upgrading question, opinions wanted!

[thekidzac]

okay so, here's a little background...

i started out with a blue-type ecig with a cartimizer and a little tiny i-dont-even-know-what-it-was battery about two months ago. it was working well in helping me cut back on my cigs, however i was still only cutting back. THEN i bought a little eGo battery and generic clearomizer MIC... thats when my vape eyes were open. cigs stopped completely. i found out this stuff can really be enjoyable. right out of the gate i wanted to know more, and started researching and visited a couple B&M's locally. next i bought an EVOD BCC. I thought an eGo twist type battery would be the next logical upgrade but after much research i ordered a zmax V5 VV/VW mod and am now awaiting the package!...

that brings us up to date. my questions, and opinion seeking is as to whats next. when i get the zmax in i am going to put my evod bcc on top and that will undoubtedly keep me satisfied for i dont know, an hour? would buying a protank II or something along those lines so i can fiddle with rebuilding coils be a good move? id really like to get a Kayfun type but i am afraid if i am no good at building coils ill be SOL.... then mech mods....

okay so opinions: pros and cons of mechs vs. VV/VW, RBA choices, drippers?, best materials to build coils... basically just throw your best tips and opinions at me. it will help educate me and at the same time take my mind off waiting for this delivery!

 

[Krist0ph]

I personally love mech mods. People always tell me "but you can't adjust your volts/watts like my Provari can!" I always respond my mech mod can be adjusted its called changing the resistance/ohms of your coil/coils. I can use my old cheap Sigeli and make a .4 ohm build and blow bigger clouds then a Provari any day. Its all preference.

Building coils really isn't that hard just takes practice. I learned a lot on youtube. I started out building Protank coils. Then I wanted bigger clouds and now I just focus on taste.

I would say get a protank, they are great for the money.

When you get time I would look into rebuilding. Theoretically you can make coils for a year off maybe $20 in supplies. For instance I can get 300 organic cotton balls for less than $4 lol I'm currently drowning in them. 100ft of K1 28ga Kanthal is around $6-13 online at select places. Just always have a Ohm reader and stay out of the subohms (below 1 ohm) until your get a good grasp of what your doing.

Vape on and ask lots of questions!

 

[Baditude]

The following notes are simply my opinion, based upon my own experience.

I prefer using variable voltage (regulated) mods to mechanical mods. I have and use a multitude of flavors, switch flavors 3 - 4 times a day. Each one has its own "sweet spot" in the voltage that it tastes it best. Each flavor is in its own tank. With variable voltage I am able to adjust the voltage with each tank that I switch to.

I can't do this with a mechanical mod. It has a single fixed voltage dependent upon the battery's voltage. If I had only one all day vape, I guess I could make a wick/coil setup specifically for that flavor, but alas I don't have just one favorite flavor. (How boring)

A mechanical mod will be at its best with a fresh fully charged battery, and then its downhill the rest of the way until the battery will no longer fire the atty. A regulated mod will keep the voltage to what I set it to, from when the battery is at full charge until it will no longer fire the atty. Not the gradual & continual drop off in the vape experience like a mechanical mod will provide.

Mechanical mods have no safety features.

My regulated mods have a multitude of built-in safety features which keep me out of trouble: Short circuit protection, auto time-out of the fire button to prevent over-discharge of the battery, error code warnings when there's a short detected in the atomizer, refusal to fire a defected atomizer, reverse battery protection, amp limitation to protect the battery, and thermal monitoring. My Provari's even tell me the battery is getting low by causing the fire button to blink; a full half hour before the battery will no longer fire the Provari.

Most regulated mods will have a built-in ohm and voltage meter, very handy to have right on the mod at all times. Most have an LED or LCD screen to provide important information.

 

[Bill's Magic Vapor]

I love the Sigelei V5 personally. One of the best APV's under $100.

Being new and all, I'd recommend a couple of good clearomizers or cartomizers. Clearos would include the Protanks, Davide's, Aspire and iClear's. Hard to beat a good cartomizer in a carto tank. Great flavor and vapor.

Protanks are fun and easy to rebuild. Not hard. Watch YouTube videos on specific devices. Wrapping some 32 gauge around a silica wick turns out to be surprisingly easy. For most, an attempt or two or three is all it takes. And really, the Kayfun is not harder than the Protank coils, and the Protank is maybe more difficult from a connection standpoint. The ability to improve the coil for less money is one of several appealing features of doing your own coils. Try cotton. Many prefer over silica.

2013 was the year of the mechanical for sure. I have several including top of the lines. I still prefer an APV to a mech most of the time. Easier in many respects and greater flexibility in most early setups. For me, I had to try a number of devices to find what I liked and what worked best for me. Like you see all over the place, a Provari and carto tank is pretty hard to beat without some effort. Good luck!

 

[DasBluCig]

As much as I LOVE my new Reo (....and I DO!!!!)....my MVP v2 will likely see more use over time, since I change flavors often via dripping...and I've pretty much "dedicated" my Reo to my one "favorite" juice...
I just put my MVP on the charger....after nearly 3 DAYS of nearly constant use!! I MIGHT get half a day from the Reo (slightly unfair comparison - 1600mAH vs 2600mAH....)
Like others have said....coil building isn't difficult -- it DOES require some finger dexterity, and moderate/severe arthritis can interfere here...but after watching a couple of instructional videos, the mechanics should fall into place...
Coil building is like playing a musical instrument....MOST folks aren't skilled from the get-go......they PRACTICE!!
Good Luck!
Happy (vaping) Trails!

 

[thekidzac]

As much as I LOVE my new Reo (....and I DO!!!!)....my MVP v2 will likely see more use over time, since I change flavors often via dripping...and I've pretty much "dedicated" my Reo to my one "favorite" juice...
I just put my MVP on the charger....after nearly 3 DAYS of nearly constant use!! I MIGHT get half a day from the Reo (slightly unfair comparison - 1600mAH vs 2600mAH....)
Like others have said....coil building isn't difficult -- it DOES require some finger dexterity, and moderate/severe arthritis can interfere here...but after watching a couple of instructional videos, the mechanics should fall into place...
Coil building is like playing a musical instrument....MOST folks aren't skilled from the get-go......they PRACTICE!!
Good Luck!
Happy (vaping) Trails!

hey all great info! thanks so much for reassuring me that i will be happy with my choice, and giving me some confidence with the coils... good metaphor with the musical instrument, i never thought i could play guitar either lol. anyways im going to get myself a protank and use it and my evod and build up courage for coils. i think having the protank is perfect because i can forsee being up late one night and deciding i want to build my first coil so having something around that will work is a must.

 

[thekidzac]

i just really wish i had some sort of budget to work with, after the holidays i dont know what i'm going to do to be honest... (got a the sigelei from gf which she really stretched for) i make money but it seems like it is spent on essentials even before i get it. cheap will be the key... so you will probably see me begging for leads on cheap things lol, i've checked out the sale/coupon thread, that will become my second home i'm sure

 

[JeremyR]

I wouldn't get a protank if you want to rebuild! You'll be fed up with it but you can always replace the heads an have a bigger capacity. Sure you can try your hand at rebuilding it but also with the evod, same heads. I think the evod vapes better, you could get 4 evod a for the price of a protank, but they don't look as nice on the zmax. Your better off getting a 10.00 dripper, or an rba clone if you want to practice building. I have a zmax and it's pretty good. Just don't over tighten the battery tubes or you'll shift the internals. Put tele tube on till battery is sticking out no more than 1/8 inch then put on battery cap. You will need some noalox or a wrap of foil on the tube threads if they are loose like mine and you have problems. Great mod though been through hell and still tick in'.

Your next step to save money would be diy juice.

 

[chengon]

Money wise/best bang for the buck vs vaping needs, I would look at the MVP 2 at 101vape. I picked one up on Thanksgiving, for $40. It came with a iclear 30. It is vv and/or vw, and will allow you to use almost anything with it. I have used carto tanks, clearomizers, as well as an rba. so far, ( I have only built a couple of micro coils so far), my favorite has been a 1.4 ohm micro coil with coton at 11 watts.

 

[Baditude]

When researching for your first rebuildable atomizer, use this blog for INFORMATION RESOURCES FOR YOUR FIRST RBA/RDA. It has important information on digital multimeters, replaceable rechargeable batteries safe to use for rebuildables, the Ohm's Law Calculator, and several videos on coil/wick building.

You can use any rebuildable on any mod - mechanical and regulated. I don't recommend making sub-ohm coils as a beginner, but you can only use those on a mechanical (provided you have high amp IMR or hybrid "high drain" batteries of 20 - 30 amps continuous discharge rate). BATTERY BASICS FOR MODS: IMR OR PROTECTED ICR?.

 

[Thunderball]

id really like to get a Kayfun type but i am afraid if i am no good at building coils ill be SOL....
okay so opinions: pros and cons of mechs vs. VV/VW, RBA choices, drippers?, best materials to build coils... basically just throw your best tips and opinions at me. it will help educate me and at the same time take my mind off waiting for this delivery!

Do yourself a favor and call those local B&M stores and ask them if they could show you how to build a micro coil in person. The You tube videos are good, but seeing it in person and seeing the littles adjustments is worth its weight in gold to me. You will also find out how good the B&M is when they tell you either "Yes or No".


As Bill said, once you have done two or three, you will have it down pat. I would learn to do this sooner than later.

Also agree with Bill, If you dont want to be bothered.... a good carto tank set up is a no brainer. Certainly better than a Protank type set up in my opinion.

Agree with Baditude and Bill.....I would Stay away from Mechs at this point. I think they are more for the fun hobby side of this.....and can be dangerous if you dont really know what you are doing.....can be dangerous if you do. I have Mech set ups and they sit idle for the most part....unless I want to go to my Local B&M on our weekly "Vape classes..we just hang out) and get in on the "Cloud Wars" with the others.

Baditude is right on the money with the convenience factor of a VV or VW mod. (I could care less for VW, but have mods that have VW)

Good luck... ( I Love Kayfuns btw..thanks Bill)

 

[Huckleberried]

I personally love my protanks. Easy to rebuild the coils, they also fit my Evods, they're safe for all juices. You can rebuild your Evods now and if you find you enjoy that, you know how to rebuild a protank! My ego died, the other is about to, so I bought an MVP2. In CAMO!!

 

[thekidzac]

I wouldn't get a protank if you want to rebuild! You'll be fed up with it but you can always replace the heads an have a bigger capacity. Sure you can try your hand at rebuilding it but also with the evod, same heads. I think the evod vapes better, you could get 4 evod a for the price of a protank, but they don't look as nice on the zmax. Your better off getting a 10.00 dripper, or an rba clone if you want to practice building. I have a zmax and it's pretty good. Just don't over tighten the battery tubes or you'll shift the internals. Put tele tube on till battery is sticking out no more than 1/8 inch then put on battery cap. You will need some noalox or a wrap of foil on the tube threads if they are loose like mine and you have problems. Great mod though been through hell and still tick in'.

Your next step to save money would be diy juice.

got the protank, decision went like this:
burnt out my coil on my evod. went to the store to get a new one. saw price on protank was 19 bucks. price on new coil was 3 (i know right, kinda high from my research but it was a b&M and i like supporting them anyways) so i did some quackery logic and figured it was like i was saving 6 bucks on the protank making it 13 bucks and i thought itd be worth it to try it out. plus the look got me, looks pretty. ya live and learn tho right we'll see when i start trying to rebuild...

anyways, thanks for the info on the zmax and what to be careful of. and DIY juice, very good suggestion. i thought about trying it out just for fun but i cant really cannot believe i didnt even consider how much it would save me. thanks a bunch man. going to look into that now!

 

[thekidzac]

Do yourself a favor and call those local B&M stores and ask them if they could show you how to build a micro coil in person. The You tube videos are good, but seeing it in person and seeing the littles adjustments is worth its weight in gold to me. You will also find out how good the B&M is when they tell you either "Yes or No".


As Bill said, once you have done two or three, you will have it down pat. I would learn to do this sooner than later.

Also agree with Bill, If you dont want to be bothered.... a good carto tank set up is a no brainer. Certainly better than a Protank type set up in my opinion.

Agree with Baditude and Bill.....I would Stay away from Mechs at this point. I think they are more for the fun hobby side of this.....and can be dangerous if you dont really know what you are doing.....can be dangerous if you do. I have Mech set ups and they sit idle for the most part....unless I want to go to my Local B&M on our weekly "Vape classes..we just hang out) and get in on the "Cloud Wars" with the others.

Baditude is right on the money with the convenience factor of a VV or VW mod. (I could care less for VW, but have mods that have VW)

Good luck... ( I Love Kayfuns btw..thanks Bill)

hey thanks, yea decided mechs are a "down the road" type of thing for me at this point. thanks for the confidence in the coil building. and great advice on calling the b&m. didnt think of that even though the guy in there was the first person who ever took the time to explain how he was getting such nice hits with his own coils. i bet he'd be willing to. thanks again. going to take all this info and put it in the filing cabinet up in the noggin