Price friendly RBA, simple to use as an RM2?

[oDANo]

I'd like to buy an RM2 because it seems so simple, and I just might have to. But 've seen a couple of rba's that are a bit cheaper, do you have any recommendations on which rba I could snag for a cheaper price? Since it's my first rba I wouldn't really want to spend $43 on an RM2. In other words what's a just as easy RBA to setup but for a better price? And I've noticed some people use cotton wicks on a RM2, but others use a silica wick. Any difference in that? Cotton seems much easier to buy and use, but I heard you have to "prep" silica wick by torching it or something. What's the difference of a 2.5mm Silica, and 2mm Silica wick, does the size have any affect on resistance? Sorry for all the questions, just tryna get some more knowledge on this haha, thanks for reading !


Last couple of things I need to build my RBA:
Ohm Meter (Good site for a cheap price?)
Kanthal Wire (I was thinking of 27g, but I only see 28g on REO Site)
Cotton or Silica (Still debating on which to get)

P.S is there a thread on Kanthal Wire resistance?

 

[super_X_drifter]

Dan, RM2 is pretty low cost. My first RBA was a hornet - like $80 shipped.

For the money, there's not a better vape than RM2. I offer that there's not a better vape at any price point.

I have one that cost 4 times as much as an RM2. The materials and build quality are in a different realm but the vape is the same.

 

[oDANo]

Dan, RM2 is pretty low cost. My first RBA was a hornet - like $80 shipped.

For the money, there's not a better vape than RM2. I offer that there's not a better vape at any price point.

I have one that cost 4 times as much as an RM2. The materials and build quality are in a different realm but the vape is the same.

I have no problems with clones, I don't know if the performance would be that much off, but there's a Chalice Clone for $15, not sure how easy that is to set up. But thanks for your response !

 

[ancient puffer]

I never could snag a Chalice (which seems to have the greatest following), but then, you could buy a REO for what one costs. I've used a fair number of the $60-$80 ranged RBAs, but *none* of them are as easy to work with, or give as good a vape as the RM2.

Before RBA's became popular, I used cheap, bulk priced atomizers, and thought I got a good price at anything under $5 for one. If I was lucky, they'd last me 10-14 days, more often, about a week.

With the RM2, I figure it costs me around 8-10 cents to rebuild and rewick a coil, and mine generally last at least a month. Do the math, the RM2 will pay for itself many times over in a very short while. Add to that a better vape than most anything else available, and it's obvious what is the most frugal choice.

It's like, do you want a cheap car, that only lasts a month and constantly breaks down on you, or spend a little more for one that you can drive for years?

 

[oDANo]

I never could snag a Chalice (which seems to have the greatest following), but then, you could buy a REO for what one costs. I've used a fair number of the $60-$80 ranged RBAs, but *none* of them are as easy to work with, or give as good a vape as the RM2.

Before RBA's became popular, I used cheap, bulk priced atomizers, and thought I got a good price at anything under $5 for one. If I was lucky, they'd last me 10-14 days, more often, about a week.

With the RM2, I figure it costs me around 8-10 cents to rebuild and rewick a coil, and mine generally last at least a month. Do the math, the RM2 will pay for itself many times over in a very short while. Add to that a better vape than most anything else available, and it's obvious what is the most frugal choice.

It's like, do you want a cheap car, that only lasts a month and constantly breaks down on you, or spend a little more for one that you can drive for years?

Ahh gotcha, yeah I'll be saving a ton of money buying wicks and coils. So Chalice Clone for $15 or RM2 for $43? This is my first RBA, so I'm leaning more towards the Chalice Clone, I hope it's not too much of a hassle to set up

 

[jaytongret]

I have an era atty on my 2.0 490 and honestly I own a double cross at 90 I would have rather got a rm2

Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using Tapatalk

 

[FACE MEAT]

If you've got a Dremel or similar rotary tool, an Era clone from Fasttech can be easily modified for bottom feeding. If done right, it'll feed and drain almost as well as an RM2.

 

[MamaTried]

i doubt that clone is a bottom-feeder. rm2 is about the lowest-cost bf rba around.

 

[oDANo]

i doubt that clone is a bottom-feeder. rm2 is about the lowest-cost bf rba around.

Good catch ! I don't think it is. But I did find an A7 RBA for $20 haha, I think I'll probably just have to buy an A7 and an RM2

 

[MamaTried]

forgot one. A6S is a bottom-feeder, but you need to drill an airhole in the cap. or go the lazy route and get an a6s and and a6 and swap caps.

 

[JC Okie]

Be careful with that A-7.....the center post can be really wobbly and it'll short out your REO. At $4 a pop for a new spring everytime you have a short, you're not saving that much money. And they do NOT work nearly as well as an RM2. Maybe save that $20 and put it against your next RM2 when you get the rest of the funds.....just a suggestion.

 

[FEEDER]

Good catch ! I don't think it is. But I did find an A7 RBA for $20 haha, I think I'll probably just have to buy an A7 and an RM2

Careful with an A7 they can cause shorts
There's a thread floating around, LIVING WITH THE A7, you should read it
Frank

 

[nerak]

Good catch ! I don't think it is. But I did find an A7 RBA for $20 haha, I think I'll probably just have to buy an A7 and an RM2

Don't even bother with that A7 for your first RBA. I run several of them. I am really starting to despise having them instead of all RM2's.

The RM2 started out as a cheap RBA. Robert spent lots of time to mod it for the REO's. He went with a solid, and reliable, easy to build RBA. He did it for us to use on our REO's as a safe alternative to cheaper RBA's.

I totally understand the "go cheap" thing. I did it. But, you will NOT get the vape you will out of an RM2.

You are just setting yourself up to be frustrated and upset with a cheaper RBA.

Please give yourself the best chance at succeeding at using a RBA and get the RM2.

 

[JC Okie]

Careful with an A7 they can cause shorts
There's a thread floating around, LIVING WITH THE A7, you should read it
Frank

That's it....thanks, Frank. I couldn't find that thread in the sticky section.....must have finally been un-stuck. Ha. I was going to attach it and just noticed it was gone.

 

[nerak]

Careful with an A7 they can cause shorts
There's a thread floating around, LIVING WITH THE A7, you should read it
Frank

That's it....thanks, Frank. I couldn't find that thread in the sticky section.....must have finally been un-stuck. Ha. I was going to attach it and just noticed it was gone.

Here it is: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/reos-mods/401265-dealing-a7.html

 

[oDANo]

Yeah just read up on the A7's. I'll be placing an order for the RM2 shortly, thanks for the responses everyone ! Btw, how often would I have to change the wick and coil? Where can I get some 27g kanthal wire? I noticed Rob has 28g. And is there a link that shows the resistances of certain gauge wires?

 

[FEEDER]

Yeah just read up on the A7's. I'll be placing an order for the RM2 shortly, thanks for the responses everyone ! Btw, how often would I have to change the wick and coil? Where can I get some 27g kanthal wire? I noticed Rob has 28g. And is there a link that shows the resistances of certain gauge wires?

Your doing the right thing, you've got the best bottom feeder on the planet, it would be a shame not to put a decent RBA on it
Frank

 

[MamaTried]

Yeah just read up on the A7's. I'll be placing an order for the RM2 shortly, thanks for the responses everyone ! Btw, how often would I have to change the wick and coil? Where can I get some 27g kanthal wire? I noticed Rob has 28g. And is there a link that shows the resistances of certain gauge wires?

this is prolly the link you want
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/reos-mods/446263-micro-coils-ohms-description.html

 

[feldwin]

This is where I get my kanthal.

Resistance Wire

 

[super_X_drifter]

I'd stick with 28 ga. I've abandoned my 27 ga in favor of 28 on RM2s and 29 on my chalice cause 28 ga doesn't work with the chalice screws.

27 ga is not the best choice for the 1.5 ohm coils I like. The post screws also come loose easier with 27 ga.

Chalice clone - I'd like to hear how well it works. Chalice is not nearly as easy to set up as an RM2 - you have to run a Z coil and the thumb screws kill my fingers. Additionally, parts like screws are costly and take weeks to get.

I love my chalice and it's unlikely ill ever part with it because of its exclusivity, but my RM2s vape every bit at good as it and are a piece of cake to build.

I sold 2 chalices after getting my 1st RM2.

As good as cotton is, I've never tried silica and have no desire to