Starting from scratch - help me make a 6 month setup

[Peevish]

So I am currently trying to put together a shopping list for orders to see me through 6 months away from US.
I’m currently working in Indonesia, where vaping supplies are scarce and expensive. I have an emergency purchase of a Ego VV with mini protank 3 that I picked up here (I had quit smoking and vaping some time back, but being here has made me pick the analogs up again, hence my emergency buy. My mistake for not seeing ahead and bringing vaping stuff with me)


Basically I’m going back to US for a short week-long break in 6 weeks time, after which I am back in Asia through December. So its time to put together a full package to make sure I don’t go back to cigarettes. I’m planning to order everything online in advance so its ready to pick up and bring back with me. The ego-v is ok but I think I can do better, and I definitely need more supplies.


I’m thinking of getting 2-3 PV’s, a good amount of toppers and plenty of coil supplies (as well as lots and lots of juice of course). I will likely have one day a week with any spare time at best to rebuild/rewick


My thinking so far is I need one or two VERY sturdy devices for while at work, and maybe a third for home vaping. My work is such that I am going to be very hard on a device, so durability is essential.


More interested in flavor than anything, and not really going for sub-ohms, certainly not any time soon. My budget is not specific, more bang for buck - I don’t mind spending a little more as long as it keeps me away from analogs and sees me through.


I’m currently going back and forth between:


PV’s: 2 or 3 from
MVP2
Reo Grand +RMS2
Stingray clone
Provari


Toppers:
Kayfun Lite clone
Protank 2
Taifun GT clone


ohm tester
general rebuild tools
Kanthal 28g and 30g
Organic Cotton




My preferences are changing daily based on research, and I’m second guessing it all constantly. So I’d really appreciate some of you guys input on what combo may see me through the 6 months best. Please let me know if I have failed to consider other options.


Sorry for the long post, and thanks for any input!

 

[steved5600]

Forget the Tiafun in my opinion the New Black Edition Kayfun V3 or The Fogger V4 would be my choice. The Porvari is overprice in my opinion and i have one. If you get the stingray get the copper version w/o the black coating. That will wear off over time. For a VV/VW get a DNA 20 clone mod. They have come way down in price. If ou get a Protank which i would to back up the kayfun type get the V3 or 4. You have a good list of supplies one reason i say get the Protank 3-4 is you can rebuild the heads on them. you will want to order some NR-R-NR wire. Resistance wire with silver wire leads on them. Discount vapors and Fastech have them you buy 50 or 100 at a pop. For dual coils remember to get coils that can be used on your VW if you get the dan 20 clone you only need 1.8 ohm wire for that. Will want to include 2.5mm ekowool for rebuilding the PT heads. If you use the new sealed heads you will need some ss mesh too. IF you use the old open PT 3 head you can rebuild them a lot easier. Need to include some kind of too to wrap your coils like drill bits or needles a torch lighter so you can torch you wire too. Snips for flush cutting wire or some finger nail clippers will do. Tweezers Batteries and storage boxes for them and a good smart charger for your batteries. Make sure you get one that will charge of a car or wall outlet and that you have the right adapter for overseas if your leaving the country. I'd have at least one spare battery per mod.

 

[stevegmu]

I would take a ProVari with extension cap. 4 18650 and 4 18490 batteries, 2 chargers, and 6 IBTanked carto tanks with 25 boxes or cartos and 2 refilling tools... Oh, and 50 30ml bottles of juice...

 

[Tinkiegrrl]

Stick with the Kayfun style tanks. This way, you only need kanthal and cotton to rebuild coils. Should be easier to find those items there if needed. If you go for clones, Ehpro and Hcigar make good ones.

For durability, go for a Provari. I know people say they're overpriced for what they do, but in my mind, the price isn't for what they do. It's for durability and consistency. As you won't be going into sub ohming, they should meet you needs just fine. Also, rechargeable batteries should be easier to find over there then another device if needed. They are pricey, but they have the least chance of failing. I've even picked up a couple of used devices off the classies. One has been used for quite some time and showed it. However, after a cleaning and a wrap, it's as good as as my newer one. My husband uses it. We have a third for if one fails and needs to be sent in for repair. Which is another thing. If anything happens to it over there, you can send it in for repair when you're back.

Next up, get an MVP as well. It's handy for building coils as a convenient base for ohm checking and burning the coils. I don't use a torch. I just fire the coil on the MVP to burn off anything on the kanthal and set it. After checking the ohms of course. You should still get an ohm meter for building, but if anything happens to that the MVP would be a good back up. It makes a good back up to the Provari as well. It can be found at 101vape for only $40. It can last days between charges and it'll charge your phone in a pinch as well.

For a third device, get a mech mod. Really, this is the ultimate near indestructible option. There's not really anything to break on it save for threading which may be stripped. Perhaps get one in stainless steel? With a firing pin made of something better for conductivity. Copper is good. Doesn't have to be expensive.

 

[cbrite]

I agree about the Provari and batteries. You can take it anywhere and it will stand up to a lot of banging around.

 

[AmandaD]

You only need a couple of Reos with RM2s (bottom fed RDAs you can buy with the Reos), along with building materials and spare batteries. They're pretty bulletproof and foolproof!

 

[PLANofMAN]

If you are hard on your stuff, avoid copper.

My recommendation would be:
a ProVari mini, satin finish. the two in one kit from Kir Fanis will let you run 18350/18500/18650 batteries in these. extension 2in1 18500/18650 for mini Provari By Kir Fanis - Gr-Modders
A ProVari beauty ring to allow 22mm atomizers to sit flush with the ProVari.

GP Paps brass clone kit: https://www.fasttech.com/p/1718002 I own the 18650 version by the same manufacturer, and ordered these when they released on FT. It's the only clone I own that is made with the same thick style tubing as my ProVari.
Kick: https://www.fasttech.com/p/1646300

-------------------------------------------

Kayfun Lite plus V2 clone: https://www.fasttech.com/products/1700500
I own this one along with several other Kayfun clones. I just re-ordered two more of this one. The finish and fit is flawless, and the metal is thicker than my other clones.

-------------------------------------------
From RTD Vapors:
(2) AW 18350 button top batteries
(2) AW 18500/18490 button top batteries
(2) AW 18650 button top batteries

Xtar VP1 or VP2 charger (plus adapter for overseas use).


If you buy the above kit, you'll have my "I'll vape while I watch the world burn," setup.

Almost forgot! This driptip looks awesome on a silver Kayfun/Provari combo (don't use the insulation base): https://www.fasttech.com/p/1452103
and these or these look great on a Paps/Kayfun combo: https://www.fasttech.com/products/1695000
https://www.fasttech.com/products/1411/10007830/1686100-stainless-steel-510-drip-tip

 

[Merryhellion]

Juice? Or is that available where you are working?

 

[Funk Dracula]

The Reo is unstoppable, completely self-contained, and hassle free.

In one of my RM2s, I've got a twisted 28g .6Ω micro coil that I built back in December, use pretty much everyday, and it still works and performs like new. A simple dry burn, a wash under a faucet, and a cotton re-wicking has kept it working perfectly all this time. That equates to not needing to buy or replace a single solitary thing since I wrapped that one coil over six months ago. Not sure if it gets any more reliable and usable over the long term than that.

The bottom fed RDA format is going to give you arguably the most stable and reliable performance in hot weather, aka going from air conditioned indoors to outdoors etc. No leaking, no gurgling, no dry hits or tank cracking etc to worry about. The onboard 6ml bottle capacity will keep you vaping longer than any available (non-26650 giants excluded) tank out there.

Also, being an RDA, it's going to give you incredible flavor, and whatever kind of vape/warmth/throat-hit you build it to. A Kayfun verses an RDA is no competition flavor-wise IMO; the advantage the Kayfun gives is the convenience of a tank and being portable, which the Reo makes that a moot point, being more compact than a Kayfun setup and having more juice capacity. You can make an RDA vape like a Kayfun, not the other way around.

These supplies can take care of your vaping needs for years, with a very reasonable and realistic expectation that not a single thing will break or malfunction:

- Reo + RM2
- 18650 IMR batteries + charger (AW1600mAh or SonyVTC5)
- box of sterile/organic cotton
- spool of kanthal
- 510 resistance meter box
- juice

Done. The only thing you need worry about is loss or theft.

You also might want to consider reading up in the DIY forum and look into buying some bulk nicotine base so you can mix your own e-liquid. There are some flavors, such as certain fruits and a simple TPA RY4, that are pretty fool-proof to get down right, even if you don't know what you're doing.

Good luck

 

[Peevish]

Wow this forum really is superb, isn't it? Thanks so much for all the advice, just what I was hoping for.
...Even though its opened up a whole world of different options!!
The Reo definitely appeals - and brings up a great point that I hadnt thought about - temperature. I will definitely be between extreme heat and airconditioned areas a lot - which seems to favor the Reo again. And the six-month coil is pretty insane, didnt realize that was even possible.

So I guess the question is what to back it up with? Provari always seems to get a lot of love, though at the price point maybe a second Reo is also an option. And then for a third, thinking maybe a MVP if I go with Provari, so I can have 2 tank setups. The one thing I do like about VV and VW is the ability to dial up and down my vaping experience throughout the day. I've found Ive been doing this a fair amount with the ego-v - higher voltage during the day, then lowering in the evening. Not a must-have, but its a nice option that the Reo doesnt have.

A question on tanks as well - I know with the protank you can buy the replacement heads cheap, which would mean I can rebuild on those, and not need so many actual tanks (just switch out to an already built head) I cant see replacement heads for the Kayfuns - so I guess the way these are built, its a one-at-a-time rotation where I'd have to have multiple tanks in order to rotate?

 

[PLANofMAN]

The Kayfuns are a build-your-own coil. Once built, it's just a matter of removing the cotton wick and dry burning the coil every week or two, putting fresh cotton in, and refilling the tank. You would want to rinse it off between flavors, yes.

You might want to look into tatroe tanks as well. those use pro tank coils (with an adapter).

 

[Funk Dracula]

The Reo definitely appeals - and brings up a great point that I hadnt thought about - temperature. I will definitely be between extreme heat and airconditioned areas a lot - which seems to favor the Reo again.

I spent most of my first summer vaping using carto-tanks and clearomizers on a Vamo. One of the studios I used to work out of often, had an entrance in the alley, and it was a good 5 minute walk from whatever street parking I could find in the area to the studio. Coming from my air conditioned car, outdoors to a 100˚ weather, well by the time I got back indoors my cartos or clearo would be a gurgling, leaky, wonky mess.

Towards the end of summer, I got into mechs and loved dripping in RDAs, but it just wasn't something I could travel and take out with me at all. I briefly used a Kayfun before getting my first Reo last September, so there was still hot weather in the mix, and had the exact same issues with the tanks and hot weather. It was just a pain in the balls.

And the six-month coil is pretty insane, didnt realize that was even possible.

Honest to god truth, it was the first twisted coil build I ever tried and raved about right here in this post back in December: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...micro-coil-rba-your-reo-296.html#post11692383

I'm vaping that very same coil right now as I type this, no kidding.

I've got three RM2s. Two of them I build all them time to change up resistances to change wattage and the such. That original twisted 28g micro coil I built six months ago has been my daily driver in my main Reo since that post: a .6Ω twisted 28g. It vapes just like a cigarette hit. Love it.

The key is rinsing a micro coil under water in addition to the dry burn. I just always did that because I run my entire Reo under the faucet anyways as part of a quick maintenance routine when I re-wick the RM2. Rip Trippers posted a video that does pretty much exactly what I do. (though you would NEVER need to or use as much cotton as he does in an RDA for bottom feeding.)




Cheers

 

[Peevish]

I've got three RM2s. Two of them I build all them time to change up resistances to change wattage and the such. That original twisted 28g micro coil I built six months ago has been my daily driver in my main Reo since that post: a .6Ω twisted 28g. It vapes just like a cigarette hit. Love it.

Excuse the stupid question, but what do you mean when you say 'twisted'? Is that a certain modification to a standard micro-coil in technique or material? How does it differ from a standard 28gauge Kanthal microcoil?

 

[Funk Dracula]

Excuse the stupid question, but what do you mean when you say 'twisted'? Is that a certain modification to a standard micro-coil in technique or material? How does it differ from a standard 28gauge Kanthal microcoil?

Take a 12" length of 28g kanthal, fold it in half, twist it tight. The theory is it provides more surface area and nooks and crannies for juice to vaporize off of.

Here's a super clean pic of one I found off of google to illustrate better:

Most people use a drill to make short work of this. I just hang my tweezers around the looped part of the folded kanthal a hand twist it while watching TV. I know it's done when it snaps at the looped end.

That's the great thing about RDAs. They are so versatile and easy to mount and try different coil builds that can make a major change/difference in your vape.


Cheers

 

[Peevish]

Take a 12" length of 28g kanthal, fold it in half, twist it tight. The theory is it provides more surface area and nooks and crannies for juice to vaporize off of.

Thats pretty neat! In your experience does that help the longevity of the coil as well as the surface area - and I presume the twist means each wrap carries higher resistance compared to regular coil?

 

[Funk Dracula]

Thats pretty neat! In your experience does that help the longevity of the coil as well as the surface area - and I presume the twist means each wrap carries higher resistance compared to regular coil?

Twisting the wire halves the resistance of your circuit essentially, so this allows you to fit in more wraps and maintain a lower resistance (warmer, denser vape) on a mech.

When a coil dies, it's usually from snapping when firing. The thicker the wire, the less likely this is to ever happen. So yeah; I do believe even twisted wire will have more longevity than a regular 28g micro coil. My one coil is pretty damn old at this point. lol

I've tried all sorts of builds in my other RDAs. The only thing I like as much as a twisted coil is ribbon wire, but I haven't found those to last as long or easy to wick and maintain. The ribbon builds are more suited for a "one off" IMO.

This is all just my experience though. If you go to the coil building sub-forum here on ECF, there is a crazy long thread about micro coils. It's full of hundreds and hundreds of photos, trials and tribulations of people experimenting with different coil builds. Good read.

But from my personal experience, once you get a simple twisted micro coil set up that vapes to your liking resistance wise (warmth, placement, etc), it's stupid simple and hassle free from that day on. All you need to do is dry burn, wash, and rewick.

And of course there are tons of people who are more than happy with just a plain and simple micro coil. All I know is when I first vaped a twisted coil, I noticed a huge difference in comparison to the smaller regular coil at the same resistance. (I like .5Ω to .6Ω)

Cheers

 

[PLANofMAN]

Right. Thicker wire or more wire=less resistance and lower oHms. Smaller the number of the wire guage, the thicker the wire. 32 awg is thinner than 28 awg.

The longer you cape and build your own coils, the better you get at learning electrical theory.

 

[boomhower1820]

I say Nemesis or Stingray clones and Kayfun clones. Both are cheap and the stainless tank on the Kayfun will take a beating. The coils last forever it seems, so much I just buy mine on ebay for cheap and skip the trouble of building. Just dry burn when you rewick. Rewicking takes a mere few minutes and how often you have to do it will depend on your juice, I usually rewick after every three or four tanks whether it really needs it or not. I use sterile cotton from walgreens, a bag will easily last you six months.

REO's peak my interest but are out of my price range. If I could I'd love to pick one up, I say get one as well.