Setup doesn't work out for me

Hi everybody

I'm really struggling in tunig my setup to my liking. I use an eleaf iStick 30W, Neutral Workz Shield RDA. Although I am not a cloud chaser I like the feeling of having some subtantial vapor both in amount and density.

I have tried different setups but all in the range of 0.5-0.8 Ohm, double coil (using 28g Kanthal A1). I usually vape them anywhere between 15 and 22 Watts using mostly VG only liquids but I always encounter the same things I don't really like

1. it takes at least 2 seconds to properly heat up
2. the rda gets very hot
3. the vapour feels coarse and not satifying to inhale
4. the taste doesn't come through nicely
5. the amount of vapour just ain't enough compared to anything I see on youtube ( not the cloud chasers but for instance the amount of vapor lets say p. bussardo gets on every single thing he reviews..)

anybody any tips on how to improve my vaping experience before I go back to cigarettes?

The RDA will get hot. Try making coils of a larger diameter 3mm id. Change to 70 Vg/30 Pg, find a flavor that is useable with dripping. Low Ohm coils require a lot of power to heat quickly, you can do it with your 30 watt, just try different coiling techniques such as twisted 28 gauge. At .5 Ohm with a 3mm id coil and cotton properly wicked, at 30 watts you should be able to get some decent and thick clouds. For the RDA getting hot, buy a wide bore delrin drip tip. That will keep the heat off your lips.

The harshness you are getting is possibly due to the eliquid not being suited for dripping, or having a cooler vape and not atomizing the eliquid completely. If your nicotine level is too high for dripping, you will get a harsh kick in the throat. What mg are you at right now?

I would suggest getting a sub-tank while you fine tune your RDA wicking and coiling skills. Get one with a rebuild-able deck, like the Kanger Sub-tank mini, that way you can use it with the stock heads, and then build it with your own Kanthal and cotton when you wish. Best of both worlds, plus at 30 watts, you will get a lot of vapor. Hope this helps.

Thank you for the tips. I actually always make 3mm id coils. With my current setup I should get to a 111mW/mm^s heat flux at 20 W is this maybe too cold and could account for what what you mentioned with not atomizing the liquid completely?

I usually use 12mg strenght liquid ... it is a little strong for dripping I guess and I actually also own a kanger sub-tank mini but I only used diy pg/vg 70/30 liquids on it because I thought liquids with more vg might make trouble drenching the wick properly based on the construction...

But I guess I'll try a twisted coil then.. might need some tries with my two left hands..

With the way the airflow works in that rda, 28g wire and a 30w mod I honestly don't think you're ever going to find what you're looking for. You can probably improve its performance some, but.... Good luck.

CapoCH said:

Thank you for the tips. I actually always make 3mm id coils. With my current setup I should get to a 111mW/mm^s heat flux at 20 W is this maybe too cold and could account for what what you mentioned with not atomizing the liquid completely?

I usually use 12mg strenght liquid ... it is a little strong for dripping I guess and I actually also own a kanger sub-tank mini but I only used diy pg/vg 70/30 liquids on it because I thought liquids with more vg might make trouble drenching the wick properly based on the construction...

But I guess I'll try a twisted coil then.. might need some tries with my two left hands..

Click to expand...

Try boosting the watts to 30.

12mg is way too harsh in an RDA, even at 30w in my opinion. 6mg is usually where most RDA users i know top out on nicotine. Also, make sure that your coils are directly in line with the airflow, and not right up against the top cap. X2 on the delrin drip tip. An rda will typically get warm, but not at 30w on 28g kanthal, they're probably sitting too close to the outside of the rda, or to the top cap (most likely). You'd be surprised how just a small adjustment in coil placement can make a tremendous difference in the performance of a build. Good luck!

You guys should check out the way that rda flows air. It's part of his problem.

I hate those rdas with air that pumps in through the posts for that very reason. They leak and theyre hard to hit the coils with direct air, so production and flavor is lacking. I suggest getting something else and maybe some 26 or 24 gauge, i only use 28 for like triple parallels.

Ahhhhh like @boomsstick said, your airflow is as much your problem as the rest, dude. zamzam's build in a more open bottom airflow would be a nice vape... something more like a freakshow, or a side airflow 3post dripper maybe a tugboat, Tobh or a mako.

CapoCH said:

Hi everybody

I'm really struggling in tunig my setup to my liking. I use an eleaf iStick 30W, Neutral Workz Shield RDA. Although I am not a cloud chaser I like the feeling of having some subtantial vapor both in amount and density.

I have tried different setups but all in the range of 0.5-0.8 Ohm, double coil (using 28g Kanthal A1). I usually vape them anywhere between 15 and 22 Watts using mostly VG only liquids but I always encounter the same things I don't really like

1. it takes at least 2 seconds to properly heat up
2. the rda gets very hot
3. the vapour feels coarse and not satifying to inhale
4. the taste doesn't come through nicely
5. the amount of vapour just ain't enough compared to anything I see on youtube ( not the cloud chasers but for instance the amount of vapor lets say p. bussardo gets on every single thing he reviews..)

anybody any tips on how to improve my vaping experience before I go back to cigarettes?

Click to expand...

Ahh yeah.. looking at that thing, airflow is a problem. Also, using a dual coil setup on that mod with 28g Kanthal at that resistance = a pretty low heat flux... You simply do not have enough wattage to heat that much metal up efficiently and quickly.

My advice to you is simple.. Order yourself a Steamboat (Tugboat V2 Clone).. you can get one for about 17 bucks. I know, I know.. it's a clone, but I promise it's the best 17 bucks you will ever spend. @Zamazam sent me down that path, and it is my go to RDA. Then, if you aren't going to get any different size wire, set yourself up a single coil 1.2 to about 1.4 ohm coil (about 6 or 7 wraps with 28 gauge Kanthal). With an RDA, you want a heat flux around 300 mw/sq. mm... A bit larger wire might help too if you want to stay down lower than that with the resistance. Try 26 gauge... I'm running 24 gauge single coil (6 wraps) at 35 watts and it feels like I'm eating whatever flavor I vape. It's awesome...If you want to stay with a dual coil and don't want to switch mods, then try 29 gauge wire @ .7 (two 5 wrap coils)... should be about right. Check out the tools at www.steam-engine.org as a guide.

Anyway, pop that sucker in your Steamboat, set the air flow to single coil mode, the wattage to about 25w, and prepare to be amazed. I promise you, the flavor is stupid insane (is for me), and you will get plenty of vapor.

I would get a different rda, 24g wire and a cheap mech. Then you'll get a proper rda experience and have a backup mod with no built in power limit. Just a thought. Good luck.

Swerved said:

My advice to you is simple.. Order yourself a Steamboat (Tugboat V2 Clone).. you can get one for about 17 bucks. I know, I know.. it's a clone, but I promise it's the best 17 bucks you will ever spend. @Zamazam sent me down that path, and it is my go to RDA. Then, if you aren't going to get any different size wire, set yourself up a single coil 1.2 to about 1.4 ohm coil (about 6 or 7 wraps with 28 gauge Kanthal). With an RDA, you want a heat flux around 300 mw/sq. mm... A bit larger wire might help too if you want to stay down lower than that with the resistance. Try 26 gauge... I'm running 24 gauge single coil (6 wraps) at 35 watts and it feels like I'm eating whatever flavor I vape.

Click to expand...

Wow thanks for the detailed answer. I just can't find the tugboat clone zamzam recommended anywhere in stock.. only 5$ clones and that seems awfully cheap to me. Anything else you would recommend? Doge v2 or patriot maybe?

I have a troll clone that I paid 15 bucks for that's awesome. Easy to build on and great airflow

If it helps, fasttech has some tugboat V2 clones https://www.fasttech.com/search?tugboat v2
and lots of troll clones too https://www.fasttech.com/search?troll rda

I use a fat man rda clone (also available from fasttech) which has great air flow, imho, but gets very messy real easily when over drip. I might have to order both of the above just to try 'em out

Edit - I like the dual center posts I'm seeing on the troll. Gonna have to order that! Thanks!

CapoCH said:

Wow thanks for the detailed answer. I just can't find the tugboat clone zamzam recommended anywhere in stock.. only 5$ clones and that seems awfully cheap to me. Anything else you would recommend? Doge v2 or patriot maybe?

Click to expand...

A Baal Clone is a good option: http://101vape.com/rebuildable-atomizers-tanks/612-baal-rda-clone-by-tobeco.html

CapoCH said:

Wow thanks for the detailed answer. I just can't find the tugboat clone zamzam recommended anywhere in stock.. only 5$ clones and that seems awfully cheap to me. Anything else you would recommend? Doge v2 or patriot maybe?

Click to expand...

Found one here, never ordered from this vendor though... maybe someone here has...

http://www.vaporking.com/rebuildable-dripping-atomizers-c-137_20/steamboat-rda-p-353.html

Zamazam said:

just try different coiling techniques such as twisted 28 gauge. At .5 Ohm with a 3mm id coil and cotton properly wicked, at 30 watts you should be able to get some decent and thick clouds.

Click to expand...

I gave this a try.. first attempt at getting a twisted coil.. and this had a stunningly positive effect on vapour density and taste...

CapoCH said:

I gave this a try.. first attempt at getting a twisted coil.. and this had a stunningly positive effect on vapour density and taste...

Click to expand...

Great! It's amazing what a twisted wire build can do for flavor...

Zamazam said:

Great! It's amazing what a twisted wire build can do for flavor...

Click to expand...

Not to mention that I could finally put my electric drill to some use.. was Tim Tayloresque

If you really want to have some fun, twist 28 Gauge, then twist 30 Gauge on top.

fan of twisted with round in a parallel build

Zamazam said:

If you really want to have some fun, twist 28 Gauge, then twist 30 Gauge on top.

Click to expand...

and how would i do that. The twisted 28 is pretty stiff, how can I twist a thin wiggly 30 on top of that?

When the wire is about 1/2 way twisted, add a strand of 32 gauge to the wire and finish twisting.