New Setup Q's

[Lojinxx]

Hey everyone,

Just to give some background, I started vaping back in 2008 or so and stopped in 2012. I'm coming from using a ProVari v2 w/ a LR dual-coil cartomizer tank from vaporescence. I've been "away" for a few years and now I'm looking to purchase a new setup. I've spent the last month or so doing a lot of research and catching up as everything is different now,(sub-ohm, coil building, etc.) but I could definitely use some advice and want to make sure I'm getting everything I need.

My main goal is to have a super tasty, satisfying MTL vape. My secondary goal is to get my feet wet with all this new sub-ohm technology. I'm very fascinated with building coils and want to get right into it.

This is what I've come up with so far:
(Updated to reflect feedback)

• SMOKTech G-Priv 220 Touchscreen Starter Kit - Gold(kit includes the TFV8 Big Baby Beast.)(If I like the sub-ohm vape I'll probably purchase the rba deck in the future)
• SMOKTech TFV8 Baby Beast Atomizer Head - Pack of 5 - V8-Q2 0.4ohm
• (4) Samsung 30Q 18650 3000mAh 15A Flat Top Battery
• XTAR VC4 4 Channel Digital Battery Charger
  
• Chubby Gorilla Battery Case - Black - 4 Slot
• Kayfun Mini V3 by Svoe Mesto for MTL satisfaction
• Coil Master Tool Kit V3
• UD Youde Japanese Organic Cotton - Muji
• UD Youde Wire Box
  • Kanthal A1 26ga Standard Wire - 30ft Spool
  • Kanthal A1 28ga x 3 Twisted Wire - 15ft Spool
  • Kantahl A1 26ga + 32ga Clapton Wire - 15ft Spool
  • Ni200 26ga Standard Wire - 30ft Spool
  • SS316L 26ga Standard Wire - 30ft Spool
  • Nichrome 26ga Standard Wire - 30ft Spool
• Kanthal A1 30ga Standard Wire - 30ft Spool

One thing that I'm not 100% on is the batteries and charger. I believe the batteries I chose are some of the best I can get. According to the research I've done, 2 in series in the mod I've chosen should safely support up to 120watts. Does this sound correct? I don't even think I'll need to go that high anyway.

I'm a bit confused with the charger as well. The description says "The D2 automatically detects Li-ion, Ni-MH and Ni-Cd batteries, and through manual selection is also capable of charging LiFePO4 batteries." So it doesn't say anything about Li-Mn. But then further down it says "Optimized charging design for IMR batteries." Does IMR mean Li-Mn? Will this charger work for these batteries?

Finally, I'm thinking about picking up a coil building tool-kit as well. Something with tweezers, scissors, ohm meter, etc. Any recommendations would be great. Thanks.

 

[BackDoc]

Looks like a good set up loj, the kayfun is a good choice for MTL and the Smok tanks are very good for sub ohm, batteries are a good choice as well .....I'd consider an Xtar VC4 battery charger also( yes the nitecore will be fine too) as far as the tool kit I'd do a search for coil master and see what comes up( I'm sure others will chime in with good/ better advice as well ) good luck and welcome home!

 

[IMFire3605]

The LG HG2 Brownies are good, solid performers, however though rated at 20amp they were tested by our resident battery tester @Mooch and last test batch he did showed they were safely 18amp CDR. The Samsung 30Q though factory speced at 15amp CDR were also tested by Mooch and rated 20amp CDR, with the Sony VTC6 coming between the two others at 19amp CDR in the 3000mah tier. The Kayfun V3 will suit you well, along with the Baby Beast. The GPriv is also a solid mod and performs excellently, and for what you are wanting if very, very flexible in its ranges of operation. I'll chime in as @BackDoc stated, the Nitecore D4 will get the job done properly, but the Xtar Line of chargers are probably the Cadillac in the charger region with the most solid warranty alone and great options with it, there are higher priced chargers like Opus and such, but for the price Nitecore, Xtar, and Efest are the most suggested lines. Batteries and chargers I'd look at going with any of these vendors for authentic ones:
illumn.com
imrbatteries.com
Liionwholesale.com
orbtronic.com
RTDVapor.com

Also note most of the current suggested batteries are hybrid INR (Lithium Nickel) and are detected and treated as IMR (Lithium Maganese).

Building tools and supplies:
Any of the Coil Master Toolkits (V2 and newer) are great giving you all you will need for rebuilding
The UD wire box set, :/ , its a nice sample box, but be cautious with the Ni200 Nickel wire, Ni200 is to be used "ONLY" in temperature control modes, not standard wattage modes, the Kanthal and Nichrome are wattage only modes, and the SS316L can be used in either TC or VW modes and is gaining popularity, also for that Kayfun for a MTL coil, 26awg is pushing getting a decent MTL vape from, will take some pretty massive coils, personally I use thinner 28awg and 30awg Kanthal/Nichrome for my Kayfuns and MTL tanks as they have higher resistance. The Muji cotton is just fine, but if getting into rebuilding, it will be cheaper to get a bag of Walgreens/Walmart/CVS organic cotton balls to practice with before moving to using more expensive cotton pads like the Muji and Ko Gen Do Japanese cotton as wicking a coil takes practice to get it right. Might be advisable to get a cheap clone of a large deck RDA (rebuildable dripper) to practice with as well for the space and then transition down to the smaller Kayfun deck and such, a magnification visor or magnification stand will also help if your eyes are or are getting a bit bad.

 

[bobwho77]

That's a nice shopping list...
I'm jealous

 

[Lojinxx]

..I'd consider an Xtar VC4 battery charger also...good luck and welcome home!

I'm gonna go with the VC4. It's good to be home. Thanks!

The LG HG2 Brownies are good, solid performers, however though rated at 20amp they were tested by our resident battery tester @Mooch and last test batch he did showed they were safely 18amp CDR. The Samsung 30Q though factory speced at 15amp CDR were also tested by Mooch and rated 20amp CDR, with the Sony VTC6 coming between the two others at 19amp CDR in the 3000mah tier. The Kayfun V3 will suit you well, along with the Baby Beast. The GPriv is also a solid mod and performs excellently, and for what you are wanting if very, very flexible in its ranges of operation. I'll chime in as @BackDoc stated, the Nitecore D4 will get the job done properly, but the Xtar Line of chargers are probably the Cadillac in the charger region with the most solid warranty alone and great options with it, there are higher priced chargers like Opus and such, but for the price Nitecore, Xtar, and Efest are the most suggested lines. Batteries and chargers I'd look at going with any of these vendors for authentic ones:
illumn.com
imrbatteries.com
Liionwholesale.com
orbtronic.com
RTDVapor.com

Also note most of the current suggested batteries are hybrid INR (Lithium Nickel) and are detected and treated as IMR (Lithium Maganese).

Building tools and supplies:
Any of the Coil Master Toolkits (V2 and newer) are great giving you all you will need for rebuilding
The UD wire box set, :/ , its a nice sample box, but be cautious with the Ni200 Nickel wire, Ni200 is to be used "ONLY" in temperature control modes, not standard wattage modes, the Kanthal and Nichrome are wattage only modes, and the SS316L can be used in either TC or VW modes and is gaining popularity, also for that Kayfun for a MTL coil, 26awg is pushing getting a decent MTL vape from, will take some pretty massive coils, personally I use thinner 28awg and 30awg Kanthal/Nichrome for my Kayfuns and MTL tanks as they have higher resistance. The Muji cotton is just fine, but if getting into rebuilding, it will be cheaper to get a bag of Walgreens/Walmart/CVS organic cotton balls to practice with before moving to using more expensive cotton pads like the Muji and Ko Gen Do Japanese cotton as wicking a coil takes practice to get it right. Might be advisable to get a cheap clone of a large deck RDA (rebuildable dripper) to practice with as well for the space and then transition down to the smaller Kayfun deck and such, a magnification visor or magnification stand will also help if your eyes are or are getting a bit bad.

Thank you for all the info. I saw the same thing on @Mooch's spreadsheet. I'm going to head to some of those sites you recommended to get the batteries and Vc4 charger. I'll check for the coilmaster kits as well. I appreciate the feedback about the wires. I do want to try all the different types of wire and dabble in temp control so I'm going to go with the kit, but maybe I'll add a roll of 28 or 30 ga kanthal in there as well. Thanks so much for all the info.