Tinkerers :: Mod/Rebuild Fail/Success

[weisner]

By the way, how are you liking your "helping hands"? I've been wanting something like that for a few days now... Spotted one on amazon but some of the reviewers said that the adjustments were next to impossible to get "tight enough". Any regrets with yours?

I purchased some cheap ones $2.99 (Item #319); from http://www.harborfreight.com/. They are very inexpensive and in some cases it is difficult to get tight enough. My solution is to open up the join and stick a small clipping of rubber band in the joint and re-tighten up the joint. You really don't wan't to be torquing down on the pot metal bits they will just break if you do. OVERALL the Helping hands work as expected and are very useful. I only wish I had purchased the one with the lamp on the magnifier for ease of use.

 

[Oktyabr]

Here is one for you... Experimentation with silica alternatives led me to head to the local drug store where I bought a bag of 200 natural cotton balls for $3. Below is a smok redux (CE5 clone) that I rebuilt using less than half a cotton ball, twisted tight, and wrapped 4/3 with 32 gauge kanthal A1. 2.4 ohms. The draw is a bit tighter than OEM silica and the flavor maybe a bit muted but it *actually worked* and produces lots of nice vapor! Took all of 10 minutes to do and cost about TWO CENTS (instead of three dollars)!

 

[weisner]

Here is one for you... Experimentation with silica alternatives led me to head to the local drug store where I bought a bag of 200 natural cotton balls for $3. Below is a smok redux (CE5 clone) that I rebuilt using less than half a cotton ball, twisted tight, and wrapped 4/3 with 32 gauge kanthal A1. 2.4 ohms. The draw is a bit tighter than OEM silica and the flavor maybe a bit muted but it *actually worked* and produces lots of nice vapor! Took all of 10 minutes to do and cost about TWO CENTS (instead of three dollars)!

I am sure that there are at least a few people that would like to see the step by step on that build in photographs with measurements etc. I tried to do the same with a Kanger bottom feeder, with mixed results. Good going.

 

[Koman]

Here is one for you... Experimentation with silica alternatives led me to head to the local drug store where I bought a bag of 200 natural cotton balls for $3. Below is a smok redux (CE5 clone) that I rebuilt using less than half a cotton ball, twisted tight, and wrapped 4/3 with 32 gauge kanthal A1. 2.4 ohms. The draw is a bit tighter than OEM silica and the flavor maybe a bit muted but it *actually worked* and produces lots of nice vapor! Took all of 10 minutes to do and cost about TWO CENTS (instead of three dollars)!

View attachment 197324View attachment 197325

Looks good, I like it!

 

[weisner]

I would like to say first off that this was interesting and all the while I had a SmokTech carto tank right there in case I needed a vape. Much like going shopping for groceries, never go hungry. I figured I better have taken care of my needs before getting neck deep in this build.

I started by washing and drying all the parts and bits. Then heated my SS on the stove. I used the pre-cut SS that came with the AGA.


Assembled the AGA without leaving one of the O-rings or Silicone gaskets on the table.

 

[weisner]

Now that the tank is assembled, it is time to get that wick and coil done.


OK, so I skipped the part where I roll the wick. I got it rolled down too small so had to roll in reverse so to say in order to open it back up again for a loose fit that was not too loose. You can see the sewing needle that I used to hold the wick while I wound the coil.


Now with the coil built and all I have a good resistance of 2.7 and need to trim the top of the wick as it is too tall to fit properly as is.

 

[weisner]

After much fiddling and adjusting a nice even burn with no apparent hot spot. Note the resistance is improved now @ 2.1 Ohms.


FAIL! about 10 minutes after this last shot a hot spot developed and POP! no more coil.

FYI: all this was done with the stuff in the little clear envelope so I have no idea what wire or what mesh it was. On my next attempt however I may know more. I am guessing that the supplied mesh was 500 and I think I may continue to attempt using it but my next build will definitely be with either 28 or 30 AWG because that is all I have.

I think maybe I was too hasty in rolling the wick and that there where a few micro fibers of SS sticking out on the rough edge that I should have folded over prior to rolling. This should be pretty easy to remedy. I will try to remember to take photos of the process as I go so that others can benefit from my trials and tribulations.

I am not discouraged, this will not stop me, I will try again and again until like all things I will be triumphant!

Vape on, Vape strong!

 

[weisner]

I'll be doing a hybrid SS wick on the AGA.

I obviously did not do a hybrid SS wick. I will, I just thought that I should try the more traditional SS build first and get a feel for it.

 

[weisner]

I haven't seen any videos of this yet. I might make a run to the local hardware store and see what I can find! How does this work out in practice?

I would tear down a click pen for the spring, washers small ones probably the hardware store. Be sure they are not zinc coated. Copper, brass, steel no problem.

 

[evgeny131]

View attachment 198317
i kinda wanna brag... this is my first genesis...just arrived....vaping really well....lowered ohms to 1.8@ 7w....
the draw seems a bit tight,,,any suggestions????

 

[weisner]

View attachment 198317
i kinda wanna brag... this is my first genesis...just arrived....vaping really well....lowered ohms to 1.8@ 7w....
the draw seems a bit tight,,,any suggestions????

Cover the hole in the cap with tape but don't press the tape into the groove.

 

[weisner]

View attachment 198317
i kinda wanna brag... this is my first genesis...just arrived....vaping really well....lowered ohms to 1.8@ 7w....
the draw seems a bit tight,,,any suggestions????

I have essentially the same rig: eVic, AGA-T+(2) I run as low as 1.1 Ohms resistance on my eVic, so it is possible to get pretty low res. builds to run. I find that 1.5 to 2.5 is the best range for battery life on the eVic. I wouldn't mind you sharing your experiences. I run between 8 and 11 WATTS (MAX for the eVIC) on all my RBAs.

 

[weisner]

I am going to let the pictures talk for me since I have done this in the same thread on the same unit a couple times now.
I'll be happy to answer any questions.

 

[weisner]

Video short of my last build in action.

 

[weisner]

I wanted to increase the capacity from 1-2 drop to 2-5 drop. This worked really well.

I re-used the SS from my previous build and some 2mm silica with 28 AWG.

 

[weisner]

Continued....

 

[BikerBob]

Continued....

View attachment 199766View attachment 199770

Trying to follow here...1st picture shows right-hand threading on screw, with coil following the threads. 2nd picture appears to be left-hand coil on wick. What am I missing?

 

[weisner]

Trying to follow here...1st picture shows right-hand threading on screw, with coil following the threads. 2nd picture appears to be left-hand coil on wick. What am I missing?

After winding it I flipped it over, you missed nothing. The cameras software determined that the image was facing the wrong way and automatically flipped it. Some technology is just not that helpful.

 

[weisner]

I decided to attempt a rebuild on this CE4 head.... FAIL. the wicks swelled up to the point that it only gurgles. Thinner wicks on the next attempt.

So here goes;
parted out
wound up
sheathed
capped view I, seal inserted one wire trapped against wall one wire in center.
capped view II, center post pin installed, careful not to push the positive post wire up.
The next step is to trim the wires very close.

to be continued ...

 

[weisner]

Continuation from previous post.

2.8 Ω
All together

Please note I used hemp cord for the wicking material and that this was a failure due to the fact that the hemp swelled to a point that the device gurgles. Next attempt will be with bamboo rather than hemp.