RDA RDA-WTH?

[TamJeff]

All of this innovation, all of the engineering revolving around air flow, coil type and placement, space age materials and what have you, and yet it's clear that these things are designed by computer nerds, more so than actual fabricators or machinists that know anything beyond what CNC processes dictate.

Why is it that these things by default do not have knurled tops and tanks in which to get the damned things apart easier? Even some of the high dollar hardware, I find myself sanding the barrels and decks so that the o-rings aren't so grippy and tolerances between the metal bits so tight. It's not as if these things are under pressure or contain volatile liquids. I'd personally sacrifice seamless aesthetics for user friendly functionality.

Thank goodness I just happen to have one of those 1" x 30" belt sanders and a polishing setup in which to finish the manufacturers jobs for them. Half the time, the first thing to get rid of is that second o-ring on the deck or top caps. Now I have to sand and polish the edge on my plume veil where I have been having to pry the top cap off with my pocket knife.

To heck with aesthetics. Make RDA's with a knurled top cap slightly larger than the tank, and a ring or rib on the tank itself or use threaded sections. If something as small as your average RDA is going to cost upwards or above 100 dollars, they can afford to add some threads and more reliable seals than just a slippery, slip fit with o-rings.

 

[bluehaze013]

Check out the Aeolus V2, Nice finish, gold plated deck with square posts so no spinning and a threaded barrel so it doesn't come off by accident. No knurled top though. RDA's are kind of like jewelry, you can get most any of them to vape really well so designs are kinda more fashion statements than actual functionality in a lot of cases.

 

[Mooch]

I've had great luck with using a smear of juice on the rba's o-rings and inside the barrel/top. Makes it much easier to take off and put back on. The o-rings last a lot longer too.

 

[TamJeff]

I just looked at the Twisted Messes RDA and it has a threaded cap and notches in it that you can get ahold of and I did sand down the barrel and deck on the others and I have and relieved any proud or sharp edges but these treatments are just fabricating or machinist basic practices. I do put juice on the o-rings. If they just had groves to where I could turn it as I was trying to separate it, all would be much better. I dislike having to use the 501 connector as a point of leverage for disassembly.

 

[BeerGolfClouds]

No recommendations here, but a big time +1 on the epic rant!

 

[BrotherBob]

All of this innovation

Hell, I'm happy if the machinist makes sure the internal M3 thread die is in spec.

 

[TamJeff]

A lot of it has to do with o-rings being too thick and the inner entry of the tanks not being chamfered enough so that it chews up the rings prematurely. I ended up relieving and polishing some of, or even adding chamfers to the tanks and ordered an assortment of different thickness of o-rings to have on hand. The plume veil I added thinner rings to and it's now fine. I was about to run a weld bead around the top of the cap if that didn't fix it.

 

[93gc40]

But I don't want knurling.
I agree most of the tech was design by people who have no Idea of good design or mechanical type things. But then I reason they make the stuff mainly for people. Just Like Them. Sooo, I guess we normals will just have to fix the stuff, and finish the manufacturing job on our gear. Don't get me started on the ridiculous metalurgical grading arguments. Especially when applied to US made vs China Made.

But what do you expect from people taught science in a Politicaly Driven and Correct manner.