Went back to a HH357 after 6 months of RBAs

[rc10mike]

After 6 or so months of using RBS, mostly Chalice and a little RM2 and ERA. I decided it was time to see if I mastered making coil/wick setups and go back to one of my old favorites, the HH357 atty.

Sadly it didnt go too well. Right away, I noticed flavor was MUCH better with the 357 than ANY rba I made in the last 6 months. I want to like and keep using RBAs, but flavor has always been a HUGE HUGE problem for me with them. Im a 1 juice person, Ive vaped the same stuff for almost 2 years straight now.

Ive made threads about this before, but I never found a fix. Ive given RBAs a solid chance and spent a TON of money for them, but I am ALWAYS disappointed in them when compared to the 357. Its not my building skills, its not crappy equipment, its not lack of experience..I just dont know.

I will say though, my Chalice never leaked and performed absolutely perfect for the last 6 months (beside flavor production)

 

[doots]

That is interesting. What ohms do you normally build your coils at? Have you ever tried to rebuild the HH357? Doesn't look like it would be too hard to do and see if you can reproduce the same quality of flavor you like in it.The only thing I could see in the difference is ohms and/or the slender 510 air shaft which may account for the flavor increase you get. Hence airflow..

 

[thinkingaboutit]

Different strokes and all...I say whatever works for you.

P.S. Need my address for shipping?

 

[rc10mike]

That is interesting. What ohms do you normally build your coils at? Have you ever tried to rebuild the HH357? Doesn't look like it would be too hard to do and see if you can reproduce the same quality of flavor you like in it.The only thing I could see in the difference is ohms and/or the slender 510 air shaft which may account for the flavor increase you get. Hence airflow..

I shoot for around 2 for my normal coils, but Ive experimented with coils of all ranges from sub-ohm to 2+ ohms. None of them showed any difference in flavor. I use a VVG so Ive also extensively experimented with different voltages. Not once did I ever experience that "Perfect Vape" with an RBA that I compare with the HH357.

 

[rc10mike]

Different strokes and all...I say whatever works for you.

P.S. Need my address for shipping?

I wish I could accept this, but there has to be a reason the HH375 works better. Its not in my head, its as clear as day that the 357 just simply works better. Id rather use my RBAs for economical reasons, but they just dont work as well, and I want to find out why.

That being said, I already increased the air hole size on both Chalice and Rm2. This simply made for a better draw but did nothing for flavor.

 

[oplholik]

I know that chamber size can make a difference, so I'm thinking that is it.

 

[yaypudding]

What kind of builds are you making? Are you making standard or contact coils? What gauges are you using and what are you using for wicking. If you could post a pic of the coil setup, that will greatly help troubleshoot your problems. I used to use the HH 357 in my carto/atty pre-rda days. Even my crappy builds outperform that atty, so I am really puzzled. I don't know what the limits in terms of output voltage and amp limit are for the VVG, but maybe you need a true mech to get the higher watts you might want.

I have been making triple twisted 32 gauge micro coils and the flavor on them is nice and crisp and clean. It might be worth checking out, Riptrippers made a video tutorial on it.

 

[muzichead]

I wish I could accept this, but there has to be a reason the HH375 works better. Its not in my head, its as clear as day that the 357 just simply works better. Id rather use my RBAs for economical reasons, but they just dont work as well, and I want to find out why.

That being said, I already increased the air hole size on both Chalice and Rm2. This simply made for a better draw but did nothing for flavor.

That was part of your problem right there. When you open the air on most RDA's the flavor will diminish some. The larger you go the more diminished the flavor... As to the HH357, I tried one once and thought it was the biggest ripoff on the market. I felt the regular Cisco spec 306's blew the 357 out of the water for flavor and vapor... I'm just glad you found that something that keeps you off analogs though...

 

[thinkingaboutit]

I wish I could accept this, but there has to be a reason the HH375 works better. Its not in my head, its as clear as day that the 357 just simply works better. Id rather use my RBAs for economical reasons, but they just dont work as well, and I want to find out why.

That being said, I already increased the air hole size on both Chalice and Rm2. This simply made for a better draw but did nothing for flavor.

It works better for YOU. Nothing wrong with that.

For me...I had put my reos mostly aside for almost a year since shorty cartos clogged and I didn't like the regular atty on it. Then I came back, got talked into the RM2 and couldn't be happier. I, like many others had to lower my flavor percentage in my DIY because it was too strong compared to what I was getitng in my other devices.

You like the HH better, doesn't make you wrong. Some people don't like bacon, those people are wrong.

 

[karmakatie]

I was predominantly HH357's and Cisco atties with some shorty cartos here and there Once the rebuildables came out and the flavor was off the charts I have never gone back..... I do want to say that when it comes to anything to do with flavor you got to remember it truly is subjective!! If the HH357's do it for you, then by no means apologize to no one....vape what you enjoy and that is all that matters

 

[rc10mike]

That was part of your problem right there. When you open the air on most RDA's the flavor will diminish some. The larger you go the more diminished the flavor... As to the HH357, I tried one once and thought it was the biggest ripoff on the market. I felt the regular Cisco spec 306's blew the 357 out of the water for flavor and vapor... I'm just glad you found that something that keeps you off analogs though...

This goes against everything I was told. Everyone said a bigger air hole would help with flavor. So I very slightly openend them up and flavor did get a little bit better, but Im not willing to go any bigger.

 

[rc10mike]

What kind of builds are you making? Are you making standard or contact coils? What gauges are you using and what are you using for wicking. If you could post a pic of the coil setup, that will greatly help troubleshoot your problems. I used to use the HH 357 in my carto/atty pre-rda days. Even my crappy builds outperform that atty, so I am really puzzled. I don't know what the limits in terms of output voltage and amp limit are for the VVG, but maybe you need a true mech to get the higher watts you might want.

I have been making triple twisted 32 gauge micro coils and the flavor on them is nice and crisp and clean. It might be worth checking out, Riptrippers made a video tutorial on it.

Micro coils to mega coild, standard and contact, high ohm and low ohm, silica, cotton, bamboo, 32awg, 30awg, Kanthal a1, nichrome.

Nearly every combination, nothing was impressive with flavor at all. Manageable...but not 357 like.

 

[Filthy-Beast]

air hole size must be balanced with ohm of coil, coil placement and personal preference. To small and you get hot and harsh, to big and you get too much air to vapor. It's a Goldilocks deal everybody's different and tastes can change YMMV.

When I first started with RBAs 1/16 was to big, now it's too small

 

[Filthy-Beast]

The .357 or any standard atty has the advantage of a small chamber. The type of juice will impact the build also. For my ADV juice I find I get better flavor with a Divo or Igo-s and a .9 ish coil with plenty of air than I did with a Cisco coil.

Good news is the Reo was made to also run your .357, glad you found your perfect vape!

 

[JC Okie]

Mike, I swore by HH-357s for the bigger part of a year, so I get it. I swear by RBAs now, so it's hard to figure out why they don't work for you. I'm thinking chamber size. That seems to be the only variable you can't tweek. If the 357s work for you, then yay. You certainly gave RBAs a fair shot.

 

[yaypudding]

Well at least you know what you like, lol. If they work for you, they work for you, it's just odd to me because it goes against everything I have experienced. There is just so much subjectivity when it comes to vaping, it's all relative. Maybe your juice, just performs best in an atty, who knows.

 

[oaky]

Isn't there a Diver or Killer rebuildable that is the same size as a 510 atty?

 

[Ian444]

I'd be thinking its more likely a setup problem. Rc10mike do you know a Reonaut you can trust to send the RM2 to to get it setup for you, then they send it back for you to try? Another factor can be the flavor of the eliquid (what is it mike?) I would suggest a coil of similar or just slightly less ohms than the HH357, say a 30 gauge 8 turn microcoil wound on a 1/16" drill bit, cotton or silica wick, with a standard airhole which is 3/64". Line the coil up to *exactly* match the air hole both sideways and in vertical height. Lining it up properly is the essential critical bit IMO. The coil must also be *very close* to the air hole, about the width of a 1/16" drill bit away from the hole, i.e. right on it, but not touching it either.

Another thing is that rba's can simply taste different because they taste too sweet, or because the flavor is too much "in your face". Usually diluting the e-liquid will fix this, or a slight adjustment of coil position, or both.

 

[thinkingaboutit]

do you know a Reonaut you can trust

While I appreciate your intent...I'd trust any of the regulars. And, it's a great idea to see if it is something with setup.

 

[Luther]

The HH357 is great to drip with but I don't find it to be as "squonk" friendly as a RBA such as the RM2, the Divo or the Cyclone. I always seem to have to get through that gurgling phase before the pure, true phase...if that makes sense.