The ups and downs of RTAs

[vaper1960]

I was just re-wicking my RTA (old school E-leaf Lemo 2) and I have have really good luck with this RTA before (I like that it almost never leaks) I use rayon because it has small juice flow holes and that has also always worked well. But... every RTA is different and they all have their own "personality". Did a good job and went to fill it (has a top/side fill slot) I use a syringe with a large blunt needle and it works great (and did fine as usual) When I went to close off the fill slot I twisted it and somehow loosened the tank at the same time. Started feeling juice leaking from the seal at the bottom of the tank glass. Grabbed a paper towel and then realized the tank seals had become loose (I actually made sure they were vary snug this time) OK... problem solved (for now) no more leaks after tightening that. Went to vape it (I had done something slightly different when wicking it... wet the wick with juice instead of leaving it fluffy, putting the chamber on and the priming the wick) Tucked it in (so it wouldn't get caught in the threads of the chamber) instead of leaving the wick "fluffy" and did too good a job... it started leaking out the airflow slots.
My point (if there is one) is that as much as I love RTAs (cheap to rebuild, gives better vape than my drop-in tanks and a really fun hobby... when things go right) they can drive you nuts! I am determined to not give up on this (I have another RTA... Silverplay that I love... best flavor ever but it tends to leak) The good news... caught this before it leaked into the mod. Ironically, the first time I built the Lemo 2 it was almost giving dry hits. Thanks for listening to my rant.

 

[Mordacai]

I too am mocked by the gods of RBA's @vaper1960.

I have so many that refuse to comply to my will, but I'm stubborn. So to one side they go and I get round to them eventually.

But the worst thing is, it always seems to be the ones that you really enjoy for one reason or another.

 

[UncLeJunkLe]

And this is one of the main reasons why dripping and squonking are still popular.

If I had to do it all over again, I would have stocked up on more squonkers and RDAs. I know I'm going to come to a point in my life where I don't want to bother with RTAs anymore. Although, thankfully most of my RTAs are not as particular when it comes to wicking as the Lemo 2 is.

 

[Mordacai]

@UncleJunkle, I love the Tripod yet it shuns me. The goldilocks zone of wicking for it is just eluding me, as I just can't get the air pressure to equalize effectively.

So I have to agree with you on RDA's and also RDTA's, as they're much easier to work with. I'm wanting to see if any manufacturer makes a Creek RDA clone, as I have heard nothing but good things about them.

 

[mototoo]

one tank that will never leak, the expromizer v4. and easy to wick. i just wish they come out with a 22mm version.

 

[HigherStateD]

My squonkers don't leak, they just weep...

 

[Daniel Forsyth]

one tank that will never leak, the expromizer v4. and easy to wick. i just wish they come out with a 22mm version.

Unfortunately the airflow is as tight as a gnats butthole

 

[Mordacai]

Ah the Exvape Expromizer V4. Nice, but has a floating 501 positive screw that causes unstable resistance readings.

 

[Spydro]

The gear I have the most of and used the longest has been mech tube and squonk mods with RDA's on them. My preferred tanks was Avocado RDTA's. Unfortunately I bought a lot of RTA's that were fails in 2016 and 2017, and didn't find any RTA that I actually did like at all until I bought my first Wotofo Profile Unity Mesh RTA early spring 2019 (they come with both 3.5ml and 5ml glass). Have six of them, 2 Gold, 1 SS, 2 Gunmetal and 1 Black. I like them so much that they closed the door permanently for my ever needing to buy anymore RTA's. And they are the perfect companions to my 21 mesh RDA's.

 

[Javichu]

Unfortunately the airflow is as tight as a gnats butthole

Only a person who has looked closely and extensively of said part of the anatomy of a gnats posterior part would know that...just sayin'

 

[Opinionated]

@UncleJunkle, I love the Tripod yet it shuns me. The goldilocks zone of wicking for it is just eluding me, as I just can't get the air pressure to equalize effectively.

So I have to agree with you on RDA's and also RDTA's, as they're much easier to work with. I'm wanting to see if any manufacturer makes a Creek RDA clone, as I have heard nothing but good things about them.

Are you having issues with the Tripod?

I never had a chance before surgery to clean it and set it up, and of course since surgery have yet to have a day I can manage such a task...

However, I'll see if I cant get to it this week, perhaps with hubby's help, and then I'll see how it goes. Wicking is usually fairly easy for me on most RTA's, maybe we can figure out the best way to wick this Tripod.

As far as the creek I've never seen a clone...

 

[Daniel Forsyth]

Only a person who has looked closely and extensively of said part of the anatomy of a gnats posterior part would know that...just sayin'

View attachment 908385

It was the lovely Ange that familiarised everyone with the size of of a gnats butthole

 

[Mordacai]

True, there's no clone of the Creek RDA @Opinionated. But you can hope.

With the Tripod I'm using Rayon, don't know how much of a difference that makes.

But it's just deciding to be annoying, as I've gotten close to getting it wicked right. Yet not to where air pressure effectively equalizes, I get either seeping or ineffective wicking happening.

So all I have to do is to find the middle, which is easier said than done.

But the flavour and throat hit from the Tripod without any inserts and the wide bore chimney always keep me coming back to it.

 

[vaper1960]

I too am mocked by the gods of RBA's @vaper1960.

I have so many that refuse to comply to my will, but I'm stubborn. So to one side they go and I get round to them eventually.

But the worst thing is, it always seems to be the ones that you really enjoy for one reason or another.

You could not have said it better... my favorite RTA (that I have loved for several months... and also have two more waiting to be built and it gives me issues) I know... that's the game...

 

[vaper1960]

And this is one of the main reasons why dripping and squonking are still popular.

If I had to do it all over again, I would have stocked up on more squonkers and RDAs. I know I'm going to come to a point in my life where I don't want to bother with RTAs anymore. Although, thankfully most of my RTAs are not as particular when it comes to wicking as the Lemo 2 is.

I agree... even my RTAs are for home use... often wonder why I don't just use RDAs (and RDTAs) Thanks unkie junkie.

 

[vaper1960]

My squonkers don't leak, they just weep...

You did try to convert me a long time ago... I have already admitted that I should have listened

 

[Mordacai]

RDTA's are probably the better all round option @vaper1960, the only issue is finding out the right one.

It's even worse if you want it to Squonk.

 

[vaper1960]

Unfortunately the airflow is as tight as a gnats butthole

Sorry folks... I like loose airflow (like loose MTL or better yet restricted DL)

 

[vaper1960]

It was the lovely Ange that familiarised everyone with the size of of a gnats butthole

If you mean she helped us (me) avoid tight air draw (that I don't want... won't comment on tight .... holes) Yes, way back when I was looking for a good MTL RTA, she gave me good tips on airflow... half the ones on my list were out because I like loose draw.

 

[vaper1960]

Hey people, the point of this thread was that RTAs can be so difficult to get right. Tomorrow, I'm just going to to drip my RDA (dual coil) and vape me head off (don't worry, I will mix some lower nic juice)