RDA looking for beginner friendly rda

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solipsistic xerophyte

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Nov 3, 2014
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I have been looking around for quite a bit and would like to now dive into the world of rda. I have seen the igo suggested as a good aty to start with. Are there any other models that would be easy to rebuild as well?

I'm bassically looking for something in the $20-$40 range that will be easy to maintain and learn the basics with.

Thanks.
 
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kr8mods

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I love anything UD (IGO) i have bought and built on just about all of them. Prob as a beginner id start with one of UD's horrisantal decks. Its much eaiser. You can try verticals but its tricky. I currently am in search for UD's Red Dragon only one i have yet to build lol. That being said I currently am hooked on a Troll V1.5 rda by motofo its a great 4 post design for coil building ease. I totally agree with Robert Cromwell always use an ohm reader or a regulated mod because rda's can be dangerous. Anyways happy vaping and good luck!
 

kr8mods

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I have in my kit a set of precision srewdrivers for wraping and applying my coils, small crafting size side cutters got mine at walmart 3.99, angled toothless plyers, blunt tip 30 awg needle tip for nano coils, cotton best ive used is cotton from a local cvs 2 year supply of wicks for 3.99 lol, 24 awg kanthal A1 and tooth picks for applying my cotton under my coils.
 

kr8mods

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Hup
From personal experience look for a deck with a 4 hole design. This helps keep your leads in good shape and it's my favorite way to build. Look into any of the mutation x's (I personally like v2) or if you're interested in clouds the troll rda. The freakshow (regular,not the mini) is another easy one that gives great results.[/QUOTE
From personal experience look for a deck with a 4 hole design. This helps keep your leads in good shape and it's my favorite way to build. Look into any of the mutation x's (I personally like v2) or if you're interested in clouds the troll rda. The freakshow (regular,not the mini) is another easy one that gives great results.
Yes i completely agree on 4 post and thr troll is beast.
 

Tmebs

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I'm loving my TOBH ( Ehpro no logo) these days. I have an Atomic...small, but flavorful, tiny 18mm deck
I also have a Magma, Stilaire, and Freakshow ( hate this leaky thing!) but I keep going back to the Tobh.
Have been only doing single coils and playing recently with verticals...like those alot...

I love how its so easy to pop off the top and drip...

The Atomic and Magma top caps screw on...

Can pick one up for 20ish at sweet vapes and or madvapes.

Plus the Ehpro is sturdier/thicker than the Tobeco clone...first Tobh clone I bought.
So I now own 3 and am very happy with them:2c:
:thumbs:
 

solipsistic xerophyte

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Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I think I will be going with the igo-w or igo-w4. I found them both for a low price and I figured since its going to be my first rda I should go for something inexpensive in case I end up breaking it or I am no good at making coils.

Is there a big difference between the igo-w and the igo-w4?
 
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KSS89

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my first dripper was a patriot and then a tobh clone. both were pretty good to learn on imo. i would go for a newer offering from UD. they have really stepped up their game lately and the quality on one of their newer RDAs might be much better than one they made a year ago. but thats just my weird reasoning. i overthink things when im about to buy something lol. I always heard the best atty to start on now-a-days is the vulcan. but its $50-60. maybe that should be your second purchase once you decide you like dripping and building. which you most likely will lol...
 

solipsistic xerophyte

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my first dripper was a patriot and then a tobh clone. both were pretty good to learn on imo. i would go for a newer offering from UD. they have really stepped up their game lately and the quality on one of their newer RDAs might be much better than one they made a year ago. but thats just my weird reasoning. i overthink things when im about to buy something lol. I always heard the best atty to start on now-a-days is the vulcan. but its $50-60. maybe that should be your second purchase once you decide you like dripping and building. which you most likely will lol...

ha i already know I like dripping. Ive used non rebuildable attys before and i just loved how much flavor they give.

Ill look into the newer rda's UD has in a bit. It took me a while watching different reviews suggested here and i still have a few more to go. Like you I over-think and try to learn as much as possible before committing to a buy.
 

VRein

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I found a pretty good selection of IGO's at myvaporstore.com, I don't see the W4 there though ... ? Also, if you think you might be content with just a single coil for awhile, don't overlook the IGO-L, super cheap, well built and simple and it works really well. The air draw might be a consideration too, the W has 2 air holes, the L only has one though from the ones I bought, the hole in the L is a tad larger than one on the W. Also give the IGO-T a look, though I don't own it. They are from what I've seen pretty solid, easy to build, and pretty darn good performers from my very limited experience.
 

VRein

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Sorry, forgot to mention one other thing to consider, are the post configurations. The W and the T both have the drilled posts, meaning there is a hole in the post you thread the coil lead through and then tighten the screw down on it. Pretty easy to do, but ... mine seem to work themselves loose pretty easily which is super annoying. The L model (and the Achilles for that matter), have a solid post with a screw on top. These are just a tad harder as you have to secure the coild lead under the screw and tighten but they seem to hold a lot better in my experience.
Hope this helps
 

solipsistic xerophyte

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I found the w4 over at kidneypuncher. After researching some more I am kinda leaning towards getting the igo-7. It has an airflow control ring unlike the w and w4 which most folks recommend to drill a bit larger. But its meant for vertical builds. Are vertical builds harder than horizontal builds?

Also what gauge kanthal wire is recommended for 2ohms? and what is the difference between resistance and no resistance wire? I guess I have a lot more research to do haha. Im going to pick up some cotton balls tomorrow and probably order some kanthal once I figure out which will be best for me.
 

d4gger

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Horizontal builds are typically more straight-forward, but verticals aren't too challenging either. You want resistance wire. My suggestion is to go to temco's website and get a spool of 50ft each of 28, 29, and 30 gauge Kanthal A1 wire. Maybe some 26 or 27 if you might want to go lower than 1 ohm per coil later. If you haven't got cash for all that, just grab the 29 gauge in a 100 foot spool as it'll get you anywhere between 1.1 and 2 ohm without severe difficulty.

You likely already know, you'll need something to wrap coils on. Precision screwdrivers or drill bits in the 1/16"-1/8" / 1.5mm-3.0mm range are typical starter mandrels.

Good luck to you!
 
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solipsistic xerophyte

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Thanks for the quick reply. I think I will stick with kanthal a-1 29 gauge 100ft spool for now until I get the hang of things. will the 29 gauge kanthal be ok to also rewick my burnt out protank2 attys?

I am using a sigelei zmax v5 and if i remember correctly it wont fire sub ohm coils. If i go with the igo-w7 what resistance do I want each coil to be at to equal 2ohms? I remember seeing the equation before but cant find it now.

I have my drill bits ready, going to pick up some cotton tomorrow, so i just need the kanthal snd Ill be good to go haha. Hopefully it wont be as difficult as I am imagine it being.
 

KSS89

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for a dual coil build to be 2 ohms, each coil needs to be 4 ohms... so for 29 gauge kanthal each coil would have to be about 18 wraps. this would not give you a good vape, just slightly warm juice. if you are rebuilding on a zmax (which i cant imagine many people do) you would most likely have to do just single coils. but i would recommend getting a device that lets you build lower resistances
 

solipsistic xerophyte

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I think the lowest the zmax can go is 1.3 ohms. Would tha be more doable with the igo-w7?

The igo-w and w4 can be run with a single coil but I don't think the w7 can be.

I just wanted to do 2 ohm builds because that is the resistance I am used to. I have not tried lower resistance attys before.
 
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