Repairable Dripping Atomiser (RDA)

Bubba9 · 31-05-2012 6:48pm #1

The homepage of the guy who makes the RDA with all the information you need about it:

http://clockworks-cornwall.co.uk/

How to replace and make a new coil:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAzcF...layer_embedded

http://ukvapers.com/topic/9253-clock...itting-a-wick/

I tried a thin strip of foam between the posts and it works grand. I've put up to 30 drops at a time so far with no flooding. I'll keep increasing the amount to see how much I can get in there before liquid starts to leak out.

Green Hornet · 31-05-2012 7:01pm

Is there any effect on flavour after putting the foam in? Probably more likely to flood the coil rather than leaking?

derra · 31-05-2012 7:20pm

Just a small suggestion for this thread.
It's ok for those of us that know what it is but for anyone else coming onto the forum they won't have a clue what we are talking about.

At least post an introduction to the RDA.
What is it?
Where do you buy one & cost?
How do you repair?
Materials.
Pics.
Videos.

Mewso would probably edit the first post if someone wrote something up and sent it to him.

Bubba9 · 31-05-2012 8:06pm

The homepage of the guy who makes the RDA with all the information you need about it:

http://clockworks-cornwall.co.uk/

How to replace and make a new coil:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAzcF3eaWVE&feature=player_embedded

http://ukvapers.com/topic/9253-clockworks-rta-and-rda-fitting-a-wick/

Bubba9 · 31-05-2012 8:08pm

derra wrote: »

Just a small suggestion for this thread.
It's ok for those of us that know what it is but for anyone else coming onto the forum they won't have a clue what we are talking about.

At least post an introduction to the RDA.
What is it?
Where do you buy one & cost?
How do you repair?
Materials.
Pics.
Videos.

Mewso would probably edit the first post if someone wrote something up and sent it to him.

I posted a few links but I'm useless with text...maybe someone else would like to try

Bubba9 · 31-05-2012 8:14pm

Green Hornet wrote: »

Is there any effect on flavour after putting the foam in? Probably more likely to flood the coil rather than leaking?

I'd say the flavour is better if anything. I used a piece of blue foam about the same height as the posts and the width of the distance between them and held it in place while putting the cover on. If you have any old cartridges lying about you could cut a strip of the filling or if you're near a pet store I think you can use the fluval that's used in aquariums. You can get the blue foam from Paradise Vape or Cloud 9 (that I know of) and it's very cheap and a rinse under the tap and dry with kitchen paper and it's good to go again.

Bubba9 · 31-05-2012 8:21pm

Got some wire from this guy today. Haven't tried it yet but his prices seem fairly good:

http://stores.ebay.ie/bestwireshop

derra · 31-05-2012 8:47pm

Bubba9 wrote: »

I posted a few links but I'm useless with text...maybe someone else would like to try

Just copy & paste those links into the first post maybe, ya can't edit after a day or so which means a moderator would have to do it.

derra · 31-05-2012 8:57pm

Bubba9 wrote: »

Got some wire from this guy today. Haven't tried it yet but his prices seem fairly good:

http://stores.ebay.ie/bestwireshop

I do buy my .20 wire from him.

It's not wrapped around in a spool so ya have to be careful when taking a piece off it.

or

wires.co.uk has a lifetime supply available in a spool.

125g 0.2mm Nickel Chrome Wire

Ref: NC0200-125

Price: £13.05 (~€16.31) (Excluding VAT at 20%)

0.200mm 36 SWG Bare Nickel Chrome Wire (also known as Nichrome Wire / Hot Wire Cutter / Foam Cutter / Heater Wire / Element Wire)

Data: approx 34.4 ohms per metre, 125 gram = approx 478 metres

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar · 31-05-2012 9:25pm

im getting very conused by my RDAs atm

i have the 2.5ohm coils, they are vaping great at higher voltages.. but I have to push them to 5.7-5.8v to get a decent vape out of them

the voltage under load is 5.7V on the throathit readout and with the multimeter says 5.5 but i've pushed 3 ohm boge cartomisers at 5.5v before and this is nothing like that.. it's almost like a boge carto at 4.5-4.6V.

im still getting a great vape it's just confusing me how I can be pushing a 2.5ohm coil at this voltage and not tearing the throat off myself... maybe the wick is so thick that the coil is just constantly being saturated so even though the voltage is that high it is having trouble heating up?

derra · 31-05-2012 9:48pm

Have mine on a normal eGo battery at the moment which is 3.3v and 1.7 coil and i'm getting a very decent vape out of that using 6mg juice.

Getting a very smooth draw, the TH hits me a bit harsh which is the bit i don't like about it, decent amount of vapour.

Gonna do another one now with .15 Nichrome, 5 turns which should get me around the 2.4 Ohm mark.

Can't imagine i be hitting it at 5.7 v tbh.

newmark · 31-05-2012 9:56pm

Aaaaaagh....I'm reading all yer chat about coils and wicks and ohms and voltages and so on and I have nothing to make one for and would really like to.

The postman better bring the RTA tomorrow or I am going to have a terribly long non coil and wick making weekend! Sorry for butting in I just had to get that off my chest

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar · 31-05-2012 9:57pm

yeah, it should be around 12 watts but.. no way is this 12 watts

like.. the vape im getting at 5.7 is roundabout the vape I want, but i should be getting it around 4-7-5v, the fact that I have to push it so high is real strange

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar · 31-05-2012 9:58pm

newmark wrote: »

Aaaaaagh....I'm reading all yer chat about coils and wicks and ohms and voltages and so on and I have nothing to make one for and would really like to.

The postman better bring the RTA tomorrow or I am going to have a terribly long non coil and wick making weekend! Sorry for butting in I just had to get that off my chest

you're gona be fiddling with mesh wicks, whole other world of pain

Green Hornet · 31-05-2012 10:10pm

It's kind of addictive. Trying small differences in resistance, longer or shorter wicks, different wick materials, different wire and on and on and on..........and only costs cents!!

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar · 31-05-2012 10:43pm

Green Hornet wrote: »

It's kind of addictive. Trying small differences in resistance, longer or shorter wicks, different wick materials, different wire and on and on and on..........and only costs cents!!

yeah one of these days i'm going to go longer than a day without tearing it all apart and starting all over again...

newmark · 31-05-2012 10:45pm

SDCC Sounds to me that the mod is struggling to heat up too much juice with the 4 wicks as its gonna take twice the power to heat up the amount of juice that's in 4. did you try it out on the lavatube as well at 5.8volts to see if its the same?

derra · 31-05-2012 10:47pm

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar wrote: »

yeah, it should be around 12 watts but.. no way is this 12 watts

like.. the vape im getting at 5.7 is roundabout the vape I want, but i should be getting it around 4-7-5v, the fact that I have to push it so high is real strange

Done a 5 turn coil with .15 Nichrome which came out at 2.2 Ohms, 4.2 on the twist and i still get that little harshness of a TH.

No matter what way i do it i get that so will just accept that's what it is for now with the RDA.

I'll send you the a2 on Tuesday set up and ready to use.
Not risking it being lost in some sorting office over the long weekend

Maybe it's that you just need to try another repairable, something to compare with. I don't know tbh.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar · 31-05-2012 10:48pm

newmark wrote: »

SDCC Sounds to me that the mod is struggling to heat up too much juice with the 4 wicks as its gonna take twice the power to heat up the amount of juice that's in 4. did you try it out on the lavatube as well at 5.8volts to see if its the same?

no, LT batts aren't charged and i cba waiting five hours for them to charge

I tested the voltage under load with the meter though so it's definitely hitting the voltage it says it is, or near enough to it anyway. reads 5.7v is hitting 5.5v according to meter

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar · 31-05-2012 10:51pm

derra wrote: »

Done a 5 turn coil with .15 Nichrome which came out at 2.2 Ohms, 4.2 on the twist and i still get that little harshness of a TH.

No matter what way i do it i get that so will just accept that's what it is for now with the RDA.

I'll send you the a2 on Tuesday set up and ready to use.
Not risking it being lost in some sorting office over the long weekend

Maybe it's that you just need to try another repairable, something to compare with. I don't know tbh.

i know what you mean about the harshness, i was getting that too wheni was hitting the 2ish ohm coils around 3.7v and i was loving it

great little bite at the back of the throat on the inhale, especially with the PG liqua tobaccos

it's the warmth more than anything I think that's puzzling me about this.. 2.5ohm coild at 5.7V should be uncomfortably warm and the flavour should be sickeningly overpowering or even burnt... it must be the 4 strands of wick keeping it too cool

Green Hornet · 31-05-2012 10:57pm

I'd say it will never be 'hot' though because of the chamber volume? Massive volume of air in there compared to a carto for instance. That volume probably acts like a 'buffer'.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar · 31-05-2012 10:58pm

aye, possibly.. the coil is still pretty damn close to your lips though, so the vapour doesnt have an awful lot of room to cool down

derra · 31-05-2012 11:01pm

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar wrote: »

i know what you mean about the harshness, i was getting that too wheni was hitting the 2ish ohm coils around 3.7v and i was loving it great little bite at the back of the throat on the inhale, especially with the PG liqua tobaccos

it's the warmth more than anything I think that's puzzling me about this.. 2.5ohm coild at 5.7V should be uncomfortably warm and the flavour should be sickeningly overpowering or even burnt... it must be the 4 strands of wick keeping it too cool

I'd prefer to have that bite a little softer, smoother transition betwen the inhale and exhale. Thinking about making the air hole a little bigger for a more airy draw.

Could be the 4 strands, but no matter what i have done, 2,3 or 4 i always get a warm vape around 8 watts.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar · 31-05-2012 11:06pm

let me know how you do with the airhole.. the draw on one of my rdas is kinda uncomfortably tight sometimes. feel like i'm having to work at the vape.. maybe I'll pm clockworks for a replacement ally tube and fiddle with the airhole on that one so I dont break anything

newmark · 31-05-2012 11:08pm

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar wrote: »

you're gona be fiddling with mesh wicks, whole other world of pain

Yes but they are fun making them, one of the lads in UKvapers forum sent me some instructions by pm down to the exact size etc on how to do the U mesh wick for the rta so I'm looking forward to trying it out. He uses the particular setup he gave me and reckons it works better than the hellfire mini so hopefully I'll get it right.

derra · 31-05-2012 11:12pm

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar wrote: »

let me know how you do with the airhole.. the draw on one of my rdas is kinda uncomfortably tight sometimes. feel like i'm having to work at the vape.. maybe I'll pm clockworks for a replacement ally tube and fiddle with the airhole on that one so I dont break anything

Switch the case first and see if still the same making sure air hole is in same position from the one that is working ok.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar · 31-05-2012 11:17pm

yeah ill give it a shot tomorrow

anyone else notice their airhole moving slightly?

if I plop it on at whatever spot when I first make the coil, half an hour later it has moved slightly to the right so I'm having to guess how far its going to move and then when i'm fitting it the first time put it on in the wrong place.. hoping it'll adjust itsdelf to the right place when it moves itself

derra · 31-05-2012 11:21pm

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar wrote: »

yeah ill give it a shot tomorrow

anyone else notice their airhole moving slightly?

if I plop it on at whatever spot when I first make the coil, half an hour later it has moved slightly to the right so I'm having to guess how far its going to move and then when i'm fitting it the first time put it on in the wrong place.. hoping it'll adjust itsdelf to the right place when it moves itself

Don't think that should be happening at all

and if it is then the performance changes as you use it.
Hole should be in same position all the time.

Put a mark on the base directly underneath the airhole to make sure that it is.

Green Hornet · 01-06-2012 9:52am

The hole doesn't move on mine either.

On another note, I overfilled mine this morning so I put in another piece of wick to soak up the extra juice. It was a bit of a disaster though cos I got burnt taste pretty quickly. Looks like the wicks may have been competing for juice or something and the loose wick soaked up the juice while the other kinda dried out - even though they were both touching.

Quick wash and threw out the second wick and its back to normal again.

stevenmu · 01-06-2012 10:11am

I haven't had the air hole move, in fact I've tried moving it to experiment with positioning and found it very hard to do.

I have noticed juice coming out the hole sometimes, like was mentioned in the Bulli thread though.

Also, has anyone figured out an easy way to transport them when not in use? I wrapped it in a ton of tissue, even though I thought it was pretty much empty, but it still soaked right through (luckily not in my pocket).

Bubba9 · 01-06-2012 10:55am

stevenmu wrote: »

I haven't had the air hole move, in fact I've tried moving it to experiment with positioning and found it very hard to do.

I have noticed juice coming out the hole sometimes, like was mentioned in the Bulli thread though.

Also, has anyone figured out an easy way to transport them when not in use? I wrapped it in a ton of tissue, even though I thought it was pretty much empty, but it still soaked right through (luckily not in my pocket).

If juice comes out the air hole it probably means you've flooded it. A few stiff blows through the drip tip should sort it out.

Mine doesn't leave the house but I'd say you won't go wrong with a ziplock bag...those small ones you get from vendors...and maybe some cotton wool stuffed down the top.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar · 01-06-2012 11:02am

if you're taking it out and about itd probably be best to use a shorter length of wick and only put just enough drops in to vape at the time, although ive put mine in my pocket from time to time and had no leaking

about the airhole.. it only seems to happen on one of the rdas.. its not that big a deal now that I know it happens as I just place the hole slightly to the left and it adjusts itself into the correct position.. and then never moves again, was just wondering if it was common enough or just me

Green Hornet · 01-06-2012 3:03pm

Okay, I've tried 3 more coils uisng Andre's wick and wire. For some reason they are all giving me that burnt taste pretty quickly. I think it's my own fault cos I'm not winding them tight enough? I just seem to struggle to get it right with them cos they are kind of hard or something.

Anyway, just did up another using the stuff that came from Clockworks. That's giving me a beautiful vape. I find it much easier to get a good coil using this but I probably just need more practice with the other wicking material.

I have plenty of both, in particular Andrei's stuff. I'd like to get a bit more of the Clockworks stuff but which of the wicks in the attached link is the same (or as close) as Clockworks stuff:

http://clockworks-cornwall.co.uk/

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar · 01-06-2012 3:25pm

im pretty sure it's the group buy wick and that wont be happening again
it was only possible because the crowd that made it were so close to where rawveg lived so he offered to do it but he's been very ill lately and most people who paid for the last group wick still havent received their wick 2-3 months later and he hasnt been online in a month or more

not saying anyone got scammed, people who paid for their wick will get it im sure.. but rawveg was the only person for whom it made sense to get and organise this wick and with his health problems he just can't do it, he's already said he wont be doing another one and that was before the current lack of news/wick from him.

whjat are you using as a splint? if the splint is too thick then no matter how tight you pull the wire around the wick, when you remove the splint it'll be sitting too loose. if you have any sharp needles from a syringe for refilling tanks or something, use that as the splint and pull the wire pretty damn tight when you're making the coil.. when you pull the splint out the wire should be tight enough that its making good contact but still not strangling the wick

Green Hornet · 01-06-2012 3:53pm

I'm using a paper clip. Whats even more annoying is that I couldn't do a bad one last week!!

I might try to get a syringe and have another go over the weekend.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar · 01-06-2012 3:56pm

ah yeah i was using a paperclip when i first started and really it is too thick
the group buy wick is so fluffy you can get away with it but there's not much room for manouvering with andreis stuff but it does perform better and doesn't melt under heat so you can dry burn it if you need to clean the coil

derra uses a sewing needle, maybe you'd have less funny looks if you went into town to get one of them

Green Hornet · 01-06-2012 4:00pm

I think you're right. The group buy stuff is fluffy alright and it's easy enough to use it. Andre's stuff is not fluffy at all and probably just requires a bit more care.

stevenmu · 01-06-2012 4:14pm

Bubba9 wrote: »

If juice comes out the air hole it probably means you've flooded it. A few stiff blows through the drip tip should sort it out.

Mine doesn't leave the house but I'd say you won't go wrong with a ziplock bag...those small ones you get from vendors...and maybe some cotton wool stuffed down the top.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar wrote: »

if you're taking it out and about itd probably be best to use a shorter length of wick and only put just enough drops in to vape at the time, although ive put mine in my pocket from time to time and had no leaking

Yeah, I think I'm just being greedy and putting in way too much juice. I'd put in 15-20 drops, which it handles great, but then I'd do it again long before I'd run out, so it was probably building up to quite a lot. I haven't topped it up for hours now and it's vaping great so obviously I'd a ton of liquid built up

derra · 01-06-2012 5:20pm

stevenmu wrote: »

I haven't had the air hole move, in fact I've tried moving it to experiment with positioning and found it very hard to do.

As well as everything else, the air hole is hugely important to the way these things work.

The a2 comes in stainless steel and aluminium.

The case(tube) screws onto the base, in the SS version the position of the air hole will never change and once ya have wick and wire done properly it will do it's job.

In the aluminium version ,the threads wear down and the air hole rotates to different positions, when the hole is not centred across from the wick and wire ,the vape is very harsh with little vapour.

The RDA should of had a mark on the base to indicate the best position to align the case.
Fair enough, he says 11 o clock when looking at the outer terminal which is at 9 but i don't think it's the best position or maybe i'm not using the best wick and wire setup.

Best thing to do probably is mark several points around the base and try them all out. Most likely it will be somewhere in front of the coil.

The case on mine is a fúcker to get off :rolleyes:

derra · 01-06-2012 5:36pm

Green Hornet wrote: »

I think you're right. The group buy stuff is fluffy alright and it's easy enough to use it. Andre's stuff is not fluffy at all and probably just requires a bit more care.

The group buy stuff melts, it's not ideal for vaping. There are loads of loose strands in that stuff. It's more than vapour coming off it imo.
Do a coil with it, dry burn and it will melt under the coil. It must be wet at all times for that not to happen.
But the juice accumulates on the coil, so ya will have to take off the case and be careful in cleaning it each time.
When it's sold ya get loads but it works out better buying quality wick.
Less is more sometimes.

The stuff Andrei seems ideal from the sample i got, though i do prefer the stuff he was selling first and Bulli wick. That's probably down to the juice i use regarding the taste of the wick.
All 3 wick brilliantly and you can dry burn the stuff bringing it up new again.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar · 01-06-2012 5:42pm

doesnt he still sell the old wick?
i think he had some the last time I got some wick from him, but I opted for the new stuff as it was a fiver cheaper

derra · 01-06-2012 5:53pm

Yeah he had some left, got some off him couple weeks ago.
I got a slight taste off the other stuff but as i said it's probably the juice i use mostly.
Ya just know if ya like something or not, same with anything.

He got a lot of the ortmann stuff before too, but he threw it out as it was crap.
Good to know he aims to sell quality wick.

Green Hornet · 01-06-2012 11:28pm

I see Andrei is selling wick over on ukvapers as well. Getting good reviews too.

I didn't know that you could dry burn these things. I thought when wick got burned it was essentially finished?

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar · 01-06-2012 11:58pm

next time you change your coil, if the one you're taking out is all black under the wire

(wipe off some of the excess juice first unless you want to burn your fingers)

take a lighter under the coil, at the black bits of the wick.. and keep it there until the wick glows red.. when you take the lighter away and it stops glowing red it will be clean, you cant od this with the group buy stuff afaik

you can do this with dry burning too.. keep powering the coil until it glows red and thewick pops on fire for a second.. blow the fire out and it should be clean under the coil (take the top and body off the rda before you do this)

i can always get the bit under the coil clean but the wick under the turns of wire that are screwed into the post stay black.. i dont know if it affects the flavour much.. I change my coils and wick so often that I dont get the chance to really see how time affects them

Green Hornet · 02-06-2012 12:56pm

Based on what ye were saying I decided to try another using Andrei's wick. The one using the Clockworks wick was working great but thought I'd practice anyway!

I did a couple of extra turns and unwound a couple afterwards. Came out real nice and even across the coil. I cut back on the amount of wick I was using as well.

Much better all round. Think my wick might have been too long before. Might be feeding juice quicker now? Seemed to struggle with the feed a bit when the wick was longer.

Edit: After a few toots, the burnt taste started coming back again unless I let it soak for a little spell. When I fired it with the top off I could see it drying out real quickly.

Did up yet another one using 3 strands. 5 turns. Big increase in vapour and flavour. Chain vaped to see would it dry out but it maintained performance. Found it easier to make the coil too.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar · 02-06-2012 10:04pm

i always found 2 strands enough when vaping at lower voltages but *shrug*
so many variables, hard to know what either of us is doing

decided to experiment today with the spacing of the turns on the coil... almost out of wick now and i've completely forgotten what my "good" setup was .. feeling like **** cos ive been vaping so much for the past few hours.. gonna leave it for a while and try again later

Green Hornet · 02-06-2012 10:40pm

Dunno but the 2 strands were drying out very quickly anyway. Maybe I had them too tight? Who the hell knows!

The 3 is working a treat anyway. Huge vapour. Havent a clue what ohms I have cos multimeter is in work.

Found it much easier to make the coil using 3 strands and winding a couple of extra turns then unwinding. I was actually wondering about the spacing this evening myself too.

I can shoot you off some wick on Monday if you're short?

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar · 02-06-2012 10:56pm

nah yer alright
i have enough left for a good few coils its just at the rate I was rebuilding them I am gona run out soon

I'll still be able to vape whatever coil I end up making as my last until I get more next week from andrei

I got the perfect vape there earlier.. quite a bit better than what I was previously very happy with.. but to get it I have to put the coils just about right beside each other.. it tastes amazing but the wick was burnt to **** in the space of ten minutes

i dont know if that's bad or not.. I dont like to see it anyway

derra · 03-06-2012 12:23pm

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar wrote: »

it tastes amazing but the wick was burnt to **** in the space of ten minutes

i dont know if that's bad or not.. I dont like to see it anyway

If your vaping constantly like every 10 minutes or so, you should be probably getting about 5 days out of the wick.

If your firing up at 5+v with .20 wire that will probably contribute to it falling apart. Need to be using suitable wire (.12/13) with that i'd imagine.

Sounds like it's not wicking fast enough either.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar · 03-06-2012 12:36pm

thhe .20 works fine if the coils are evenly spaced, its when I coil them tight together they get singed (at least with the 4 strands)

the problem is I much prefer the flavour when they're coiled tightly together.. tried it with some .13 and it singed the same as the .20.. I dont think there's any way around it tbh. with the wire that tightly packed the heat on the wick at that point would be pretty immense

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar · 03-06-2012 12:53pm

so...derra
when you said a few days/pages back was I sure I was using .20 nichrome...
i think you might have been right

I just got some .20 nichrome from andrei and this **** is *so* much thicker compared to the .20 nichrome I had before.. unless andrei sent me some kanthal or something by mistake

six turns or thereabouts with 4 strands of wick is giving me roughly 1.5-1.6ohms

i wonder wtf wire the other ".20" I have is

--edit

i think it's .13
i measured roughly equivelant lengths of wire from the .13 and .15 I have and compared to the supposed .20 and it measured out pretty similar to the .13.. was kinda similar to the .15 too but they're similar enough in size that I guess it wouldnt be a huge difference and I was a bit fast and loose with the distance between the meter connectors as it's a pain in the balls trying to get them seated properly on a piece of loose wire

it also looks a bit thinner than the .15 I got from andrei so .13 is looking the most likely

this does explain a few things

Repairable Dripping Atomiser (RDA)

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