New to Reoville. Looking for some guidance

[Boxorain82]

Just picked up my first Reo yesterday and am unsure if it is just different than I expected or user error. I am using an RM2 with an 8 wrap, 28g kanthal micro coil and cotton wick at 1.1 Ohms. I am finding that if I try to take 2 hits without squonking I burn my wick nearly every time. Is this normal? From what I had read prior to ordering, I was expecting maybe 3-5 hits per squonk. It seems a bit cumbersome to have to reload the juice after every pull. I'm sure squonking by feel will become easier but it seems like it would still make chain vaping a bit difficult. If I were to use a similar setup in a dripper with this size wick I would expect to get at least 5+ draws before having to drip again.

I am wondering if this is normal or if there is something I can do to decrease my squonk frequency? It looks like my wick is getting fully saturated, but I guess I could try going heavier on the juice? Leaving it in the well longer to soak before releasing the bottle? Is there a better topper I should get that may allow me to have a bigger wick or a deeper well to hold more liquid? I'm sure I could increase the resistance on my coil but I would actually prefer to go lower if I can find a setup that allows it. I have found the flavor to be amazing on the Reo and really hope I can find a way to make it work for me! (Sorry for the pic quality, I only had my phone handy)

 

[Filthy-Beast]

Even though it seems opposite less cotton will perform better. If it's too tight you restrict the wicking. You want just a bit hanging out of each end and you want it slide back and forth not be tight in the coil. This is so that it can expand and hold more liquid.

You should squonk to cover the coil and wick and then let excess drain away.

 

[Filthy-Beast]

Also: congrats and Welcome to Reoville.

 

[BlueSnake]

Sounds like just a little too much cotton. Less is more. The cotton should be snug but move back and forth in the coil easily. If you pull the cotton and hit a hard stop point that will choke your juice flow.

FB beat me too it.

 

[canoeist]

I just started with an RM2 and was winding too much cotton. Less twisting means less cotton & more room inside for juice. Good luck!

 

[nerak]

Congratz on your new REO!

Looking at your pic the coil is pretty far off the deck. To get that juice into the cotton in the middle of the coil you need to make sure you squonk enough juice. Pull of the drip tip and look as you squonk. Let the juice come up to cover the coil. Give it a couple seconds to soak the wick.

Squonking is a method that does have a learning curve. Looking while squonking lets you see how much juice flows with how hard you press the bottle.

I do a coil at 1.1-1.2 ohms. I get about 5-6 hits with one squonk. Now that will vary depending on how long you hit.

Keep at it and soon you will have just what we all get from a RM2 and REO.

 

[CATastrophe]

I agree with Filthy. Definitely too much wick! I'd say reduce the diameter by about a 1/3 or so and shorten the tails. I only use cotton and can get 4-5 good hits off one squonk.

 

[ltrainer]

Welcome to Reoville Boxorain82. Thanks for posting pics and asking some questions. I'm sure you'll be a vaping jedi master soon. You're an official Reonaut now whether you like it or not. So along with this auspicious title is your official Reonaut badge. Wear it proudly but make sure you keep it shiny. Garbage pick up in Reoville is Wednesday.

 

[Boxorain82]

Thanks guys. I started out with a smaller wick and started gradually increasing the size after burning them. I also tried tilting the juice hole side down a bit, but I will try lowering the whole coil. I thought this was helping a little but I guess not. It sounds like the key is to submerge the whole coil? I will put in a smaller wick when I get home today and get to work on my squonking technique. Glad to know single hits aren't the norm!

 

[oldbroad]

I think I would also tilt the coil horizontally with the side closest to the juice hole a little higher than the opposite end to help insure that the cotton tail doesn't cover the juice hole.

And welcome to Reoville...you've entered the best vaping lounge in the world! Ask all the questions you want, there's always someone to guide you. Ask me how i know!

 

[super_X_drifter]

^ exactly. High side over the juice hole. Opposite of how you have it. The low side can be almost touching the deck.

No you don't want the coil swimming in juice. It will not vape decent because excess juice will cool the coil.

That and less cotton.

Squonking is your friend. Be one with it. Every time you squonk you are introducing fresh juice to the wick. Vaping fresh, not preheated precooked juice.

 

[Rat2chat2]

You have already gotten good answers to your question so I am just going to welcome you to ecf and reoville. I am new to reos but must admit it was love at first toot for me. Are you using a 100% vg juice. I didn't know if a thinner juice would squonk easier. I still have so much to learn myself. Good luck to you though.

 

[redeyedancer]

Welcome Boxorain82 you will get the hang of it . I use silica ugly coils myself

 

[sc12]

Welcome Boxorain82 you will get the hang of it . I use silica ugly coils myself

haha me too! They just work.

Welcome Boxorain82!

 

[Marc411]

Welcome Boxorain82, you will find your REO coil and wick Feng shui and be in heaven. I am also a recent new user and had a learning curve but now I am just a squonking fool (mostly just a fool).

Good folks here will get you on the right path, RDA's are just a little different on a REO.

 

[EagleTa2]

You're on the right track... here's my method...

Make your coil horizontal and make sure it lines up with the air hole perfectly centered left to right and up and down. I have enlarged my air hole to 1/16"... that seems to work well for me. I tend to make the coil line up with the juice hole fore and aft... I am happier with it there and I do not have to worry about touching the inside of the cap and shorting by trying to get it so close to the air hole.

Everyone has give you sound advice on your cotton. I'll add that I try to make a medium density wick...not too fluffy and not rolled tight like a string. It takes much less than you imagine it will. When you have the cotton slipping through the coil smoothly, then trim the ends about 1/8" longer than the coil.

Then put the cap on and squonk the juice over the coil... release the bottle and let the excess drain. Immediately squonk again...over the coil then release the bottle and let drain. Now fire for a couple seconds while blowing air into the top of the rm2 onto the coil. Squonk and repeat this one more time...this will help alleviate any cotton taste from your first drag after replacing the wick.

Now squonk it a good one and replace the tip...and enjoy the best vape ever! I usually get between 4 and 5 5 second vapes between squonks on a .8 coil... I probably replace my wick every 2-3 days because of flavor changes or loss of vapor production.

Hope this helps....it got a little lengthy - didn't plan on that!

Geo

 

[Boxorain82]

Thanks for the advice everyone! I re-wicked smaller and adjusted my coil angle last night and was up to about 3-4 hits per squonk. If I want additional airflow with minimized leaking is it better to just enlarge my air hole or add a second small one? I'm really starting to enjoy this as I get the hang of the squonking. I might see a mini in my future...

 

[Filthy-Beast]

I haven't had a problem with enlarging to 1/16. The one I did at 5/64 does dribble easier from the air hole. So I also have one with two 1/16th holes. Enlarge a little at a times as once done it's hard to go smaller.