NEW RBA for a NEW USER

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Techcafiend

Full Member
Jun 5, 2014
25
6
NYC
Hey guys, been vaping for a bit now; started out with a provari & nautilus and looking into picking up a RBA; not jumping head first especially not without a bit of information/research. Any recommended guides i should look at, videos i should check out on how to get started/maintenance/buildings coil/wick builds. I have never built a coil/wick set up before, so any bit of information is helpful information.

Also, what is a recommended rba to look at, i have been checking out the kayfun lite plus v2 and the russian 91 v2 (with v1 adjustable screw center pin).

Thanks in advance!
 

kbalz

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Jun 15, 2012
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Kentucky Florence Y'All
MICRO COILS 101 - PART 1 MAKING THE COIL USING THE COIL GIZMO - YouTube
rip trippers has a bunch of videos and so does sxmxdrifter on micro coils. the kayfun 3.1 is a good one the russian as well. I have read a bunch of good things about the fogger v4 and squape r just came out suppose to be kick ayuss. for rda's the igo-w is good to.

http://youtu.be/Z0NuH93KvtY

http://youtu.be/OQt8-EbWTZg

http://www.amazon.com/Artistic-Wire-Coiling-Deluxe-Jewelry/dp/B0068RQ85K

http://youtu.be/szepI_A6Zu8

http://youtu.be/TjCPQNiRVv4

here are just a few , there is a bunch on you tube from a bunch of different methods.
 
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Larry777

Full Member
Jan 19, 2014
33
18
Twin Cities MN
Most people start with a dripper mistakenly thinking that will give them the best vape...

my experience is this: A dripper you really only have to learn how to build a simple coil and wick
a tank style you need a good coil as well as customizing the build a bit to the way the tank's setup which adds in a second layer of complexity.

My advice: Don't be fooled by the folks that tell you to start on a dripper, you'll most likely find it will be a relatively short-lived experiment.

A kayfun-style deck is one of the easiest builds out there and happens to also offer a pretty good vape = That's where I'd point you. I have several kayfun family products and still insist it is the best way for a beginner to learn building.

As for guidance = Practice practice practice! Some videos on Youtube *ahem Rip Trippers* push the envelope of both settings and comfort, take EVERYTHING you see in on youtube before you consider any one source perfect.

Buy a whole spool of Kanthal 28gauge wire, a bag of cotton balls, and have at 'er!

Good Luck
 

Completely Average

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Jan 21, 2014
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Suburbs of Dallas
My advice: Don't be fooled by the folks that tell you to start on a dripper, you'll most likely find it will be a relatively short-lived experiment.


I agree and disagree.

I very rarely drip. Usually only to test a new flavor. I will agree that for most people using a dripper will be short lived and then they'll go back to tanks.

HOWEVER....

I've found that having a cheap Igo-L RDA was invaluable for learning how to build coils and experimenting with different coil builds. It is a LOT easier to take the top off an RDA and replace the coil than it is to do the same thing in a Kayfun where you have to empty the tank, tear it all down, and lose a couple of ml of juice in the process. Nothing worse than getting your Kayfun all built, filled, take a few good puffs, and then get a dry hit because your wicking isn't quite right. You then have to spend the next half hour draining, taking apart, cleaning, rewicking, reassembling, and then refilling it just to HOPE you got it right this time. That alone is enough to make some people give up on them.

I would NOT recommend a high end RDA, but you can get an Igo-L for less than $10. Well worth the investment to have something so easy to learn on and experiment with. Learn how to build the coil, and more important, how to wick it properly with the Igo where a mistake only costs you 5 minutes to correct. Then, once you're comfortable with the coil building and wicking it's easy to transfer or replicate your build on the Kayfun.
 
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Techcafiend

Full Member
Jun 5, 2014
25
6
NYC
Thank You for all of the information, checking most of it out now.

Kbalz, I seen you posted a lot on micro coils, would that be the best route to take as a beginner; what is the difference between a micro coil and a standard coil? Will def invest in the jewelry maker, makes the process seem much simpler.

As for tools i will need, am i missing anything; so far i have the following:
Kanthal Wire – 28 gauge
Wire clippers
Artistic Wire Coiling Gizmo
Cotton
Pliers
Ohm Meter

What sites do people use mostly to buy these tools/wire/wick etc...?

As for RDA's, not into dripping; won't even attempt it. I much prefer a RBA, i have loved tanks so far and will love to simply stick to that. Loving the look of the russian, and might go ahead and get it to match my black provari. Is the following site legit, price about right? Says it has the V1 adjustable screw as opposed to the v2 which many people have had issues with.

The Russian 91% v2 Rebuildable Atomizer - EVcigarettes.com

Again, thanks a lot for all the info; taking everything in. Yeah, definitely will just practice and practice.
 

BeRight

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Mar 6, 2009
442
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Ellicott City, Maryland
Different strokes for different folks.

I am almost a 100% dripper - have been for years (since 2007 - not so good old days for vaping equipment).

Recommend starting with IGO-L or IGO-W - inexpensive quality clones, easy deck to build on, with deck lip - helps making them non-leakers. I needed to drill out air hole on IGO-L to 1/16 inch (some prefer even larger) for better airflow.

I still use my IGO-Ls/Ws at home and at work for a quick vape break and when trying out new juice flavors.

The Origen and Magma have easy decks to build on with wells to hold more juice - I use these for out and about.

The Magma oozes juice a little because of its airflow system (huge well .9ml and with a tissue nearby not an issue with tiny bit of juice oozing). Super airflow adjustability. The Magma 510 connection is long and does not fit flush on any of my mods.

Origen my all around favorite - easy single/dual coil build, non-leaker, well plus lipped deck, flush mounting on my mods (SVD, Hana mini,etc), two tone brushed and shiny stainless steel looks great. Flavor and vape production excellent.

Nimbus, patriot, stillaire (I own) plus a slew of other RDAs work well - recommend youtube search for other user reviews.

Lots of Kayfun fans on this forum. I have 2 kayfuns (different versions) - no longer use them - for me to finicky with wicking and air vacuum system, leaky sometimes. When I got it right they did vape well- so I know it is me and not the device. They are large toppers - need to be to hold all that juice.
 

wallacecarey

Senior Member
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Sep 20, 2013
217
74
Huntsville, Alabama
Hey guys, been vaping for a bit now; started out with a provari & nautilus and looking into picking up a RBA; not jumping head first especially not without a bit of information/research. Any recommended guides i should look at, videos i should check out on how to get started/maintenance/buildings coil/wick builds. I have never built a coil/wick set up before, so any bit of information is helpful information.

Also, what is a recommended rba to look at, i have been checking out the kayfun lite plus v2 and the russian 91 v2 (with v1 adjustable screw center pin).

Thanks in advance!

Lots of options and advice out there. Personally I like mesh wicks and use RSST's and a Kracken. I have a Kayfun and its ok but I just cant get much vapor or a warm vape from it. Wire mesh gives a very clean flavor and you can build a genny to the heat you like and change things up as your taste changes.
 

kbalz

Super Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Jun 15, 2012
348
264
Kentucky Florence Y'All
Thank You for all of the information, checking most of it out now.

Kbalz, I seen you posted a lot on micro coils, would that be the best route to take as a beginner; what is the difference between a micro coil and a standard coil? Will def invest in the jewelry maker, makes the process seem much simpler.

As for tools i will need, am i missing anything; so far i have the following:
Kanthal Wire – 28 gauge
Wire clippers
Artistic Wire Coiling Gizmo
Cotton
Pliers
Ohm Meter

What sites do people use mostly to buy these tools/wire/wick etc...?

As for RDA's, not into dripping; won't even attempt it. I much prefer a RBA, i have loved tanks so far and will love to simply stick to that. Loving the look of the russian, and might go ahead and get it to match my black provari. Is the following site legit, price about right? Says it has the V1 adjustable screw as opposed to the v2 which many people have had issues with.

The Russian 91% v2 Rebuildable Atomizer - EVcigarettes.com

Again, thanks a lot for all the info; taking everything in. Yeah, definitely will just practice and practice.

The Russian 91% V2 - Mt Baker Vapor - Electronic Cigarettes

use code vaporfrombaker for 10% off might be able to find better code it you search

TEMCo Industrial Power Supply

for wire this place is good.

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/coil-builds/416271-micro-coils-increase-vapor-flavor-th.html

The difference between a micro coil build and a normal wrap is that with the micro coil, the coil acts like one continues wrap spread out over a large area

Koh Gen Do Organic Cotton Pads at Barneys.com

this stuff works well for wick , if not than organic cotton from like cvs or something

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...tems/560391-japanese-organic-cotton-pads.html

How To Boil Cotton For Cotton Wicks - YouTube

because even organic cotton they use hydrogen peroxide in it . (koh gen do no need to boil)
 

kbalz

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Verified Member
Jun 15, 2012
348
264
Kentucky Florence Y'All
Thank You!

Will definitely be placing a few orders soon. Trying to see if i find myself a pyrex tank for the russian. Any ideas? I have heard that science of vaping makes one, not sure of pricing and if it fits the v2 as of yet though

I think they make one for the kayfun 3.1 which should fit your Russian I believe
 

Completely Average

Vaping Master
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Jan 21, 2014
3,997
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Suburbs of Dallas
The Russian 91% V2 - Mt Baker Vapor - Electronic Cigarettes

use code vaporfrombaker for 10% off might be able to find better code it you search

I could never, ever, EVER justify spending that much on a Kayfun clone. I don't care if they put the word "Russian" on the side, it's still nothing more than a clone of the Kayfun Lite Plus. You could get the EXACT same thing, a 1:1 Kayfun clone from Hcigar for about $40 and every single part on it will interchange seamlessly with either the Svoemesto Kayfun or the Russian.


maxresdefault.jpg

img_4626.jpg
 
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porkchop_express

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Feb 13, 2014
218
128
tx
Learning to wrap an efficient coil, mounting it, pulsing/tweezing it, locating it, wicking, etc is enough to deal with at first. Don't complicate things by adding a whole tank full of juice on top.

Start with a $10 IGO dripper and learn to do various builds. Then go from there. You will know what you like and don't like, what that next piece of gear needs to have, whether you want a tank or a deep-well flavor drippper or a quad coil fog machine.
 

Kropotkin

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ECF Veteran
Jul 13, 2012
795
15,300
Maine
I agree with Porkchop Express (awesome name!) and Be Right.

The IGO L is awesomely easy to build, and a very good value for money. After that, I'd recommend any uncomplicated 22mm dripper without a lot of extra features and wiggly bits. What you're looking for is a big deck to build on, and simple, easy-to-access posts.

And I can't think of any reason to suppose that you'll ultimately prefer tanks. I use drippers 80% of the time, and I'm sure plenty of others do too.

:)
 

niczgreat

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Verified Member
Jun 5, 2009
2,500
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Chino California
Listen to Badtitude and go to the link he suggested. Badtitude's page is a great starting point. He provides some of the best links and information I've encountered on the forum.

Now if you are feeling lazy and don't want to go through all the hassle of learning how to build coils, there is an alternative I've listed below.

I've been vaping for 3 weeks on Vaping Donuts from Fatdaddyvapes.com No need to build a coil. Just thread through the posts and add wicking.

My dual coil on a Reo Grand, Reomizer 2, is excellent.
 
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I agree and disagree.

I very rarely drip. Usually only to test a new flavor. I will agree that for most people using a dripper will be short lived and then they'll go back to tanks.

HOWEVER....

I've found that having a cheap Igo-L RDA was invaluable for learning how to build coils and experimenting with different coil builds. It is a LOT easier to take the top off an RDA and replace the coil than it is to do the same thing in a Kayfun where you have to empty the tank, tear it all down, and lose a couple of ml of juice in the process. Nothing worse than getting your Kayfun all built, filled, take a few good puffs, and then get a dry hit because your wicking isn't quite right. You then have to spend the next half hour draining, taking apart, cleaning, rewicking, reassembling, and then refilling it just to HOPE you got it right this time. That alone is enough to make some people give up on them.

I would NOT recommend a high end RDA, but you can get an Igo-L for less than $10. Well worth the investment to have something so easy to learn on and experiment with. Learn how to build the coil, and more important, how to wick it properly with the Igo where a mistake only costs you 5 minutes to correct. Then, once you're comfortable with the coil building and wicking it's easy to transfer or replicate your build on the Kayfun.

Completely agree with Completely Average. While rebuilding may eventually lead you to a Kayfun, wouldn't recommend starting out on one. My foray into rebuilding after much research beforehand led me to an IGO-L, from fasttech for under $10.

Rebuilding can be frustrating at times, and nothing is worse than jumping in with the big boys only to become overwhelmed and stuck with an expensive (comparatively speaking) investment. It's like making a New Years Resolution to exercise and then immediately running half marathons.

It's not rocket science, but does require time & plenty of patience. Start slow, work your way up. My two cents, FWIW.

Btw, for sources, check out this thread & RBA subreddit
 

Blackboar

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Mar 17, 2014
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352
Upper Marlboro, MD
My first rebuilding experience was in rebuilding my Protank and Vivi Nova coils. I learned how to torch, wrap, and torch the coil without having to pulse it, since it would burn the insulators of those heads. It is *not* what I would recommend to someone who is just learning to rebuild. The reasoning is simple. First, you have a tiny, itsy, bitsy space to work with. Two, like I mentioned earlier, you have to really be careful pulsing it to work out shorts because those soft rubber insulators will burn. So take it from experience and go get a RDA or RBA.

An RDA is actually quite perfect to learn on. An Igo-L is probably your best bet, though if you're inclined, any RDA that has single coil capability will work. This includes the Tridents, Omegas, Magmas, and other adjustable airflow RDA's with a single air hole option. With a RDA, you have a wondrous amount of space on the deck to build and accessibility to your coil and wick with the simple removal of the cap. You'll get to build, take down, and rebuild to your heart's content!

If you go to rebuildable tanks, the easiest to build are the Kayfun types. Doesn't matter if it's an authentic Kayfun, Russian, or well know clone. They have a large build deck and easy to install coils. The downside has already been mentioned, but basically once built and fouled, you have no access to your wick and coil until the juice in the tank is gone.

You have some great supplies. 28gauge kanthal is the best wire to start out with. It's thick enough to give you some stability with building, and thin enough that you can wrap it to a safe resistance without going into double digit number of wraps.

Btw, I moved from the Protanks and Vivi Nova's to an authentic Kayfun Lite +. Then I got my first RDA in the form of an Omega clone. Nowadays, I haven't rebuilt my Kayfun in over a month, just rewick it after a couple tanks of juice. But my RDA's, I recoil every few days, because I really have fun with them and love trying new builds. My wire selection also started with 28gauge. Now I use 30 gauge (to twist), 28 gauge (to coil my Kayfun or RSST or twist for my RDA's), 26 gauge, and 24 gauge (building very low subohms in the 0.25-0.30 range).
 

Kropotkin

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Jul 13, 2012
795
15,300
Maine
Blackboar said:
An RDA is actually quite perfect to learn on. An Igo-L is probably your best bet, though if you're inclined, any RDA that has single coil capability will work. This includes the Tridents, Omegas, Magmas, and other adjustable airflow RDA's with a single air hole option. With a RDA, you have a wondrous amount of space on the deck to build and accessibility to your coil and wick with the simple removal of the cap. You'll get to build, take down, and rebuild to your heart's content!

If you go to rebuildable tanks, the easiest to build are the Kayfun types. Doesn't matter if it's an authentic Kayfun, Russian, or well know clone. They have a large build deck and easy to install coils. The downside has already been mentioned, but basically once built and fouled, you have no access to your wick and coil until the juice in the tank is gone.
Or, if s/he's really dead set on starting with a tank, s/he could try something super-simple like the AGA T2, and build it with cotton instead of mesh. (This is as easy as pot pie.) That way s/he could build and wick on the big ol' deck, then saturate the coil and test it without having to fill the entire tank.

This isn't the smexiest item on the market, but the flavor and vapor production are actually pretty respectable. I practiced quite a few builds on this back in the day, and I still quite like it.
 
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