Moving past clearomizers

[stevem719]

Ok, looking at upping my game a little bit.

While I enjoy the Kangers and Vivis that I have, I feel like I can get better flavor and more vapor if I look beyond what I have (I also want to ensure I'm in a more flavor safe setup (I won't try any juice that might damage the plastic tanks).

Right now I'm stuck between going the cartomizer tanked route (Such as an IBTanked setup), or getting into the rba scene (Probably start with an AGA-T+).

I'm a tinkerer, so the idea of the AGA-T+ is not a negative to me, and somewhat exciting (I can keep using the vivis until I get good on the aga-t setup.

What I'm really looking for is increasing the flavor, because I feel like the flavors are muted with the current clearomizers. More vapor production is always a plus too, but it's secondary, since I feel like I'm getting a good amount due to the juices I'm using.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Jeremy Evans]

I am in the same boat as you, all the carto setups I have tried didnt seem to mute the flavor so I am looking into the RBA route as well, I actually started making my own wicks for my clearos and Novas out of cotton and bamboo. The tinkering part is what kind of sells me on it too, just not sure about the whole mesh part though.

 

[Baditude]

I won't discourage you from trying an inexpensive RBA like the AGA. I've been using cartotanks for over several months and just recently got an AGA, my first RBA. But I must caution you that these are more for advanced vapors, as it does not work out-of-the-box and will require studying many of the posts here on ECF by the experts and watching many You Tube videos on how to roll a stainless steel wick, wrap a wire coil, test for shorts, etc.

Rebuildable Atomizer Systems

I would recommend first going with a cartotank; they have less of a learning curve than an RBA, yet are still capable of producing excellent flavor. I've written several articles that pertain to cartotanks in my blogs that can be accessed by clicking on the link under my avatar or here:

E-Cigarette Forum - Baditude - Blogs

I'm not a fan myself of any string wicked delivery device because of poor flavor production. In fact, I've given all of my Vivi Nova tanks away.

Good luck with your search, and should you need additional help with tanks, you can ask for my assistance.

 

[Jeremy Evans]

with the coils I replace them made out of the cotton or bamboo, the flavor is incredible, really made me like certain flavors that I wasnt a fan of initially with silica wicks

 

[DietSalem]

If flavor is what you're after, I can't stress this enough: Drip. The learning curve isn't as bad as some people make it out to be (even less if you use a drip shield) and I find that no matter what carto or clearo I try the flavor is just never as good as it is off of a hh357, cisco spec 306 or 510 or an ikenvape i06. I also find I even save money because of less juice wasted with the cartos.

Dripping isn't for everyone, neither are cartos, cartotanks or clearos. Try it all and see what you think. =)

 

[the_vape_nerd]

If flavor is what you're after, I can't stress this enough: Drip. The learning curve isn't as bad as some people make it out to be (even less if you use a drip shield) and I find that no matter what carto or clearo I try the flavor is just never as good as it is off of a hh357, cisco spec 306 or 510 or an ikenvape i06. I also find I even save money because of less juice wasted with the cartos.

Dripping isn't for everyone, neither are cartos, cartotanks or clearos. Try it all and see what you think. =)

say could you tell me how a drip shield works? ive done some dripping and i've see a drip shield but i still dont get how it works..if you put a shield over an atomizer...wont that cut off air flow?

 

[stevem719]

If flavor is what you're after, I can't stress this enough: Drip. The learning curve isn't as bad as some people make it out to be (even less if you use a drip shield) and I find that no matter what carto or clearo I try the flavor is just never as good as it is off of a hh357, cisco spec 306 or 510 or an ikenvape i06. I also find I even save money because of less juice wasted with the cartos.

Dripping isn't for everyone, neither are cartos, cartotanks or clearos. Try it all and see what you think. =)

I've been thinking of dripping as well. Since I work from home, in an office, it's not like portability or stealth is a huge concern. I also love to try different flavors (I'm a sample pack hound, and always go with 6-8 flavors at a time from any new vendor I'm trying). I know I really should look at dripping, but haven't found a good reference to how to set up my Vamo for dripping.

I know about the hh357s, and the drip shields from empire, but is that really all that's needed. How much work is it to clear out the hh357s in between flavors (they're just to pricey for me to pick up something like a 5 pack). I had a hell of a time with the old 510 carts from a couple years ago, and that makes me a little nervous, when you factor in the costs behind some of the preferred dripping atomizers.

 

[WingmanJudas]

Hi Stevem. I to find that clearomizers like the stardust, kangers etc. give a muted flavor, and even though the vivi I had gave me good vapor I would often get dry hits. I usualy tell people that are looking for what your looking for the same thing, try the VZ RBA from vaping zone. It gives me good flavor, vapor, simple to rebuild and is only $15. Its not the highest quality by any means but it works well with its simple design

It is a bottom coil which I think is what eliminated the dry hits for me. I vape 100% VG so I had trouble with wicking on top coil juice housing's. I also have a Terminator which doesn't perform as well as my bottom coil, Ive made some changes to the Terminator to help it perform better and I know I need to mod it more to get it where I want, but as of now the VZ RBA performs better than my Terminator, the VZ RBA was a fourth of the price.

You should check it out. Also there is a huge thread on the VZ RBA on this from. Hope I helped.

 

[stevem719]

So, just tried dripping on some of my old 510 cartos..

First time I've had to clean a battery, guess I overfilled it. Reminds me of why I gave up on trying to drip a couple years ago. Dry hits, overfills, gurgling.

I want the flavor, but I'm a total dripping newbie, so that's why I'm looking at carto tanks or Genesis style RBAs.

 

[RickL]

I'm new to RBA's. The cost of most of most of them just seems to high for what the are. Just my opinion.
I did buy 2 from discountvapors.
BO-8 Triton - Rebuildable Atomize $10.99
Phoenix Rebuildable Atomizer - Clone $8.99
The Triton did not and has not impressed me. However the Phoenix clone is great. Great full flavor and plenty of vapor. This is a great entry level RBA. Works well out of the box and is easy to rebuild.
Hope you find what you’re looking for.

 

[DietSalem]

say could you tell me how a drip shield works? ive done some dripping and i've see a drip shield but i still dont get how it works..if you put a shield over an atomizer...wont that cut off air flow?

A drip shield is very simple and easy to use. You basically slide it over the atty and it prevents any leaking (or, at least almost all of it). Drip wells in mods become obsolete.

Here are a ton of instructional videos: how to use a drip shield - YouTube

So, just tried dripping on some of my old 510 cartos..

First time I've had to clean a battery, guess I overfilled it. Reminds me of why I gave up on trying to drip a couple years ago. Dry hits, overfills, gurgling.

I want the flavor, but I'm a total dripping newbie, so that's why I'm looking at carto tanks or Genesis style RBAs.

Order some dripping atomizers for dripping. My suggested atomizers are:

Cisco Spec 510 (I use 3.0 ohms, make sure you get the proper ohm for your own vaping style though)
HR510 High Resistance Atomizer 3.0 ohm (Cisco Spec) - Avid Vaper
Cisco Spec 306 (You WILL need a 306 drip tip for this and these are more advanced than a 510. I don't suggest these for new drippers)
HR306 High Resistance Atomizer 3.0 ohm (Cisco Spec) - Avid Vaper
HH357 (Gets a lot of praise as having the "best" flavor and the "Cleanest" taste. PBusardo is well known for praising it heavily - it's also my personal favorite but has a steep learning curve)
HH.357 Cisco Spec Hybrid 510 Atomizer - Avid Vaper

Ikenvape's i06 is another great atty, but also requires a special drip tip. The draw is very tight and it feels like a cigarette. Produces a very very clean flavor most comparable to the HH357 but on a lower price budget.
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If you have ANY questions about dripping please private message me and I will sit down and answer any questions at all. Dripping is a much more emotional and intimate experience that many vapers don't appreciate enough. =)

 

[PhreakySTS9]

Do not just throw the idea of silica wicks away though. The old statements about "silica wicks having poor flavor" is an outdated myth!!! GOOD silica, like Imeo's that CoV sells for GG rebuildables is amazing, along with a lot of other quality silica. IME, the best flavor comes from silica for most juices as far as purity goes. Sure, a lot of juices are excellent in a genesis, but some actually seem to taste worse. But my Penelope, and now my new Kayfun, which both use silica wicks, have BY FAR the best flavor I have ever experienced in any RBA, including 4 genesis' that I owned (DID, DID clone, Cobra and a BliSS, all great RBA's even the DID clone). Do NOT just discount the possibility of using something like a Penelope, Odysseus, iAtty, the new Ithaka Terminator/Nautilus, Kayfun, or even drippers, cheap or expensive. Silica can be great, and is much more true to the original flavor of a juice than stainless steel mesh (which also tastes amazing, but usually different as well).

The same is also true for cotton and probably bamboo and other similar wicking materials. SS mesh is NOT the only high quality wicking material in the RBA world! Not by a long shot!

Plus, the added benefit of a tank RBA like the GG RBA's, Kayfuns, etc. is that they are perfectly pocket friendly. Absolutely no worries about leaks the way a genesis can if it tips over a bit in your pocket if you sit down, move, breathe too hard (kidding, but seriously....). The Penelope is excellent and still my favorite RBA to date, though I am very, very impressed with my Kayfun mini as well.

 

[ttrendel]

I'd move on to dripping and then progress to rba's once you get that down. I'd also urge you to do your homework on rba's. They are definitely worth it, but a little research can save you a lot of frustration.

 

[blaufisch]

I second the dripping. You can also combine the RBA idea with a rebuildable dripping atomizer. I use the V3 and I couldn't be happier! Easy to clean, can switch flavours easily, easy to rebuild ( i just did in under 5 minutes ), and full full flavour. I bought some clearos to use when out and about and was so disappointed with the lack of flavour compared to dripping. Still I use them. I drip at home and clearo when i'm out.

Might be easier to get practice with rebuildables before jumping into the AGA world... I am no stranger to tools or tinkering, yet not that brave yet