RDA Help?

[Cf11]

Well i see you've many good answers and recommendations by now. But since I'm in a similar situation. And just ordered what i needed.
I'll just tell you what i ordered so it might help you decide what you might need for yourself.
1. Coil jig kit
2. Tweezers
3. Ceramic tweezer
4. Kanthal a1 24 and 26 awg
5. Ss316l 24 awg
6. Premade coil 8 in 1 pack
7. Wire cutter
8. Coil master mini tab
9. Goon rda clone
10. Ud muji cotton
11. Cotton bacon

Maybe some more stuff that i don't remember. But except for the coil master tab everything was under or around 5 dollars. So all in all pretty cheap. And I'm set for years now.
Total it was around 40 dollars i think. And the coil master is 17usd alone. So you can see its pretty cheap. And you're set for a while if you have this.

 

[ddirtyvapes]

If you need to save some money, this is what you need for a bare minimum to start building, besides your mod, juice, and the topper itself:

1. precision screwdriver set like THIS or similar and whatever you need to operate the screws on your RDA
2. Flush wire cutter
3. pliers
4. wire. I recommend 26g kanthal and/or 26g stainless steel 316L for a new builder, though you could certainly get more.
5. wicking material (I use cotton bacon or a general Koh Gen Do)

That's literally all you need, if you're using a regulated mod, which will read the resistance and fire for you.

Ceramic tweezers very nearly an essential, but coils can be built without them. They generally make things easier. Likewise, a power drill is a fairly indispensable tool even if you're not making fancy coils, but not 100% necessary to start.

There's nothing wrong with a coil jig, though I personally think it is valuable to learn to build without one right from the start.

Something to read your build resistance is absolutely necessary when using a mech but not a regulated device, though it might helpful to have something separate from your mod that can double check the resistance for you.

If you've got money to blow, Cf's list is comprehensive and contains nothing unnecessary, but if money is a little tight, beginning building can be accomplished with less. Again, at least with a regulated device.

@Cf11 You think you're set for years... wait until you start getting into the more fancy builds that sometimes require dozens of feet of wire for a single coil

 

[Cf11]

@Cf11 You think you're set for years... wait until you start getting into the more fancy builds that sometimes require dozens of feet of wire for a single coil

WHAT?

This never ends, does it?
It's all a trap i tell you. TRAP.
*Picks up and smokes a cig in frustration*
Just kidding

Looking forward to making those "fancy fused inside out and then back inside wrapped with 300 wires" builds
(sorry for ruining the nomenclature, don't know the names of any fancy builds yet )

 

[Imfallen_Angel]

I was going to mention the "cheap" version of tools... you can go to most dollar stores and get a small screwdriver set and other stuff, BUT, those barely work well.

Heck I started building using my 30 year old jewelry screwdriver set, a large 3.3mm thick nail that I buffed the edges and point "soft" and a notch for holding the wire, nail clippers and my pocket folding pliers.

Sure I got the job done, but after a while I found that it was simply awkward, and once I did get the tools, it was 100x easier and aside the tester, the rest of the tools were barely 20-30$ anyways. Plus they are useful if I need them for other tasks.

For wire, stick with SS, 26 or 28 gauge, and for cotton, Cotton Bacon works great, easy to use, no need to learn to stretch it out and align.

Even at a 100$ (or pounds in your case), you'll regain that money just from the savings you'll be making as with factory cartridge coils, that the money spend on just a few packs, while the tools are forever and the wire and cotton is pennies per coil.

 

[Imfallen_Angel]

WHAT?

This never ends, does it?
It's all a trap i tell you. TRAP.
*Picks up and smokes a cig in frustration*
Just kidding

Looking forward to making those "fancy fused inside out and then back inside wrapped with 300 wires" builds
(sorry for ruining the nomenclature, don't know the names of any fancy builds yet )

meh, Claptons are overrated, and they can make TC be funky. I've used a few, didn't see that magical increase in experience that some rant about. We had a thread about just that a little while ago and the majority of members were saying the same.

 

[Caprilli]

I only just started building myself but I do not use a coiling tool at all. All I have is a little stick like devise with the inner diameters between 2 and 3.5 mm.

I wrapped a few coils with some old garden Wire to get a feel for it and then went on to be amazed on just how easy it is.

I do have an ohmreader of course, to make sure that my builds match the batteries. There are a number of pages on Steamengine which allow you to calculate you exact battery capacity as well as build suggestions for your coils and the ohms you are aiming for.

I personally MTL and that is my preferred way to vape. There ARE RDA's out there which do suit a MTL draw. I have a Hadaly and a Snapdragon. Both can be used for squonking too, which is something, I am getting into more and more.

 

[BrotherBob]

60W with aspire cleito

Welcome and glad you joined. There should be some You tube's regarding your build, I suggest you view.
As to what your going to need to get started"
RDA's with good clouds and great flavor: Magma with duel coil 1 ohm coils (.5 ohm per coil when mounted).
Wire 26ga. Kanthal A1. --------See steam engine for exact build info. Suggest around 7 wraps.
.10 inch or 3mm ID coil.
Wick: Cellucotton (Rayon) in the long term but just plain cotton to get going.
Tools: Dollar store is fine. Screw driver with an approx. 3 mm shank,tweezer, and a wire cutter. Too start out you probably will not need anything else.
Might like to read:
Drip Vaping: Your Guide to Dripping e-Juice | Vape-Resource.com
2015: The Art of the Drip - A Dripping Primer | Spinfuel VAPE
(7) Information Resources for Your First RBA | E-Cigarette Forum
What is an Atomizer? E-Cig Terminology Simplified
Rebuildable Tanks Explained: RBAs vs RDAs vs RTAs vs RDTAs
Wrapping Building Coils 101 For Beginners
With deep well RDA's and my high ohm build, I get a good hour or more out of one re drip fill and all day with out a battery recharge. I have heard of some sub ohm'rs getting around 20 min's without a re drip.

 

[Kprthevapr]

WHAT?

This never ends, does it?
It's all a trap i tell you. TRAP.
*Picks up and smokes a cig in frustration*
Just kidding

Looking forward to making those "fancy fused inside out and then back inside wrapped with 300 wires" builds
(sorry for ruining the nomenclature, don't know the names of any fancy builds yet )

I have to give you credit, when you need help you aren't afraid to ask, I appreciate that
You have also become a very valued member here, offering as much help as you have been given

 

[Cf11]

I have to give you credit, when you need help you aren't afraid to ask, I appreciate that
You have also become a very valued member here, offering as much help as you have been given

Thank you for the kind words

But i have to say it's all because of people like you... You guys make this place so friendly and all you guys are always willing to help me when i need it so I'm just returning it back as much as i can to others who need it.
So kudos to you guys who are always here to help newbies like myself.

 

[Imfallen_Angel]

Thanks for the help. Do I need ALL of the tools in a coil build kit? Or would it be better getting the ones necessary

The essentials are:

• Something to wrap the wire with. (jig set, drill bit, small screwdriver, basically anything round that's the right thickness)
  
• Small pliers (to work that wire)
  
• Precise wire cutters (to cut that wire at the post with the least overhang)
  
• Good scissors (to cut the cotton well)
• Something to work the cotton, a pick, small screwdriver or such.

But like anything, having proper tools will get the job done better, faster, etc.