Natural Tobaccos - Part Deux

[Bob Chill]

Bob,

Many, many synthetic cigar retail juices and flavorings are available in the marketplace, but a decent one? Sorry, I've never vaped a single synthetic cigar juice---retail or DIY made from a cigar flavoring---that was decent. Every one I've ever had has been ersatz. Hangsen Cubana Cigar is probably the best of the 20 or so I've had, which is damning with faint praise.

Thanks, Bill. Doesn't surprise me that hangsen has one of the "passable" cigar flavors. I adore many of their regular tobaccos. I need to re-up on a few anyways and concentrate is cheap. I'll grab a 10ml bottle and mix him some. You never know. He's being hardnosed about flavors because it's been his love for so many years. Just like with us cigarette smokers. I was the same way early on then I "got it" and my world changed. I'll probably end up liking it too. lol

Of course I'm back to mostly tobaccos now but I'm not in it for the ashtray mouth flavor at all. I like tobaccos because they are complex and hard to get bored of. Just like bourbon and whisky. Ooh, speaking of which...I pulled out a bottle of aged GJ4 yesterday to go with a bottle of Eagle Rare 10yo bourbon I just bought....mmmmm

 

[Jerms]

Not OT for this thread but maybe one of you knows where to find a decent non NET synthetic cigar flavor. My buddy is going to buy some MVJ but I think it would be a good idea for him to test synthetic as well. I can mix it for him too so concentrates are fine as well as premix.

There's a couple NET/synthetic cigars I can think of as 'decent', but for me they're far from great. He may dig them though, nothing wrong with them I just don't dig the synthetic cigar flavor much. From ThePlumeRoom; Ramaglia's Toscano Gold. They used to have a Cuban cigar one but I'm not seeing it. And from Ahl, Dulce Cubanito, which tasted a lot like TPR's Cuban that I had.

 

[billherbst]

There's a couple NET/synthetic cigars I can think of as 'decent', but for me they're far from great. He may dig them though, nothing wrong with them I just don't dig the synthetic cigar flavor much. From ThePlumeRoom; Ramaglia's Toscano Gold. They used to have a Cuban cigar one but I'm not seeing it. And from Ahl, Dulce Cubanito, which tasted a lot like TPR's Cuban that I had.

Jerms,

While I hold Andrea in high regard as a vendor, TPR Ramaglia's Toscano Gold was a big meh for me. Perhaps my expectations were too high. Now, of course, I'm completely spoiled by my own homemade cigar extracts. I've extracted 13 cigars so far, and the worst of them is still worlds better than any synthetic cigar juice or flavoring I've ever tried. I still like some synthetic tobacco juices---Classic RY4s and various bakery-type blends that use synthetic tobacco flavoring as one ingredient among many---but I don't even think of synthetic tobacco flavors as "tobacco" at all anymore. They're something else.

I was seduced recently by a 2-for-1 sale from RocketFuelVapes to try their Reaper Blend, which is a combination of six synthetic tobaccos that was praised to the skies by Spinfuel reviews, but my palate rejected it completely. Just more synthetic concoction masquerading as tobacco. Like ordering sashimi and getting bad canned tuna. Reaper's Blend is vaguely candied, and truly awful to me. I should have known better and wasn't surprised that I hated it. Heck, I don't know why I even read juice reviews from Spinfuel. Mostly it's just the odd link that comes up when I'm browsing out of curiosity, but I hardly ever agree with their supposedly expert panel of reviewers about any retail juice. I don't know what planet those people are from, but it sure isn't the one I'm from. I suppose that's why I'm here on this thread and they're wherever they are.

 

[Brobdingnagian]

There's a couple NET/synthetic cigars I can think of as 'decent', but for me they're far from great. He may dig them though, nothing wrong with them I just don't dig the synthetic cigar flavor much. From ThePlumeRoom; Ramaglia's Toscano Gold. They used to have a Cuban cigar one but I'm not seeing it. And from Ahl, Dulce Cubanito, which tasted a lot like TPR's Cuban that I had.

Agreed regarding the synthetic v. NET. I have yet to try any of NETCom's offerings, tbh (I hear good things, but until I taste an e-liquid, I never know if it's right for me personally), but if necessary for thine taste buds; one can request an MyVapeJuice liquid with extra (or extra extra) extract. Going that high, though... it's going to make gunk evident. MvJ's CAO Italia was good, but I felt it needed extra extract- I ordered it as-is. There was definitely that oily cigar presence going on.

The cigars I liked the most....well....they're actually MFTom's homebrews and I can't find the respective counterparts available for sale elsewhere (which I presume is one of the reasons he decided to extract them), but if I could, I would go straight for 1926 Padron; finer than any Cubano I've ever tasted (no offense to Cuban cigars being smoked around the world, but this was flat-out better and more flavorful: in vape form, nonetheless).

Sans buying e-liquid or making a synthetic extract, have you considered taking his favorite cigar and making it into a heat-assisted homebrew extract, Bob?

I realize that there's going to be a bit of time and work involved, but if, for example, NETCom's Big Spirit were available to me when I very first started vaping, it would have been like me transitioning from the analog version of the tobacco I enjoyed the most, straight over to an e-liquid version of the same: I might not have had a hard time finding an e-liquid I liked and simply would have just stuck with NETs.

Not to say that either method is required, or necessarily the best choice. I'm just trying to put myself in your buddy's shoes and think "what would make me quit, if I still was on analogs and had never picked up that cigalike from the convenience store, back in 2011"?

Then again, depending on whether your friend smokes run-of-the mill Swisher Sweets or Dutch Masters or highly expensive 16$+ a pop cigars, I suppose either will affect his outright enjoyment of a given vape, but if you're saying he already likes what you're vaping on- there's a world of possibilities open for him.

Remember, you can always order extract from NETCom or MyVapeJuice, that way you can mix at a level that provides flavor without too much gunking going on.

This has the added benefit of taking out the whole "extracting it yourself from the cigar/cigarette" equation.

Personally, Latakia is what I vape to take the edge off when I'm really stressed; when I would normally want an analog.

Also included were samples of The Boss and Dover Court.

Haven't tried The Boss, but Dover Court and Coventry are my replacements for Vita Bella. To me, they're great OOB and don't require any steep time.

I actually received a rather large order from Clay today, which included 60ml of Uncle BJ's Blackberry Burley, 30ml's of: Chris' Blend & Dover Court, samples of Sun Cured Turkish and Big Spirit, and 5ml extracts for Flue Cured Virginia, Sun-Cured Turkish, and Gold.

(EDIT: I forgot to mention, I also ordered 30ml of the Choctaw Perique. I have been missing Perique, very much so.)

Additionally, some other goodies that I was pleasantly surprised by.

 

[Jerms]

Jerms,

While I hold Andrea in high regard as a vendor, TPR Ramaglia's Toscano Gold was a big meh for me. Perhaps my expectations were too high. Now, of course, I'm completely spoiled by my own homemade cigar extracts. I've extracted 13 cigars so far, and the worst of them is still worlds better than any synthetic cigar juice or flavoring I've ever tried. I still like some synthetic tobacco juices---Classic RY4s and various bakery-type blends that use synthetic tobacco flavoring as one ingredient among many---but I don't even think of synthetic tobacco flavors as "tobacco" at all anymore. They're something else.

I was seduced recently by a 2-for-1 sale from RocketFuelVapes to try their Reaper Blend, which is a combination of six synthetic tobaccos that was praised to the skies by Spinfuel reviews, but my palate rejected it completely. Just more synthetic concoction masquerading as tobacco. Like ordering sashimi and getting bad canned tuna. Reaper's Blend is vaguely candied, and truly awful to me. I should have known better and wasn't surprised that I hated it. Heck, I don't know why I even read juice reviews from Spinfuel. Mostly it's just the odd link that comes up when I'm browsing out of curiosity, but I hardly ever agree with their supposedly expert panel of reviewers about any retail juice. I don't know what planet those people are from, but it sure isn't the one I'm from. I suppose that's why I'm here on this thread and they're wherever they are.

Bill, Spinfuel doesn't have an expert panel of reviewers, they have an expert panel of promoters lol.

Spinfuel is an e-zine that promotes the products of paid advertisers. I haven't been to the site in a long time, maybe they are now a legitimate review site, but I doubt it.

 

[Bob Chill]

Agreed regarding the synthetic v. NET. I have yet to try any of NETCom's offerings, tbh (I hear good things, but until I taste an e-liquid, I never know if it's right for me personally), but if necessary for thine taste buds; one can request an MyVapeJuice liquid with extra (or extra extra) extract. Going that high, though... it's going to make gunk evident. MvJ's CAO Italia was good, but I felt it needed extra extract- I ordered it as-is. There was definitely that oily cigar presence going on.

The cigars I liked the most....well....they're actually MFTom's homebrews and I can't find the respective counterparts available for sale elsewhere (which I presume is one of the reasons he decided to extract them), but if I could, I would go straight for 1926 Padron; finer than any Cubano I've ever tasted (no offense to Cuban cigars being smoked around the world, but this was flat-out better and more flavorful: in vape form, nonetheless).

Sans buying e-liquid or making a synthetic extract, have you considered taking his favorite cigar and making it into a heat-assisted homebrew extract, Bob?

I realize that there's going to be a bit of time and work involved, but if, for example, NETCom's Big Spirit were available to me when I very first started vaping, it would have been like me transitioning from the analog version of the tobacco I enjoyed the most, straight over to an e-liquid version of the same: I might not have had a hard time finding an e-liquid I liked and simply would have just stuck with NETs.

Not to say that either method is required, or necessarily the best choice. I'm just trying to put myself in your buddy's shoes and think "what would make me quit, if I still was on analogs and had never picked up that cigalike from the convenience store, back in 2011"?

Then again, depending on whether your friend smokes run-of-the mill Swisher Sweets or Dutch Masters or highly expensive 16$+ a pop cigars, I suppose either will affect his outright enjoyment of a given vape, but if you're saying he already likes what you're vaping on- there's a world of possibilities open for him.

Remember, you can always order extract from NETCom or MyVapeJuice, that way you can mix at a level that provides flavor without too much gunking going on.

This has the added benefit of taking out the whole "extracting it yourself from the cigar/cigarette" equation.

Personally, Latakia is what I vape to take the edge off when I'm really stressed; when I would normally want an analog.


Haven't tried The Boss, but Dover Court and Coventry are my replacements for Vita Bella. To me, they're great OOB and don't require any steep time.

I actually received a rather large order from Clay today, which included 60ml of Uncle BJ's Blackberry Burley, 30ml's of: Chris' Blend & Dover Court, samples of Sun Cured Turkish and Big Spirit, and 5ml extracts for Flue Cured Virginia, Sun-Cured Turkish, and Gold.

(EDIT: I forgot to mention, I also ordered 30ml of the Choctaw Perique. I have been missing Perique, very much so.)

Additionally, some other goodies that I was pleasantly surprised by.

Very insightful. Thank you.

It's such a balance of simple stupid but good enough equipment and best juice to test the waters. If I thought he could handle a rebuilding kayfuns I wouldn't think twice about full blown nets and great performing tank. There's just no way he can start that way so finding a balance is tough to get him off on the right foot.

He smokes all types of "decent" cigars and no cheapos. Also, limited top shelf stuff. He smokes cigars all day though so his taste is fried. He probably gets more enjoyment from the acrid burn of the smoke than the subtle nuances in the flavors. Even the best tasting NET isn't going to give him what he's used to (and he knows this).

I'm trying to figure out the best crawl-walk-run process and a simple dual coil protank or similar is the most advanced it can be. I suppose if the worst case of a real net is burning up coils he can just replace them often. The switch is for health and not financial reasons. My worry is if it is difficult to do at the get go it won't catch on. If it does, he'll definitely go down the dripper/kayfun route. He's a sharp guy but need to get feet wet first.

I think a easy on the coils net with high nic should give enough punch before the next step up. Even try out a more robust net that gums up coils but gives a taste of what is possible is a good thing to try as well. No catchall solution here. I have to deal with tradeoffs and give the best advice I can.

 

[Frankenmizer]

Bill, Spinfuel doesn't have an expert panel of reviewers, they have an expert panel of promoters lol.

Spinfuel is an e-zine that promotes the products of paid advertisers. I haven't been to the site in a long time, maybe they are now a legitimate review site, but I doubt it.

Well said, Jerms. At first I thought they were legit..but then they went full hype mode on a particular vendor and I clued in fast.

 

[MikeNice81]

Start with a Protank 3 or Mini and a couple of boxes of heads. If he can spend $12 a day to smoke decent cigars he can afford two heads a day and decent net juice. Plus it really doesn't get any easier than switching heads on a bottom coil tank. Netcom will only last about one PT3 mini in my experience. MVJ will do fine in a T3D. So, a Protank shouldn't be out of the question.

Get him started and then later, when his taste buds come back, teach him how to rewick for better flavor.

 

[rdsok]

As I mentioned earlier.... I got another Infinite Magma RDA and a Tobeco Mephisto RDA in today...

When I got home... I put a single coil/wick into each of them and filled the Mephisto up with some MVJ Drew Estate 7th Ave ( already had a Magma going with the same juice )... I'm not even close to as impressed with it as Jerms is/was. To me, the flavor is just not there or as saturated as I taste with the Magma... I probably need to recoil just in case, but it looks as if it heats up identically so I don't think it's from hot spots or lack of wicking etc.

The difference in the build materials alone is probably where I'd start. The Magma is milled out of stainless on both the base and cap.. the Mephisto is a thin walled tube on the cap and the base pretty basic ( although a large capacity ). I do like the posts and the threads on the Mephisto as well as the delrin insert for the drip tip, so those are pluses. The o-ring to hold the cap on is a 1/2 size too large making it hard to get on.. this resulted in my making a mess. I looked at my stock and couldn't find one the size I think it would need to address that. Aligning the air hole on the Magma is a no brainer... you have to pay attention with the Mephisto of course a slightly thinner o-ring would help with those issues.

The Mephisto... is going into early retirement for me.

 

[boomerdude]

As your cigar smoker may take a few months for his taste buds to kick in. Maybe W2V with a 5 pack of extra coils?

Wow, thanks for the quick replies. I think mvj might do the trick. His taste buds are shot right now so it may not matter with the tradeoff of less flavor. He tried my DIY stuff and some 6 month old Vita Bella at the beach a month ago and had a hard time tasting anything clearly. Liked the throat and mouth hit on my kayfun at least.

I'm on the lower nic side nowadays so 18-24 will make up some of it in a clearo. I'm just glad he wants to give it an honest chance. If he can knock off the cigars for a month his taste should come back enough to experience how good it can be.

 

[boomerdude]

What's up Jim? You bored? Or is the nic gettin to ya?

*sigh*

........

 

[patioclark]

Very insightful. Thank you.

It's such a balance of simple stupid but good enough equipment and best juice to test the waters. If I thought he could handle a rebuilding kayfuns I wouldn't think twice about full blown nets and great performing tank. There's just no way he can start that way so finding a balance is tough to get him off on the right foot.

He smokes all types of "decent" cigars and no cheapos. Also, limited top shelf stuff. He smokes cigars all day though so his taste is fried. He probably gets more enjoyment from the acrid burn of the smoke than the subtle nuances in the flavors. Even the best tasting NET isn't going to give him what he's used to (and he knows this).

I'm trying to figure out the best crawl-walk-run process and a simple dual coil protank or similar is the most advanced it can be. I suppose if the worst case of a real net is burning up coils he can just replace them often. The switch is for health and not financial reasons. My worry is if it is difficult to do at the get go it won't catch on. If it does, he'll definitely go down the dripper/kayfun route. He's a sharp guy but need to get feet wet first.

I think a easy on the coils net with high nic should give enough punch before the next step up. Even try out a more robust net that gums up coils but gives a taste of what is possible is a good thing to try as well. No catchall solution here. I have to deal with tradeoffs and give the best advice I can.

Oh man, you are a good friend and your description of your buddy could absolutely be me. To the rest of you fine folks, I've been reading this forum room for a little while and getting a few posts in to finally join your discussions. Thanks for all of the great insights, opinions, reviews, and knowledge shared.

While I never smoked cigarettes, I found myself smoking 3-4 decent cigars a day and 5-6 on golf days. Mostly Rocky Patel maduros of various kinds but others as well and an occasional really good one. Taste buds shot and morning coughing at age 56. I now smoke about one a week and vape about 5 ml a day and feel much better and am quite satisfied.

May I share a quick description of my progression because I wouldn't be surprised if it works for your friend? I started with a couple of vision twists with Aspire BDCs and also a couple of Vapor4lifes with smilomizers. I actually still use those on the golf course and might recommend those (blanks and fill your own) for your friend. In terms of ease of use and closeness to cigar smoking, V4L is worth considering. I moved into a Spinner 2 with an AeroTank (and replaced coils daily) and now use a Sigelei 20W with a Kayfun Lite V2 and build a basic micro coil and wick with cotton.

For juices, I started with MyFreedomSmokes Cuba Cigar and progressed through Want2Vapes' Managua and Alcazar (still not bad and closer for cigar smoker) and now hang out with MVJ and Diane's Perdomo #23 with an extra flavor shot and "just a tad" of menthol. Funny enough her Ashton and Berkshire pipe juice really work for me too. Another that I got early on and come back to is GeJ the Godfather. Not cigar like at all but still works. All in all, it really only took about a week to kick the analogs and really to prefer the vape. It's different to be sure but I prefer it now. In the end, I'm guessing I'll try some extractions and look forward to approaching this group for both tips and trades. I'm targeting my first as a Rocky Patel Edge Maduro.

So thanks again folks for making this a great spot to keep coming back to, and good luck to your cigar smoking friend. I wish someone would have vaped me out a couple of years ago but glad to be here now.

 

[Jerms]

As I mentioned earlier.... I got another Infinite Magma RDA and a Tobeco Mephisto RDA in today...

When I got home... I put a single coil/wick into each of them and filled the Mephisto up with some MVJ Drew Estate 7th Ave ( already had a Magma going with the same juice )... I'm not even close to as impressed with it as Jerms is/was. To me, the flavor is just not there or as saturated as I taste with the Magma... I probably need to recoil just in case, but it looks as if it heats up identically so I don't think it's from hot spots or lack of wicking etc.

The difference in the build materials alone is probably where I'd start. The Magma is milled out of stainless on both the base and cap.. the Mephisto is a thin walled tube on the cap and the base pretty basic ( although a large capacity ). I do like the posts and the threads on the Mephisto as well as the delrin insert for the drip tip, so those are pluses. The o-ring to hold the cap on is a 1/2 size too large making it hard to get on.. this resulted in my making a mess. I looked at my stock and couldn't find one the size I think it would need to address that. Aligning the air hole on the Magma is a no brainer... you have to pay attention with the Mephisto of course a slightly thinner o-ring would help with those issues.

The Mephisto... is going into early retirement for me.

That's too bad, should be getting as good of flavor as any other side hole dripper.

Did you soak the dripper in hot water or anything to clean it? The reason I ask is when I got it the top cap went on fine. Then I soaked and brushed to clean like I normally do with new devices and suddenly the cap was very hard to get on. I switched the oring out with one of the extras that comes with it that hadn't been soaked and it's fine, not too tight or loose. Try switching out the oring if you decide to play with it again. And guessing you need to work on the position of your coil with the airflow if you're not getting a good vape.

 

[Jerms]

Oh man, you are a good friend and your description of your buddy could absolutely be me. To the rest of you fine folks, I've been reading this forum room for a little while and getting a few posts in to finally join your discussions. Thanks for all of the great insights, opinions, reviews, and knowledge shared.

While I never smoked cigarettes, I found myself smoking 3-4 decent cigars a day and 5-6 on golf days. Mostly Rocky Patel maduros of various kinds but others as well and an occasional really good one. Taste buds shot and morning coughing at age 56. I now smoke about one a week and vape about 5 ml a day and feel much better and am quite satisfied.

May I share a quick description of my progression because I wouldn't be surprised if it works for your friend? I started with a couple of vision twists with Aspire BDCs and also a couple of Vapor4lifes with smilomizers. I actually still use those on the golf course and might recommend those (blanks and fill your own) for your friend. In terms of ease of use and closeness to cigar smoking, V4L is worth considering. I moved into a Spinner 2 with an AeroTank (and replaced coils daily) and now use a Sigelei 20W with a Kayfun Lite V2 and build a basic micro coil and wick with cotton.

For juices, I started with MyFreedomSmokes Cuba Cigar and progressed through Want2Vapes' Managua and Alcazar (still not bad and closer for cigar smoker) and now hang out with MVJ and Diane's Perdomo #23 with an extra flavor shot and "just a tad" of menthol. Funny enough her Ashton and Berkshire pipe juice really work for me too. Another that I got early on and come back to is GeJ the Godfather. Not cigar like at all but still works. All in all, it really only took about a week to kick the analogs and really to prefer the vape. It's different to be sure but I prefer it now. In the end, I'm guessing I'll try some extractions and look forward to approaching this group for both tips and trades. I'm targeting my first as a Rocky Patel Edge Maduro.

So thanks again folks for making this a great spot to keep coming back to, and good luck to your cigar smoking friend. I wish someone would have vaped me out a couple of years ago but glad to be here now.

Welcome aboard patioclark! Excellent advice.

 

[Evil Speakers]

As of today it's been one year since I quit smoking. When I started vaping I quickly discovered synthetic tobaccos weren't going to cut it. Luckily while researching dripping, Mr. Mann directed me to this thread. If that hand't had happened I doubt I would have stuck with it. Thank you all!

 

[Jerms]

As of today it's been one year since I quit smoking. When I started vaping I quickly discovered synthetic tobaccos weren't going to cut it. Luckily while researching dripping, Mr. Mann directed me to this thread. If that hand't had happened I doubt I would have stuck with it. Thank you all!

Congrats!

I've considered myself a non-smoker for a few years now, but I do occasionally indulge so you have more consecutive days than I ever had.

 

[clnire]

As of today it's been one year since I quit smoking. When I started vaping I quickly discovered synthetic tobaccos weren't going to cut it. Luckily while researching dripping, Mr. Mann directed me to this thread. If that hand't had happened I doubt I would have stuck with it. Thank you all!

Congratulations! Quite a milestone! And yes, the people here are so informative, truthful and open with opinions and advice it just makes the journey not only easier but so much better.

 

[Evil Speakers]

Congrats!

I've considered myself a non-smoker for a few years now, but I do occasionally indulge so you have more consecutive days than I ever had.

I tried to indulge a few times in the past year... They just don't taste good anymore. They have a weird chemical taste to me now that I never picked up on in my daily smoking years. It's kind of disappointing.

 

[rdsok]

That's too bad, should be getting as good of flavor as any other side hole dripper.

Did you soak the dripper in hot water or anything to clean it? The reason I ask is when I got it the top cap went on fine. Then I soaked and brushed to clean like I normally do with new devices and suddenly the cap was very hard to get on. I switched the oring out with one of the extras that comes with it that hadn't been soaked and it's fine, not too tight or loose. Try switching out the oring if you decide to play with it again. And guessing you need to work on the position of your coil with the airflow if you're not getting a good vape.

I cleaned it up... but I lubed the o-ring with straight PG afterword. Without getting out the micrometer... I'm guessing the current o-ring is about 1.5mm and the thinner one is at 1mm ... something in the middle would work better but I don't think I've seen a 1.25mm mentioned before but I haven't looked for one either. Everything else I have in the same diameter, are the same size as those two. I may look for one that is a slightly smaller diameter so it will stretch more... If I get the vape going better, otherwise it isn't worth the .10-.25 cents for an o-ring

My air hole vs the coil ... almost same spot. I've adjusted + and - of where I'd call the hole dead center of the coil is at and when I use a flashlight, I can see the coil through the slot. The vape, when moving the air hole vs the coil around... gave a almost no flavor to a harsh vape... in the middle was the best flavor but it wasn't very saturated. Air hole size... it's best in the 1mm to 2mm range.

The coil... 30ga, wound on a 1/16" rod, 10 wraps... usually ohms to 1.8Ω ... I'm getting a 1.7Ω reading currently. Using 2mm silica. The coil/wick on the Magma is setup identical and is actually measuring 1.8Ω

Even if I get this one running good... the difference in ease of setting up on the Mephisto vs the Magma is significant. As you will also see once you get yours.

 

[Jerms]

I cleaned it up... but I lubed the o-ring with straight PG afterword. Without getting out the micrometer... I'm guessing the current o-ring is about 1.5mm and the thinner one is at 1mm ... something in the middle would work better but I don't think I've seen a 1.25mm mentioned before but I haven't looked for one either. Everything else I have in the same diameter, are the same size as those two. I may look for one that is a slightly smaller diameter so it will stretch more... If I get the vape going better, otherwise it isn't worth the .10-.25 cents for an o-ring

My air hole vs the coil ... almost same spot. I've adjusted + and - of where I'd call the hole dead center of the coil is at and when I use a flashlight, I can see the coil through the slot. The vape, when moving the air hole vs the coil around... gave a almost no flavor to a harsh vape... in the middle was the best flavor but it wasn't very saturated. Air hole size... it's best in the 1mm to 2mm range.

The coil... 30ga, wound on a 1/16" rod, 10 wraps... usually ohms to 1.8Ω ... I'm getting a 1.7Ω reading currently. Using 2mm silica. The coil/wick on the Magma is setup identical and is actually measuring 1.8Ω

Even if I get this one running good... the difference in ease of setting up on the Mephisto vs the Magma is significant. As you will also see once you get yours.

Make sure the coil is pretty close to the top cap, like only a mm or 2 away. You should be able to easily see the coil through the airhole without needing to use a flashlight. It needs long legs to reach the airhole, so if your resistance is lower than normal than it sounds like your legs are short. I'm using the same coil as in smaller drippers and the resistance is actually higher; 1.07 ohm instead of 0.98-1 ohm that I normally get.

Sounds like this is your first side hole dripper? They are all I use, so setting up is as easy and putting the legs through the posts and screwing it down for me, since I've rebuilt so many.