TONS of Vapemail! Yay! Learning curve on Mechs and RDAs! Boo....

[cramptholomew]

The YAY..
I got a TON of stuff yesterday. 1/2 a liter of nic base, half a liter of VG, and 250ml of PG. 30 flavors from Wizard labs. A Nitecore i2, and 2 Efest 18500 IMR's. AND, my first mech - a Sigelei Silver Dragon, with an IGO-W.

The Silver Dragon is a solid mod. Nice looking too. The bottom button doesn't look like it will have any of the problems that the Sigelei #19 did - it's a solid brass contact, metal button, and a spring. The spring/button housing is all metal (with the exception of some plastic on the top side where the battery sits), so the spring, contact, and button will always make a complete circuit. A magnetic button would be nice, but not necessary. It also has eGo threading - just remove the top ring around the 510 atty connector. I'll post pics later, after my phone charges.

The Boo...
I've been playing around since yesterday afternoon trying to get this damn RDA to vape like all the vids I've seen. I've tried 32g Kanthal coils and micro-coils from 2.0ohms to .9ohms. I've tried 28g Kanthal anywhere from 1.8ohms to 1.0 ohms. SOMETIMES I've gotten OK vapor (not huge clouds), but most of the time the liquid is just boiling, with little vapor and LOTS of throat hit. I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong. Anyone have an idea?

Also, is it normal to blow through an 18500 in 6 hours? That's NOT 6 hours of constant vaping either. I've still been running my Spinners for the most part, so I've only REALLY been using the new mod 1/2 that time. I think...

I'm gonna work on testing voltage drop, since I haven't looked at that yet.

I know, I know... should of bought a Provari...

Here's a vapemail pic...

 

[TheDarthJager]

I just built my first coil about an hour ago and I noticed the same thing. I believe the way their achieving the insane vapor clouds is because their using mech mods and shootings the volts/ watts on sub ohm coils.

At least that's what one guy in a video I saw said he was doing.

 

[cramptholomew]

I just built my first coil about an hour ago and I noticed the same thing. I believe the way their achieving the insane vapor clouds is because their using mech mods and shootings the volts/ watts on sub ohm coils.

At least that's what one guy in a video I saw said he was doing.

I don't think that's necessarily the case. I've seen plenty of vids where the coils were at 1.2ohms, on mechs, and they were blowing good clouds. Not that huge clouds are a NECESSITY, but at least decent vapor production is desirable - to me, anyway.

I will say this, though: taste and throat hit are explosive! I ran my PT Mini on the mech, with a 1.6ohm coil, and it was AWESOME. Good clouds, and great flavor with the PT Mini. I just can't get the RDA to work right... It has to be something I'm not doing right, given that the PT Mini worked so well...

 

[State O' Flux]

I've tried 28g Kanthal anywhere from 1.8ohms to 1.0 ohms.

Are you checking the coil for even heating? The whole thing should glow at almost the identical instant. What are you using for wick? I don't believe you say.

 

[GPSTrucker]

Yep, need to make sure you work out the hot spots. Getting really good vapor from my RBAs.

 

[cramptholomew]

Are you checking the coil for even heating? The whole thing should glow at almost the identical instant. What are you using for wick? I don't believe you say.

I haven't seen any hot legs, and everything is heating from the center out. I'm using cotton balls for wick. For all intents and purposes, it SHOULD be producing good vapor. Could I be choking it with too much liquid?

Also, any thoughts about the battery duration? It seems to me that 6 hours is pretty short for a n 1100mah battery. Especially since a 650 will last me the better part of a day.

 

[Raycecar]

The size of your airholes are a big factor in your vapor production.
Are your airholes stock?

 

[degnr8]

You're probably not getting enough air flow which will seriously reduce your vapor production. That could be how your air hole is lined up or the result of flooding. As far as the battery goes, lower resistance will kill it more quickly but that does seem a little excessive.

 

[Ryedan]

The Boo...
I've been playing around since yesterday afternoon trying to get this damn RDA to vape like all the vids I've seen. I've tried 32g Kanthal coils and micro-coils from 2.0ohms to .9ohms. I've tried 28g Kanthal anywhere from 1.8ohms to 1.0 ohms. SOMETIMES I've gotten OK vapor (not huge clouds), but most of the time the liquid is just boiling, with little vapor and LOTS of throat hit. I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong. Anyone have an idea?

Also, is it normal to blow through an 18500 in 6 hours? That's NOT 6 hours of constant vaping either. I've still been running my Spinners for the most part, so I've only REALLY been using the new mod 1/2 that time. I think...

I'm gonna work on testing voltage drop, since I haven't looked at that yet.

I got a IGO-L a few weeks back and tried a 0.6 ohm coil with 27 gauge Kanthal and silica. I drilled out the air hole to 0.055". I was not impressed. I did realize that the air hole was a little low and partially blocked by the top of the body of the IGO.

Earlier today I tried a micro coil with the same Kanthal at 1.0 ohm and a cotton wick from a Q-tip. I have not opened up the air hole yet. Wow, what a difference. It is giving me the same vapor production as my AGA-T with a 0.6 ohm coil and SS wick, which is awesome. The flavor profile is different, but I think the amount of flavor is similar. I make my own juice so this is something I can adjust for if I end up wanting to.

Location of the air hole relative to the coil is important. Aligned with the coil gives you flavor and vapor. Rotate it 90 degrees and you lose some of those and gain TH. Make it bigger and you gain vapor.

Take your time. Be patient. Sometimes leaving it until the next day is a good deal. It will probably be worth it in the end. The RBA forum is here. There is a lot of info there.

Here's a picture of my setup:

 

[Ryedan]

I haven't seen any hot legs, and everything is heating from the center out. I'm using cotton balls for wick. For all intents and purposes, it SHOULD be producing good vapor. Could I be choking it with too much liquid?

Also, any thoughts about the battery duration? It seems to me that 6 hours is pretty short for a n 1100mah battery. Especially since a 650 will last me the better part of a day.

My cotton was rolled between my thumb and finger until it went into the coil easily. I also wet it a bit to keep it together. Too thick and I have heard it will choke itself, but this is the first time I've used cotton, so this is not experience talking. Mine is really wet and is working fine. It is though fairly high off the deck so it's not sitting in juice. I'm sure that would be bad. A picture of yours if you can would help.

Mine is also not exactly where I want it, but it was the best I could do. I really wanted the coil more parallel with the O.D., but it's working so well for me it might not be too important.

My 1600 mAh 18650's last me I think about 3 ml of juice. I aim to take them out at about 3.8 to 3.7 V.

 

[cramptholomew]

Thanks, everyone, for your advice/expertise. I greatly appreciate it.

I haven't drilled out the air hole yet. It's stock. I have tried to make sure the air hole is aligned with the coil..BUT...now that I think about it, some of the wick could be blocking it. That, and I think I'm probably flooding it.

I pulled the coil out, and plan to start again tomorrow afternoon.

One more thing (without me having to search): I've put my batteries on to charge when they get to around 3.65v. That's acceptable, correct.

 

[Ryedan]

One more thing (without me having to search): I've put my batteries on to charge when they get to around 3.65v. That's acceptable, correct.

That is acceptable. Just remember that they go down faster and faster from there. If they get below 2.7 V you may have trouble getting them back depending on your charger. Below 2.5 and AFAIK they are toast.

 

[Thrasher]

I have tried to make sure the air hole is aligned with the coil.

you have to make sure the airflow is not only aligned with the coil but also that the coil is not too low or high, the air has to hit the coil dead on.

you will find once your done playing and figure out the coil problems just sitting back to vape will give you better life off the battery, still a 500 isnt a big monster battery.

 

[cramptholomew]

you have to make sure the airflow is not only aligned with the coil but also that the coil is not too low or high, the air has to hit the coil dead on.

you will find once your done playing and figure out the coil problems just sitting back to vape will give you better life off the battery, still a 500 isnt a big monster battery.

I didn't even think about this. I figured the air hole needed to be below the coil, kind of like a charcoal grill... LOL
Thanks for the tip!

I went for the 500 batt because I wasn't sure if I could kick this mod. I didn't see many reviews, and nothing said anything about room for a kick - even though it is a telescope, so by nature it should have room. I ordered 3 more 18650's, so I should be set.