RBA, flavor, help!!!

[Feightwins]

Hi, All! So I just advanced from dripping to rba's. I purchased a cobra and recived it about 5 days ago. It took a little research and practice, but I am now confident in my ability to build a wick and coil, hotspot free. I was sent a small amout of mesh and wire and quickly went through it during my experimenting. I did however order plenty of Kantahl and 400&500 SS mesh which should be here very soon. I got my coil up to 2.5 ohms which I am happy with for now and it seems to be putting of a pretty fair amount of vapor, but there is next to no flavor I have read a little about a "break in period", but should I be getting good flavor right off the bat? I know I have a lot to learn and that will come with experience and research, but I would be very grateful for any wisdom you might bestow upon me. Thanks!!!

 

[TheVap3Junkie]

I'm not super familiar with ss mesh but I have noticed with new coils they dont put off much flavor until there is some build up on the coils.

 

[Sinister Dexter]

I had this problem too. I fixed it by making my wick a tube instead of solid. I rolled the mesh around the 2mm allen key that came with the RBA and this size tube seems to work well. My new wick was about 1.5cm wide before I rolled it up.

Also what voltage are you vaping at? RBAs seem to need more power than a cartomizer. 2.5 ohms probably needs 4.5-5.0V.

 

[Feightwins]

I seem to be getting plenty of juice wicking up. I did notice a little improvement in the vapor and flavor when I went up in voltage. I was using it around 7-8 watts, and after going 9-10 it was a bit better. I'm hearing it takes a few tanks worth run through before it gets good, so I'm giving it some time. Also I will have plenty of new mesh to make wicks soon, so I can experiment with some suggestions I'm getting. Thanks for the help!

 

[empot]

I'm not really certain about the break-in period anymore. I can see why gunk build up can improve flavor but should never get muted taste from ss wick right off the bat (at least from my experience). Lack of full flavor perhaps but far from muted. I build my wicks with a hollow channel in the middle and never solid. I "Jack Frost" the wicks as well. I flame the coil prior to assembly. When i get muted taste, I've always seen uneven firing/glowing of coils or shorts. I nudge the coils or twist the wick a bit to get rid of them and the flavor comes back. I use 60% VG on all my juices as well with 400ss for my wick - 32awg going for 1.8-2 ohms at 4-4.2v depending on juice.

 

[2GLR]

2.5 ohms is a little high. Try going with a bigger gage wire to allow more power to be applied to your wick. With a solid wick, it acts as a heat sink, and will vaoprize your juice itself vice just the coils.

 

[Eric Smith]

I would have to agree with 2GLR, i have rolled a large diameter thinner wick 3 4 wrap and I'm testing it at 1.8ohms and the flavor is spot on, i was a 24mg vaper and now i'm getting a huge throat hit at 12mg with 50 / 50 menthol, i will also say the more VG the lesser flavor with the RBA's

 

[Thrasher]

try adjusting the airhole to diff spots around the body, look for some hotspots on the coil as well, the zap and cobra usually do take a tank or two to get going really well, dont know why but have seen this mentioned.

(where did you find a cobra in the past two weeks?)

 

[Feightwins]

I got my cobra from the UK supplier Alba Vapours. I went on their website on Nov 2 and there was like 9 available so I ordered. Then the next day they were gone.
So I just got my 400&500 SS mesh, and new Kanthal 32 wire in and I'm back to experimenting except now I seem to be getting hotspots. I am just wondering if I can take the wick I rolled out and burn it a little more to oxidize, but then I'm also not sure if its just the way I'm wrapping the coil, or what actually constitutes a "hot spot"? If I have juice on the wick and blow a little they don't really show up, but if I give it power without air they show up, usually at the top between the wick and post screw. Not really frustrated, but I would like to get this down. There are so many opinions and tutorials but many of them contradict one another. I have tons of different juice to use so ill take the advise and go with the 50/50 blend, being that its my highest VG content. Thanks for your help and appreciate any more advise. Thanks!

 

[Thrasher]

lol been looking there too, hes closed for an illness

since its almost the same thing - I learned a lot on provapes website, look up the z atty pro and scroll down to the video, i know theres tons of vids out there but this guy taught me what I needed to know about working on hotspots. he explains in detail while showing you what to do... as for conflicting advice, i trust the guy who actually made it lol

 

[Feightwins]

Will do, thanks man!