What makes a good RBA for a REO mod?

[boilednuts]

Okay guys.....I want to know what you think. A rba's job is simple, pass voltage through a wire that heats a wick which in turn vaporizes your juice. Everything else is a plus or minus. I've heard talk of vapor production, flavor and throat hit, which I believe can be adjusted to fill your needs. What a subjective nightmare, chances are that no two people gonna totally agree on every aspect of these 3 different qualitative measures. Type of wire, wick, juice, amount of voltage/watts and size/position of air hole affects this more than how the voltage gets from one terminal to the other. I think the RM2 is great right out of the box but you may need to adjust "other factors" for it to be your perfect rba. Hey, so if your vape is nut optimal it can be adjusted.

This being said, so what makes a good RBA for our mods? IMHO the RM2 hits on all facets of a quality device. I have lots of ideas on this but wanna hear what you got to say about the matter.

 

[hildicat]

Its all personal preference of course. I prefer side air intake, 1/16th air hole, a base that promotes excess draining into the bottle, leak proof, a screw on cap, a small chamber (better flavor), and easily mounted side coils.

Sound familiar?

 

[Ratman]

For me it is also many personal preference items learned through trial and error but two things a good RBA must have is quality in the construction i.e. durability and consistency. I want to know that if I build a 1.3ohm coil and use it for a week or two and I replace it with another 1.3 ohm that it is going to vape the same way, hit after hit, coil after coil. That sounds like it should be a given but some do not provide it. They should all also vape the same. If I buy RBA 'Z' and like it and buy 3 more of them, they should all perform the same.

As far as preferences, I like side air hole 3/64" (1.2mm), leak proof or at least strongly resistant, press on cap so I can place the air hole exactly where I want it, and a side mounted coil setup, made of stainless steel for even heat distribution and durability and screws that do not cut the wire when tightened down. I also like easily obtainable replacement parts such as screws and o-rings. Lastly would obtainability. If I like it well enough to use it all of the time, I want to know I can get more of them when I want them, not when they come up for sale once a year or so.

 

[Norman Clature]

Its all personal preference of course. I prefer side air intake, 1/16th air hole, a base that promotes excess draining into the bottle, leak proof, a screw on cap, a small chamber (better flavor), and easily mounted side coils.

Sound familiar?

Yep.

Somehow I get the feeling the "side vent" is crucial for a bottom-feeder, but I've never tried any other kind. I think you've pretty much covered everything, and indeed it's all a matter of personal preference.

As for my preferences, I like the taste and ease of build that cotton provides as wick material and because both my Grands are non-VV I like to go below 1.0ohm on my builds, but will sometimes settle for as high as 1.3ohms depending on my mood and patience.

HA!

Norman

 

[boilednuts]

Besides the bowl shaped base to help with flooding, the ceramic material is perfect for getting your coil near the floor of the atty. Also the offset hole just so happens to be near the coil where it can easily pick up the juice when you squonk. Lots easier for me to position the coil than a center hole between the terminals.

Lots more gang

 

[Ratman]

That bowl shaped ceramic floor is what excites me most about the 2.0. I did not include those features in my preference list as I have not yet been able to try them out but I like the concept a lot. Moreso the ceramic floor feature. The Chalice funnels back into the bottom as well and really, as long as the atty doesn't leak excess juice out through the bottom, like some are prone to do, then I don't really mind a non funnel shape/action.

That ceramic floor though, stroke of genius.

 

[boilednuts]

For me it is also many personal preference items learned through trial and error but two things a good RBA must have is quality in the construction i.e. durability and consistency. I want to know that if I build a 1.3ohm coil and use it for a week or two and I replace it with another 1.3 ohm that it is going to vape the same way, hit after hit, coil after coil. That sounds like it should be a given but some do not provide it. They should all also vape the same. If I buy RBA 'Z' and like it and buy 3 more of them, they should all perform the same.

As far as preferences, I like side air hole 3/64" (1.2mm), leak proof or at least strongly resistant, press on cap so I can place the air hole exactly where I want it, and a side mounted coil setup, made of stainless steel for even heat distribution and durability and screws that do not cut the wire when tightened down. I also like easily obtainable replacement parts such as screws and o-rings. Lastly would obtainability. If I like it well enough to use it all of the time, I want to know I can get more of them when I want them, not when they come up for sale once a year or so.

Where is the air hole position you like the best Rob? I noticed that my RM2 is always in the middle between the two posts on the side of the of the offset hole. I really like the looser draws now since I had the RM1, lol I struggle with the others that are more tight. Does anyone know what size hole is on the RM2? I like the remark regarding consistency, never thought of that one

 

[Ratman]

I like the air hole lined up directly with the coil. A well machined screw on RBA will be set up for this by default. However that may or may not line up on the correct side of your specific REO. With a press on cap like a Hornet or ERA, I can build the coil on either side of the posts and place the air hole in alignment with it. These are my preferred RBAs. They are not perfect but they meet the majority of my personal preferences better than any other I have tried, which is most of them out there. I have not yet had the pleasure of trying a Reomizer 2.0 though.

 

[super_X_drifter]

I pretty much agree with all of the above statements, but add the following:

I prefer an RBA that works without any special knowledge or tricks needed to keep it in operation or from damaging my mod.

Additionally, I prefer one that does not heat up excessively during chain sessions.

Furthermore, I prefer one that doesn't store a bunch of juice in the bowl, cause, for me that equals a less than ideal vape when your coil is swimming in juice.

I also prefer a screw on cap cause its just easier.

At the moment, there are only two that meet these high standards. The RBA 2.0 and the chalice. You will likely pay 4-5 times more for a chalice than a 2.0 but it ain't even 1 time better.

After several days of hitting the s hi t out of both of em side by side and rebuilding them both twice because i wanted too, i can say that The 2.0 is damn near equal to the chalice in every way but price.

Did I add that I like side air? Well there it is.

The 2.0 is money baby.

 

[redeyedancer]

Where is the air hole position you like the best Rob? I noticed that my RM2 is always in the middle between the two posts on the side of the of the offset hole. I really like the looser draws now since I had the RM1, lol I struggle with the others that are more tight. Does anyone know what size hole is on the RM2? I like the remark regarding consistency, never thought of that one

3/64 on the reomiser 2.0

 

[Ratman]

3/64 on the reomiser 2.0

You just had to go and tell me that didn't you? Great minds think alike LoL I like 3/64 a lot, not too tight, not too airy but opens it up just enough to let it breath. Sigh, yeah I want a RM 2.0 but I already have 2 spare Reomizers and 2 spare A7's. Looks like I need to sell some stuff off and just get one or two and get it over with.

Truth is I am kind of afraid I will like it better than my ERAs and have to go replacing half a dozen RBAs.Guess that wouldn't be too bad of a thing tho in the long run.

 

[JC Okie]

You just had to go and tell me that didn't you? Great minds think alike LoL I like 3/64 a lot, not too tight, not too airy but opens it up just enough to let it breath. Sigh, yeah I want a RM 2.0 but I already have 2 spare Reomizers and 2 spare A7's. Looks like I need to sell some stuff off and just get one or two and get it over with.

Truth is I am kind of afraid I will like it better than my ERAs and have to go replacing half a dozen RBAs.Guess that wouldn't be too bad of a thing tho in the long run.

Ratman, I'm gonna bring you one to try out very soon. I'm in finals week at school....will text you to see when we're available at the same time.

 

[Ratman]

Ratman, I'm gonna bring you one to try out very soon. I'm in finals week at school....will text you to see when we're available at the same time.

Will be great to see you again my friend. Was getting a little worried when I didn't get a reply from my text to ya over the weekend but saw you posting so knew you must be all right Looking forward to it!!

 

[JC Okie]

Will be great to see you again my friend. Was getting a little worried when I didn't get a reply from my text to ya over the weekend but saw you posting so knew you must be all right Looking forward to it!!

OH!!! Sorry! Was in OKC with the grandbabies. It popped up once with others on my phone screen then went away...sorry! I forgot about it. Was really late Sunday when I got home. I'll try to get with you later this week.....you need to try this thing; you'll like it.

 

[Commie]

As far as preferences, I like side air hole 3/64" (1.2mm), leak proof or at least strongly resistant, press on cap so I can place the air hole exactly where I want it, and a side mounted coil setup, made of stainless steel for even heat distribution and durability and screws that do not cut the wire when tightened down. I also like easily obtainable replacement parts such as screws and o-rings. Lastly would obtainability. If I like it well enough to use it all of the time, I want to know I can get more of them when I want them, not when they come up for sale once a year or so.

To add to that -- I really prefer philips screws. The bit with having 3-4 different sized hex wrenches is very annoying. Screws with an actual head (rather than the Hornet's barrel style) are nice since they give you the option to catch your resistance wire under the head of the screw.

 

[Northernshrink]

DH just let me know mine finaly showed today but I will chime in anyway. Definetly prefer the threaded feature If I at 6 4" 250 have to fight on occasion to seperate an Era I can imagine what others go through. And cost is great compared to others and there actually available without having to sell a kidney to get in line and wait

 

[Sterno]

i will not be modifying the air hole as i like it the way it is

 

[Sterno]

Rob and Clyde were always wondering with consternation why i liked the A7 and its bottom air intake i like doing the blind squonk with that said i have been converted the reomizer performs better than an A7 im still quite amazed at the amount of vapor i get with a 1.4 ohm coil

 

[boilednuts]

Here's another plus I like in a RBA, posts that are set wide apart and stable. With this you can build coils using heavier gage wire and still maintain a desired resistance, nice option to have. A heavier gage could mean a coil which lasts longer before needing replacement. Also since micro coils are longer they benefit from posts that are farther apart as well making it easier to attach the ends of the wire.

 

[Big Hitter]

That bowl shaped ceramic floor is what excites me most about the 2.0. I did not include those features in my preference list as I have not yet been able to try them out but I like the concept a lot. Moreso the ceramic floor feature. The Chalice funnels back into the bottom as well and really, as long as the atty doesn't leak excess juice out through the bottom, like some are prone to do, then I don't really mind a non funnel shape/action.

That ceramic floor though, stroke of genius.

I was thinking the same way but sadly my two RM2 do leak more out of the bottom than a chalice (which is zero).
I used to keep a REO with a carto just for a dry catch cup just for my active out and about Skiiing, MT biking, hiking, etc.
The chalice changed that for me and thank god. With the chalice my cup is always dry as well.
I'm getting a fair amount in the cup with the RM2 especially overnight.

Now if that ceramic was truly a "floor" I think it would be great. But its more a shelf because its not sealed around the edge nor is the juice path sealed up to the deck like a chalice. So its a holding point for juice that stays pretty wet under the ceramic. The juice has to fill a chamber under the ceramic and then force its way up the hole in the ceramic bit. It also forces juice up around the side of it as well. Its actually a pretty tight crazy juice path under there (Kudos to Rob for making it work).

Some of my wet catch cup might be because I keep squonking trying to get more flavor out of it.
Its got crazy vapor and TH but I haven't found the setup for great flavor with it.

Nuts said whatever is not working for you is able to be adjusted .... that may not be true for me with this one.

Sorry to be so down on it, I'm glad I tried it and I know it will work out for most everyone. I love Rob and I'm glad he took the time and effort to put this baby out there because everyone should experience RBAs.

I'm a pretty particular type of person and I seem to be able to pick up flavors or lack of that many other people just ignore. I learned that 2+ years ago when I started vaping. I don't mind changing my way to make something work, I even enjoy the fiddling and a challenge but I have such great luck with the chalice (both of mine) that I can only mess around so long and I'm still not even close to the flavor.