So what's the deal with RBA's?!

[Destro]

quick question -

I'm looking at all these cool RBA's flooding the market - but have never tried one
if I did - it would be some sort of tank system - as I am not a huge fan of dripping every few minutes....

so do RBA tank's leak? I hear they aren't very pocket friendly..true untrue?

I the ease and reliability of a carto-tank
love my nova's but they eat up juice like nobody's business - looking to see what the fuss is all about..

 

[SissySpike]

Genys have a wick and fill hole so they will leak if not in a upright position RBA tanks like the ODY or Ithaka are great for running around. Things like the Spheroid and Steam Machine VST are sort of a rebuild able cartomizer. All have a learning curb but the payoff is better vapor and flavor its. If yu dont jump out the window and buy all the newest and greatest they are more economical wire can be found for about 6$ for a 100ft and mesh and or silica or cotton wick is cheap enough also. There are knockoffs of pretty much everything but fir your dollar the quality will last for years to come. Plus like grandad use to always say buy the best you can afford cant go wrong. Id advise you to start with a geny master that and see where you might want to go from there.

 

[Whosback]

A lot of people like the economic aspect of the RBA. The fact that you have control over your ohms and materials and how it effects the flavor, TH and vapor production.

TasteYourJuice.com is a great place for general vaping info and Pete has some great reviews and advice on RBAs. I'm just getting my feet wet in this myself, but I've found his site invaluable.

I hope this helps.

 

[Hello World]

quick question -

I'm looking at all these cool RBA's flooding the market - but have never tried one
if I did - it would be some sort of tank system - as I am not a huge fan of dripping every few minutes....

so do RBA tank's leak? I hear they aren't very pocket friendly..true untrue?

I the ease and reliability of a carto-tank
love my nova's but they eat up juice like nobody's business - looking to see what the fuss is all about..

Genny RBAs are the best vape yet -- you won't be sorry trying, but you should take the time to learn how to install a wick & coil along with some patience to get them set up right.

Never had an AGA-T2 leak -- somewhat pocket-friendly, but not completely.

Some Gennys such as the DID (or it's clone) have a screw-on cap and if properly set up should do the trick and can be placed horizontally, but not upside down.

 

[sgv]

I prefer dripping. I got tired of buying atomizers that would last a few weeks or a few days. The best thing about rbas is that the wire/wicks are cheap and you can build coils to any resistance you want. If you pop the coil, you build another one.

 

[Statistic]

Not all genesis style atomizer leak. I have an AGA-T+ that I carry in my pocket that has yet to leak a drop.

RBA's definitely require some patience, the ability to get hands on and tinker with and troubleshoot, and there is a learning curve involved with any style of them.

They can offer a greater experience than the typical clearomizer or cartomizer, when they are set up correctly and to the users preference. They are FAR cheaper to maintain over time and the materials (wire & wick) are easy to find and cheap enough to stock up on years and years decades worth for under $50.

 

[Myrany]

I picked up an Octopus rebuildable atty and plan to practice by rebuilding my protank and CE5 attys. Once I get the hang of it I plan on snagging an AGA-T2.

 

[Destro]

Sooooo... I've finally tried a rDa...actually. A7 and i say..
it vapes a step above a pro-tank.
Haven't rebuilt the coil. A co-worker gave me one to try out-I like the fact it has a screw on cap...looking to see how an igo-l works out.

Any other screw on type RDA's that are a bit wider/fatter like the igo?

 

[razor4432]

RBA's are great. I've finally gotten my AGA-T+ running flawlessly. Taste is even better than the Protank and the Vivi Nova (Vision brand) doesn't even compare. Flavor is crisp and true, vapor production is great. Be careful with menthols, they'll definitely kick your ___! I loaded up MBV's Blue Ice after finally getting mine working with no hotspots or hot top leg from the coil to positive post and darn near coughed from the throat hit (menthol hit). Left me thinking "WOW! so that's what the hype is all about". No leaks at all with the AGA-T+ but I will say if you have the coil a little too loose, juice will spatter off of it and accumulate in the top cap and on the base but nothing a kleenex won't soak up. Can affect the air hole but I would just turn my evic 180* so the wick is up top and do a quick draw and clear it.

What I'm trying to say is give an RBA a shot, be patient and work with it the results are totally worth it.

Enough rambling, time for me to go to bed. Happy vaping everyone!

 

[Oktyabr]

Sooooo... I've finally tried a rDa...actually. A7 and i say..
it vapes a step above a pro-tank.
Haven't rebuilt the coil. A co-worker gave me one to try out-I like the fact it has a screw on cap...looking to see how an igo-l works out.

Any other screw on type RDA's that are a bit wider/fatter like the igo?

Vaping off of an A7 right now in fact, with my own coil. One of the things I like best about the A7 is that the platform that the posts are connected to? That will actually screw all the way out of there! I usually don't take it that far apart to put a new wick on it... I just raise it up most of the way... makes it a breeze and then you still have that cup area when it's screwed down to help hold juice.

I know I'm not the first to mention this but you might also consider the Smok RDA Octopus. It might take a bit of modification to make into a really GREAT RDA (larger o-rings or a bit of dental floss under the stock o-rings, a second air hole in the cap, etc.) but mine is my reigning champion of my favorite vapes, and it shares my time with AGA-T2s, the A7, an IGO-L and some Phoenix RDA clones... and for $8?!?!? Super dripper!

 

[Commie]

The main "deal" with RBAs is their flexibility. You can get them in all kinds of configurations (tank, genesis, different drippers, inside a carto tank, bottom fed). Their flexibility also includes the fact that you can tailor their performance to your preferences, i.e. amount of throat hit, amount of vapor, etc.

And yes, some will leak. Namely genesis. There are a few gurus that manage to build them really well, and claim they don't leak. The rest of the mortals are reduced to having them upright However, there are several drippers that can be set up with the same wick/coil as genesis, and will taste close, if not the same, without the leaking.

Edit: also, RBAs are zombie FDA apocalypse proof. As long as noone bans cotton, water filtration, and heater wires, you can continue rebuilding them

 

[Destro]

Vaping off of an A7 right now in fact, with my own coil. One of the things I like best about the A7 is that the platform that the posts are connected to? That will actually screw all the way out of there! I usually don't take it that far apart to put a new wick on it... I just raise it up most of the way... makes it a breeze and then you still have that cup area when it's screwed down to help hold juice.

I know I'm not the first to mention this but you might also consider the Smok RDA Octopus. It might take a bit of modification to make into a really GREAT RDA (larger o-rings or a bit of dental floss under the stock o-rings, a second air hole in the cap, etc.) but mine is my reigning champion of my favorite vapes, and it shares my time with AGA-T2s, the A7, an IGO-L and some Phoenix RDA clones... and for $8?!?!? Super dripper!

I have been eyeing the octopus as well as I've heard a lot of good things about it as well - will probably have to pick one up on my next run

 

[Jeremy Evans]

My Octopus is a cheap phenom, I drilled out an air hole in the side and plugged the bottom hole so no excess juice would leak out, but holy crap that thing makes CLOUDS!!

 

[Destro]

My Octopus is a cheap phenom, I drilled out an air hole in the side and plugged the bottom hole so no excess juice would leak out, but holy crap that thing makes CLOUDS!!

I know you.. You're the dude with the kir fanis tele up on the classies! - the one i had force myself to go to sleep so i don't end up spending the rest of my June budget! So did you end up trading it?!

 

[t8kiteasy]

The SMOK RDA(Octopus) is a good RB,i recieved my new Phoenix V4 (ERA clone) today.They came stock at 2.8 ohm coil(purchased three,two to mod,and keep one stock) and the RDA pales in comparison (in my opinion) to this dripper.Stock airhole 1mm and it is blowing clouds right now at 4.5v.The clone is half the size of the RDA and has a sealed bottom connector,top cap is set firm with the stock o-rings and does not leak.The airhole can actually be set directly in front of the coil without having the airhole coming up thru the center of the base.It holds about 20-25 drops,no gurgling,Flavor is great coming from this dwarf size dripper and TH,for the stock set up,is not bad.I like my RDA but these new drippers will soon take it's place.

EDIT: Just starting leaking out the airhole i would cut back to about 15 drops

 

[Oktyabr]

The SMOK RDA(Octopus) is a good RB,i recieved my new Phoenix V4 (ERA clone) today.They came stock at 2.8 ohm coil(purchased three,two to mod,and keep one stock) and the RDA pales in comparison (in my opinion) to this dripper.Stock airhole 1mm and it is blowing clouds right now at 4.5v.The clone is half the size of the RDA and has a sealed bottom connector,top cap is set firm with the stock o-rings and does not leak.The airhole can actually be set directly in front of the coil without having the airhole coming up thru the center of the base.It holds about 20-25 drops,no gurgling,Flavor is great coming from this dwarf size dripper and TH,for the stock set up,is not bad.I like my RDA but these new drippers will soon take it's place.

EDIT: Just starting leaking out the airhole i would cut back to about 15 drops

The problem with smaller is that you have less room for BIG coils and wicks! I'll end up picking up at least a few of those too but for $8 (or less) the Smok RDA is hard to beat... not just in performance but in ease of *rebuilding*. Just my

 

[Oktyabr]

And yes, some will leak. Namely genesis. There are a few gurus that manage to build them really well, and claim they don't leak. The rest of the mortals are reduced to having them upright However, there are several drippers that can be set up with the same wick/coil as genesis, and will taste close, if not the same, without the leaking.

I can't speak for ALL genesis and no one else should either. While they are similar in design they are not identical in operation. I carried a mech with an AGA-T2 and a Vamo with an AGA-T2 with me to work today. One stayed in my coat pocket and the other was either in my hand or my front pants pocket... while I was sitting down. I leave the "fill" screw/plug out of mine too and have *never* had a leak. Other genesis? Maybe. My AGA-T2s, not yet.

On the flip side of that coin every dripper I have will leak when it's overfilled or tipped on it's side *while* it's freshly filled. My IGO-L is the least "leaky", my Smok RDA (with the factory bottom air hole) ties my A7 for most "leaky". My Phoenix clones fall somewhere in the middle. (The Smok RDA is still my all time favorite vape though... with the AGAs in a close second and the IGO-L in third.)

 

[Destro]

After 2 failed rebuilds on the A7 I finally got a working coil! - 1.8ohms, (too bad I was using crappy juice I hate) my second one was jumping all over the place...3.0/4-5ohms what the heck! Why does that happen?

Anyway confidence restored as I was going to chuck the A7 and go back to my Vivis - ordered 2 Igo-L's as I've heard great things...
The A7 is leaky and I'm not feeling the adjustable connecter as it always sinks up. I see the Igo has a sealed connector which I appreciate
Now i gets it-at least a taste of these things called rebuildables.
Any other suggestions of good RDA's?

 

[Destro]

Oh also.. Are you supposed to oxidize the nichrome wire? Kanthal it is? I saw on OKC vapes they suggested running a flame along the wicks..and why so for these things?
Another question- vendors warning against failures in your device, however would standard atomizer short protection in most devices suffice? Don't want to destroy any mods!

 

[t8kiteasy]

The problem with smaller is that you have less room for BIG coils and wicks! I'll end up picking up at least a few of those too but for $8 (or less) the Smok RDA is hard to beat... not just in performance but in ease of *rebuilding*. Just my

I paid $5.49 a piece for them at hoosiervapers,the cheapest place i have found for them.SS,and the colored versions.