New RDA Enthusiast, seeking advice!

[AshtonChubbs]

What's up everybody, my name is Ashton and I live in Michigan. In September 2014 I kicked my smoking habit for good and started vaping. Even at the tender age of 21 it has truly changed my life. Recently my friend got me to take the dive and start dripping. I have an IPV2 (box mod with a digital readout, single battery running between 7 and 50 W), and a Dark Horse RDA (not a clone). I'm still getting my feet wet, but am hoping to refine my game and get better at building clouds for a small competition on the 23rd of either this month or next (either way I want to be ready).

Some stuff about me: I'm currently switching colleges and programs, but was an Engineering student at Michigan State University for 2.5 years. I know a decent amount about Ohm's Law and electrical physics in general. That being said, vaping and building setups is proving to be a lot different than sitting in a lecture hall. Right now I'm running microcoils with organic cotton, and I LOVE it. From what I've seen online or heard from friends, that's the way to go. So what are some things I can do to up my game?

Specific questions:

I built my own first coils last night (The guy at my shop built my first couple for me), and the dry-fire on them was solid, but sometimes it's almost as if it shorts out mid-hit if I'm going for a big hit. What could cause this?

What are some notable breathing techniques for getting a bigger cloud? Right now I'm exhaling until I have almost no air left, putting my mouth on the RDA, firing, finishing the exhale to get a little blow-off, and then inhaling for 10-20 seconds. This can get frustrating when dealing with the problem mentioned in my first question. Do I need to fire in waves or are there any tricks you guys have?

I have just started poking around the forums for which juices to use, but am still a little overwhelmed by everything. Right now I'm using DNA juice, which is $1/mL, and it is some astounding juice. Personal favorites are "The Dough" and "Key Lime Pie." But I know it isn't 100% VG. Would I be better off finding a vendor for 100% VG or just making my own?

Thanks in advance members of ecf, and Vape On!

 

[azara]

No tricks. For clouds, try exhaling into the Atty itself. It cooks off random residual juice and keeps your coils from flooding. Then inhale after. As far as juices, you won't find many good 100 percent juices, but as far as competitions go, they typically use a standard juice they have, not one you bring with you. Also, try to get your hands on a high drain battery, I.e. the 40 amp drain cloud chaser.as far as your coils go... Maybe a short in your build? I actually haven't heard of a mod doing that before. I'll ask around, but for now try rebuilding and see where it gets you. Also check all of your contacts and make sure you don't have anything loose.

 

[azara]

Also, for cloud chasing, try some different attys and see what you like. I highly recommend the doge competition and the mutation x v2. Both are great, though I personally prefer the MX. Airflow is off the charts.

 

[azara]

Build is obviously your own preference, but have you tried messing around with twisted builds? I run 26 guage twisted 4 wrap dual coils, and I have won a couple comps with them.

 

[sketchness]

check out rip trippers cloud chasing 101 on youtube. In his typical over the top fashion he breaks down a bunch of stuff.

Edit specifically about breathing and exhale

 

[BeerGolfClouds]

If you're inhaling for 10-20 seconds you're inhaling too slowly. Hit that thing as hard as you can for 3-5 seconds and that should do it.

JuiceMafia has a "100% VG" line called Cloud Collection. It's dirt cheap and the flavors are delicious imo. Worth a look, way cheaper than $1/ml.

 

[sketchness]

If you're inhaling for 10-20 seconds you're inhaling too slowly. Hit that thing as hard as you can for 3-5 seconds and that should do it.

JuiceMafia has a "100% VG" line called Cloud Collection. It's dirt cheap and the flavors are delicious imo. Worth a look, way cheaper than $1/ml.

Yeah what he said, a 7 second inhale is beast mode at cloud comps

 

[Johnny Hughes]

So cloud comps are usually mech mods only you probably won't be able to compete with the ipv2 on a mech it's all about coils and technique with a regulated your coil building skills don't matter as much so it takes a lot of the competition out of it it's a competition of a lot of diff factors not just who can hit thier device the longest

 

[Johnny Hughes]

Btw ipv2 should auto cut off at 10secs for safety reasons with a proper build u don't need 10 secs lol my .15 dual parralel are insane at 5 secs ( on a mechanical mod with proper battery)

 

[Johnny Hughes]

With a 50 watt box if you want to blow clouds for your personal entertainment throw a 1-1.6 ohm build in there so big coils and crank that up to 50 watts , thank me later lol standard dual coils clockin in at .7 .8 cranked up to 50 watts is a beautiful thing

 

[Random Focker]

I just found this juice company today and wanna try em out. Looks very promising for cloud chasing comps. Actually should say for practicing for cloud comps, or just having fun blowing massive fog lol. Plus the french toast sounds really goodMax VG E liquid - Max VG E juice - Dripclouds.com

 

[Johnny Hughes]

Cloud comps usually supply one juice that everyone has to use (once again it's a competition of technique not who has the better vg juice)

 

[AshtonChubbs]

Well currently I don't have much money to upgrade equipment. I ended up rebuilding last night and it seems to be operating more consistently. My contacts and everything were fine, so I'm not sure. Another thing I got better results with was not exhaling all the way, but instead getting a little air under my inhale so I could exhale bigger clouds. I would upgrade beyond the ipv2, but refer to my first sentence. This particular comp is in no way a professional regulated one, it's a small-time thing at my local shop. The only restriction is that everything has to be built at "appropriate" resistance levels. They don't allow people to make builds that aren't safe for their batteries.

Also, I should have specified, but I'm running Sony 1600 mAh batteries with a 30 A discharge. When I bought these batteries, I was told they were boss, and they perform as such. What is the feedback for these on here?

 

[Johnny Hughes]

What is this resistance on your build what I'm trying to say is if you build a 1 ohm coil it's going to perform better on your device then a sub ohm coil trust me, 30 amp is more then adequate for the ipv2

 

[Johnny Hughes]

And did you read where I explained why you were getting a lapse in firing on it any regulated device is going to kick off at 10 secs