new to rebuildable, some basic help

[guppy]

I'm looking into rebuildable atomizers and I don't know anything... For a beginner diving into this, what rebuildable works well and is easy to work with? Also, I'm very confused about gauge, and wick... I'm currently using 3ohm cartomizers and would like for the rebuildable to be around that as well. What gauge and wick would be 3ohms? Thanks for any advice given.

 

[Thompson]

There are plenty of entry rba to choose from, I've got a few A7s and one AGA-T (with another coming). A7s are drip & AGA are genesis tank style.

I've also heard good things about the IGO-L & Phoenix. The AGA-S looks nice. If you search around on here a bit (there is an RBA section) you'll find plenty of suggestions.

Gauge works backwards, so 28 is actually a thicker wire than 30.

The larger the wire (lower the gauge number), the lower the resistance.
The smaller the wire (higher the gauge number), the higher the resistance.

28-32 gauge seem to be the common stomping grounds, and its mostly preference as to which one is used. I tend to use 32 gauge on my A7 since I use it on eGo batteries. I'll use my 30 gauge (and want to get 28) on my AGA-T & Provari.

There are a handful of wick options. Cotton (many types), bamboo (thread), silica, stainless steel mesh & ceramic (these last two are a bit more advanced). The materials used can be combined for beneficial properties of both.

 

[guppy]

There are plenty of entry RBA to choose from, I've got a few A7s and one AGA-T (with another coming). A7s are drip & AGA are genesis tank style.

I've also heard good things about the IGO-L & Phoenix. The AGA-S looks nice. If you search around on here a bit (there is an RBA section) you'll find plenty of suggestions.

Gauge works backwards, so 28 is actually a thicker wire than 30.

The larger the wire (lower the gauge number), the lower the resistance.
The smaller the wire (higher the gauge number), the higher the resistance.

28-32 gauge seem to be the common stomping grounds, and its mostly preference as to which one is used. I tend to use 32 gauge on my A7 since I use it on eGo batteries. I'll use my 30 gauge (and want to get 28) on my AGA-T & Provari.

There are a handful of wick options. Cotton (many types), bamboo (thread), silica, stainless steel mesh & ceramic (these last two are a bit more advanced). The materials used can be combined for beneficial properties of both.

I'm actually looking at the A7's right now but can't pull the trigger on it because I don't know what sized wire or wick I should get.

 

[Thompson]

Depending on what your putting it on. Vari in your photo? Probably go with 28 or 30 gauge. I tend to use Kanthal, btw, forgot to mention that.

If your using it on eGos or the like, 32+ would be better IMO.

The A7 is easy to work on, I generally put a 5/6 wrap in there without issue and could see how a larger one would be possible. Recently though I've started using the oval coil (I wrap my kanthal around two toothpicks taped together) with the 5/6 and it works great.

I was worried when I purchased 100' of 30 gauge but it was only $8~ on ebay, and I intend on buying a few RBA so it'll get used. The wire is so reasonable that buying some isn't going to break bank and have buyers remorse.

 

[mse12]

The igo-l is a decent little dripper. I had to drill out the air hole on mine but no big deal. The AGA-S is a nice vape but the new o-rings suck. A lot...I definitely won't leave home with that one. The cap almost falls off...:banghead:

Sent from my SCH-S720C using Tapatalk 2

 

[guppy]

I'm vaping at about 4.3-4.6 and yes, with the provari. What's a 5/6 wrap? Do you mean around the posts or around the wick? Sorry, I feel like a little kid asking about the world and how it works.

 

[Thompson]

No worries, quite a bit to pick up initially



When you wrap a coil, one side will have one less wrap than the other. So technically, if somebody were to say they did a 5 wrap it could be a 4/5 or a 5/6.

The provari is very forgiving with RBA, especially as it has the ability to go to .9Ω coils (most other VV tend to cut off around 1.2Ω).

 

[guppy]

So for my experience and mod, it wouldn't do much (if any damage)? I wouldn't want to spend another $200 on another provari...

 

[Tankman77]

Hey Guppy,
I like you, was very curious to jumping on this RBA thang. So I intially ordered a Drunker tank, then I got the new(er) AGA T2 (Tiamant PLUS) and finally the Cobra was in stock so I picked on of those up too (its been the one I REALLY wanted). The Drunker tank arrived first and is kinda like a Nova to rebuild. It uses silica or cotton wicks and is pretty easy to set up and get running. Also as a bonus it comes preassembled and ready to use (rinse it out first). With the silica wicks on the drunker I kept getting a nasty burnt flavor that would not go away, right out of the box. I primed the wicks and did everything the same as I always do after setting up a new carto, tank or Vivi, or T2 ect... Just the silica wicks were terrible. So I broke the tank down, got some cheese cloth (100% cotton-food grade) and boiled it. Pat dry and cut two 3cmX8cm pieces. twisted them up to form a wick, and wrapped 0.20 nichrome wire around the cheese clother (added opened paper clip for support) and did a 4/5 wrap. Slid the paper clip out and had a nice wrap on the cheese cloth. slid the wick in the sleeve, fed the wires through the holes, assembled the base and primed the wick-filled the tank and assembled the unit. attached it to the provari, tested ohms-ohmed out at 1.9 ohms fired the provari at 3.0V a few times to check for hot spots-none, then bumped the voltage again to 3.3V fired again, then 3.6V fired again a few times, then to 4.0V fired again. Good coil with good vapor production. The cotton wicks provide surprisingly good flavor and as I understand it will get better flavor as used more (to a point of corse).
I am new, and this was my first rebuild. You Tube and ECF are invaluable. I have read A LOT and seen A LOT of videos on rebuilding, wrapping coils ect... and did my homework before the attys showed up. But the best learing I did was just having it in hand and getting familiar with the device and just getting in there and doing it. I have now made 2 cotton wicks for Drunker Tank, I did 2 stainless steel wicks for the AGA and Cobra and wrapped 2 coils on the AGA and 2 coils on the Cobra. I am really enjoyin this experience-but I am a tinkerer and enjoy keeping my hands busy with different little projects.
So good luck, if I can do it, I have no doubt you can too. It is more intimidating than complicated. Once you start it does flow pretty naturally. It is alot of fun and you will enjoy it. The vape on the RBA's are different than anything I have experienced before, they are wisper quite, very smooth on the draw and good flavor. Plus you get the added gratification of building something that is producing such a wonderful vape. It is satisfying.
Keep at it and good Luck!

 

[guppy]

Hey Guppy,
I like you, was very curious to jumping on this RBA thang. So I intially ordered a Drunker tank, then I got the new(er) AGA T2 (Tiamant PLUS) and finally the Cobra was in stock so I picked on of those up too (its been the one I REALLY wanted). The Drunker tank arrived first and is kinda like a Nova to rebuild. It uses silica or cotton wicks and is pretty easy to set up and get running. Also as a bonus it comes preassembled and ready to use (rinse it out first). With the silica wicks on the drunker I kept getting a nasty burnt flavor that would not go away, right out of the box. I primed the wicks and did everything the same as I always do after setting up a new carto, tank or Vivi, or T2 ect... Just the silica wicks were terrible. So I broke the tank down, got some cheese cloth (100% cotton-food grade) and boiled it. Pat dry and cut two 3cmX8cm pieces. twisted them up to form a wick, and wrapped 0.20 nichrome wire around the cheese clother (added opened paper clip for support) and did a 4/5 wrap. Slid the paper clip out and had a nice wrap on the cheese cloth. slid the wick in the sleeve, fed the wires through the holes, assembled the base and primed the wick-filled the tank and assembled the unit. attached it to the provari, tested ohms-ohmed out at 1.9 ohms fired the provari at 3.0V a few times to check for hot spots-none, then bumped the voltage again to 3.3V fired again, then 3.6V fired again a few times, then to 4.0V fired again. Good coil with good vapor production. The cotton wicks provide surprisingly good flavor and as I understand it will get better flavor as used more (to a point of corse).
I am new, and this was my first rebuild. You Tube and ECF are invaluable. I have read A LOT and seen A LOT of videos on rebuilding, wrapping coils ect... and did my homework before the attys showed up. But the best learing I did was just having it in hand and getting familiar with the device and just getting in there and doing it. I have now made 2 cotton wicks for Drunker Tank, I did 2 stainless steel wicks for the AGA and Cobra and wrapped 2 coils on the AGA and 2 coils on the Cobra. I am really enjoyin this experience-but I am a tinkerer and enjoy keeping my hands busy with different little projects.
So good luck, if I can do it, I have no doubt you can too. It is more intimidating than complicated. Once you start it does flow pretty naturally. It is alot of fun and you will enjoy it. The vape on the RBA's are different than anything I have experienced before, they are wisper quite, very smooth on the draw and good flavor. Plus you get the added gratification of building something that is producing such a wonderful vape. It is satisfying.
Keep at it and good Luck!

I have a RBA and a RBTA on its way at the moment. I'm diving right in and I'm gonna figure it out sooner or later. My main question is what's the differences on the gauge of the wires? I know the more wraps, the more ohms but the gauge matters as well so I'm trying to get information on that. I bought 10ft of 30 gauge kenthal A1 to try out for now. I like high ohms so how many wraps would you suggest?

 

[Tankman77]

Guppy,

Some where on this forum is a chart someone made about different gauge wire, wire lengths and how the gauge and length of wire equates to approximate ohmage......take a tour around. I will look and try to find the thread and post it here if I find it again.
Good Luck.

 

[Tankman77]

Guppy here is the thread......

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo.../320042-resistance-wire-kanthal-nichrome.html

Hope this helps!!!