newb at chosing an RDA/RTA

CurlyMerkin · Jun 5, 2015

Are there performance differences between authentic rda's versus clones? I know authentic devices are much more expensive...... but I don't want to waste my money on an inferior product either. what are you thoughts and experiences with clones? worth it or not? ALSO....it seems authentic gear are almost non existant.. Is everything made in limited batches?

martinelias · Jun 5, 2015

Theres a lot of authentic gear available.
I hear some clones perform better than the real deal.
There are some inexpensive rdas that are authentic and perform just as good if not better than too shelf priced rdas.
doge v2, mad hatter, freakshow, troll, mutation x v1-4 ti name a few are all fairly inexpensive.

CurlyMerkin · Jun 5, 2015

martinelias said:
Theres a lot of authentic gear available.
I hear some clones perform better than the real deal.
There are some inexpensive rdas that are authentic and perform just as good if not better than too shelf priced rdas.
doge v2, mad hatter, freakshow, troll, mutation x v1-4 ti name a few are all fairly inexpensive.

Please forgive my ignorance...... I am feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the RDA's on the market right now.I dont know whats good, & whats to avoid I just want my first atty to be of quality. thanks for the recommendations.

State O' Flux · Jun 5, 2015

CurlyMerkin said:
Please forgive my ignorance...... I am feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the RDA's on the market right now.I dont know whats good, & whats to avoid I just want my first atty to be of quality. thanks for the recommendations.

Just some of the things I consider...

PEEK positive post insulation (spare parts, replaceable parts availability)
alternate materials for the center post (SS, brass, copper - depending on your needs and views)
post thru holes for wire, or wire wraps around screw shank (the latter more common for negative legs)
grub screws vs. phillips - including screw head type (I prefer the former, but latter is OK if the heads capture wire well)
negative coil leg channels (not a deal breaker, but nice if the screws are on the drip well rim)
type and location of AFC relative to the coils (low, bottom more for clouds, parallel & high more for flavor - tunable combinations of both)
internal vapor chamber volume
drip well depth (AKA juice capacity)
air port location relative to juice level (if it looks like it will leak like a sieve if not level... then it probably will)
alternate caps and drip tip bore ID size (510 cap and proprietary and/or chuff cap)
adjustable 510 pin
graphics / logo that would please me... rather than a 12 year old
... and on and on.

rolltidevaper · Jun 5, 2015

I have several clones and I haven't been disappointed yet. My go to's are the Kayfun 3.1 (the old one, lol), Kayfun v4 and the Rose v2. I get more vapor from the Kayfuns (not cloud chasing mind you) and I can't beat the flavor on the Rose V2 even with most of my drippers. It's a very relaxing enjoyable vape. I think the Kayfuns are easy to build, the Rose requires a little more patience, but when you get the build right it's amazing. I prefer the RTA's because I'm gone all day and it's just easier than dripping.

retic1959 · Jun 6, 2015

rolltidevaper said:
I have several clones and I haven't been disappointed yet. My go to's are the Kayfun 3.1 (the old one, lol), Kayfun v4 and the Rose v2. I get more vapor from the Kayfuns (not cloud chasing mind you) and I can't beat the flavor on the Rose V2 even with most of my drippers. It's a very relaxing enjoyable vape. I think the Kayfuns are easy to build, the Rose requires a little more patience, but when you get the build right it's amazing. I prefer the RTA's because I'm gone all day and it's just easier than dripping.

I agree , the Rose V2 outperforms all the other atty's in my arsenal when it comes to flavor , that includes my Aqua V2 , Veritas , Magma , Heron and Kayfuns . I've gone through a ton of different builds and wire gauges , and wicking materials in everything I own and the Rose V2 is unbeatable for pure flavor .

eazye99 · Jun 7, 2015

I never owned an authentic anything. Except the SIG 150. I bought all my clones from fasttech. I researched fasttech. And how to buy from them. And what to expect when I do. I haven't had any problems I didn't expect and or knew how to fix. I have been mostly happy with all my purchases. The times I wasn't. Was because I made. Bad choice. And picked something I didnt like.

bondo · Jun 7, 2015

A plume veil is a damn good starting point for someone new to rda building.
A lot of people disregard this atty because they didn't really know how to take advantage of the design.
Most just pop a couple coils on it,point the airholes at it and call it good but it's one of the most versatile toppers out there if you understand how to build.
if you dont know how to build right now,you will by the time you set the plume aside in search of your next topper.
pick up a clone plume veil for $15 and "practice" on it (or better yet,two

)while you learn the ins and outs of building.
there's a bit more to it than just wrapping coils and stuffing cotton through them.
have a few wire gauges handy and experiment. Have fun with it.
while you're doing that you could be watching the forums to see what people are saying about other rdas.

Let us know what you end up with.

Cheers,

BoomStick · Jun 7, 2015

My first rda was a $14 clone. Quality was fine, but I'm glad I didn't spend $90 on the authentic as the clone now sits on the shelf. It just doesn't have just the right options for me. Some authentics are reasonably priced, some are not. Since there are a bazillion different devices available, going through a bunch of high priced atty's and mods trying to find 'the one' isn't an option for me. I prefer to keep experimental purchases limited to affordable and well reviewed pieces. If one of my cheap buys turns out to be a real gem and there is an available and high priced version out there, then I'll consider spending a chunk. Just my thoughts. Good luck.

Woodsman · Jun 7, 2015

State O' Flux said:
Just some of the things I consider...

PEEK positive post insulation (spare parts, replaceable parts availability)

alternate materials for the center post (SS, brass, copper - depending on your needs and views)

post thru holes for wire, or wire wraps around screw shank (the latter more common for negative legs)

grub screws vs. phillips - including screw head type (I prefer the former, but latter is OK if the heads capture wire well)

negative coil leg channels (not a deal breaker, but nice if the screws are on the drip well rim)

type and location of AFC relative to the coils (low, bottom more for clouds, parallel & high more for flavor - tunable combinations of both)

internal vapor chamber volume

drip well depth (AKA juice capacity)

air port location relative to juice level (if it looks like it will leak like a sieve if not level... then it probably will)

alternate caps and drip tip bore ID size (510 cap and proprietary and/or chuff cap)

adjustable 510 pin

graphics / logo that would please me... rather than a 12 year old

... and on and on.

And stainless steel screws...I just bought an authentic Made in USA Deadmodz RDA for $57 and, after soaking in hot water with a dash of white vinegar to sterilize and remove any grease, I noticed that the screws were rusting...

Woodsman · Jun 7, 2015

CurlyMerkin said:
Are there performance differences between authentic rda's versus clones? I know authentic devices are much more expensive...... but I don't want to waste my money on an inferior product either. what are you thoughts and experiences with clones? worth it or not? ALSO....it seems authentic gear are almost non existant.. Is everything made in limited batches?

There are good clones and bad clones. I insist on knowing the clone-maker. Infinite claims its clones, and I trust Infinite. SubSonic Vapes has a collection of Infinite clones for a decent price. Recently I bought a clone Derringer from an eBay seller (vtrendsoutlet) for $10 total, free shipping. I was very surprised at its quality (it's an EHPro clone). Another clone that looks like quality is the Wotofo/A-Mod clone (I bought an Aqua V2 RTA clone by Wotofo/A-Mod and it looks solid...haven't vaped it yet).
RDAs seem easier to clone. RTAs and mods (especially regulated mods) seem easier to mess up.
Q: "Would you rather own four top quality clones, or one authentic (if the clones are just as good as the authentic)?
Youtube the review of the Infinite vs. Authentic Paradigm Magma. Conclusion: They are INDISTINGUISHABLE. And that's why I choose Infinite clones.
As for authentic gear being non-existent, I noticed that also. Very odd......................

Woodsman · Jun 7, 2015

IF you want to start somewhere, and don't mind spending $10, I think you'll be happy with the Derringer EHPro clone for $10 total on eBay. I mean, ya gotta start somewhere, right?

BoomStick · Jun 7, 2015

I see the ehpro derringer has a gold plated center post. Do you know what material is under the plating?

CurlyMerkin · Jun 7, 2015

Ver

Woodsman said:
IF you want to start somewhere, and don't mind spending $10, I think you'll be happy with the Derringer EHPro clone for $10 total on eBay. I mean, ya gotta start somewhere, right?
View attachment 21968

very true. I iust want QUALITY. I really appriciate the feedback here, also! I little knowledge goes a long way!!

CurlyMerkin · Jun 7, 2015

bondo said:
A plume veil is a damn good starting point for someone new to rda building.
A lot of people disregard this atty because they didn't really know how to take advantage of the design.
Most just pop a couple coils on it,point the airholes at it and call it good but it's one of the most versatile toppers out there if you understand how to build.
if you dont know how to build right now,you will by the time you set the plume aside in search of your next topper.
pick up a clone plume veil for $15 and "practice" on it (or better yet,two)while you learn the ins and outs of building.
there's a bit more to it than just wrapping coils and stuffing cotton through them.
have a few wire gauges handy and experiment. Have fun with it.
while you're doing that you could be watching the forums to see what people are saying about other rdas.

Let us know what you end up with.
Cheers,

Thanks a lot for your feedback, Bondo! Your insight is truley inspiring. I do look forward to coil building as my new hobby, experimenting with different guages, different coil builds etc. i am sold on the Plume Veil now. Thanks for the reccomendation. I'll keep y'all posted on my builds in the weeks to come. CHEERS

Woodsman · Jun 8, 2015

CurlyMerkin said:
Thanks a lot for your feedback, Bondo! Your insight is truley inspiring. I do look forward to coil building as my new hobby, experimenting with different guages, different coil builds etc. i am sold on the Plume Veil now. Thanks for the reccomendation. I'll keep y'all posted on my builds in the weeks to come. CHEERS

Plume Veil is a good choice.

expydude · Jun 8, 2015

Glad this thread was started. Looking at a troll as my first rda to learn on but don't kno if it's a clone or not. 20 bucks with chuff cap no shipping since its local. Would there be any drawbacks of it was a clone. Is this a good rda to learn with?

CurlyMerkin · Jun 11, 2015

Ok.... So i bit the bullet and bought a couple different clones this morning on E bay i picked up a Tobh Atty clone and a Hellboy clone.... I also picked up a Cthuhlu RTA ( i couldnt resist... I am a HUGE Lovecraft fan and got it for the name Cthuhlu... Dont judge me!! I hear those RTA's a awesome as well!!) Next up is some kanthal and organic cotton, ohm meter and tools.... Cant wait!!

JXN · Jun 11, 2015

I'm thinking of getting the new Cthuhlu RTA clone myself. Should be on Fasftech in a couple days.

bondo · Jun 11, 2015

CurlyMerkin said:
Thanks a lot for your feedback, Bondo! Your insight is truley inspiring. I do look forward to coil building as my new hobby, experimenting with different guages, different coil builds etc. i am sold on the Plume Veil now. Thanks for the reccomendation. I'll keep y'all posted on my builds in the weeks to come. CHEERS

Youre welcome.
a plume was the first rda I bought and I learned a lot from it. I traded it off awhile back but I liked it so much that I got another.

CurlyMerkin said:
Ok.... So i bit the bullet and bought a couple different clones this morning on E bay i picked up a Tobh Atty clone and a Hellboy clone.... I also picked up a Cthuhlu RTA ( i couldnt resist... I am a HUGE Lovecraft fan and got it for the name Cthuhlu... Dont judge me!! I hear those RTA's a awesome as well!!) Next up is some kanthal and organic cotton, ohm meter and tools.... Cant wait!!

Idk much about the hell boy but the tobh is a really straight forward atty. Not really a fog machine but decent in its own right.
you won't be disappointed with the Cthulhu. The milling is rough and it's a bit over complicated but the overall daily performance is outstanding. I think you'll find that the Cthulhu performs better than the tobh wich is unusual for a tank/rda comparison.

CurlyMerkin · Jun 11, 2015

bondo said:
Youre welcome.
a plume was the first rda I bought and I learned a lot from it. I traded it off awhile back but I liked it so much that I got another.

Idk much about the hell boy but the tobh is a really straight forward atty. Not really a fog machine but decent in its own right.
you won't be disappointed with the Cthulhu. The milling is rough and it's a bit over complicated but the overall daily performance is outstanding. I think you'll find that the Cthulhu performs better than the tobh wich is unusual for a tank/rda comparison.

Appreciate the feedback, Bondo. I went with the Tobh because, as you mentioned, is a straight forward atty. I also like the offset positive post, as it seems will have ease of building. As far as wicking the cotton.... That should be interesting.... Lol. Aint nothin to it but to do it, right?? Lol

CurlyMerkin · Jun 11, 2015

JXN said:
I'm thinking of getting the new Cthuhlu RTA clone myself. Should be on Fasftech in a couple days.

I went with the authentic Cthuhlu, because there Is ONLY one Cthuhlu!! LMAO!!!. Plus it aas 30 buck at Lyric Vapor. Not a bad price for an RTA bearing tge name of "The Great Old One". Lol.... My geekiness is showing.... Hahahahaha

Woodsman · Jun 12, 2015

expydude said:
Glad this thread was started. Looking at a troll as my first rda to learn on but don't kno if it's a clone or not. 20 bucks with chuff cap no shipping since its local. Would there be any drawbacks of it was a clone. Is this a good rda to learn with?

I have a Troll. The screws are big enough for easy working. Wotofo/A-Mod makes the Troll (also a lot of quality clones as well...). If you buy the Troll, buy the Stainless version. The paint will peel on the colored ones (I had a white one which is now stainless after I scraped all the paint off after it started peeling).

Woodsman · Jun 12, 2015

Woodsman said:
And stainless steel screws...I just bought an authentic Made in USA Deadmodz RDA for $57 and, after soaking in hot water with a dash of white vinegar to sterilize and remove any grease, I noticed that the screws were rusting...

Okay, to be fair, I contacted DeadModz (West Coast Vape) and explained the rusting screws. I will be receiving a free new deck portion as a result. One good reason to buy American...a cloner wouldn't have been so generous. Sounds like some non-Stainless screws ended up in a batch of DeadModz units, and I ended up with one...

Woodsman · Jun 12, 2015

CurlyMerkin said:
I went with the authentic Cthuhlu, because there Is ONLY one Cthuhlu!! LMAO!!!. Plus it aas 30 buck at Lyric Vapor. Not a bad price for an RTA bearing tge name of "The Great Old One". Lol.... My geekiness is showing.... Hahahahaha

Cthulhu is a fictional deity in the Cthulhu Mythos. He is described as an ancient entity of immense power that manipulates the minds of human beings from his sunken island of R'lyeh. He first appears in H.P. Lovecraft's "The Call of Cthulhu", but remains a recurring presence and force throughout the stories in the titular mythos.
Looks like a solid RTA...how it functions will depend on how you build it. Should be the only RTA you'll ever need, but not the only RTA you'll ever WANT!!

Woodsman · Jun 12, 2015

Cthulhu:

CurlyMerkin · Jun 13, 2015

Woodsman said:
Cthulhu:
View attachment 22358

CurlyMerkin · Jun 13, 2015

Woodsman said:
IF you want to start somewhere, and don't mind spending $10, I think you'll be happy with the Derringer EHPro clone for $10 total on eBay. I mean, ya gotta start somewhere, right?
View attachment 21968

Ok.... So, Mr. Woodsman, I took your sage like advice and ordered a Derringer clone on ebay. Like you had mentioned, the 10 dollar price WAS very attractive. I am going to start out with simple builds at first, just to tinker around. I could have sworn i ordered a Tobh Atty as well earlier, but it is not showing up in my order history. No big deal, as I wanted to switch to the Plume Veil..... Wich I did. I look forward to more wisdom from you in the days to come, my friend! Thank you for your direction toward the right path on my RBA journey!! I owe you a beer!! Ha ha ha

SomeTexan · Jun 13, 2015

CurlyMerkin said:
Ok.... So, Mr. Woodsman, I took your sage like advice and ordered a Derringer clone on ebay. Like you had mentioned, the 10 dollar price WAS very attractive. I am going to start out with simple builds at first, just to tinker around. I could have sworn i ordered a Tobh Atty as well earlier, but it is not showing up in my order history. No big deal, as I wanted to switch to the Plume Veil..... Wich I did. I look forward to more wisdom from you in the days to come, my friend! Thank you for your direction toward the right path on my RBA journey!! I owe you a beer!! Ha ha ha

I took his advice and ordered one too. For $10 shipped, I wouldn't feel screwed if it ends up being a paperweight. For the price, I may order one of all the rda's offered by that vender.

Woodsman · Jun 13, 2015

That vendor caught my attention when I read that they don't sell junk, and were really wanting happy customers.
I originally bought the Mini Big Buddha, then the Derringer as an afterthought. When the Derringer arrived and I saw it was an EHPro, I was impressed.
As for the Mini Big Buddha, I haven't gotten around to building it yet, but it looks cool.

SomeTexan · Jun 13, 2015

Woodsman said:
That vendor caught my attention when I read that they don't sell junk, and were really wanting happy customers.
I originally bought the Mini Big Buddha, then the Derringer as an afterthought. When the Derringer arrived and I saw it was an EHPro, I was impressed.
As for the Mini Big Buddha, I haven't gotten around to building it yet, but it looks cool.

Any experience with their mods? The Cherry Bomber looks like something I would like...

Woodsman · Jun 13, 2015

SomeTexan said:
Any experience with their mods? The Cherry Bomber looks like something I would like...

Cherry Bomber caught my eye, also. I would look around before I purchased it...the etching seems a bit hazy.

Mroutlaw · Jun 13, 2015

CurlyMerkin said:
Are there performance differences between authentic rda's versus clones? I know authentic devices are much more expensive...... but I don't want to waste my money on an inferior product either. what are you thoughts and experiences with clones? worth it or not? ALSO....it seems authentic gear are almost non existant.. Is everything made in limited batches?

Biggest difference between authentic and clones when it comes to rda and rta is quality control. Most of the time the clones function as well if not better than authentics, they are usually 1/4 of the price. Downside is that sometimes they have some machine scratches, burrs inside deck, shavings of metal from drilling out post holes and a little more machine oil. That's not all the time, but sometimes and nothing that can't be overcome by a little cleaning and inspection before using.

With rta and rba, I usually buy the clones unless the authentic is reasonably priced (under $50), like the billow v2 or freakshow. I also review a lot of clones of the most popular ones and when I have compared them to the authentic, it's been a very good experience. Take the kayfun v4 or mephesto rda. The authentics are $180 and $130 and the clone versions are both between $20-$35. He clones both performed just as well as the authentic. For that price difference, I'll deal with a few cosmetic imperfections like bad engraving or lack or spare parts.

bondo · Jun 13, 2015

Mroutlaw said:
Biggest difference between authentic and clones when it comes to rda and rta is quality control. Most of the time the clones function as well if not better than authentics, they are usually 1/4 of the price. Downside is that sometimes they have some machine scratches, burrs inside deck, shavings of metal from drilling out post holes and a little more machine oil. That's not all the time, but sometimes and nothing that can't be overcome by a little cleaning and inspection before using.

The same can be said for authentic versions though.
I've had a couple clones that had better machining than the authentics.
my policy is to ignore the initial hype and be happy with what I have. I let others be the guinea pigs and wait for the v2's.

joeyboy · Jun 13, 2015

Deleted

bondo · Jun 13, 2015

joeyboy said:
Deleted

My answer for that is that it's a "DRIPper".
ALSO, they fixed that with the v1.5

bondo · Jun 13, 2015

C'mon joey,don't hold back.
a forum isn't a forum without opinions....

Mroutlaw · Jun 14, 2015

bondo said:
The same can be said for authentic versions though.
I've had a couple clones that had better machining than the authentics.
my policy is to ignore the initial hype and be happy with what I have. I let others be the guinea pigs and wait for the v2's.

Completely agree. I've had plenty of authentics with poor machining and the clone was perfect. Had the same with machine oil. In my experience, tobeco and ehpro make the best clones.

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newb at chosing an RDA/RTA

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