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Finally found my perfect set up. Good or bad thing?

A bit of background..... I've been vaping for over a year now and it quickly became a hobby of sorts. I was spending a far bit of cash on high end stuff and really enjoyed the building aspect of it, I come from an electrical / electronic trade background so it was something I fell into easily.

Fast forward to now, I pretty much exclusively run a 18650 mech squonker with a KRMA rda with 3*28/36 alien coil. Every time I try to change things up these days, be it on a regulated or mech, dual coil or other single coil, round wire or more exotic builds, Im disappointed.

Now I'm not sure this is a good thing. I'm absolutely saving a ton of money, but I'm sort of not getting involved in the community any more, and I really wanted to keep this as more of a hobby, but it's starting to feel like just another habit, like morning coffee.
Anyone feel the same? Any thoughts?
 

fuseryder

Silver Contributor
Member For 4 Years
Member For 3 Years
A bit of background..... I've been vaping for over a year now and it quickly became a hobby of sorts. I was spending a far bit of cash on high end stuff and really enjoyed the building aspect of it, I come from an electrical / electronic trade background so it was something I fell into easily.

Fast forward to now, I pretty much exclusively run a 18650 mech squonker with a KRMA rda with 3*28/36 alien coil. Every time I try to change things up these days, be it on a regulated or mech, dual coil or other single coil, round wire or more exotic builds, Im disappointed.

Now I'm not sure this is a good thing. I'm absolutely saving a ton of money, but I'm sort of not getting involved in the community any more, and I really wanted to keep this as more of a hobby, but it's starting to feel like just another habit, like morning coffee.
Anyone feel the same? Any thoughts?
I think everyone has a go to setup, if mods and attys are starting to bore you I think you should look into juices and coil building. Plenty of other things to do with vaping in general to keep you busy.

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mkbkr1

Member For 4 Years
Same here, been Vaping about 5-6 years and using RTAs exclusively for most of it. Started with a Kanger subtank mini and went to the RBA deck after using the included .5 ohm coil. Never looked after that. I've used simple single wire coils, Clapton's, Fused Clapton's, Aliens, Stapled, Staggered Stapled, Helix, just about everything. Wire from kanthal to stainless to nichrome and combinations of those. These days I'm just happiest with a quad core Fused Clapton 28/38 N80 coil in my Serpent SMM. Easy on the batteries, good cloud production, and great flavor with my diy mixed berry vanilla custard.

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obijuan77

Silver Contributor
Member For 2 Years
I guess it could be a good time to get into DIY if you're not already. I mean with all this talk about flavor bans, etc. You will ALWAYS have something to do when you get into DIY. Single flavor testing anyone??
 

AndriaD

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A bit of background..... I've been vaping for over a year now and it quickly became a hobby of sorts. I was spending a far bit of cash on high end stuff and really enjoyed the building aspect of it, I come from an electrical / electronic trade background so it was something I fell into easily.

Fast forward to now, I pretty much exclusively run a 18650 mech squonker with a KRMA rda with 3*28/36 alien coil. Every time I try to change things up these days, be it on a regulated or mech, dual coil or other single coil, round wire or more exotic builds, Im disappointed.

Now I'm not sure this is a good thing. I'm absolutely saving a ton of money, but I'm sort of not getting involved in the community any more, and I really wanted to keep this as more of a hobby, but it's starting to feel like just another habit, like morning coffee.
Anyone feel the same? Any thoughts?

It's a very good thing to find your unicorn when it comes to vaping; it means that staying off cigarettes will remain easy for you. Just because you have a great setup doesn't mean you have to stop tinkering; I found my vape unicorn in 2015, but I've tried a lot of this and that since then -- TC vaping, squonking, several different atomizers (trying to get something I liked as well as my Achilles, which are no longer made or sold). Just recently I FINALLY found a new atomizer with a vape as good as the Achilles -- MIRACULOUS! It does have some drawbacks -- doesn't hold nearly as much, being the primary one. So now I have a reason to fiddle with squonking again, to see if i can make the Caiman v4 squonkable, which will make its small capacity irrelevant. But the hunt for another atty I liked as well as the Achilles, while dispiriting in the long stretches when it seemed like MtL RDAs were a thing of the past, was necessary... because what happens if something dire happens to my Achilles? I'd be seriously fucked!

You don't have to stop tinkering, and you certainly don't have to stop being part of the vape community -- there are always newbies to advise, memes to share, and good people here to talk with. Share you expertise with others! It's how vaping grew and grew and grew and... keeps on growing!!

Andria

ETA: Also -- you should keep buying new mods, maybe 1-2 every 6-12 months, because you know these things are TERRIBLY prone to "shit happens" -- and that means keeping up, more or less, with what's out there. Staying abreast of the lunatics in gov't is a good idea too, as they keep playing whackamole with vaping.
 
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It sounds crazy but the people telling me to keep buying stuff might be right.
I'm not interested in juice diy so I might get back into coil building. Actually looking at buying a Kennedy Vindicator 21700 and RDA because I've never owned any Kennedy gear so that might spark things up for a bit.
I've also seriously considered getting into building tube mods and machined plastic mods because I have a fair bit of experience using lathes and mills and have access to machines. Has anyone done anything similar?
 

EMusic

Gold Contributor
Member For 3 Years
Member For 2 Years
It sounds crazy but the people telling me to keep buying stuff might be right.
I'm not interested in juice diy so I might get back into coil building. Actually looking at buying a Kennedy Vindicator 21700 and RDA because I've never owned any Kennedy gear so that might spark things up for a bit.
I've also seriously considered getting into building tube mods and machined plastic mods because I have a fair bit of experience using lathes and mills and have access to machines. Has anyone done anything similar?
The Kennedy Vindicator 21700 is a beast. It immediately became my favorite vape of all that I own. If you haven’t tried a Kennedy yet it’s time!

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As to the original poster I have no solutions for you. If you no longer get much out of the hobby aspect of vaping it is what it is, I think. Vapes I buy may be similar to each other but I still love picking up a new mod. The only big change for me was no longer buying regulated mods - I only buy mech tubes now.
 

MannyScoot

Diamond Contributor
Member For 4 Years
This is my go to set up .... Because if I'm ever stranded out in the desert....... I can vape my Dick off........
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mach1ne

Gold Contributor
Member For 4 Years
i wanted to find my 'the one' setup for a while as well. as i learned more and tried new things i found there isnt one. i like clouds, flavor, stealth, mellow and hot as fook vapes at different times. i take a mtl setup to work so i dont bug anyone, or have to spend more than a few minutes getting a vape in (high nic). i like unregulated series in 30mm atomizers, and mellow squonker builds on single coil attys. there is a time and a place for everything imo. getting stuck thinking one thing is the best thing is a way to miss everything else.

I might get back into coil building
this is a good idea. you can sometimes transform your old hardware by using it differently (put your tube atomizer on a series box with a totally different build), or just by changing up the builds on the same mods. there is almost infinite experimentation to do with coil builds.
 

f1r3b1rd

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I see where you’re coming from...
been vaping for 7 years and it wasn’t until I got a provari/Kayfun combo that I thought I found the best setup ever..

2 years later, it was a dna30/aquav2 that I thought was then end all be all of vaping.

A few years after that, it was an sxmini/tugboat that was the best vape I’ve ever had.

A year or so later, it was a dna200/Petri that made me realize vaping couldn’t get any better.

Now... it’s a dna250c/goon or recoil that makes the best vape on the planet for me.

Albeit, I also use a few mech squonkers still; with a goon or a tugboat.

I think everyone has that ONE setup that we use a standard of comparison.

Most of us have a few different combos for different situations. I have the all day mod, the beater, and the grab and go (for running errands) and usually a backup for each.

When I start getting bored with gear I try to fight the shinyits and play with juice recipes or start looking at other exotic coils.

No matter what, there will always be a newer bigger better something out there.
 
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MannyScoot

Diamond Contributor
Member For 4 Years
i wanted to find my 'the one' setup for a while as well. as i learned more and tried new things i found there isnt one. i like clouds, flavor, stealth, mellow and hot as fook vapes at different times. i take a mtl setup to work so i dont bug anyone, or have to spend more than a few minutes getting a vape in (high nic). i like unregulated series in 30mm atomizers, and mellow squonker builds on single coil attys. there is a time and a place for everything imo. getting stuck thinking one thing is the best thing is a way to miss everything else.


this is a good idea. you can sometimes transform your old hardware by using it differently (put your tube atomizer on a series box with a totally different build), or just by changing up the builds on the same mods. there is almost infinite experimentation to do with coil builds.
Well you can have a stealth 250c lipo 4s power.... It fires .01 ohm builds....

And a long haul 41mm with juice reserve and (3) 18650......

I have some good ones..... That sometimes is hard to pick one.....

But the Boxer and the Titan would be the one from all of them.... Long life batteries..... Large capacity flavor and clouds......
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AndriaD

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I still where you’re coming from...
been vaping for 7 years and it wasn’t until I got a provari/Kayfun combo that I thought I found the best setup ever..
2 years later it was a dna30/aquav2 that I thought was then end all be all of vaping.
A few years after that it was an sxmini/tugboat that was the best vape I’ve ever had.
A year or so later it was a dna200/Petri that made me realize vaping couldn’t get any better.
Now... it’s a dna250c/goon or recoil that makes the best vape on the planet for me.
Albeit I also use a few mech squonkers it still with a goon or a tugboat.

I think everyone has that ONE setup that we use a standard of comparison. Most of us have a few different combos for different situations. I have the all day mod, the beater and the grab and go- and usually a backup for each.
When I start getting bored with gear I try to fight the shinyits and play with juice recipes or start looking at other exotic coils.
No matter what, there will always be a newer bigger better something out there.

I sort of agree with this; until I got the Achilles in summer of 2015, I thought the Kayfun Lite Plus was the best vape ever. But when I got the Achilles, I changed my tune, and it spoiled me so much that in 3 yrs' time, I've been unable to find anything else that was even half as good. Lately I got a Caiman v4 and the vape is every bit as good as the Achilles, especially since I further tightened the draw by putting a 16ga needle down the smallest of the internal-airhole nozzles... but unfortunately it only holds about 1.5ml, while I'm spoiled with the Achilles' 2.5ml. So I gotta see if I can make the caiman squonkable.

As for mods, I'm pretty easy to satisfy, given my extremely-low-wattage vaping; for a while I thought the Coolfire IV was the best ever, but it can only be adjusted in .5w increments, which is a damn big adjustment when you vape at <10w. So even though I have a half dozen CF4's of various versions, now the Sigelei Minibook is my favorite, and i have 4 of them -- red, black, and 2 white. Then I got an Aegis, the original 100w... and surprising as all hell, given how big it is, I really like it, it's very comfy in the hand. But I don't think it supplants the Minibooks as my fave. :D At least I'm used to holding a mod of that size now, so if I'm able to squonkify my Caimans, holding the Dripbox 160 won't seem like such a burden.

Andria
 

pulsevape

Diamond Contributor
Member For 4 Years
A bit of background..... I've been vaping for over a year now and it quickly became a hobby of sorts. I was spending a far bit of cash on high end stuff and really enjoyed the building aspect of it, I come from an electrical / electronic trade background so it was something I fell into easily.

Fast forward to now, I pretty much exclusively run a 18650 mech squonker with a KRMA rda with 3*28/36 alien coil. Every time I try to change things up these days, be it on a regulated or mech, dual coil or other single coil, round wire or more exotic builds, Im disappointed.

Now I'm not sure this is a good thing. I'm absolutely saving a ton of money, but I'm sort of not getting involved in the community any more, and I really wanted to keep this as more of a hobby, but it's starting to feel like just another habit, like morning coffee.
Anyone feel the same? Any thoughts?
nah dude you're good....you have just passed through the first stage of shinnyitis....I honestly have no idea of the number of atties I've bought and sold, chasing the unicorn of the perfect vape...eventually you find set ups that suit you down to the ground, and there is no reason to go around chasing every new and improved baubble they put out.....I still keep my hand in I still look at reviews I still listen to things people are saying about the new stuff...but I buy maybe ONE new atty a year...I vape maybe 4 different atties....and have maybe another 2 or 3 boxed away that I take out and build on occasion....but usually It's the Nextera and my Pulse G.....
 
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Ryedan

Silver Contributor
Member For 4 Years
A bit of background..... I've been vaping for over a year now and it quickly became a hobby of sorts. I was spending a far bit of cash on high end stuff and really enjoyed the building aspect of it, I come from an electrical / electronic trade background so it was something I fell into easily.

Fast forward to now, I pretty much exclusively run a 18650 mech squonker with a KRMA rda with 3*28/36 alien coil. Every time I try to change things up these days, be it on a regulated or mech, dual coil or other single coil, round wire or more exotic builds, Im disappointed.

Now I'm not sure this is a good thing. I'm absolutely saving a ton of money, but I'm sort of not getting involved in the community any more, and I really wanted to keep this as more of a hobby, but it's starting to feel like just another habit, like morning coffee.
Anyone feel the same? Any thoughts?

I hear ya ShadowMurloc. I switched to vaping in early 2012 and It's been a while since I've been too enthusiastic about anything new on the vape scene. I know what I like, and I have several of any piece of hardware in my favourites list :)

For me it's been the hobby side that has kept me involved in the vape sceen over the years. I like the techie side of it and got into regulated vaping and then TC vape hardware. I've also been making my own juices for a while.

Lately it seems a bit like I'm in a rut, but I've been there before and know this will pass if I hang in for a while. There is always something new to explore, you just have to keep an open mind and be open to new ideas.

In my opinion, enjoy your vape as it is now and keep an open mind to new stuff as it suits you. The vape scene is still changing slowly and who knows when something new will come along that will change the status quo :)
 

r055co

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Nothing to be down about, I've spent a fortune on Vape gear and have a respectable collection. For a few months now I find myself vaping 90% on my CC parallel squonker with the Reload X and one of my Vindicator tubes with the Kennedy two post. I still give my other gear some luv so they don't feel neglected but I've pretty much settled on this pair. Of course this is subject to change but also along the lines of buying gear I'm very, very selective these days.

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Letitia9

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I could happily vape on my Therion/Nano setups fot the rest of my life but I do miss the squirrel effect when it was all new to me. Now I just buy a new rta occasionally to change it up. Still end up with more Nanos than anything else in rotation.
 

zephyr

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A bit of background..... I've been vaping for over a year now and it quickly became a hobby of sorts. I was spending a far bit of cash on high end stuff and really enjoyed the building aspect of it, I come from an electrical / electronic trade background so it was something I fell into easily.

Fast forward to now, I pretty much exclusively run a 18650 mech squonker with a KRMA rda with 3*28/36 alien coil. Every time I try to change things up these days, be it on a regulated or mech, dual coil or other single coil, round wire or more exotic builds, Im disappointed.

Now I'm not sure this is a good thing. I'm absolutely saving a ton of money, but I'm sort of not getting involved in the community any more, and I really wanted to keep this as more of a hobby, but it's starting to feel like just another habit, like morning coffee.
Anyone feel the same? Any thoughts?


Try a MTL squonk - that may be the variety you need to spice it up

I find I can also enjoy different flavors that I wouldnt enjoy at all with big direct lung inhales

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Grandpa

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Member For 4 Years
I have a fair amount of different gear but at the end of the day they are basically all the same general setup. Juice, coils, etc. For me it works very well. I'm older so I guess I'm not as adventurous.
 

MannyScoot

Diamond Contributor
Member For 4 Years
I have a fair amount of different gear but at the end of the day they are basically all the same general setup. Juice, coils, etc. For me it works very well. I'm older so I guess I'm not as adventurous.
I'm just stocking up for the Vapeapocalypse.........

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Grandpa

Bronze Contributor
Member For 4 Years
I'm just stocking up for the Vapeapocalypse.........

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I get that. The do-gooders are bound to put their foot down sooner or later.

My main problem is shiney-itus. That'll get me quicker than anything, and it kind of pisses me off. I've got all this gear that basically does the same thing, yet I find myself looking at new stuff all the time. In my younger days it was fishing gear, shotguns, handguns, motorcycles, hot rod cars and other assorted afflictions. But not golf. I never caught that bug, thank doG.
 

MannyScoot

Diamond Contributor
Member For 4 Years
I get that. The do-gooders are bound to put their foot down sooner or later.

My main problem is shiney-itus. That'll get me quicker than anything, and it kind of pisses me off. I've got all this gear that basically does the same thing, yet I find myself looking at new stuff all the time. In my younger days it was fishing gear, shotguns, handguns, motorcycles, hot rod cars and other assorted afflictions. But not golf. I never caught that bug, thank doG.
Yeah with me is flashlights and vape gear..... Ha ha....
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DonBaldy

Platinum Contributor
Member For 4 Years
A bit of background..... I've been vaping for over a year now and it quickly became a hobby of sorts. I was spending a far bit of cash on high end stuff and really enjoyed the building aspect of it, I come from an electrical / electronic trade background so it was something I fell into easily.

Fast forward to now, I pretty much exclusively run a 18650 mech squonker with a KRMA rda with 3*28/36 alien coil. Every time I try to change things up these days, be it on a regulated or mech, dual coil or other single coil, round wire or more exotic builds, Im disappointed.

Now I'm not sure this is a good thing. I'm absolutely saving a ton of money, but I'm sort of not getting involved in the community any more, and I really wanted to keep this as more of a hobby, but it's starting to feel like just another habit, like morning coffee.
Anyone feel the same? Any thoughts?

Except for the time frame I could have written that same post. In fact I have written posts very similar.

Fast forward to the present. If I had a dime for every time I thought I had gotten over shineyitus and found my vape unicorn I could afford half the stuff Mannyscoot has or at least a few really nice Purge mods. I always seem to end up with one more RDA than I have mods. I'd like to say that I'm over my shineyitus but I now know better. It only lasts a little while.
 

susieqz

Silver Contributor
Member For 1 Year
Try a MTL squonk - that may be the variety you need to spice it up

I find I can also enjoy different flavors that I wouldnt enjoy at all with big direct lung inhales

could you please mention what flavors are better with mtl?
 

MannyScoot

Diamond Contributor
Member For 4 Years
Got tired of MTL and 1 battery Squonkers and juice on shit..... And juice everywhere and non sense.... pain.....

Too much for me.... I want a small mod with 5ml that weighs 90 grams..... With a 26650 140 grams ....

100 watts all day... With one battery..... And flavor for days with a great tank......

I know MTL and I know squonking believe....me

And this set up competes with the best....
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Some squonkers for the squonker lovers.........
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