My 1st RBA

[louis1]

So, after much research i have been looking for a cheap easy rba for my 1st.

Decided on an IGO L.

im quite confident i can build coils well for these.

can someone confirm what ill need. This is what i plan to buy on jan 2nd

Igo l
provari (so i can read ohms and have short protection)
30 gauge wire
silica wick
wire cutters

is that all i will need?
Is there anything dangerous about a beginner doing this?

I cant wait to try this.
Anyway any advice would be great or if ive missed anything out.

kind regards
louis

 

[louis1]

+ loads of juice and back up vivi novas

 

[ohh EPiC FAiL]

you don't need a provari, that's awfully expensive to get just for an ohm checker. there are plenty of cheaper options that will read your ohms and a cheap multimeter will do it as well. i got into rebuildables and mech mods a week after i started vaping because i already was very familiar with lithium cells and i did my research and i've had great luck, but i know i'm the minority. if you own and know how to use a multimeter then you should be fine. don't be afraid to post and ask questions and it never hurts to double check things for safety.

good luck, you'll be a coil master in no time if you are patient and/or just obsessive like i am.

 

[jmunk]

Yes loads of juice, I just got started with RBA and I have been burning through Juice. If this is your first time building watch videos 2 or 3 times each. If your going to start nano coils get 20awg needles. Watch more YouTube on things like hot spots and shorts. And then post pictures!

 

[generic mutant]

Helping hands are useful, though not everyone uses them.

I'd get a multimeter. They aren't expensive, and it's good to be able to double check things.

 

[Jazzi Mike]

If you are looking for a mod to tell you the resistance of your builds, there are plenty of mods under $50 that will do that too. I actually use my MVP 2 to test my builds. I stopped using it when I got my Reo, but it is pretty accurate, even with builds that are lower than will fire on it.

Anyhow, if you just want a Provari for other reasons, good for you. It is reliable and consistent. If you have the money, then go for it.

 

[louis1]

If you are looking for a mod to tell you the resistance of your builds, there are plenty of mods under $50 that will do that too. I actually use my MVP 2 to test my builds. I stopped using it when I got my Reo, but it is pretty accurate, even with builds that are lower than will fire on it.

Anyhow, if you just want a Provari for other reasons, good for you. It is reliable and consistent. If you have the money, then go for it.

Yeah, i want a provari anyway. But it helps with ohms checks and short protection which is a bonus.

 

[dice57]

Nail clippers will work fine for snipping the wire. Silica will work but prefer hemp fiber or cotton. Check out the micro coil thread for a great way to build great coils. What you listed is fine to get started. As you progress may want to pick up an atomizer ohm meter, more accurate and great for a stable base to hold your rba while mounting and wicking your build. Also getting a Ronson Butane torch for heating wire, setting coils, and oxidizing SS mesh is a great tool too. Tweezers, needle nose pliers and blunt tip syringe needles are handy to have. No need to get everything at once, but you'll find that tools make for easy builds.

Good choice on the Provari, was the regulated mod that I chose, sounds like you did your research. Before you buy a big roll of 30 awg Kanthal, you might want to try some 28 awg also. I bought small packs of 32, 30 and 28 awg to try out before finding I liked 28 awg best for my builds. It's good to try out different sizes first so you don't end up with 50' of wire you don't want.

Good luck, have fun, the world of rba's is rewarding and addicting. One usually ends up spending more on great rba's then they ever do on a mod, makes the Provari look like quite a bargain, in retrospect. But the one thing I have learned, buying quality vape gear is never a waste of money.

 

[bosun]

I use cotton for a wicking material when making micro coils on my IGO L. Just search for "micro coil", there is a long thread on them. Inexpensive, easy to do, easy to get, quick to replace to change flavors or when burnt.

 

[Dakota Jim]

You will probably want to add a small butane torch (similar to what chef's use to carmelize sugar)
this will allow you to build "micro" coils much easier (micro coils seem to have fewer hot spots and fire more consistently in my opinion)
I personally use the machine screw method then torch it red and compress with pliers several times (after I remove it from the screw of course)

Watch some of the youtube videos on rebuilding protank heads and modify as needed

 

[dice57]

Yeah, i want a provari anyway. But it helps with ohms checks and short protection which is a bonus.

Being that you are across the pond, I'd check out the SvoëMesto regulated mod. Every bit as good as the Provari but has VW feature too, and closer if you ever need it serviced. I chose the Provari over the SvoëMesto, mainly because if it ever needs service the company is only 35 miles away.

 

[greatdyskensia]

I'm not sure if those wicks are actually made of silica, they make an interesting taste if directly "smoked," but it would be cool if it actually was. Is this specific forum about creating custom elements so other substances can be used as a wick other than silica and if it's nessicery? I do love the science involved in the entire process and I would love to learn the mechanics better.

 

[InTheShade]

Before you buy a big roll of 30 awg Kanthal, you might want to try some 28 awg also. I bought small packs of 32, 30 and 28 awg to try out before finding I liked 28 awg best for my builds. It's good to try out different sizes first so you don't end up with 50' of wire you don't want.

Good advice. I bought a 100 foot spool of 32 ga. that I don't use much any more. Temco sell 25, 50 and 100 feet lengths of the more popular gauges and it's a good idea to get some of each.

Youtube is your friend, there are literally hundreds of good videos about coil building. Reading up in the rebuildable-atomizer-systems/ subforum is a good thing too.

As you'll be using a protected APV, the risks of using an RDA are reduced compared to using it on a mechanical mod - but make sure you spend some time reading up on battery safety too - information is power.

 

[SpettroJoe]

depending on how old you are, some sort of magnifying device, either attached to a lamp, or visor type might help.

alot of us older folks use different types because, well we cant see the little crap so well anymore hehe.

 

[Mark Anthony]

Might I suggest organic cotton instead of silica wick.... much, much cheaper and in my experience, much much better vape.

 

[burtonsnowww]

my main device i use when im home is a igo-l on a provari mini. i have the igo setup with a micro coil rolled on a 1/16 drill bit with 28g kanthal, im at 1.5 ohms and i use cvs cotton as my wick. i also made my airhole 1/16 on the igo seemed to help alot, it gives a great vape/taste.

 

[louis1]

Thanks everyone. Taken on board all comments. Great advice.

Really excited about it. Will post some vape porn soon as i get my gear

 

[Bulgarian man]

My first rba was a cobra atomizer and than rocket and now-kayfun.