noobie question with subtank mini

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kiinglouie

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May 8, 2015
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hey guys glad to be here
i am using a subtank with with 26g kanthal about 5 to 6 wraps
getting around .5 to .6 ohm every time i am also using a istick 30w
have noticed that the coil gets super black maybe every other day maybe 3 then it starts tasting burnt
when vaping at 30w
ps i am using the rba section

is this normal?
 
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DavidOck

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Uh, probably.

It is normal for coils / wick to gunk up after use. The time it takes varies, depending on the particular flavorings. Some faster than others.

Next time it's ready for a refill, remove the wick (snip close to the coil on one side, gently pull it out the other), and once dry, dry burn the coil - pulse it at a low wattage, say 8ish, repeatedly until the coil looks new again. What you're doing is "burning" off the crud that got deposited. Let cool, rewick, and you should be good to go.

The bad taste is from the gunk getting cooked off into the vapor, and a clear sign that it's time for coil maintenance. (You may also find that as the gunk builds up you need to keep upping the power to get a good vape - another sign that it's time!)
 
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kiinglouie

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May 8, 2015
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Uh, probably.

It is normal for coils / wick to gunk up after use. The time it takes varies, depending on the particular flavorings. Some faster than others.

Next time it's ready for a refill, remove the wick (snip close to the coil on one side, gently pull it out the other), and once dry, dry burn the coil - pulse it at a low wattage, say 8ish, repeatedly until the coil looks new again. What you're doing is "burning" off the crud that got deposited. Let cool, rewick, and you should be good to go.

The bad taste is from the gunk getting cooked off into the vapor, and a clear sign that it's time for coil maintenance. (You may also find that as the gunk builds up you need to keep upping the power to get a good vape - another sign that it's time!)

thank you make sense i happen to get about of 300ft of 26g due to a flook from ebay seller sent me 300ft instead of my original 100ft so i have been making new coils everytime i see it black
i am also using max vg juice or nothing more than 80/20 vg to pg

another question this tank is awesome but after taking a few tokes from i get a dry hit?
anyone try to modify the rba section to allow more juice in or will it flood?
 

Cloudmann

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Yep... normal for sub ohm vaping, especially if using a VG heavy, overly sweet, or dark e liquid.

Try dry burning as mentioned above (remove the wick, burn at low wattage until red, carefully rinse with water, repeat until all crud comes off) then rewick. You can probably do this repeatedly with a coil for about six weeks before the coil resistance changes significantly.
 

DavidOck

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Probably don't need to wrap a new coil every time, just dry burn and new wick.

Wicking is probably the hardest part of building. Too tight, and you'll get dry hits, too loose and it may leak. So maybe work on that part. Cotton will swell a bit when wet, rayon will shrink a little.

But it could also be your vaping technique - just drawing too hard / fast for the wick to keep up.

I've read of some who opened up the cylindrical chimney section a tad, but haven't tried that myself.
 
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DavidOck

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If you do, take pics and let us know how it works!

My guess is that would flood the wick area and gurgle, spit and probably leak, but that's, as said, a guess. Since the RBA top turns it into a Kayfun style atomizer, you basically want the juice to only rise through the wick, not on top of it. The pressure differential between the slight vacuum inside and local atmospheric pressure establishes that equilbrium. Radically changing the "flow" into the vapor chamber may not be advised... but a slight change may or may not improve it for you.
 

sporty98

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Mar 26, 2015
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it seems like to me as I have the king or text subtain and kangertech many but I use the RDA RBA whatever you want to call it and I usually building anywhere between. .5 to 1.0 ohm.

I usually only run about 20 to 24 watts.

I get 7 days. 26. Gauge Kenthal. Wire.

I replace cotton. Every 4 tanks. So 1 tank a day. Of juice.

But coil redo. Every 7. Maybe 10 days.

I do this every few days because I found that I get longer use out of my current coil build vs trying to diss do it all at once sometimes is not easy to do the perfect coil specially if you're really happy with your current building its really vaping well for you.

Juice has a lot to do with it too..

70/30. Blends do good. 50/50. Is okay.

But the max. Vg. Gives more smoke. But does kunk. Faster.
 

kiinglouie

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May 8, 2015
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drilled it working better than before even tank full of juice no leaking no spitting no nothing :)
guess my theory was right i drilled it right in the middle of the cylinder given i suck at doing stuff like that it works great
wick stays fully saturated
before i would take like 3 to 4 rips before drying out
i tested it with 0 nic juice i i ripped it 10 times and still going strong :)
did not pull cotton through the hole either just normal build and wicking
kangertech should have did this from the get go for the rba section
will post pic when i can dont laugh as i never drilled anything like that before
as long as you hit it right in the middle avoiding the inside threads you are good to go
i will report back with the pic and drill size i used
keep the juice aligned with the hole or above and your good to go :)
def recommend this but do at your own risk
 
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kiinglouie

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May 8, 2015
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well there is a downside
i am vaping 25w 26g .6ohm coil you will run through juice like crazy :( better than getting the dreadful burnt hit :)

sorry i am a bit excited i really like the st mini
just hated the dry hits
that and the fact that i didnt mess it up ha mind you i did this drunk so if i was able to do it
i think anyone can
 
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zoiDman

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...

another question this tank is awesome but after taking a few tokes from i get a dry hit?
anyone try to modify the rba section to allow more juice in or will it flood?

Many People have. Myself Included.

I use Higher VG e-Liquids.

When I got my Kanger Subtank Mini (KSM), I took one look at the e-Liquids Slots in the RBA section and said... "No Way".

20 Minutes later with the edge of a Small Jewelry files, I opened up the Slots about 50% in both the Width and the Depth. With the Larger Slots, I can Back-to-Back Chain Vape if I want on 80% VG.

You might want to consider Opening up your Slots and see if it Helps.
 

kiinglouie

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May 8, 2015
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Nice report, and glad it's working for you!

(And looks like you're just too close with the camera and it can't focus. :) )

no i have a crappy phone
i busted my iphone and waiting for it to be repaired
i have this 50$ att phone from walmart lol
working good though been vaping a treat since last night
also use max vg and 80/20 vg to pg maybe it does make a difference but im not much a throat hit kind of guy
cant beat max flavor and vape production
i didnt mod the original juice well either i just made the tiny hole using the drill bit and working flawless and i say this because i actually got a headache from vaping the crap out this thing lol
 
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