So i started building and screaming at the rba...help!

Status
Not open for further replies.

Just Me

Super Member
ECF Veteran
Mar 4, 2010
850
2,831
A couple of months ago, I felt exactly the same as you, Breezy Dawn. But you'll get it! Just keep trying! Oh, and I didn't like cotton. I prefer Sally's Cellucotton 100% rayon, good stuff. I could taste the cotton, can't taste the rayon. And it doesn't burn like cotton does.

Once you get a good coil made, then for a long time, all you have to do is snip out the wick and replace it. You won't have to build a new coil every time you need to change wicks. Super dooper!

For safety, I always re-check the ohms after re-wicking just to make sure I didn't pull the coil loose or anything.

I'm happy you're trying! You'll get it! :banana:
 

Breezy Dawn

Super Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Jul 8, 2015
592
1,381
53
Virginia
You guys got me motivated to try again!! This time i use much less cotton and after firing a few times coil read 1.3 and tasted like cotton at 10 watts. Backed it down to 9 watts and its tasting much better. My question now,when i loaded the coil soaked the cotton pretty hard,is that not the same purpose as breaking it in? So starting at 9 watts maybe now im breaking it in and go back to 10 later?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Just Me

Just Me

Super Member
ECF Veteran
Mar 4, 2010
850
2,831
Someone besides me will have to answer that one. I didn't care for cotton that much. BUT...I didn't have Japanese cotton at that time, either, just plain organic stuff from the pharmacy. I might try cotton again, since I ordered a package of Ko Gen Do before and then discovered rayon before the cotton arrived. Sorry, I don't know the answer for you.
 

Robino1

Resting in Peace
ECF Veteran
Sep 7, 2012
27,447
110,404
Treasure Coast, Florida
You guys got me motivated to try again!! This time i use much less cotton and after firing a few times coil read 1.3 and tasted like cotton at 10 watts. Backed it down to 9 watts and its tasting much better. My question now,when i loaded the coil soaked the cotton pretty hard,is that not the same purpose as breaking it in? So starting at 9 watts maybe now im breaking it in and go back to 10 later?
The cotton loses it's cottony taste after a few ml. It takes me about a tank or two (2.5ml tank) before the taste goes away completely.

I still get a taste from rayon (I'm one of those that does taste the different wicks) but it is not enough to ruin the flavor of the liquid. Just adds a little something different. I've gotten used to both.

It's still better tasting than a pack of cigs! :D
 

Lessifer

Vaping Master
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Feb 5, 2013
8,309
28,986
Sacramento, California
You guys got me motivated to try again!! This time i use much less cotton and after firing a few times coil read 1.3 and tasted like cotton at 10 watts. Backed it down to 9 watts and its tasting much better. My question now,when i loaded the coil soaked the cotton pretty hard,is that not the same purpose as breaking it in? So starting at 9 watts maybe now im breaking it in and go back to 10 later?
This is just my own speculation, but I think the "breaking in" is either getting rid of, or fully saturating all the tiny little hairs of cotton. Juicing it up well helps, and if you left it for 10 minutes or so it would be fully saturated, or just take one or two cottony hits and it should be good.
 

Breezy Dawn

Super Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Jul 8, 2015
592
1,381
53
Virginia
This is just my own speculation, but I think the "breaking in" is either getting rid of, or fully saturating all the tiny little hairs of cotton. Juicing it up well helps, and if you left it for 10 minutes or so it would be fully saturated, or just take one or two cottony hits and it should be good.
Ok i will have more patience. I find myself saying that more than i should admit,lol
 

Breezy Dawn

Super Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Jul 8, 2015
592
1,381
53
Virginia
I truly hate building coils. I hate it with a passion but I do build them. What I DO like about it, I can rewick to my hearts content. The coils last for a VERY long time.

I only have to make a few coils a year. Probably about every three months or so.
That does sound dreamy and for me im excited about the savings too. Wont mention how many piles of preboxed coils i have,lol BUT they will run out!
 

AzPlumber

Vaping Master
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Aug 28, 2011
5,051
9,789
Arizona
Ok i will have more patience. I find myself saying that more than i should admit,lol

You know what they say, tenacity is a virtue. Okay so maybe they don't really say that but be thankful your early attempts aren't with S.S. mesh wicks.
 

Two_Bears

Vaping Master
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Jul 4, 2015
7,045
16,673
Northern Arizona
All the prep talk pushed me into looking at building coils. Nervous as i was i tried 2 today. It did not go well! Though i did not blow up and that was cool :thumb:
First try using 1.4 prewrapped kanthal coil i started with the Smoktech mini rda. That build was a pita BUT got it in. Checked ohms and soaked the cotton,scared to put it to my mouth, i sucked in what tasted like just cotton,lol. Played with that a little longer with that thing and sometimes i get flavor with little vapor and sometimes cotton. So 1 question on that one is of course the cotton taste,is there too much cotton maybe? 2nd question,stupid question im sure,when you want to juice it again,do you take off the whole top piece or remove drip tip? I had a mess!
Fed up i moved onto The subtank mini rba,same wire and cotton. The wire placement was lovely (well close enough) It went to much easier but then cotton! All i taste is cotton,lol. Why the cotton taste? I dont even wanna do it but i know i need to learn whyyyy cotton why? :glare: I will try again in the morning but any ideas on the next try would be much appreciated!
Congrats for at least trying to build.

Wicking is much harder than wrapping the coil.

Sounds like you have too much cotton in tge coil.

Wicking yoy want the cotton tight but loose enough to slide in the coil.

When yoy Juice the wick tge cotton will swell abd fit tge coil perfectly.

Too little cotton it pops And spits.

Too much cotton you have wicking issues and Dry hits.
 

Two_Bears

Vaping Master
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Jul 4, 2015
7,045
16,673
Northern Arizona
A couple of months ago, I felt exactly the same as you, Breezy Dawn. But you'll get it! Just keep trying! Oh, and I didn't like cotton. I prefer Sally's Cellucotton 100% rayon, good stuff. I could taste the cotton, can't taste the rayon. And it doesn't burn like cotton does.

Once you get a good coil made, then for a long time, all you have to do is snip out the wick and replace it. You won't have to build a new coil every time you need to change wicks. Super dooper!

For safety, I always re-check the ohms after re-wicking just to make sure I didn't pull the coil loose or anything.

I'm happy you're trying! You'll get it! :banana:
Sure is sister. I only build a coil every 2-3 months.

1 remove cotton
2. Dry burn the gunk off Kanthal or Stainless Steel coils.
3. Install and Juice new wicks.
4. Vape ON!
 

Two_Bears

Vaping Master
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Jul 4, 2015
7,045
16,673
Northern Arizona
You guys got me motivated to try again!! This time i use much less cotton and after firing a few times coil read 1.3 and tasted like cotton at 10 watts. Backed it down to 9 watts and its tasting much better. My question now,when i loaded the coil soaked the cotton pretty hard,is that not the same purpose as breaking it in? So starting at 9 watts maybe now im breaking it in and go back to 10 later?

No. Breaking is cotton has a weird flavor for about the first ml.

Rayon needs NO breaking in
 
  • Like
Reactions: Breezy Dawn

Two_Bears

Vaping Master
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Jul 4, 2015
7,045
16,673
Northern Arizona
I truly hate building coils. I hate it with a passion but I do build them. What I DO like about it, I can rewick to my hearts content. The coils last for a VERY long time.

I only have to make a few coils a year. Probably about every three months or so.
You hate building, and I love building and having more Control over The vaping experience.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Users who are viewing this thread