RDA/RTA recommendation for perpetual rebuildable failure

[simplyxtwisted]

So I've been vaping for quite a while now. I tried my hands at rebuilding back in mid '13 with little to no success. It was really quite dreadful. Hotspots on every coil, leaking, whatever...I just wasn't doing it right. I know things have evolved a lot since then, particularly coils and wicking material. As well as the exist of SS mesh and etc.

I'm ready to try my hand at this again, but I need a solid base to start from. Not to mention I found a vape shop that is more than willing to help me learn to do it properly. They'll teach everything from the basics to the newest latest greatest in coil-land when I'm ready.

Not sure I want to re-attempt my RSST, Igo-W, or AGA-T2...so much more current goodness to be had.

I need recommendations for a good RDA and a good RTA to start with. For comparison's sake, my everyday right now is a nautilus with BVCs on a Cloupor DNA30.

I'm looking for something that is just well rounded. Good flavor, good clouds, 'reasonable' price, suitable for easier builds but also ok for the long haul and more advanced stuff. I've been doing research and have a few ideas, but wanted to get the 'expert' opinions...which I'm sure will vary.

I'm sorry if this thread has been created 1000 times. Most recent one I could find was a bit dated, and the 'what's good' list seems to change on a daily basis.

 

[dirtech]

Hard to go wrong with a Kayfun 3.1 es. Not hard to build. Got mine for around $15. Not sure about rba's.

 

[xxJollyRogerxx]

+1 for the KF 3.1. Super easy to build on. Also, the Magma is pretty easy to build on for single or dual coils as well.

 

[roxynoodle]

Kayfun of some kind, Lemo or Taifun GT for a tank.

Magma for rda.

 

[bholcomb22]

I would recommend the eh pro kayun lite v2 or the Eleaf Lemo for the RTA side. Both are super easy to build on, and just plain work. Plus there are thousands of videos and threads teaching you how to build these kayfun style devices.

For RDA I have to recommend the mutation x (as I always do). Super easy to build on, good flavor, and if you open the airflow up it chucks massive clouds.

 

[auxsend]

A Kayfun is very easy to build on. I would ultimately say get an Orchid. I find building on it as easy as a Kayfun, just put the wick up to the juice channels, and you should be good.

Super smooth hits, no restrictive airflow, it's a treat.

 

[simplyxtwisted]

Thanks for the awesome feedback so far, seems to be a lot of support for the Kayfun. I'm doing research on everything suggested so far.

Is there a major difference between the Kayfun 3.1 es and the Lite v2?

 

[jersey_emt]

The equipment you already have (RSST and IGO-W) will work just fine. You will probably want to drill out the airholes on the IGO-W if you want really big clouds, but honestly you already have what you need to get (re)started building coils.

Don't worry about buying new hardware just yet. Instead, spend your money on getting a wide variety of wire gauges and types of wick, enough for you to practice building lots of coils without fear of running out of wire, and to experiment on and help narrow down your preferences. When I was first getting into building coils, I bought several hundred feet of Kanthal from Lightning Vapes -- 100 ft of 30 gauge, 100 ft of 28 gauge, 100 ft of 26 gauge, 100 ft of 24 gauge, and 50 ft of 22 gauge. It only cost around $35 including shipping. For wicks I was happy to find that cotton is the best choice for me. I bought a small bag of organic cotton balls from Walgreens a year ago for like $3, and I've only used maybe 10% of the bag so far, even though changing out wicks is something I typically do several times throughout the day.

Once you figure out what you like and don't like about your IGO-W and RSST, then it is time to buy something new that fixes your issues with them. For instance, if you are having difficulty building quad coils on the IGO-W (or even dual coils) because it's hard to get the wires to fit in the positive post, look towards an RDA with larger post holes and/or a split positive post. If you find the drip well to be too shallow or too deep for you, then you will know exactly what you need to look in a new RDA. And so forth.

 

[Madcowvt]

I have had great luck with the mutation x. For the price, ease of build and flavor/vapor it works great for me so far.

 

[JimmyDB]

My suggestions...

RTA: Kayfun series for bottom coil
RTA: Prometheus for top coil
Rayon for wick

Keep a variety of wire gauges, types, etc handy

I have to agree with jersey_emt though,... sounds like you have the hardware to get back in to these without having to buy a new atty, but that's not as much fun

Most importantly... just start building coils and checking them out. Commit that you aren't going to keep one longer term until after at least 10+ builds, that way you can't feel guilty about tearing down a coil that is working 'ok' and can instead keep looking for that one that is 'really good' or better... even then, don't be afraid to tear it down and start over.

 

[stanthemanchan]

Well if you're looking for perpetual failure, then you can't do much worse than the 3D dripper, or the Fogger V1, V2 or V3. Also some of the Squape R clones have been disasters with leaking or shorting out. The Lancia RDA clones are leaky and the plugs are too loose and will come out when you take a draw, potentially shorting out the negative and positive posts and venting your battery. The 26650 Orchid clones on FT are all epic failures: $12.99 Orchid Styled Rebuildable Tank Atomizer (28.5mm Version) - 7.0ml / stainless steel + PC tank at FastTech - Worldwide Free Shipping

The D-Eagle is another guaranteed fail. Restrictive airflow and plastic tabs sitting directly under the coils that will get melted the first time you do a dry burn: $28.94 D-eagle Style Rebuildable Atomizer (6.5ml) - stainless steel + PC tank / matte at FastTech - Worldwide Free Shipping

 

[Dampmaskin]

Hey hey, I have a 3D dripper and I only fail at building it half the time.

And when I get it right, I'm actually quite pleased with how it vapes.

But kudos for aiming to answer the actual question.

 

[KurrptSenate]

if you want really easy builds, I'd stay away from the fogger, orchid, or anything that's specifically dual coil

kayfuns are very easy to build on, as well as dual/tri post drippers.

 

[Dampmaskin]

IME, Kayfuns may be easy to build, but having to drain the tank in order to adjust the build or change the wick, is a pain. That's why I mainly use an eXpromizer. The build deck is very easily accessible compared to the Kayfun.

ETA: Yesterday, a few hours after I wrote this, I was out walking and vaping, and noticed that my eXpromizer was empty. So I unscrewed the tank section from the base, and filled it up while walking. Easy as pie, I didn't even have to slow down. Not a drop spilled.

 

[KurrptSenate]

those are a lot harder to come by, but yes. they basically stole that idea from the Taifun

which I'm totally cool with

 

[simplyxtwisted]

Well if you're looking for perpetual failure, then you can't do much worse than the 3D dripper, or the Fogger V1, V2 or V3. Also some of the Squape R clones have been disasters with leaking or shorting out. The Lancia RDA clones are leaky and the plugs are too loose and will come out when you take a draw, potentially shorting out the negative and positive posts and venting your battery. The 26650 Orchid clones on FT are all epic failures: $12.99 Orchid Styled Rebuildable Tank Atomizer (28.5mm Version) - 7.0ml / stainless steel + PC tank at FastTech - Worldwide Free Shipping

The D-Eagle is another guaranteed fail. Restrictive airflow and plastic tabs sitting directly under the coils that will get melted the first time you do a dry burn: $28.94 D-eagle Style Rebuildable Atomizer (6.5ml) - stainless steel + PC tank / matte at FastTech - Worldwide Free Shipping

So since you went so far out of your way to point out a perceived flaw in my thread title when you knew full and well what the thread intention was...

How about we consult the dictionary, to demonstrate the fact that in our wonderful English language, a single word can be used to convey more than one meaning.

Semantics my dear friend...

(from dictionary.com)

What you read...
failure, n. - an act or instance of failing or proving unsuccessful; lack of success

What was intended...
failure, n. - a person or thing that proves unsuccessful

Thanks for the helpful advice though none-the-less. I certainly know what to stay away from a bit more clearly!

 

[simplyxtwisted]

I looked a lot at the Lemo, the air flow control on it just seems really lacking as far as accessibility, and it seems to spin way too easily. Wish it was a bit more convenient to fill too, but no big deal really.

All these RTAs seem like they are a foot tall, kind of insane. Haven't settled on one quite yet. Do any of them have adjustable airflow from the outside? Or do most of you find that once you find that happy place you don't touch it that much?

Did order a couple of RDAs yesterday, may still pick up another. Got a Magma and a Plume Veil (clones) to see kind of both sides of the spectrum as far as drippers go..

 

[jaxgator]

All these RTAs seem like they are a foot tall, kind of insane.

You can get nano kits for a lot of the current tanks on the market to shorten them.

 

[JimmyDB]

My suggestions...

RTA: Kayfun series for bottom coil
RTA: Prometheus for top coil
Rayon for wick

All these RTAs seem like they are a foot tall, kind of insane. Haven't settled on one quite yet. Do any of them have adjustable airflow from the outside? Or do most of you find that once you find that happy place you don't touch it that much?

Both that I suggested can be adjusted from the outside... the Kayfun just requires that you have that tool, but can also be adjusted from the outside.

Prometheus...

That little ring is the airflow, which you can lock down or adjust (from the outside) and without a tool...

Here is a link to a thread about the Prometheus... http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...ba-5ml-tank-adjustable-air-flow-here-now.html. Check out the video in the thread as well, you get a fair amount of air-flow options out of the box... then you can also drill things out if you want etc,.

I'm really liking this RTA.