The economics of RBAs- bulk supplies?

[the_vape_nerd]

So I'm just past two years vaping. I swore I'd never get into rebuildables but damn that pbusuardo and his neat tricks.

Anyway, I bought a few rebuildable dripping attomizers. I've rebuilt a few vivi nova heads, a kanger pro tank head and of course coils for the rdas. It's not even that I want to do it cheap. It's just the fact that I feel like a total BAMF when I do a successful rebuild or coil.

I'm looking at the RSST over at My Vapor Store. The price of the device isn't off-putting. But I'm wondering if I enter the world of stainless steel mesh wicks, will this cost me a ton of money?

Here's why I ask:

Stainless Mesh 450X450/316L for rebuildable atomizers

$4.45 for one little piece of mesh? Seems like I'd be better off sticking with what I have. Does this get cheaper like if you buy in bulk?

Up until now, I've only done silica wick coils.

While we are at it, can yall point me in the direction where I could buy wick, wire, and mesh in bulk?

In the DIY juice world we have Essential Depot, US Plastics etc. Is there a similar supplier in the rba world?

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[D. Waterhouse]

I get mine at Mesh Wizard. He's got good prices and good packaging, wire comes on a spool and mesh is wrapped on a piece of pvc pipe.

 

[shurehand]

I haven't purchased any mesh from Mesh Wizard, but their prices are very good for SS mesh. A small sheet of mesh will actually last a good amount of time. It'll just depend on how often you rebuild. I don't vape off genesis style atomizers anymore, but when I did, a good build would last me about 3 weeks. With a geny atty, you're making your wick with a sheet that's about 1"X1.5". That'll give you about 24 wicks from a 6"X6" sheet of #500 mesh, which costs $6 over at Mesh Wizard. This means it'll cost you about $0.25 per wick (not factoring in the cost of shipping). You might go through a lot of mesh your first couple of weeks with a genny atty, but I've heard that the RSST is very easy to setup. I think my first month with the AGA-T2, I went through about half of my 4"X6" sheet trying to master building a good wick.

As for your second question, there's Temco's Ebay store for wires, and for all other supplies I purchase from the Vape Mesh Co.

 

[T1lVl]

I been using the same mesh for about a month. I just burn it, wash it, let it dry and then wrap new wire.

How or when does mesh get bad? My flavours are still intense and the hit is still amazing.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Nomoreash]

Get your mesh in 12"x12" sheets or even larger, places like the one mentioned above carry them or you can find it on Ebay. Many of the vendors sell 5"x5" sheet or even smaller at inflated prices but even then it doesn't take that much mesh for a build, you'll save money either way just more buying larger sheets. Both 400 or 500 worked for me, never tried any others.

Temco sells wire on Ebay and Direct at the link below, again you can get shorter lengths from vendors at higher prices. If you're going to be using it with a regulated mod I'd recommend 30ga Kanthal A1, if you're going to be using it with a mechanical I'd recommend 28ga Kanthal A1.

IMO other than the cost per build the big savings comes from how long each build last. They're more durable and can be dry burned, boiled or whatever over and over when needed and will last longer than Silica. Since I've switched to ceramic which last even longer than SS I've never had to rebuild because it needed it, it's usually just because I get board or want to try some other technique.

The RSST is a great choice for a first timer, it's got a insulated wick hole and a easy to use spring on the center post. You'll probably want to enlarge the air hole as it's tiny but that's not a big deal.......Good Luck!

Resistance Wire

 

[shurehand]

I been using the same mesh for about a month. I just burn it, wash it, let it dry and then wrap new wire.

How or when does mesh get bad? My flavours are still intense and the hit is still amazing.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

You make a good point. Mesh could always be washed and reused. I just never bothered with it.

 

[sk8mdw]

Come on the_vape_nerd; you know you want to build some wicks and coils!

Fiveapes04 on eBay is where I get my ss mesh. Two 6x6 sheets shipped for just under $10. Mine always arrives quickly and in perfect condition. It is shipped flat, not curled around a tube, so it is ready to work with as soon as you open the package.

100 feet of Kanthal A1 is $6.65, shipping included. The seller is temco_industrial_power. it is shipped on a spool and always arrives quickly for me.

With that and an RSST you are good to go!

 

[Leithan]

+1 for Temco, you can get a life time supply of kanthal for what a lot of venders will sell you a couple of feet for.

 

[fogmachineroy]

anyone know a good vendor for bulk wick?

 

[the_vape_nerd]

You hooligans are so helpful.

Ok, I'm going to go ahead and get an RSST and see what happens. My wife is laughing at me over all this. She's like so yer planning to spend yet another 35$ to save money? This is what you said last month when you bought those rdas.

 

[T1lVl]

Only problem with RSST is its not glass. So juice cracking problems could happen. I do over all like it better then the AGA. It's a lot easier and harder to loose pieces but aga has a glass tank.

 

[sk8mdw]

Only problem with RSST is its not glass. So juice cracking problems could happen. I do over all like it better then the AGA. It's a lot easier and harder to loose pieces but aga has a glass tank.

Yep, I'm hoping that someone comes out with a Pyrex tank for the RSST. In the mean time anything fruity that I vape goes into a Protank.

 

[lolhahaha]

Best price i've found for mesh is at: Stainless Steel Mesh

10.99 for 12x12

 

[WattWick]

Not sure how shipping will turn out for you overseas guys, but here's where I get mine:

http://www.vape-atomizer-mesh.com/products/500-025mm-25micron-316-vape-mesh-A4-2336.html

I do believe they subtract the 20% tax for non-EU customers. Should be around $9 pr A4 sheet.

Edit: Noticed they've changed the 1 extra sheet pr sheet ordered thingy.

 

[JMarca]

I like the smooth taste of untreated cotton better than mesh, I know different people like different things but I can get organic cotton by the pound and never go broke. = )

Alot of people here do have good advice get a year supply in one order if you can and you'll pay ALOT less, a few 12x12 sheets should hold you over for a while.

 

[kamil99]

i think my 15buck 100' roll of 28ga kanthal and 4buck box of sterile CVS brand cotton balls will last me a long, long, long time. juice is the only thing that i have NEEDED to buy in the last 2 months. its not my fault cap it all vapes has sweet top caps for RDAs.

finding kanthal and cotton seems simpler and cheaper too than any other ecig option.


asterisk edit area: *POST NUMBER 100!*

 

[Jazzi Mike]

Be prepared, mesh is a lot more temperamental than silica. You really need to spend time oxidizing your wick and moving the coils slightly until you have no shorts.