Katya

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I am counting on you for a in depth review on the Ares 2 in the near future then.

OK. Here goes. For my first build I used Phil's coil and cotton. Nailed it on my first attempt. Everything went well. It vapes great. Wicks great. No leaks. Airflow is adequate, albeit strictly MTL. Everything works as it should. The AF turntable under the coil is very clever.

It's a perfectly fine atty. Really. Well made, easy to build. Would I recommend it to a new vaper who's trying to learn how to use RTAs? Absolutely. Phil and Dimitri really went out of their way to make it foolproof and provided everything one needs to start rebuilding and some.

I'm going to experiment some more with my own coil and cotton.
 

Redbird11

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OK. Here goes. For my first build I used Phil's coil and cotton. Nailed it on my first attempt. Everything went well. It vapes great. Wicks great. No leaks. Airflow is adequate, albeit strictly MTL. Everything works as it should. The AF turntable under the coil is very clever.

It's a perfectly fine atty. Really. Well made, easy to build. Would I recommend it to a new vaper who's trying to learn how to use RTAs? Absolutely. Phil and Dimitri really went out of their way to make it foolproof and provided everything one needs to start rebuilding and some.

I'm going to experiment some more with my own coil and cotton.
I'm glad to hear that it is working for you. No leaks and foolproof is something I was hoping for. How are you find the flavor on it?
 

Katya

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I'm glad to hear that it is working for you. No leaks and foolproof is something I was hoping for. How are you find the flavor on it?

I was hoping you wouldn't ask. ;)

I'm not sure yet. And I'm not a big flavor person, so keep that in mind. And it's only my first build with provided coil and cotton.

I have the same commercial eliquid (Ahlusion White Tea Pear) in the Ares, Hastur (with 2mm insert) and Zlide with 0.8Ω coil. Sigh. Something is lacking, and not only in the flavor department. I have the Ares on the widest (slot) setting under the coil and I tried 2, 3 and 4 holes opened on the AFC ring. I can't put my finger on it, but the airflow is not quite as I like it. Maybe because I'm used to round holes that hit right at the center of the coil... Maybe it's my build, wicking, not sure. Too early to tell, really. But something is amiss.
 

Redbird11

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I was hoping you wouldn't ask. ;)

I'm not sure yet. And I'm not a big flavor person, so keep that in mind. And it's only my first build with provided coil and cotton.

I have the same commercial eliquid (Ahlusion White Tea Pear) in the Ares, Hastur (with 2mm insert) and Zlide with 0.8Ω coil. Sigh. Something is lacking, and not only in the flavor department. I have the Ares on the widest (slot) setting under the coil and I tried 2, 3 and 4 holes opened on the AFC ring. I can't put my finger on it, but the airflow is not quite as I like it. Maybe because I'm used to round holes that hit right at the center of the coil... Maybe it's my build, wicking, not sure. Too early to tell, really. But something is amiss.
Welp. That is disappointing.

3NRF.gif
 

Katya

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No, no, no! Don't be a sad panda! Please!

Like I said--this is just my first impression. I'm going to play with different coils, different airflow adjustments, etc.

Ares 2 is a very good RTA. It's just different from what I'm used to. The draw is smooth and pleasant and I will be using it. I'm just not quite there yet. Sometimes it takes several attempts to get it right.

Besides, taste is subjective. I have a box of all kinds of vaping hardware and juices labeled "taste is subjective." Best example--my Erlkonigin. Everybody raved about it and I couldn't even get it to work. :facepalm:

Just build your own Ares and see what you think. There's no other way. Just do it!
 

Redbird11

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No, no, no! Don't be a sad panda! Please!

m25Chf1i_400x400.jpg

Too late.

Ares 2 is a very good RTA. It's just different from what I'm used to. The draw is smooth and pleasant and I will be using it. I'm just not quite there yet. Sometimes it takes several attempts to get it right.

Besides, taste is subjective. I have a box of all kinds of vaping hardware and juices labeled "taste is subjective." Best example--my Erlkonigin. Everybody raved about it and I couldn't even get it to work. :facepalm:

Just build your own Ares and see what you think. There's no other way. Just do it!

Oh, I still plan on trying it out this weekend. I was kind of hoping that @hittman was in the minority about the flavor from the Ares 2.
 

Katya

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m25Chf1i_400x400.jpg

Too late.



Oh, I still plan on trying it out this weekend. I was kind of hoping that @hittman was in the minority about the flavor from the Ares 2.

He may be. I have no issues with the flavor--I just can't get the airflow to my liking. But don't forget that it's my first, I believe, elongated slot under the coil and I'm comparing it to the familiar hole-shaped AF.
 

Katya

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Want to sell me that Erl, @Katya?

You don't want it. I have two pathetic mini clones from FT and they may be defective. Honestly. They just dump eliquid no matter what I do. They are trash. I'm not an expert builder but I'm not that incompetent. ;)
 

Zazie

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You don't want it. I have two pathetic mini clones from FT and they may be defective. Honestly. They just dump eliquid no matter what I do. They are trash. I'm not an expert builder but I'm not that incompetent. ;)
Darn.
Is it really that hot? Are people dropping dead if they're outside for more than five or ten minutes?
 

Redbird11

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He may be. I have no issues with the flavor--I just can't get the airflow to my liking. But don't forget that it's my first, I believe, elongated slot under the coil and I'm comparing it to the familiar hole-shaped AF.
I'm sure I have seen you mention it before, but what is your go-to RTA? Or do you have a favorite?
 

Katya

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I'm sure I have seen you mention it before, but what is your go-to RTA? Or do you have a favorite?

Kayfun 4. :blush: I got it right on my first build. I love that thing even though I don't use it anymore. :blink:

I love my Hastur and I like my SJMY doggy. I don't mind the Fresia, but it can be temperamental.
 

Redbird11

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Kayfun 4. :blush: I got it right on my first build. I love that thing even though I don't use it anymore. :blink:
Why did you stop using it?

I love my Hastur and I like my SJMY doggy
I have a few 2016 dogstyles ordered from FT. Not the SJMY ones, the other one that starts with S. I can't think of the brand name at the moment and too lazy to look it up.
 

Katya

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Why did you stop using it?

Good question. Too cumbersome? Besides, I pretty much switched to drop-in coils because of the convenience. And now I'm scrambling--I need more RTAs for the vapocalypse.
I have a few 2016 dogstyles ordered from FT. Not the SJMY ones, the other one that starts with S. I can't think of the brand name at the moment and too lazy to look it up.

SXK. I didn't get any of those because I prefer more air, but I understand that the SXK ones are very good and the difference in airflow is not all that significant.
 

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