Phoenix RBA Questions

[BWhare]

I've finally ordered a Phoenix rba. I ordered it from China because it was about two dollars cheaper (which translates to about $5 after shipping and SWMBO finds savings are a good thing and the only way that purchases will be allowed).

When it arrives, I would assume it will be naked as the day it was born and will need to be dressed up a bit before it actually works (after all, it has been ordered from foreign shores and probably won't come ready to use - and even if it does, I need to know where to go from there).

Assuming the cheapest (excuse me, most economically feasible) materials that aren't hazardous to one's health, what should I be looking for in terms of wicking and wire. I want nothing exotic to begin with (I'll broach subjects like mesh, if it will work in such a small form, later).

So what I need to know is exactly what kind of wick to buy and what gauge of kanthal or whatever will be necessary. This will be run on a sort of ego type battery without VV or VW (for now). I do, fortunately, have a multimeter to play with so I can avoid some of the worse pitfalls. The actual physical construction is covered in countless videos so that part I can work out.

And yes, I do know that all of the information that I'm searching for, is available somewhere in the depths of ECF but I really don't have the patience to read everything when I know that someone is sitting right there with a ten word answer. Also the reason for posting in General discussion.....

And thank you in advance

 

[NancyR]

you really need to be doing a lot of reading, as one there is no simple answers, and two those should not be used on ego batteries

 

[BWhare]

Alright then, I'll close this.....

of course that's what I was afraid of when all I wanted to know was what kind of wick and gauge of kanthal

 

[Butters78]

Don't let the cat tell the lion what to do! Lol

I use kanthal a-1 32 gauge, silica wick is best to learn with it Iuse 1.5mm and double it or you can just get 3.

 

[BWhare]

Don't let the cat tell the lion what to do! Lol

I use kanthal a-1 32 gauge, silica wick is best to learn with it Iuse 1.5mm and double it or you can just get 3.

That's exactly the answer I was looking for. Thanks Eric. (now as soon as I can get the order through "her" I'll have something on the way and it should still arrive before the little object from China)

Appreciate it a bunch....

 

[Butters78]

No problem at all. I got the kanthal from Ebay like 100 feet for 7.99 and there are tons of sources for wick. The guy from Silica Wicks | The source of great supplies seems cool haven't ordered from him yet but probably will when I run out. Oh and if you have a vivi nova already you can rebuild it as well. It's good you have a multimeter to test your coils.

 

[BWhare]

I've got mini vivis and looked at them with a "what the f...." look on my face when it came to the size. My reading glasses aren't enough. I'll need to invest in a lighted magnifier for that. Well that's in the wings as far as purchases are concerned.

I just want to get my feet wet on something a bit bigger so I can get involved in that co-op for the ody drip clones. I'll never be able to afford anything real but I'd love to be able to at least fake it ;-)

 

[Butters78]

We are all hear for you if you need help. Best of luck to ya boss.

 

[Unforeseen]

Moved to Assorted PV Topics - Rebuildable Atomizer Systems

 

[unloaded]

I like the fatter wicks. I use 3.5mm from COV and wrap it with 32ga A1. The fatter wicks are also easier to wrap than three skinny ones. You don't need a pin to stiffen it up to wrap. New wick or wire tastes a bit off, if you torch them both before use you can skip the break in period.

 

[BWhare]

Eric, you were right about the kanthal - no problem finding some at a reasonable price on ebay.

The wick on the other hand is not going so well. For some reason, vendors want way too much for it. The best prices I've been able to find are $1 a metre in Canada and about $.25 a foot at the house of vapor. This stuff is far too expensive for what it is. Even places like alibaba who sell it by the kilo seem to think you should spend hundreds for something worth pennies. Oh well, I'll just have to bite the bullet and pick up forty feet and play from there.

 

[BuzzBait]

I don't think it is a good idea to put that type of atty on an ego, so im gonna agree with the kitty above!

 

[dwcraig1]

I've got mini vivis and looked at them with a "what the f...." look on my face when it came to the size. My reading glasses aren't enough. I'll need to invest in a lighted magnifier for that. Well that's in the wings as far as purchases are concerned.

I just want to get my feet wet on something a bit bigger so I can get involved in that co-op for the ody drip clones. I'll never be able to afford anything real but I'd love to be able to at least fake it ;-)

Fry's Electronics has a real nice selection of those type lamps. I would be lost without mine.

 

[jazzbo]

Been using a Phoenix on Twists and Spinners with no problems for months now. Of course, I use a multimeter on them first to check the coil....

 

[michliu]

The wick on the other hand is not going so well. For some reason, vendors want way too much for it. The best prices I've been able to find are $1 a metre in Canada and about $.25 a foot at the house of vapor. This stuff is far too expensive for what it is. Even places like alibaba who sell it by the kilo seem to think you should spend hundreds for something worth pennies. Oh well, I'll just have to bite the bullet and pick up forty feet and play from there.

I felt the same way about the price of silica wicks, and kept putting off buying any on my first Phoenix, also my first RBA. When it came time to recoil, I just used some cheesecloth lying around the house and really liked it. A lot better than the stock silica wick that came installed. Others use rolled up cotton balls, makeup pads, 100% cotton yarn. Read up before going this route, though.

And I third not putting it on an Ego battery. When I first started rebuilding, a short occurred while the Phoenix was attached to my Ego and fried it. Stuff happens, so any RBA is best used on a PV with short circuit protection.

 

[unloaded]

I think the silica wick has the organic ones beat because of the ability to dry burn it. Seems like the whole atty gets better after each burn. Switching flavors is easier too because you can rinse and then dry burn and for most flavors they will be completely gone. If your juice has lots of solids in it like Boba's or tobacco extracts they'll gunk up the coil every day or two. If you can,t dry burn you'll be making a new one. I get the 3.5mm wick from CloudsOfVapor in 5 yard lengths. It's fat so you don't have to double or triple it. Also it's stiff enough to wrap without using a pin for a spine. Because of it's diameter an evenly wrapped 32g KA1 of 5 wraps fits perfect between the posts. I use less than a 2inch piece for each coils so it lasts a long time.

 

[Faylool]

3.5 mm wick 5 yard length COV