before my first build

[slayer420-x]

My tugboat v2 will arrive saterday & i have few questions. First, i have the tugboat v2 clone, 26 & 28 awg kanthol, koh gen do japanese cotton, ohm reader, precision screwdrivers, nailcutters, scissors. Thats all the supplies correct? And with koh gen do japanese cotton, im wondering how to cut & wick. Ive reasearched to put just enough cotton in coil so its snug, but not to tight, able to move through easy w.o tipping mod, right? So do i wanna cut a strip as wide as diameter, double as big? And i wanna not put cotton directly under coil so it gets air right. So if i have single coil i can put ends goin to other side of deck. When cutting cotton. Do you peel sheet in half then cut strip or no, and should i peel outer layers off 1st?

 

[JediTT]

probably depending on the diameter of your coils

 

[State O' Flux]

And to have a better understanding of why coils, as jediTT references, tend to be 'X' diameter... click on all three of the hyperlink siglines below... and start reading. Just about any technical question will be answered.

The general rule of thumb for wick, and cotton in particular, is that it's not so large that it cannot be pulled through a coil with more than a very slight drag. Cotton that is too densely wrapped, or too tight in coil will have capillary difficulties feeding juice to "wick-in-coil"

It'd not be a bad idea to buy a digital multimeter (DMM) as well. You don't mention your power supply... but if it's a mech, or a regulated mod that uses 18XXX series batteries, The DMM will allow you to check charged voltage. If you have a mech, it will facilitate testing for continuity and resistance of your mod and RDA... should you develop a voltage drop, or "hot button" issue.
.

 

[slayer420-x]

I have a upgraded ipv2 , and how do you guys wick with japanese cotton, do you rip in half to make two sheets so there thinner, and should you rip outer skin layers off

 

[nightshard]

Don't overthink this even before trying.
Cut a small strip, round the tip, pull it through.
If it's too tight, you'll know to cut a thinner strip next time.
You learn with practice.

 

[slayer420-x]

I tried building a coil, i have 26 & 28 awg. I cant do it atm i think i need normal precision screwdrivers. Ones i have a huge handle so i can push it in towards middle at all, it should be pushed to middle right? I need to leave some slack, tighten negative, push over then tighten postive? Im gettin frustrated, thought i had a ok one went to pulse ipv2 to pinch because theres gaps, and my battery was sagging to empty on near full charge n it said like 5 ohm, before it said 1.8. i wiggled legs on ohm reader to check for shorts it didnt change..im thinking i need to get norm precision screwdrivers with smaller handle to wrap & maybe plyers to tug wire on screwdriver to tighten..? I tried like 5 coils wrapping that were wasted, so i think im having troubles getting tight wraps and getting in right spot on tugboat v2. & should i clean rda. Soak in vodka or..

 

[slayer420-x]

Does the coil need to be pushed to middle? Havin hard time trying to get in right place im goona try smaller handle precision screwdrivers, & getting wraps tight, its ok to have some gaps they can be pulse fire n pinched eh, n maybe ill grab some plyers to pull wire on screwdriver to make it tighter, easier then hurtin hand pulling wire. Hope then i can do it, i tried 26 awg 2.4 mm, 9 wraps so itd be 1 ohm, couldnt get good one though

 

[SusanP4]

Does the coil need to be pushed to middle? Havin hard time trying to get in right place im goona try smaller handle precision screwdrivers, & getting wraps tight, its ok to have some gaps they can be pulse fire n pinched eh, n maybe ill grab some plyers to pull wire on screwdriver to make it tighter, easier then hurtin hand pulling wire. Hope then i can do it, i tried 26 awg 2.4 mm, 9 wraps so itd be 1 ohm, couldnt get good one though

I do push them toward the middle, but If they are not exactly centered I don't get too exited. That's especially true if the top cap is made so that I can just put the air holes in front the coil whereever it may be. On youtube AbbyVapes has a build video that shows how to bend the each leg to help center the coil.

 

[-=Rob=-]

Keep trying slayer420-x and you'll get it. Like Susan said, bending the legs as needed will help you get them centered better. Kanthal is cheap so keep trying.


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[-=Rob=-]

I have a upgraded ipv2 , and how do you guys wick with japanese cotton, do you rip in half to make two sheets so there thinner, and should you rip outer skin layers off

I pull the sheets apart so I have two square pieces, then cut a strip maybe 1/4" wide, probably a bit narrower, to wick the coil. I cut 4-5 pieces each time and store them in the bag so I don't have to cut a piece each time. Make sure your hands are clean when handling your cotton or your cotton can taste weird.


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[slayer420-x]

Ok thanks. Ill keep practicing. Just got some regular precision screwdrivers that have small handle that wont block from pushing coil towards middle. Also got needle nose plyers to pull kanthol tight after wrapping. Goona try again. When pulsing to pinch coil what watts? 4.2 v? I know to pulse n pinch till its glowin inside out, mine yesterday were glowing inside out, but the ohm on ipv2 changed to like 5 which cant be true. So i took it off. On ohm reader ohms stayed at like 1.8 while flicking legs, didnt jump so i thought it was good. I tightened screws till there was resistance & snug without clipping legs. Im goona try again soon

 

[slayer420-x]

& i have tugboat v2 so i can line airflow beside coil even if its not in middle.. ill try to leave longer legs n push to middle though

 

[-=Rob=-]

Sounds like you're on the right track. You'll get it. Post back when you're clouding up the house with your tugboat


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[slayer420-x]

I just built a coil, 26 awg 9 wraps on 2.4 mm screwdriver. Ohm checker said 1.8, wasnt fluctuating, put on ipv2 said 1.2 ohm .. pulse then pinch bunch times. ohms on ipv2 are changing to 6, 5 ohm.. wont fire then next time i pulse says 1.2 & fires.. its glowing from middle out. Idk what im doing wrong

 

[slayer420-x]

Maybe its the screws? They seam to loosen easy, i tighten till it wont go anymore but the will unscrew very easy. Everytime i pulse ohms change, if i tighten screws again it goes to 1.2.. its like the screws are backing off they wont stay tight i think

 

[-=Rob=-]

Sounds like the screws aren't staying tight or one of the posts on your RDA is loose or something. Sorry but I'm not very familiar with the tugboat. Make sure none of your posts are loose or wobbly. Are you clipping the extra length off the legs after getting them tightened up in the posts, they're not touching anything are they?


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[slayer420-x]

I think the issue was screws werent tight enough, i was using doller store screwdriver i wrapped with, grabbed better phillips & it doesnt change ohm so far. I tightened n coil is at a bit of angle. But its glowing from inside out perfectly, wraps arent completly together they wont seem to. Can i wick n use it?

 

[-=Rob=-]

Also make sure the center post on the bottom of your RDA is making good contact with the + post in your 510 connector. If its intermittent you might see what you're seeing.


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[slayer420-x]

I clipped legs on ohm reader then put on ipv2. Coil isnt touchin posts no

 

[-=Rob=-]

I think the issue was screws werent tight enough, i was using doller store screwdriver i wrapped with, grabbed better phillips & it doesnt change ohm so far. I tightened n coil is at a bit of angle. But its glowing from inside out perfectly, wraps arent completly together they wont seem to. Can i wick n use it?

Go for it, it's not going to make a huge difference if the coil isn't perfect. Get past your other issues then you can perfect the coil some later.


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[slayer420-x]

I have atty flush my ipv2 has floatin pin, ohm at 1.2 not jumpin now after tight more. Dont wanna clip it, i went till theres good amount of res. Its glowing good, but bit crooken from tighten, pos post side is bit higher

 

[slayer420-x]

Ok. Ill make sure to watch ohms & tighten if needed. Thank you

 

[-=Rob=-]

I have atty flush my ipv2 has floatin pin, ohm at 1.2 not jumpin now after tight more. Dont wanna clip it, i went till theres good amount of res. Its glowing good, but bit crooken from tighten, pos post side is bit higher

You should be fine with it now. Wick it up and fire that puppy up.


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[slayer420-x]

Ok i wick n juiced it, taste like metal or somthing.. i cleaned rda. Soaked in vodka then in hot water w dish soap.. will it go away

 

[slayer420-x]

Only way i can describe is metal.. not nice. Can not enough cotton do it? I put some in but its not super snug

 

[-=Rob=-]

I'd rewick it I think. Dry burn the coil some more while the wick is out. You may be tasting some metal taste off the coil although that's not something I can say I've seen. The wick should be snug in the coil but still able to be slid back and forth in it.


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[slayer420-x]

I just re wicked still getting it. Should it be able to slide back n forth w.o tipping mod? I can try doin less then more but i think its somthing else. Its nasty i cant vape it.

 

[-=Rob=-]

Fit of the wick isn't that critical to cause such a bad taste. Too tight it might choke the wick and you'd get burning of the wick. Too loose and it may not wick adequate juice to the coil also. I think you have something else going on. I think you said you cleaned the RDA up, really well to get any machine oil out of every nook and cranny? Using Koh Gen Do, with some you might get a cotton taste initially, but not metallic. Are you using regular Kanthal A1 wire for your coil? Do you have something else to try to wick with, a cotton ball, rayon, etc.? Different juice? I think you're faced with eliminating all these things to find what's causing the offending taste.


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[slayer420-x]

I did wick it with a new juice i havent tried that was only made 1 26 15. & i didnt scrub rda i just soaked it. I guess i'll take new tooth brush hot water & dish soap & scrub it, then soak it in dish soap / hot water. Then try my vanilla custard which ive had plenty steeped. Just got more vanilla custard & swedish berries 6 mg max vg i wanted to try but it prob not steeped enough. But the metal taste is hopfully the rda. Wouldnt be kanthol would it?

 

[slayer420-x]

& it is A1 kanthol, koh gen doh cotton is all i have

 

[-=Rob=-]

Since its Kanthal I don't think it's your wire. Clean it up real well and perhaps pick up some organic cotton balls to give you something else to try wicking with in case you're tasting something to do with the Koh Gen Do. Once you clean it up good, use something else to wick it and change juice, if you're still tasting metal I don't know what to think. You're not vaping that skid plate metal flavored juice are you? LOL Speaking of good juice, I've vaped a whole Lemo tank full of home brew Strawberry milkshake juice this evening. LOL


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[slayer420-x]

Ok i cleaned tugboat last night scrubed with new tooth brush & dish soap & metal flavor is gone, tiny bit left but hoping it goes away. Whoo clouds ! Only 26 awg 9 wrap 2.4 mm, 1.1 ohm. But alot better then my nautilus. So i got cotton soaked, you get roughly 5-10 hits then put what, 4, 5 drops? Mainly on coil. But ill be able to tell when theres less vapor or taste eh. And i notice cotton inside coil is brown already, rest is yellow from vanilla custard. I figured to use around 4.2 v right, so 15 w, i tried like 18 but im guessing single coil cant go high at 1 ohm? And when i pulsed coil to pinch it made tingy noise is that normal?

 

[-=Rob=-]

Good deal on tasting better, that should improve now. Yeah, 5-10 hits then refuel it. Sounds like your wick looks normal, with heating the juice touching the coil will likely get darker. You'll just have to find out the power setting that gives you the best vape and flavor on that setup. With a used coil there's going to be residue in the coil so it's going to sizzle some when you dry burn it. You're set to play with it more now and you'll figure out quickly what works best for you. That coil may last you quite awhile if you're happy with it. Just change the wick and clean the tugboat up from time to time, dry burn it, rewick and you're good to go. Glad you're getting there. Happy dripping!


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[Neunerball]

... And when i pulsed coil to pinch it made tingy noise is that normal?...

Yes, it's normal. Just don't let the coil glow too long either.