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What was your first rebuildable and ...

KingPin!

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Did you like it, hate it, learn from it?

pretty sure mine was the Augvape Boreas RTA

Great vape liked it, got the bug for rebuildables from it and it had a fairly generous sized deck for the bigger coils at the time

drip tip - immense still use the dimensions as my preferred style of tip now

the burp - man what a pain in the ass this was though...if you didn’t get it right biblical pressure leak or at least I used to get that (user error was often quoted as the reason) ...whilst true if you weren’t aware of the technique, I dunno seemed to love seeping a little bit haha.

cleaning was ok though fair few parts involved, and I like’d it had that easy access deck design

It led me into single coil RTAs and RDTA’s next on my journey of discovery...

what about you folks?
 

MrMeowgi

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My first rebuildable was a patriot rda someone from the Dr Crimmy fb group years ago. He installed one coil for me. When it arrived I mounted the second coil and you would've thought I did open heart surgery I was so excited. It worked. I mounted the coil and it worked.

I was hooked. I never realized how much cheaper building coils was compared to $3-$5 per coil. Seems like forever ago now.
 

SnapDragon NY

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My 1st rebuildable was the Kanger RBA for my Nebox- I still use them!
My 1st RDA was the Twisted Messes- threw it in the garbage can a long time ago- I bought that for dripping and trying out flavors.
My 1st RTA was the OBS Engine- it is a dual coil, not easy , but I did it- I PIFed a black and SS to a friend here at VU when I got the OBS Nano single coil RTA- I bought one and a dear friend @Letitia9 gave me one of hers. I still use the Nanos.
 

nadalama

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Rose gold Merlin RDTA that I bought from Chef in the Hardware thread. He sent it with coils already in place, I wicked it with some Koh Gen Do that I had here, and then coughed, sneezed, and spluttered for days trying to get used to it. It was a big adjustment since I had only recently started using sub-ohm coils.

Things became a bit more to my liking once I got my hands on some N80 wire. Kanthal tried my patience! Lol

By the way, this is a great idea for a thread!
 
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SnapDragon NY

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By the way, this is a great idea for a thread!
It definitely is a great thread idea. Make people all nostalgic

I agree- great thread!

Plus a great thread for new builders to see what they are liking or hating and using too.
There are so many rebuildables that it will be interesting to see the responses!
:bliss:
 
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KingPin!

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I remember asking at the time for top single coil RTA’s (3 years ago) Oumier White bone mini came out pretty high on the list ....good grief was it a pain to wick consistently and had no fewer than 12 O-Rings lol ...learnt a fair bit since then for techniques but still it was not what I’d class as noob friendly... put me off single coils for a bit actually.

I actually found RDTAs easier at the start when they were all the rage ...Cthulhu Ghia was my first followed by the bombertech Pindad

what I took from these early pieces was build to the deck not just slap in any old coil in an expect the same result ...is that a common thing when you start out I wonder? Fall into the trap of trying to put the same coil type in everything? :teehee: Was for me anyway hehe
 

nadalama

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I remember asking at the time for top single coil RTA’s (3 years ago) Oumier White bone mini came out pretty high on the list ....good grief was it a pain to wick consistently and had no fewer than 12 O-Rings lol ...learnt a fair bit since then for techniques but still it was not what I’d class as noob friendly... put me off single coils for a bit actually.

I actually found RDTAs easier at the start when they were all the rage ...Cthulhu Ghia was my first followed by the bombertech Pindad

what I took from these early pieces was build to the deck not just slap in any old coil in an expect the same result ...is that a common thing when you start out I wonder? Fall into the trap of trying to put the same coil type in everything? :teehee: Was for me anyway hehe

Well sure, I think at first you use what you know how to build.

I also started with an RDTA and was glad I did. Even now I think I'd recommend an RDTA as a good introduction to rebuildables.
 

gopher_byrd

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Ok digging through the wayback machine... :D

I think my first RDA was an Igo-w 18mm 3 post with dinky holes. 28 gauge KA1 round wire dual coil set up. Kind of a pain to get two wires in the center post, but back then we weren't building Gargoyle Hoof coils. :giggle:
 

MrMeowgi

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I remember asking at the time for top single coil RTA’s (3 years ago) Oumier White bone mini came out pretty high on the list ....good grief was it a pain to wick consistently and had no fewer than 12 O-Rings lol ...learnt a fair bit since then for techniques but still it was not what I’d class as noob friendly... put me off single coils for a bit actually.

I actually found RDTAs easier at the start when they were all the rage ...Cthulhu Ghia was my first followed by the bombertech Pindad

what I took from these early pieces was build to the deck not just slap in any old coil in an expect the same result ...is that a common thing when you start out I wonder? Fall into the trap of trying to put the same coil type in everything? :teehee: Was for me anyway hehe
I still do that. I use a 6wrap 2x28/36 in everything for the first vape. Then decide whether or not that coil works or needs to be changed. But the fused Claptons are my daily for the most part
 

dubya314

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My first builds were on a Baal V2 and a Mad Hatter. I started a thread here about it some five years ago because I needed help and couldn't get it. The ohms were not right. Everyone kept telling me "wrap them tighter". I was pulling so hard on that wire it actually cut into my hands and started to bleed. Kept thinking wtf is going on. Then, at some point realized they all meant the wraps tighter together, not the wire tighter to the mandrel. Coil was so gapped out it was touching the top cap and causing a short :facepalm::facepalm::D:D
Anyway, I woulda given up if not for a couple of people here. Sure wish I could remember their names :shades:

Ah fuck me, wrong thread. I ain't retyping all that. @MrMeowgi , can you move to first rebuildable thread?
 

KingPin!

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I still do that. I use a 6wrap 2x28/36 in everything for the first vape. Then decide whether or not that coil works or needs to be changed. But the fused Claptons are my daily for the most part

Solid middle ground for most atties for sure :cheers:


My first was a Mad Hatter and still have it sitting in the Vape Cabinet.

Was it the mad hatter that had a flip type lid on top for easier dripping?
 

MrMeowgi

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Solid middle ground for most atties for sure :cheers:




Was it the mad hatter that had a flip type lid on top for easier dripping?
Those are my most used coils. I can spin out close to 20 an hour so I do that every few weeks to keep stock. Then build others as a treat or for different devices. Like my hexohm. Gonna make a nice staple later for it. Yea it was the flip top. I think I still have one somewhere
 

f1r3b1rd

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My first rebuildable was the original kayfun lite. I still have it and still use it.
I learned
-Wrapping 28g around a screwdriver was dumb
- I ended up cutting coat hangers to make a jig
-Wicking with silica was dumb
- not having to buy stock coils was great
- dialing in my preferred vape was fantastic
- less is more was general building rule
- buying quality built gear was the only way to go
- building in general is as much about airflow to cool mass ratio as it is resistance and power output.

I had to buy an aftermarket tip, because I didnt like the length of the stock tip, but I like the inner bore. Eventually I stocked up on aftermarket tanks and what not, which was fun.
Even now, it's rare to find a stock tip I like with rebuildables, though some exceptions have been released recently. Back then though, it was rare.
 

MrMeowgi

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My first builds were on a Baal V2 and a Mad Hatter. I started a thread here about it some five years ago because I needed help and couldn't get it. The ohms were not right. Everyone kept telling me "wrap them tighter". I was pulling so hard on that wire it actually cut into my hands and started to bleed. Kept thinking wtf is going on. Then, at some point realized they all meant the wraps tighter together, not the wire tighter to the mandrel. Coil was so gapped out it was touching the top cap and causing a short :facepalm::facepalm::D:D
Anyway, I woulda given up if not for a couple of people here. Sure wish I could remember their names :shades:

Ah fuck me, wrong thread. I ain't retyping all that. @MrMeowgi , can you move to first rebuildable thread?
Gotcha moved homie
 

KingPin!

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Those are my most used coils. I can spin out close to 20 an hour so I do that every few weeks to keep stock. Then build others as a treat or for different devices. Like my hexohm. Gonna make a nice staple later for it. Yea it was the flip top. I think I still have one somewhere

I do the same now pretty much
 

JuicyLucy

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Circa 2014 - jumped straight to mechanical squonking from cigalikes

My first was a Chalice III clone and a knockoff REO I got to see if I'd like it - I realize now that the guys who recommended squonking to me had no idea what they were talking about and had no business recommending it to me - but am so glad they did

The very day the clone crap arrived I was hooked and I shit the dough for authentic ones

The guy that sold me the clone Chalice built and wicked it for me; when I got the authentic I moved the build from the clone to the authentic and vaped it till you couldn't ring one more puff out of it -

My first dripper came later, an Igo clone for tasting - can't remember which alliteration it was - hated it though

First RTA was Russian 91% - loved it but could never get it to wick correctly (inexperience I believe) and had to constantly burp it to get it to wick hahahaha

Still have the original REO/Chalice knockoff and the authentics

Don't think I have the Igo junk anymore, but still have the Russian 91% for sure - have been meaning to give it a go again but have never gotten around to it, lol
 

SteveS45

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Solid middle ground for most atties for sure :cheers:




Was it the mad hatter that had a flip type lid on top for easier dripping?

Yes, I was waiting on wire and cotton and my vape shop sold it to me for almost nothing. I had some other rebuild-able on it's way that I had won but couldn't wait. He gave me some wire and cotton to get my feet wet. As soon as I got my stuff I went right into to making Clapton Wire.
 

mkbkr1

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My first was was the Kanger Subtank Mini RBA deck. Used that for a while, then the Smok Big Baby RBA. Used that for a couple years. Then the single coil Serpent SSM, still use that one occasionally. My go to now is the Intake Dual RTA, love the flavor and vapor production. For an RDA I have the Bonza v1.5, that I only use at home. Dripping on the go is too much of a pain. I really need to get a squonk mod

Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk
 

nadalama

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My first rebuildable was the original kayfun lite. I still have it and still use it.
I learned
-Wrapping 28g around a screwdriver was dumb
- I ended up cutting coat hangers to make a jig
-Wicking with silica was dumb
- not having to buy stock coils was great
- dialing in my preferred vape was fantastic
- less is more was general building rule
- buying quality built gear was the only way to go
- building in general is as much about airflow to cool mass ratio as it is resistance and power output.

I had to buy an aftermarket tip, because I didnt like the length of the stock tip, but I like the inner bore. Eventually I stocked up on aftermarket tanks and what not, which was fun.
Even now, it's rare to find a stock tip I like with rebuildables, though some exceptions have been released recently. Back then though, it was rare.

I like Voopoo and Asmodus stock drip tips as well as the stock tips on the Elder Dragons. Most others, I replace.
 

KingPin!

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My first was was the Kanger Subtank Mini RBA deck. Used that for a while, then the Smok Big Baby RBA. Used that for a couple years. Then the single coil Serpent SSM, still use that one occasionally. My go to now is the Intake Dual RTA, love the flavor and vapor production. For an RDA I have the Bonza v1.5, that I only use at home. Dripping on the go is too much of a pain. I really need to get a squonk mod

Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk

I like the intake too (single coil version) right where my draw preference is wide open ....to this day though my favourite top airflow has to be the Uwell D2 ...this was my wife’s first rebuildable way back ...well I say hers... I have to build it lol, but it’s all she’s wanted to use for 3 years, easy to build, rocks fused claptons, never leaks, velocity posts bang on ...so much so we bough a spare when she finally breaks it.

grub screws are a bit shite but they are easy enough to find spares for
 

nadalama

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I like the intake too (single coil version) right where my draw preference is wide open ....to this day though my favourite top airflow has to be the Uwell D2 ...this was my wife’s first rebuildable way back ...well I say hers... I have to build it lol, but it’s all she’s wanted to use for 3 years, easy to build, rocks fused claptons, never leaks, velocity posts bang on ...so much so we bough a spare when she finally breaks it.

grub screws are a bit shite but they are easy enough to find spares for

Once again we agree. That D2 is amazing. I now have four of them. Have only built one so far, but when this next batch of Aromamizers arrive in a few days, I just might switch all my tanks out to tall ones, except for these Avenger and Gnome King tanks I just got, and the Zeus RTAs.

The airflow is what gets me about the D2. It is smooth as glass, and the flavor is just outstanding.
 

f1r3b1rd

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I like Voopoo and Asmodus stock drip tips as well as the stock tips on the Elder Dragons. Most others, I replace.
The elder dragon does have some killer tips! I haven't been a fan of asmodus tips much, but I haven't had many of the newer attys from them
 

pulsevape

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My first was the AGA T2 from youde.....it cost 25.00 at the time.....it's claim to fame was.."If you can learn how to build on the AGA T2 you could build on any genisis atomizer in the world."..it was that much of a pain in the ass...but I did learn how to build on the AGAT2 and make it sing,it was a long and brutal love affair, and we both have the scars to prove it ...and I have vaped on genisis atomizers every since, and owned dozens of them....though I've tried many many times to like cotton I never will. I stayed with gennys...I can still remember the day I bought my first high end genisis and tossed the AGA-T in the garbage.....





AGA-T2-RBA_1024x1024.jpg
 
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MyMagicMist

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Still never tried a genny, mind you after taking a few bad hits from mesh in the profile don’t think I ever want to :giggle:

First rebuildable beyond trying to rebuild the tiny micro coil evods.

Smok-RSST-1_wm.jpg


It hit like a steamroller. :) The air hole was bored out a bit more, eh to roughly 3/16 of an inch I think. I enjoyed how it hit and produced vapor. The spring loaded positive head was a nightmare to play "catch the wire" with though. Next after that for me was probably one of those Mr. Owl RDAs, yeah um it's around but seldom used. Swapped to Velocity v2s to learn on RDA until @Hank Spankman (Spanky) got me talked into trying some of the original Goons, not the v 1.5s. I like the original Goons still but have a few in various states of repair not seeing use. Eventually they might, no rush on finding parts though.

I think you'd like a genny like the RSST. :) Biggest issue I faced was tip it to the side and it leaked horribly. Hits real well though. You don't worry over dry hits with a genny set up correctly. Your wick dips down into your tank through the deck to well, wick up juice as it requires. Wick saturate? It don't wick up juice. Wick drying out? It wicks up juice like a camel.

No longer got the RSST, sold it back. Have times I miss it, other times I don't. This morning I'm on the Gorge with a 26 ga plain old Kanthal A1 wrapped 4 times round 3 mm ID, clicking in at just a tad over 0.60 oHm on a Topside Lite squonker running a blazing 20 watts. :) Not missing the RSST. That's not saying I didn't or don't like that style, merely I'm just content another way. The same way I'm not rushing to fix up the Goons.
 

Just Frank

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I got a Griffin RTA before I ever tried a sub ohm tank. It looked it was built by aliens for all I knew. The first time I tried to build it, I put liquid directly into the airflow holes until it leaked all over lol. I had to watch a few videos and pay attention to them. I got some round wire and a 5-pack of Kangertech branded cotton pads for it. I wrapped my wire around a nail and cut the ends off with a toe nail clipper. I probably used a bit too much cotton but it didn't leak, and I was vaping.

I feel a bit lucky. I've read a lot of times about people say I g the Griffin was a game changer. It must have been around the time DL RTAs started getting good. I got it long before I found this place. Paid 40USD for it, "Top of the line" I think they said lol. I ended up collecting about a dozen of them when I found them for much cheaper. They're really tall and slender in today's standards. But they still vape great and give some good flavor IMO.

Oh yeah I forgot, I liked it and learned from it. It was the first in a long line of velocity styled deck RTAs I got. It prepared me to use just about every Smok RBA that ever came out. I moved to single coil, and mostly use them these days. But a velocity deck with a couple claptons installed still works fine too. I'm just over cloud chasing and vaping high wattage. For all day, I'm pretty happy vaping from 40-55W.
 
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MrMeowgi

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I got a Griffin RTA before I ever tried a sub ohm tank. It looked it was built by aliens for all I knew. The first time I tried to build it, I put liquid directly into the airflow holes until it leaked all over lol. I had to watch a few videos and pay attention to them. I got some round wire and a 5-pack of Kangertech branded cotton pads for it. I wrapped my wire around a nail and cut the ends off with a toe nail clipper. I probably used a bit too much cotton but it didn't leak, and I was vaping.

I feel a bit lucky. I've read a lot of times about people say I g the Griffin was a game changer. It must have been around the time DL RTAs started getting good. I got it long before I found this place. Paid 40USD for it, "Top of the line" I think they said lol. I ended up collecting about a dozen of them when I found them for much cheaper. They're really tall and slender in today's standards. But they still vape great and give some good flavor IMO.
Yea the Griffin 22 was a game changer for me for sure. My first rta. Came from the crown v1 before the Griffin. But loved the rebuildable aspect. And the flavor was and still is top notch
 

pulsevape

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Still never tried a genny, mind you after taking a few bad hits from mesh in the profile don’t think I ever want to :giggle:
the learning curve to build a genny is alot bigger than cotton wicked atties, they are a pain in the ass, that's the major reason nobody uses them anymore....so if you wanna try one...I suggest you find somebody who is a genhead to set it up for you, otherwise...the price of the learning curve is alot of very nasty dry hits....but a stainless steel wick delivers a much more nuanced flavor profile than cotton....it's a trade off....like having sex with a smoking hot chick...who just happens to be batshit crazy.
 
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KingPin!

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the learning curve to build a genny is alot bigger than cotton wicked atties, they are a pain in the ass, that's the major reason nobody uses them anymore....so if you wanna try one...I suggest you find somebody who is a genhead to set it up for you, otherwise...the price of the learning curve is alot of very nasty dry hits....but a stainless steel wick delivers a much more nuanced flavor profile than cotton....it's a trade off....like having sex with a smoking hot chick...who just happens to be batshit crazy.

hahaha :giggle: nice analogy
 

Letitia9

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First rba was the STM and I loved them. Somehow found my sweet spot first build and no leaks. Lol
First rda was one the baals and discovered I truly despised winding any wire thinner than 26g. First rta was maybe the serpent mini (not sure honestly). First rta I fell in love with was the obs nano, still use them some but use the jk minis daily now.
 

Nailz

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Can't even remember the name of the 1st one I had, but you had to use NR-R-NR coils and was a real PITA to coil and wick, also had gennies like the RSST, it was hit or miss on how well they worked for me, and thought rebuilding was not for me, then the kayfun came out, and then things got better and only got better and easier as the years have gone by, it was so much harder 7 years ago, that's for sure.
 

Bigrick

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My first was a Dead Rabbit just a couple years ago. Probably why I joined VU. It was the only rda available at my local b&m. At the time it was a Totally Wicked retail store. It was an eye opener to flavor. My previous gear was a Smok Baby Beast. So yeah like night and day. Now even in my subohm tanks I use rba decks. The day I got my DR I made my first coils. Twisted 26 agw ss 316l. They did not sell pre made coils but had a spool of ss that they gave me. A brief tutoral on how to twist and away I go.
 

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