Russian 91% or kfl+

[Cob24]

So it's a true either or situation apparently. I expected a don't go this route or don't go that route. Well I guess I'm gonna talk the wife into letting me break budget again. Looks like I can get the best price on a Russian and I use a lot of tank cracker juices so the steel thing is going to get the most usage. Mbv has them in stock now and with their discount code and free shipping I think I'm going to be getting it for around $90 with a free bottle of juice.

I didn't know I needed to torch the wires. The first video I found just showed the lady wrapping the wire around the string and then hooking it in there. I guess I'm gonna need one of them ohm reader things too huh? Man I'm never gonna save money over cigarettes at this rate.

I'm realizing now I'm not even going to be able to say I'll be saving money by rebuilding. My case is getting harder and harder to make now

 

[Ozwald]

Is it that easy?
I haven't polished ANYTHING - but would be interested in doing so if I get either KFL or R91.
Can anyone point me towards a thread or youtubevid or advice on best way to do that - to get a polished finish on something that comes brushed or bead-finished?

Bar Keepers' Friend. You can sand it down to get a higher polish, but a regular washcloth with BKF as a thick paste will do wonders. Use the powder, not the gel.

So it's a true either or situation apparently. I expected a don't go this route or don't go that route. Well I guess I'm gonna talk the wife into letting me break budget again. Looks like I can get the best price on a Russian and I use a lot of tank cracker juices so the steel thing is going to get the most usage. Mbv has them in stock now and with their discount code and free shipping I think I'm going to be getting it for around $90 with a free bottle of juice.

I didn't know I needed to torch the wires. The first video I found just showed the lady wrapping the wire around the string and then hooking it in there. I guess I'm gonna need one of them ohm reader things too huh? Man I'm never gonna save money over cigarettes at this rate.

I'm realizing now I'm not even going to be able to say I'll be saving money by rebuilding. My case is getting harder and harder to make now

You can use your Provari to check the resistance as long as you're close enough. Which isn't difficult at all. You don't need anything special to torch the wires, a regular old Bic will work fine.

 

[BulletStopper]

You also don't need to torch the wires first. It does make it slightly quicker, but hardly needed. I've rebuilt both multiple times using 28 ga and only recently got a torch refill.

torching does make it slightly quicker to squeeze the coil together.

 

[kas122461]

So it's a true either or situation apparently. I expected a don't go this route or don't go that route. Well I guess I'm gonna talk the wife into letting me break budget again. Looks like I can get the best price on a Russian and I use a lot of tank cracker juices so the steel thing is going to get the most usage. Mbv has them in stock now and with their discount code and free shipping I think I'm going to be getting it for around $90 with a free bottle of juice.

I didn't know I needed to torch the wires. The first video I found just showed the lady wrapping the wire around the string and then hooking it in there. I guess I'm gonna need one of them ohm reader things too huh? Man I'm never gonna save money over cigarettes at this rate.

I'm realizing now I'm not even going to be able to say I'll be saving money by rebuilding. My case is getting harder and harder to make now

If you do it now, or later you will not regret it, they are great, I use my KFL's with the all ss tank, because they go to work with me. Also you really just have to get the wire red hot, they always say you have to torch it, but the wire is so thin you can do that with a bic, that's what I do, and it works fine, and the coils last me a month, before I have to do it again. After you do a few coils, you will get used to the diameter, you like, and what OHM's you want to be at, I just use my provari to check the OHM's with, after I have built it.

KAS

 

[sunnata]

Bar Keepers' Friend. You can sand it down to get a higher polish, but a regular washcloth with BKF as a thick paste will do wonders. Use the powder, not the gel.

must......resist......


too afraid to ruin my favorite tank... so tempted tho :/

 

[Ozwald]

must......resist......


too afraid to ruin my favorite tank... so tempted tho :/

I use oxalic acid in the brewery all the time to bring stainless up to a brilliant polish. When I say sand, I'm talking about specialty paper/pads, not the crap you get at Lowe's or the BORG. I keep everything up to 12,000 grit in house & you can go a lot higher than that.

 

[sunnata]

I will hopefully order a second russian soon, then I might become brave enough to try it. I can't help thinking that the russian looks somewhat out of place with my current combo. I can live with it, but it looks odd to me.

your suggestion of BKF + washcloth sounds simple enough, very tempting indeed..

ideally, I would rather find a way to 'paint'(?) it black, but that sounds even harder


I understand what you mean by the importance of using quality/proper sanding sheets, but getting the good materials seems like the easy part, the problem is giving them to me.. and expect decent results..

 

[Irishcream1]

You guys are making it real hard to pick one, can the Russian be polished enough to look good on my polished ss provari?

 

[sunnata]

can it be polished? yep

should I be attempting it? hmmmmmmmmmm



some reference pics:

 

[kas122461]

You guys are making it real hard to pick one, can the Russian be polished enough to look good on my polished ss provari?

I have the polished Provar's also, and just KFL's. I would think the KFL's might be a bit easier, to polish up then the 91%, but that's just my but to look like a perfect match, either one would have to be polished.

KAS

 

[Cob24]

I have a black mini. I don't like shiny things honestly. I'm so rough on everything I own that shiny stuff never works out for me. I had a shiny ring when I went to basic training and it got destroyed. That was the last shiny thing I attempted to keep shiny. I assume a duller finish would look decent on a black mini, but oh man a Black Russian/kfl+ would be way cooler wouldn't it.

 

[Train2]

Thank you, sir. Even I might be able to pull that off...

Bar Keepers' Friend. You can sand it down to get a higher polish, but a regular washcloth with BKF as a thick paste will do wonders. Use the powder, not the gel.
.

 

[mackman]

I use carto tanks and KFL+ on my Provaris. I have used and rebuilt many RDA's and RBA's. To me the KFl is about the easiest there is to rebuild. I use organic cotton and peaches and cream yarn in them with a 28 gauge Kanthal micro coil. It takes all of five minutes to build.
There are a thousand you tube videos to show you how. I wanted to see what all the hype was with this type of RBA so before spending a $100+ I got a $35 clone and was so happy with it I just got a couple more. The flavor and vapor production is 2nd to none other. You can tailor the heat of the vape by the ohms of your coil and adjust the air flow to suit your style of vaping.
In conclusion the hype on these is justified.

 

[Train2]

Yeah - I saw an ad somewhere for a "Black Edition" KFL, and perked up...
It's not, though - that's just a name someone came up with for another clone - it's the same brushed finish.

I have a black mini. I don't like shiny things honestly. I'm so rough on everything I own that shiny stuff never works out for me. I had a shiny ring when I went to basic training and it got destroyed. That was the last shiny thing I attempted to keep shiny. I assume a duller finish would look decent on a black mini, but oh man a Black Russian/kfl+ would be way cooler wouldn't it.

 

[Ozwald]

You guys are making it real hard to pick one, can the Russian be polished enough to look good on my polished ss provari?

It's solid, machined stainless, so yes if you used the right tools. You'd have to sand it up past 10,000 grit (probably a bit farther) & use some buffing compounds on it. It wouldn't be easy or quick, but definitely possible.

Thank you, sir. Even I might be able to pull that off...

The BKF will put a nice shine on it, but it won't take a brushed finish to a mirror finish. It'll also take out any darkening or scuffs. It works great on stainless, brass & copper, just don't get it near aluminum. Oxalic acid + aluminum = pitting.

 

[Irishcream1]

Well i ended up getting the Russian due to easier air flow control. If I hate the finish ill just have to polish it up. Now time to stalk the mailman. My first purchase for the Provari, really excited. Thx for all the advice guys and gals.

 

[MadOzodi]

The mantra of the USPS willing and with any sense of expediency from them, my Russian 91% will be arriving tomorrow. (immense thanks to tiburonfirst! I'm truly blessed and so Not Worthy!) If you're willing to wait and take the risk, I'd suggest getting in on Shek's 2nd round Co-Op for it; the interest and planning thread already has a long list. I know his first one took a while (not quite SuperT Precise ELA wait), but he certainly delivered.

 

[Cob24]

So in relation to use on a provari and the location of the airflow control... How would a Russian work with my loki ring? Would I be able to have it all the way down against the ring or would there have to be space like I have when I use my carto tanks to allow the air to get in there?

 

[Firestorm]

The R91 air intake is on the side, so there's no problem with the ring. You can sit it flush with the ring so the ring doesn't spin by using the adjustable 510 center pin.

Here's a picture of mine:

http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/...0-E750-49B4-A756-7A137182A3D6_zpsvuiunkdi.jpg

 

[Cob24]

That's awesome. I'm excited. Gonna order mine tonight. Is there a thread on here that anyone follows devoted to the Russian? I'm gonna be ordering it and then leaving town so it's just gonna be sitting. It's gonna kill me.

Here's my next question:
I like a nice cool vape and I enjoy to vapor production but it's not a breaking point for me. I'm beginning to prefer less throat hit and harshness. What sort of wire and thread should I be looking for for these type of results? What ohm should I be trying to build my coils to?