Simple & Reliable Beginner RBA

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DancingHeretik

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I'm looking for a simple rba to start with. I'm a little nervous about using mesh to start with. I would rather start with cotton wicks.

So, for dripping RBAs:
  • Igo-L (myvaporstore.com or steammonkey.com)
  • A7 or Dream (Empire mods)
  • Choice (Discount Vapers)
And, for tank RBAs that still use cotton wicks:

  • Drunker (Sure Vapes and Discount Vapers)
  • Smoktech R-Tank (Empire Mods and Discount Vapers)
  • A8 (Empire Mods)
I've also had The Vulcan from Sure Vapes recommended as a good beginner RBA. But, it looks like it will require mesh.

ETA: I would especially like to know about the Choice RBA. It's SOOOO pretty!
 

iKN0WaGH0ST

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I'm looking for a simple RBA to start with. I'm a little nervous about using mesh to start with. I would rather start with cotton wicks.

So, for dripping RBAs:
  • Igo-L (myvaporstore.com or steammonkey.com)
  • A7 or Dream (Empire Mods)
  • Choice (Discount Vapers)
And, for Tank RBAs that still use cotton wicks:

  • Drunker (Sure Vapes and Discount Vapers)
  • Smoktech R-Tank (Empire Mods and Discount Vapers)
  • A8 (Empire Mods)
I've also had The Vulcan from Sure Vapes recommended as a good beginner RBA. But, it looks like it will require mesh.

ETA: I would especially like to know about the Choice RBA. It's SOOOO pretty!

I would say get the Igo-L first to see if rebuildables are really something that you would like to pursue. Play with it for a week or two and then move on from there :)
 

fed71

Moved On
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May 29, 2012
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Maybe that's a tank suit - Vapeonly BCC Mega

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Look at this link - Vapeonly 3.5ml BCC MEGA w/ 3 Heads - Black Cap/Purple Tube [gv-Vapeonly3.5mlKit-BlackPURPLE] - $13.95 : GotVapes.com, E-cigarette Supplies - Atomizers Cartomizers Mods Juice and more
 

scrappy

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The igo-l is ok if you're only using cotton/silica, but with a SS wick it takes a lot of practice to get it right because of how close together the posts are, and because they are the same height. You have to put the coil parallel with the posts instead of between them. But I despise the muted and strange taste of cotton/silica. For your first dripping rba I really like the phoenix. It's pretty easy to build a vertical SS coil because of how far apart the posts are, and they're different heights. Just angle it a bit so it's no longer vertical, and so it touches the wall of the atty. When I started doing that I can vape every last drop of juice then change flavors without cleaning it first. You don't have to do any of the strange shapes with your wick. No U shapes, or L shapes. just make a straight wick that touches the edge of your rba and it will wick fine and get every last drop. The secret to good wicking is making sure the center of your wick is unobstructed. If you can see down it, you're good to go.

Here's a few tips I learned from trial and error, and reading on the forums. There are other ways of doing it, but this is how I do it.
Wrap your coil around a small screwdriver first. I like to do 7 or 8 coils. Then roll your ss wick around a smaller diameter screwdriver, and don't use a lot of mesh. You don't want it very thick. Then LIGHTLY oxidize it. Just enough to burn off any oils form manufacturing. I do it until it glows red for just a second. Oxidizing it more than that makes the wick really brittle and it won't last very long. Then attach the coil to your rba while it's still on the screwdriver, and use small tweezers. Tweezers are a must. Once it's attached you can bend it into any position you want without messing up your perfect coil. Do all of your adjustments before pulling out the screwdriver. Then take your wick off your other screwdriver and slide it into the coil. It should easily slide in and out. Turn down the power and lightly pulse it to look for hot spots. If the lower leg is burning really hot then your coil is too tight. If the top leg is really hot then it's got a short. Just spin the wick until that hot spot goes away. After a few pulses the coil will oxidize the wick for you. It seems complicated, but after building 4 or 5 coils you'll be an artist with it.
 

BuzzKilla

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the igo-l is a good starter for silica wicks... it has plenty of room, too much room for my liking, but still...

my personal preference is the A7 (for the price).
it is meant for silica, but i managed to make a SS wick fit just fine. and i cant argue about its performance. :)
uploadfromtaptalk1349636913789.jpg

I currently use an ERA, as i prefer its design, but that comes at a higher cost...


For a tank, i would suggest the AGA-T as it is cheap and it follows the design of other more expensive Genisis tanks. AND can still be setup in either a silica or SS wick configuration.
If you ever choose to upgrade at a later date, you would already be comfortable with the design.
 
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scrappy

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I really don't like my A7. The center post won't stay in place and is constantly being pushed in so I have to keep adjusting it. The screw they use for the post is too small compared to the threads on the body. It's gotten so loose that I have to wrap plumbers tape on the screw to keep it from moving.

I also don't like that the air hole goes through the center post. I'm tired of cleaning juice out of the threads of my device. And because the air hole is in the center it's one more thing to get in the way and limit your space. Since I've started using the Phoenix and Igo-l the A7 has been collecting dust. I doubt I'll ever use it again.
 
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