmini, no extra purchase required not like some others, plus coil is already screwed on.
by the time u rewicked an occ coil correctly you could have done the rba build, twice over at least.
coils last a real good time so you would need to just rewick the rba, easier than doing the occ rewick.
im done buying premade coils.
 

Darryl Licht

Ultra Member
Verified Member
Jan 19, 2015
1,263
996
So Cal
For those that rebuild OCC heads

Do you test fire your coils inside the casing? If so...isn't this basically the same process as dry-burning a used coil to remove any 'gunk' ?
If this was done at a lower wattage, using short bursts ...seems exactly the same. I ask, as I've read numerous times that these should not be dry-burned to clean coils ...but seen on a couple YouTube vids were this is done. Seems common assumption is to just recoil. But, if that is the case, how do you test your coil to ensure it's working properly. Maybe you use the RBA base before installing. Just curious. Ultimately my question relates to not scorching / burning the insulator.

For those that use Japanese Organic Cotton

Since I'm awaiting receipt of my first ST ...thought I'd also pick up some extras JOC. As I understand, there is a more dense outer layer. Is it a personal preference whether to use this or not? Is it possibly a bit more heat resistant that the inner? Does it allow more/less flow of the juice? I'm sure there are a ton of threads on this, but since this relates to wicking the ST thought maybe you all could weigh in on your thoughts.

Or is KGD a better medium?



Last question. Does using the RBA section of the ST Mini allow for less juice compared to OCC head/deck?




Thanks all.

I think most success here has been had using KGD (which is an JOC).

This video swayed me early on as to the superior wicking ability of KGD:
 

DP2Raja

Ultra Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Dec 31, 2012
1,051
2,272
New Mexico
thats what ive been saying.
rba comes w/the stmini, no extra purchase required not like some others, plus coil is already screwed on.
by the time u rewicked an occ coil correctly you could have done the rba build, twice over at least.
coils last a real good time so you would need to just rewick the rba, easier than doing the occ rewick.
im done buying premade coils.

My thinking too. I have the OCC coils that came with...not better performance than my RBA builds. 'course, I'm an expert...LOL
Seriously, the RBA is the easiest rebuild on the market for this type of deck. Connecting the legs and positioning the coil ... no deck I own (and I have most of them) beats the ease of this.

The Lemo2 looks promising, but to require a bend in the legs to mount the coil just adds a chance of deforming the wind. Same with the Delta2, even though I love the vape on the Delta2, mounting a coil is just very painful compared to the STm.
 
Last edited:

g3n3r1c

Super Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Feb 20, 2012
415
472
outside the box
Agree with you all about using the RBA, it's easy and works just as well as the OCC, I bought 2 packs of OCC used 2 of them and tasted machine oil both times so I gave the rest away..

Back to vertical vs horizontal coils; vertical is winning the wicking, flavor, and vapor battle for me, but it's less than ideal on this platform.
I've been considering cutting down the negative post to stabilize a vertical build a little better, but the main reason for this would be ease of wicking, not at all necessary but it would be better.

This last build I took some advise and built it as low to the platform as I could with the top of the coil just above the screw posts, this has helped to stop the cotton from swelling and restricting airflow from under the coil.

This is a tightly twisted pair 27awg 5wraps at 0.8ohm, 3mm ID running at 28-30watts with absolutely non restricted airflow, haven't had any leaking whatsoever, and wicking will keep up with a juicy and tasty vape through the 10 second cutoff on my mod, been vaping away at this last coil for a few days now and it's doing very well. I'll take some detailed photos of my next rebuild including wicking strategy... I think this one is a winner, for me at least :D
 

Taylor7617

Super Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Aug 5, 2013
499
659
Humble, Texas, United States
Thanks all.

Was just inquiring on the rebuild / dry-burn as my wife like the "grab and go" idea of coils. So, currently using PT2's, I always have a stash of coils available in case the one she is using starts to have an off taste (she pops in another coil, tops off the tank and lets the new coil soak a bit and off she goes). Using the RBA isn't a problem for me, but until they have RBA bases for sale on their own....I'd need to work alternatives. Note, I should have my STm soon, simply trying to get all my questions answered.

Any idea if Kanger will release just the RBA base?
 

g3n3r1c

Super Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Feb 20, 2012
415
472
outside the box
Thanks all.

Was just inquiring on the rebuild / dry-burn as my wife like the "grab and go" idea of coils. So, currently using PT2's, I always have a stash of coils available in case the one she is using starts to have an off taste (she pops in another coil, tops off the tank and lets the new coil soak a bit and off she goes). Using the RBA isn't a problem for me, but until they have RBA bases for sale on their own....I'd need to work alternatives. Note, I should have my STm soon, simply trying to get all my questions answered.

Any idea if Kanger will release just the RBA base?

The short answer is yes, they are available from a few vendors online and should be available directly from kanger at the end of the month per my last email from Kanger service regarding a warranty replacement, "We are currently “Out of Stock” of the Mini RBA you requested. Please visit our website for the availability in about 1 week."
 

132sdrifter

Full Member
Apr 9, 2011
47
13
Maryland
Hey all it's been a while. New user of the Kanger Subtank Mini. The Kanger EVOD heads have apparently been revamped and the air flow is too restricted, no joy. The Mini was my choice as a replacement and I was very happy with it at first. The taste and flow is great, but the flavor and cleanness of the vape falls off before the tank is half empty. I have Kanthal 26g and Cotton Labo ORGANIC Japanese cotton. Wether I use the premade Kanger OCC coils, rebuilt OCC, or the RBA rebuilds, they all start out great and then poof, bleah. Am I missing something? There are a lot of YouTubes for rebuilding and I think I have watched them all. It seems like maybe I need to get a couple more to make it through the day t keep it all good. I see all these folks loving on them lasting for days, even a week. I spend more time rebuilding and looking for answers than actually using the mini. Thanks
 

g3n3r1c

Super Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Feb 20, 2012
415
472
outside the box
Can anyone post a picture of their wicked vertical coils?

vert.jpg
 

USMCotaku

ECF Guru
ECF Veteran
Apr 25, 2014
11,877
45,735
California
1) I don't dry burn/test fire coils inside the casing for the reason you mentioned, melting that insulator. I was able to get 3-5 rewicks out of a stock OCC without dry burning. I think if you're careful it could be done, I just don't take the chance. As for testing it, I just put it on the base and put it on an ohm meter.

2) Mainly personal preference I believe. To me I think it wicks slightly faster when I remove it, but it might just be a placebo effect.

3) STmini has roughly the same juice capacity in either configuration.



Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

It has exactly the the same capacity really, since you can only fill to the end of the chimney (just slightly above due to a scientific law I can't remember the name of right now :p).
 

USMCotaku

ECF Guru
ECF Veteran
Apr 25, 2014
11,877
45,735
California
Any of you have probs with the insulators splitting when using larger than 28g? Mine do, even though I make sure the legs exit in/over the little slits at the bottom of the head. Maybe the pos pin in my base sticks up higher than most and over compresses the insulator....dunno.


I haven't had one split yet, but have found 26 gauge to be a perfect fit, and 24 gauge too tight, stretching the insulator, covering the air holes too much
 

USMCotaku

ECF Guru
ECF Veteran
Apr 25, 2014
11,877
45,735
California
Are you all finding some advantage to rebuild OCC heads that were not designed to be rebuilt? I mean, is there something better about them than the RBA provided? Air/juice flow? Flavor? I am curious why all the effort to try and rebuild when you have a perfectly functional RBA section. Not being critical at all, just wondering if there is a worthwhile reason to try it.


I find rebuilding the OCC head is even easier then building the rba section.... And some of the builds I have done DO perform better then stock..... This one for example wicks far better for chain vaping..
7b68d3b8b4e8920af30ce14d043ef9c5.jpg

I'm currently using a 4 strand 32 gauge twisted in it that's great on flavor
 

USMCotaku

ECF Guru
ECF Veteran
Apr 25, 2014
11,877
45,735
California
thats what ive been saying.
rba comes w/the stmini, no extra purchase required not like some others, plus coil is already screwed on.
by the time u rewicked an occ coil correctly you could have done the rba build, twice over at least.
coils last a real good time so you would need to just rewick the rba, easier than doing the occ rewick.
im done buying premade coils.


I can rebuild and wick an OCC in a minute.... Not hard at all :p
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Users who are viewing this thread