My First RTA "Build" (OBS Crius w/Velocity-Style Deck)

[vuJim]

I put "build" in quotes, in the subject, because all I really did was install two of the pre-made coils that came with the tank and wicked it. I used the included cotton.

Please let me know what how I did?

It came out to .32Ω. I'm running it at a mere 24W. Even then: If I vape too long or too frequently I can get a burned taste. This is with max VG juice, juice ports fully open and air about half-way open.

I suspect, looking at my pictures, I probably could have used a bit more wick?

I've got 26 ga. Kanthal and and a roll of Native Wicks. I think I want higher coil resistance for the way I vape. There are six wraps on the included coils. Looks like I can easily get ten in there. I'm thinking ten, on a 3mm coil size, will probably get me up closer to .8Ω or more?

 

[TheVapingDevil]

Try thinning out the cotton at the ends. Looks like it may be bit too much. Also trim so your cotton is only half way in the juice holes. You want the juice to fully glow up there with as minimal restriction as possible. I have found that native wicks for some reason don't do real well in this tank. I kept getting dry hits with mine until I switched to rayon or reg jap cotton.


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[Podunk Steam]

From what I have seen of the Crius the cotton is better for wicking if not be seen through the juice flow holes. I have two version 2 Crius and they are very good tanks, our difference is that I use Rayon almost exclusively and its a little more tolerable to being packed in tighter than cotton.

Edit: I like the Crius enough I have two Version 3s on thier way to me now.

 

[AmandaD]

I just got mine this morning, and it is absolutely fantastic! I'm using about 85% VG, and it's wicking like a champ (I used rayon). I wicked it as shown in this video:

This is without a doubt the best RTA I've ever had! Mine came with the velocity deck, which makes is incredibly easy to work with.

I used the stock coils that came in about .35, running at 50 watts or so.

 

[Mattp169]

@AmandaD how does it compare to your crown?

 

[AmandaD]

@AmandaD how does it compare to your crown?

Different, but I can't say one is better than the other. However it's head and shoulders above the RBA deck for the Crown, which I don't care for one bit!

 

[TheVapingDevil]

Different, but I can't say one is better than the other. However it's head and shoulders above the RBA deck for the Crown, which I don't care for one bit!

Yea they are two different vapes altogether. The Crius beats the crown rba hands down. But if you are not accustomed to building dual coil setups you will want to perfect this prior.


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[Mattp169]

Yea they are two different vapes altogether. The Crius beats the crown rba hands down. But if you are not accustomed to building dual coil setups you will want to perfect this prior.


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perfect it on what
i have no rbas except the kanger rba deck and it sucks
i want to venture into rebuilding coils in case of a vapocalypse. I messed around a bit on the kanger and rebuilding maganus coils
did okish with that.

I like to just dive head first and figure it out lol

 

[TheVapingDevil]

If you can build two single coils exactly the same (shape, firing , resistance) then you should be ok. Because dual coils need to be identical to work properly and fire at the same rate etc you need to be able to duplicate two identical coils. Other than that as with any dual coil set up this RTA rocks the house.


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[Mattp169]

If you can build two single coils exactly the same (shape, firing , resistance) then you should be ok. Because dual coils need to be identical to work properly and fire at the same rate etc you need to be able to duplicate two identical coils. Other than that as with any dual coil set up this RTA rocks the house.


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make one big one and cut it half

yes im kidding

its just gonna take a rta some wire and patience
already have cotton and rayon

 

[AmandaD]

Probably easier to perfect on the Kanger RBA, since it's a single coil and very easy to build!

 

[Mattp169]

i can build a single coil on it, but it tastes horrible now after using a maganus and crown

I had several Ti builds working on it in the past. but found that the rba sections i own are too temperamental to do tc well

 

[vuJim]

Thanks for the feedback, everybody. TVD had the right of it: My juice channels/ports were way over-stuffed. I re-watched TVC's video, re-wicked it, trimming the ends, like he suggested, and made sure the juice ports weren't filled with wick.

With my 1st attempt it'd burn like the dickens at 30W. Now I can run it all the way up to 45W. Tried 50W. Way too hot a vape, for me. Burned again, too. Right now have it at 35W and I'm getting really nice vapes. Lots of flavour. Not too warm. Not too much clouds.

I'm a happy camper

 

[vuJim]

Hahaha!

So, this morning, coffee... Yay! Vape time! 1st vape: Mmmm. Second vape: Hmmm. 3rd vape: Burned! WTF?!?!

Then I remember: Following the advice I'd seen about leaving the tank sit overnight: I'd closed the juice holes

 

[TheVapingDevil]

Hahaha!

So, this morning, coffee... Yay! Vape time! 1st vape: Mmmm. Second vape: Hmmm. 3rd vape: Burned! WTF?!?!

Then I remember: Following the advice I'd seen about leaving the tank sit overnight: I'd closed the juice holes

Hahahha. That's happened to me before. I was like What the Fuck! Then realized it was my own brain dead actions lolol


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[Flightmedic76]

Great, another tank to add to the shopping list...

 

[vuJim]

Great, another tank to add to the shopping list...

From all that I've read, and my own, admittedly limited, experience: You probably won't be disappointed.

 

[vuJim]

I think I still don't have the wicking thing quite right. It's better than it was. But if I try to run it at 50W, like somebody else said they were, it'll burn for sure. Even at 30W they either have to be relatively short vapes or I've got to hit it pretty hard, or it'll burn.

Since I think it was working better right after I re-wicked it, I surmise that either I still had too-dense wicking in the juice channels and, after the wicks got re-saturated several times, one or more of the juice ports became blocked again; that wicking material included with the tank isn't all that great, or both?

So tonight I'll give it another go. Perhaps, this time, with the Native Wicks.

 

[AmandaD]

I think I still don't have the wicking thing quite right. It's better than it was. But if I try to run it at 50W, like somebody else said they were, it'll burn for sure. Even at 30W they either have to be relatively short vapes or I've got to hit it pretty hard, or it'll burn.

Since I think it was working better right after I re-wicked it, I surmise that either I still had too-dense wicking in the juice channels and, after the wicks got re-saturated several times, one or more of the juice ports became blocked again; that wicking material included with the tank isn't all that great, or both?

So tonight I'll give it another go. Perhaps, this time, with the Native Wicks.

Just put a little strand in the juice channels. I tried one method I saw on youtube where he just put the wick on top of the deck over the channels, but that leaked. It does need a tiny bit just down into the first part of the channels so you can hardly see it, but it needs to be fairly thin.

 

[Flightmedic76]

I'd either open up the airflow to see if that helps, or dial down the power. I tried a ~.35 on my subtank once. Anything longer than a second and it was scorch city. The airflow and wicking simply could not keep up with the coil heating up so quickly. As far as wicking goes, I don't know that a different type of cotton is going to help, but it's worth a try if you have it already. I don't say that from a heat resistance point of view, but more for the ability to wick juice that much quicker.

 

[vuJim]

Just put a little strand in the juice channels. I tried one method I saw on youtube where he just put the wick on top of the deck over the channels, but that leaked.

As I noted, earlier: I tried the method recommended in OBS Crius RTA Review on Youtube. Maybe I didn't trim enough for one-or-more of the channels?

It does need a tiny bit just down into the first part of the channels so you can hardly see it, but it needs to be fairly thin.

It occurred to me, this morning... what if one trimmed the ends into an inverted "V" shape, so the ends of the wicks straddled the juice ports...? ISTM it's the blocking of the juice ports that induces the problem.

I'd either open up the airflow to see if that helps, or dial down the power.

Thanks for the suggestions, but airflow is already wide open, and if I dial back the power I lose flavour.

I tried a ~.35 on my subtank once. Anything longer than a second and it was scorch city.

*nod*

I eventually plan to build my own coils, and go much higher sub-ohm, or maybe even supra-ohm. But this should work. So I'm going to keep hacking at it until it does

 

[raymo2u]

I want one so I can build a Quad Micro Fused Clapton Build in it like on my Velocity...I really want to try this tank because it may just be a "builders rta"

 

[TheVapingDevil]

I want one so I can build a Quad Micro Fused Clapton Build in it like on my Velocity...I really want to try this tank because it may just be a "builders rta"

Has anyone put a Clapton in the Crius yet ? I'm curious as to if it would fit. Would love to get into claptons but not positive it would fit in this deck


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[Powerman]

So then... I've been loving the Crown and pre-made coils. But the SS isn't really intended for TC. Looking at RDA/RTA, and I might pull the trigger on this. However, how finicky is wicking? I read this thread. Just a matter of getting it right and then good to go?

I never even thought of identical coils for dual. So how close does it have to be. Resistance seems to be the only measure. How identical should they be?

And when it's all good... Wicking, identical dual SS coils... How does it compare to crown? Or rather what is different about the two?

 

[vuJim]

... I might pull the trigger on this. However, how finicky is wicking? I read this thread. Just a matter of getting it right and then good to go?

As you're reading this thread, keep this in mind: I just started vaping five weeks ago, and this is my first RTA. So I'm just getting the hang of it. From what I've read: The Crius is really one of the easier, more forgiving tanks to wick.

I never even thought of identical coils for dual. So how close does it have to be. Resistance seems to be the only measure. How identical should they be?

I take that to mean "As identical as feasibly humanly possible. Obviously: How close they have to be is going to be dependent on how low you go. For example: 1/10th ohm at 1.5 ohms I wouldn't imagine would make much difference. But 1/10th ohm difference on a pair of .3 ohm coils would be a 25% or 33% difference. (Depending upon perspective.)

And when it's all good... Wicking, identical dual SS coils... How does it compare to crown? Or rather what is different about the two?

I cannot answer this question.

 

[AmandaD]

So then... I've been loving the Crown and pre-made coils. But the SS isn't really intended for TC. Looking at RDA/RTA, and I might pull the trigger on this. However, how finicky is wicking? I read this thread. Just a matter of getting it right and then good to go?

I never even thought of identical coils for dual. So how close does it have to be. Resistance seems to be the only measure. How identical should they be?

And when it's all good... Wicking, identical dual SS coils... How does it compare to crown? Or rather what is different about the two?

Not hard to wick - similar but much easier than the billow V2 but these channels are much larger.

It's not hard either to make identical coils - just have the same number of wraps in each coil.

Flavor is different to the Crown, probably because the Crown uses SS and has different wicking. But there's an equal amount of flavor and vapor. The difference is that you can run it lower wattage if you want.

The Crown RBA doesn't even begin to compare in either flavor or vapor. And the velocity deck on the Crius makes it the easiest dual coil build I've come cross.

 

[Powerman]

Ya, I have a Crown RBA but never saw the point of using it.

Have you tried using SS in terms OBS

 

[AmandaD]

Ya, I have a Crown RBA but never saw the point of using it.

Have you tried using SS in terms OBS

My SS is on it's way from China!

 

[Powerman]

My SS is on it's way from China!

I have no complaints with the Crown, but the nickle legs throwing off the TCR. I have more 0.25s coming. I just want to see if I can make SS coils better. But it has to be dual coil, or no real point. I don't want to take a step back from the Crown coils. While I enjoy not having to build, if I can get crown performance with SS coils that last a while and freshen up the cotton from time to time that would not be so bad

 

[TheVapingDevil]

I have no complaints with the Crown, but the nickle legs throwing off the TCR. I have more 0.25s coming. I just want to see if I can make SS coils better. But it has to be dual coil, or no real point. I don't want to take a step back from the Crown coils. While I enjoy not having to build, if I can get crown performance with SS coils that last a while and freshen up the cotton from time to time that would not be so bad

I to love my crown for what it is all its excellent performance. In regards to Crius I have been using 24 and 26 g ss wire in it and the flavor and performance is that if the crown imo. Actually the only time I have used my crown in the past 2 weeks is during the time my crius's are being cleaned or rebuilt. They both give great performance but with the Crius you can build to your liking if you want something that requires less power than the crown stock coils. I have a .18 24g dual ss build in my Crius now and it's running great at 45 watts. I could easily push it past 50 but I'm getting great flavor n vapor hear so why push it any farther. I like a semi warm Vape so at 45 I'm happy.


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[Powerman]

Well, I pulled the trigger. We'll see what all the fuss is about.

I nearly bought a second deck too for a spare, but might as well see if I like it first. If I do I'll pick up a second one and another deck. Now I just need wire. I got some gplat26, but I know there is better out there. That will at least get me started.

 

[TheVapingDevil]

Congrats. The tank does come with a few extra prebuilt as well. For me I like the ss wire a lot. For a good TC Vape I use to because I don't have a mod yet that will do ss. I do see it's getting harder to find ss stateside.


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[Powerman]

Congrats. The tank does come with a few extra prebuilt as well. For me I like the ss wire a lot. For a good TC Vape I use to because I don't have a mod yet that will do ss. I do see it's getting harder to find ss stateside.


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Ecig dot com has VT200 for $125. No warranty because they break MAP pricing. I got one. A DNA 200 for that it's hard to go wrong. I like mine.

 

[TheVapingDevil]

I gotta check that out. I also hear the vct mini isn't bad. Def not a dna200 but reviews are pretty decent.


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[JERUS]

Couple things.

First, when people say identical coils for dual coils, it means very close, basically you just don't want one coil triggering much quicker than the other and such. You want them both working together in the same way. So like Amanda said, just have the same amount of wraps and try to make them the same, but don't stress about it, if you're close it's good enough.

As for making supra-ohm setups, remember dual coils in parallel (what you're doing with this rig) your ohms for each coil are cut in half. So if each coil is .5 ohms on it's own, then you will get a .25 together. With that if you want a 1ohm dual coil setup you need 2ohm coils individually... you might be better off just having one coil in there if you're looking for that type of setup is what I'm getting at. (2ohm coil with 24g Kanthal around 2.5mm rod is 24 wraps...)

As for getting burnt hits a few hits in. One issue could be wicking, but there is a limit to just how much your material can wick regardless of how you do it. And, it's always a balancing act between leaking and maximizing wicking. That all said if you're getting burnt wick later in a draw it could be your coils simply heating up too quickly or something to that effect. I'm not sure exactly how that all works, but I do know using the same wicking style my old dual coil single wire builds I'd have that issue, intense heat into a burnt taste if I took long draws. I went with a twisted build reading the same resistance, using the same wicking style and material, no more overabundance of heat or burnt hits, but a slight lag on ramp up time. Point being it may not be your wicking, but just too much heat dissipation and your material simply not being able to keep up (and again regardless of material there is a limit to how much will soak up). At this point I've just left the single wire builds behind, I'd rather a short ramp up (you can just exhale a tick before inhaling/sucking in to make that a non issue) than have my lungs boil with a deep hit.

 

[Powerman]

I gotta check that out. I also hear the vct mini isn't bad. Def not a dna200 but reviews are pretty decent.


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No dude, that is a DNA 200. Hcigar VT200. For that price it's a no brainer. Hcigar slapped their PP and sent them a nasty email that they will not honor warranty from them because they sold below $170 map pricing. But they are up front. I had a coupon and got it for a price I could not say no to. But the VT200s are solid. They only gripe is it is well known now the batteries are not 1300 mah as advertised. More like 1000-1050. But again, great mod. I have that and a Vapor Shark. I like the VS more just because. But they are both the same DNA 200 mod.

 

[StanM]

Ok. Received my Crius this afternoon. My first build 28g SS, 8 wraps spaced at 3mm. It was ok, but not spectacular as expected. So, rebuilt it with 26g SS, 8 wraps (not-spaced) at 2.5mm. .3ohms...even at 35w...there it is. All the flavor slaps you in the face. Now I remember why I loved RTA's so much. As much as I love my crown, it has nothing on this little beast. Thanks @TheVapingDevil

 

[TheVapingDevil]

No dude, that is a DNA 200. Hcigar VT200. For that price it's a no brainer. Hcigar slapped their PP and sent them a nasty email that they will not honor warranty from them because they sold below $170 map pricing. But they are up front. I had a coupon and got it for a price I could not say no to. But the VT200s are solid. They only gripe is it is well known now the batteries are not 1300 mah as advertised. More like 1000-1050. But again, great mod. I have that and a Vapor Shark. I like the VS more just because. But they are both the same DNA 200 mod.

I'm gonna check into those. I do like the idea is dna200 and escribe


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[TheVapingDevil]

Ok. Received my Crius this afternoon. My first build 28g SS, 8 wraps spaced at 3mm. It was ok, but not spectacular as expected. So, rebuilt it with 26g SS, 8 wraps (not-spaced) at 2.5mm. .3ohms...even at 35w...there it is. All the flavor slaps you in the face. Now I remember why I loved RTA's so much. As much as I love my crown, it has nothing on this little beast. Thanks @TheVapingDevil

I am glad u r having a good experience. See what I mean now. I love both the crown n Crius but it's tough to compare the two because they are different altogether and provides a different Vape although both are great performers


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[StanM]

I am glad u r having a good experience. See what I mean now. I love both the crown n Crius but it's tough to compare the two because they are different altogether and provides a different Vape although both are great performers


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Yeah, I agree. I was surprised by how much flavor there is for the lower wattages compared to the resistance. Definitely a good thing.

 

[Powerman]

I am glad u r having a good experience. See what I mean now. I love both the crown n Crius but it's tough to compare the two because they are different altogether and provides a different Vape although both are great performers


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So what is different? I'll find out soon enough, but can you explain?

 

[Powerman]

I'm gonna check into those. I do like the idea is dna200 and escribe


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Honestly, I have no doubt others will catch up. At first some complain that they have to use escribe to change certain settings. But bottom line is right now the DNA is where it's at. And the control you have is worth the software. No way to get all that on a little screen and menus. Like anything, once you get what you like you are done. But it gives you everything you need to get exactly what you want. And I doubt they are done with customization.

 

[StanM]

From what I have noticed so far, the vape seems warmer and more direct. When I say "more direct", I can reference more to how a rda feels and tastes in comparison to a tank. And more flavor also

 

[TheVapingDevil]

So what is different? I'll find out soon enough, but can you explain?

I will try to explain the difference or at least how they differ in my experience
Since you already have the crown, you know this is a power hungry tank with the SS coils. Not a problem but does require at least 50 watts to get the flavor to shine on the .5 coils. My .25 shine around 65 watts and above. The tank has what I consider as massive air flow. I had mine open three clicks to get the vape I liked. The crown wicks great and never get a dry hit unless you run it totally dry. It provides great flavor and huge amounts of vapor. Mine never leaked and the top fill was really nice.
Now the Crius.... Well we know it is a dual deck only. The veloctiy style deck is a dream to build on. I find the wicking very easy once you get it figured it. its not hard just have to realize not to overstuff the juice holes. Mike Vapes has a great wicking video and its spot on. The top fill or should I say side fill much like the Lemo 2 done the right way is much better than the crown since all you do is lift the top, fill and close. No parts to take off.
So once you get though the features, you are left with the quality of vape. I like that I can virtually rebuild it to my liking. if I want a higher resistance lower vape production or a low build that chucks like a steam engine. I have that ability. The quality of the materials is great, threads are super smooth and you get an extra glass pc and several orings etc that you would expect. I like to be able to close the airflow down a bit and get a bit tighter draw without having that hot hit that would happen if you were pushing 65 watts. I have a .18 dual ss build and rocking it a 45 watts with no reduction in flavor or vapor.
Hope this helps at least a little bit

 

[TheVapingDevil]

Honestly, I have no doubt others will catch up. At first some complain that they have to use escribe to change certain settings. But bottom line is right now the DNA is where it's at. And the control you have is worth the software. No way to get all that on a little screen and menus. Like anything, once you get what you like you are done. But it gives you everything you need to get exactly what you want. And I doubt they are done with customization.

just checked the e cig website and of course sold out hahahahah

 

[TheVapingDevil]

From what I have noticed so far, the vape seems warmer and more direct. When I say "more direct", I can reference more to how a rda feels and tastes in comparison to a tank. And more flavor also

agreed, the more direct hit is a great way of stating it......

 

[Powerman]

Now I'm excited. Thanks guys. I so love the Crown. Can't imagine much better for a tank, but looking forward to checking out the differences. And I do like the side fill... If it doesn't leak.

 

[Nailz]

Has anyone put a Clapton in the Crius yet ? I'm curious as to if it would fit. Would love to get into claptons but not positive it would fit in this deck


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Mine is not the one with the velocity deck version, but did have claptons on mine and did fit fine.

 

[TheVapingDevil]

Now I'm excited. Thanks guys. I so love the Crown. Can't imagine much better for a tank, but looking forward to checking out the differences. And I do like the side fill... If it doesn't leak.

No leaks with the side fill ever. Only leak I got was due to insufficient wicking


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[TheVapingDevil]

Mine is not the one with the velocity deck version, but did have claptons on mine and did fit fine.

Great. I so want to try it in mine


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