The Tiamat/AGA multi-use RBA

[j4mmin42]

Well, I've been getting to know mine pretty well- of course I'm running it with an SS wick (just like I do with everything else), and overall it is very comparable to the DUD, only heavier and a bit more solid in some ways... and less-solid in others. I am loving the flexibility of having all of the different holes, screws and contacts on the top cap base- makes for many interesting configurations. I would say that it is a decent step forward in the evolution of mass-produced rba's- Not a game changer yet, but maybe the prototype of some future device to come that WILL be.

Here's my current build, exactly the opposite of the DUD (on the right):

My biggest problems: The width of the center post makes the unit flimsy if it isn't tightened up all the way, and the spacing between the holes and contacts on the top cap base is too large. In all honesty, though, this one really is a winner in my book.

My full review: The AGA Tiamat Multi-Use RBA

 

[icucme2]

nice man. i just ordered one in a co-op. cant wait to get it. i have a did clone, and this aga looks like it is a bigger more solid unit. and will probably look beefier on my provari

 

[icucme2]

just checked out ur review. great man. now i really can't wait to get it.. i like the fact that its a lil heavy..

 

[Rule62]

Nice review. I received a couple of these yesterday, and set up one last night. Currently still breaking my set up in. I do like the fact that the fill hole and screw are larger than the DUD. I find the DUD a pain to fill, and particularly to top off, through the tiny hole, if you have the metal tank version. I did wrap my first coil clockwise, and it's working fine. Next time, I'm going to wrap counter clockwise, just to see if it makes a difference, performance wise. My biggest complaint with any of these, the DUD, Hydra, or Tiamet, other than the air hole misalignment, is my own "ham fistedness" at tightening the tiny knurled nuts on the center post. I wish they had a female threaded center post, and a phillips or allen screw at the top, like some of the high end units do.

 

[RsK0807]

This IMO is probably the Best looking Genesis Rebuildable out of China. Looks very well made!!

 

[j4mmin42]

Nice review. I received a couple of these yesterday, and set up one last night. Currently still breaking my set up in. I do like the fact that the fill hole and screw are larger than the DUD. I find the DUD a pain to fill, and particularly to top off, through the tiny hole, if you have the metal tank version. I did wrap my first coil clockwise, and it's working fine. Next time, I'm going to wrap counter clockwise, just to see if it makes a difference, performance wise. My biggest complaint with any of these, the DUD, Hydra, or Tiamet, other than the air hole misalignment, is my own "ham fistedness" at tightening the tiny knurled nuts on the center post. I wish they had a female threaded center post, and a phillips or allen screw at the top, like some of the high end units do.

Thanks! Also, I see you mentioned you wrapped a clockwise coil- One of the things I forgot to confirm before I built mine was whether that open hole to the right of the screw (where I put the wick in my build) is threaded- is that how you built yours? Mine is working very well, and I just hate to have to undo a perfect coil- even for the sake of a review, haha

Thanks for the added info- and thanks to everyone for the kind words, I'm still finding my groove when it comes to these reviews!

 

[Rule62]

Thanks! Also, I see you mentioned you wrapped a clockwise coil- One of the things I forgot to confirm before I built mine was whether that open hole to the right of the screw (where I put the wick in my build) is threaded- is that how you built yours? Mine is working very well, and I just hate to have to undo a perfect coil- even for the sake of a review, haha

Thanks for the added info- and thanks to everyone for the kind words, I'm still finding my groove when it comes to these reviews!

The open hole to the right of the negative screw isn't threaded. It's the wick hole. A 7/64" drill bit is about the right size for wrapping the coil and sizing the wick, if you use the drill bit method. I thought about wrapping counter clockwise; but I didn't. I may do that next time.

 

[silversx]

how big is the air hole compared to like the expensive genesis.. the hole looks so small i feel like it's going to be a tight draw with no vapor..

and how is the air hole lining up with the wick.. is the o ring sufficient for adjustment?

 

[j4mmin42]

The air hole is the same size as the original DUD. Some people will want to bore it out- in fact, as soon as the batteries for my drill are charged, I'm going to make it a 1/16" hole. The O-ring catches as soon as you start threading the top on, and will give you a tight fit over an entire rotation of the cap.

 

[j4mmin42]

Just a quick update-

Last night, I swapped the thinner wick on my Tiamat with a 95mm, near-solid 400 twill-finish one, which fills the huge wick hole in the coil base. With a wick this big, a 3/4 wrap with 32 Kanthal was reading 1.9 ohms, and the thing wicks like a champ- even with the fill-hole screw left in!

It wicks so well and so fast, however, that it burns up juice extremely fast; I'm running it at 4-4.5v, and you can see the bubbles creeping in from the very bottom of the wick- every time you take a drag! This unit really has become my absolute favorite- it's a TANK if there ever was one.

 

[urquidezj]

Pictures of current setup please

 

[Dieseler]

Over on another forum i saw this tank that someone took a dremel and wet sanded the knurls off then buffed the tank .
Looks real nice. Scroll to post # 5 to see it next to the knurl tank.
Review - AGA-T RBA

 

[j4mmin42]

Here ya go:



Notice the fourth "extra" nut on the center post.

Even at less than 2 ohms, with all the juice flow that it has, it rarely gets too hot- even at upwards of 5 volts. The wick spits out so much juice that if you touch the top of it with your finger, it'll be soaked with the stuff.

Vaping Delaware Vapes Krispy Treat tonight.

 

[EDO]

I got one last week....for people thinking about getting this....it is very very heavy and bulky. Some people might like it for that very reason but for me it was a deal breaker. If they made a mini version the same size as the DUD that was also a lot lighter I would be very interested.

 

[j4mmin42]

I got one last week....for people thinking about getting this....it is very very heavy and bulky. Some people might like it for that very reason but for me it was a deal breaker. If they made a mini version the same size as the DUD that was also a lot lighter I would be very interested.

*whispers* they DO have a smaller one...it is called the AGA-S, and it has not been ordered or released yet by any of the major USA retailers... It is about half the weight but is all SS, and is designed to mount flush to an eGo (although I wouldn't do that...) Can't post a photo, but it has the same horizontal lines on the top and bottom, no clear tank, and much less knurling...

 

[Jellyfish]

Hey Ninja,

This will be my first RBA and I ordered a couple last night after I read your blog review. My kit does not provide mesh (ordered some #400 on eBay) but does come with some wick instead. I was wondering if you have ever tried wick instead of steel mesh in the AGA-T?

Thanks for the thoughtful review!

 

[j4mmin42]

Hey Ninja,

This will be my first RBA and I ordered a couple last night after I read your blog review. My kit does not provide mesh (ordered some #400 on eBay) but does come with some wick instead. I was wondering if you have ever tried wick instead of steel mesh in the AGA-T?

Thanks for the thoughtful review!

Glad you liked it

Sure, you could set it up with the included silica (mine came with silica also). I tossed that bit into a desk drawer and forgot about it, haha but if you're looking for something to tide you over, try it out- if I were going to try it, I would make a horizontal coil with one or two pieces of silica, and use them in at least two of the holes on the coil base. Using SS mesh is a wholly different experience- I recommend swapping out the silica as soon as you get your 400 in

 

[PhreakySTS9]

I got one last week....for people thinking about getting this....it is very very heavy and bulky. Some people might like it for that very reason but for me it was a deal breaker. If they made a mini version the same size as the DUD that was also a lot lighter I would be very interested.

If you're ever looking for a high end genesis, get the Cobra! It is made out of titanium instead of stainless steel and is incredibly light. I still can't believe how light it is, it feels like a fraction of my DID, and is even lighter than my DUD I think.

 

[EDO]

*whispers* they DO have a smaller one...it is called the AGA-S, and it has not been ordered or released yet by any of the major USA retailers... It is about half the weight but is all SS, and is designed to mount flush to an eGo (although I wouldn't do that...) Can't post a photo, but it has the same horizontal lines on the top and bottom, no clear tank, and much less knurling...

Wow...I would definitely get that. I bet by the time it gets over here they'll have a clear tank for it.

If you're ever looking for a high end genesis, get the Cobra! It is made out of titanium instead of stainless steel and is incredibly light. I still can't believe how light it is, it feels like a fraction of my DID, and is even lighter than my DUD I think.

That is pretty impressive. I wonder if the Chinese will ever make a titanium RBA.

 

[Jellyfish]

Using SS mesh is a wholly different experience- I recommend swapping out the silica as soon as you get your 400 in

First, my AGA-Ts came today and, as luck would have it, so did my eBay #400 mesh. So I made the jump and put together my first RBA with a stainless steel wick.

As you had said, there's plenty of play with the O-ring and getting the air hole lined up was no problem. I may have been lucky or it may have been by design, but it lines up when the cap is nearly screwed down all of the way and I could still turn it another 90 degrees past this if I wanted to. Also, I was a bit concerned about the weight issue but I was pleasantly surprised to find out that I don't find it to be a problem at all.

I first rolled a wick (no center channel) that fit the wick hole and then built the coil around it. I think that I may have wrapped the coil too tightly so I gave it some slack by loosing both the positive nut and the negative screw. After firing things looked better and I jiggled the coils a bit and got a pretty steady glow through the whole coil...not perfect, but good enough for my first attempt. I measured the resistance at 2.2 ohms and was happy.

I fired up my mod and set it around 3.7 V and was disappointed with the lack of taste. This voltage was based on those sweet spot voltage vs. ohm charts that are prevalent on ECF and were spot on with my Vivi Novas. So I incrementally cranked up the voltage and settled in at 4.5 V. At this high of a voltage, I was surprised to find that the vape is really smooth and that I don't feel the need to enlarge the air hole. After a couple of hours of vaping, I'm happy to see that I am getting a consistent flavor as opposed to the Vivi Novas.

So I was wondering if it is normal that I had to raise the voltage in order to find my sweet spot? As of now the flavor is good and I'm getting more vapor...and I expect things to improve a bit as this breaks in and I learn to wrap a better coil. The next time I wrap a coil I will try the drill bit method.