Tests and Reviews: Gear RTA by OFRF ~ The Vapelier

Commercial characteristics

Sponsor having loaned the product for the magazine: The Little Vapoteur
Price of the tested product: 28.90 €
Product category based on sales price: Entry level (from 1 to 35 €)
Atomizer type: Classic rebuildable
Number of resistances allowed: 1
Resistance Type: Classic Reconstructible, Classic Reconstructible Temperature Control
Type of wicks supported: Cotton, Cotton Blend, Fiber
Quantity in milliliters announced by the manufacturer: 3.5

Reviewer comments on business characteristics

OFRF is a young Chinese company based, of course, in Shenzhen, whose main and foremost single production (apart from the nexMESH coil) is a rebuildable single coil coil atomizer. It has been proposed several versions since October 2018 (for the Asian markets and the USA).

The Little Vapoteur We imported the latest series, available in six different colors. Available at the time when I write this test at the price of 28,90 €, they are cheaper than at Fasttech (without the wait and with service), it is to say to you if you should not buy it elsewhere.

Another RTA you tell me, not even 22 to flush on my tubes and barely 3,5ml maximum capacity…. Pfffff! It's misery for the vape grandpas!
Certainly, I answer you, but wait to go around the question and you will see that this little ato is very interesting, it's gone for the visit.

Physical characteristics and felt quality

Width or Diameter of the product in mm: 24
Length or height of the product in mm as sold but without its drip-tip if it is present, and regardless of the length of the connection: 24.75
Weight in grams of the product as sold, with its drip-tip if it is present: 35
Product Components: Stainless Steel, Gold, Delrin, Pyrex, Stainless Steel grade 304
Type of Form Factor: Diver
Number of component parts without screws and washers: 6
Number of threads: 3
Quality of the threads: Very good
Number of O-rings, Drip-Tip excluded: 4
Quality of O-rings present: Good
O-ring positions: Drip-Tip Connection, Top Cap - Tank, Bottom Cap - Tank
Capacity in milliliters actually usable: 3.5
Overall, do you appreciate the quality of manufacture of this product with regard to its price? Yes

Vapelier's note on quality feelings: 4.9 / 5

Reviewer's comments on physical characteristics and perceived quality

For a weight (coil mounted) of 36g, it measures, with its drip-tip, not counting the 510 connection: 32,75mm high, (24,75mm without drip-tip). You will find here and there other values of dimensions, either they are not the same versions, or the guys do not know how to read on a caliper.
This ato is not a regular cylinder, here are its remarkable diameters.

At the base ø = 24mm - Top of the airflow adjustment ring ø = 25mm - Bottom of the tank (bubble) ø = 24mm - maximum diameter of the tank bubble = 27mm - diameter of the right cylindrical tank = 24mm (12 glass thickness / 10^e) - maximum diameter of the top cap = 25,2mm - minimum diameter of the top cap = 23,2mm.

The main material of manufacture is stainless steel SS 304. The tanks supplied in glass are respectively 2ml for the cylinder and 3,5ml for the bubble (considering the volume occupied by the bell and the chimney, the given volumes are those remaining useful).

Two air intake vents are located at the bottom of the base, each of them offering 10 X 1,5mm opening possible.

The 510 connection is adjustable and gold plated, which does not improve its conductivity value but avoids the oxidation of contacts, it is a good initiative that is becoming widespread, as for the positive pins of resistors or mounting stations.

The fixed part of the top cap (with adjoining chimney and bell) is equipped with two 3,6mm fill lights wide on a good length of arc, one can fill the ladle (almost).

The atomizer consists of six main parts, not counting the hoses (positive pin insulator and O-rings) and the resistive clamping screws, note that the airflow adjustment ring is not removed in the photo.

Functional features

Connection type: 510
Adjustable positive stud? Yes, through an adjustment by thread, the assembly will be flush in all cases.
Presence of air flow regulation? Yes, and variable
Diameter in mm maximum of the air regulation possible: 9.1
Minimum diameter in mm of the air regulation possible: 0.1
Positioning of the air regulation: Positioning of the air regulation adjustable effectively
Atomization chamber type: Bell type
Heat dissipation of the product: Excellent

Reviewer's comments on functional features

Functional characteristics can be summed up quite simply, starting with top cap filling (once completely unscrewed). The mounting plate of the base is intended to equip the atomizer with a simple coil rather flat (ribbon type) but it is suitable for conventional resistives or braided.
Four screws allow mounting regardless of the direction of your winding, the clamping tabs at the bottom. The screws are designed to tighten without cutting the wire, the heads have a flat footprint.
Le RTA Gear is a bottom coil, whose air inlet is central, under the coil and 6mm in diameter.

Below are the adjustable vents with a ring that allows an opening of 2 X 10 X 1,5mm and a total closure (which we will talk about the utility lower). This ring is easily removed, it slides in an arc defined by a stop stop stroke, 2 O-rings ensure its maintenance and friction enough not to go wrong.

Note finally that the positive pin can be adjusted but I do not think it is worth it to touch (except for a total disassembly for a complete cleaning). The insulator of the positive pine is in Peek, the mark specifies that it is a piece imported from Germany ...

The sealing is ensured by six different silicone O-rings (black or translucent) distributed as follows: at the top and bottom junction of the tank (2 joints), in top-cap junction and receiving part with the chimney (1 joint), in top junction of the chimney and the top cap (1 seal), finally on the drip-tip for its maintenance (2 joints).
It is completely disassembled for the big cleaning, just take care not to dip the flexible parts (O-rings) in too hot water.

Drip-Tip Features

Drip tip type: 510 Only
Presence of a Drip-Tip? Yes, the vaper can immediately use the product
Length and type of drip-tip present: Short
Quality of the drip-tip present: Very good

Reviewer's comments on the Drip-Tip

The provided drip-tips are of the same general shape but differ in their color on the one hand and the diameter of the useful aperture.

The black is 5mm against 6mm for the translucent, it is also less flared at the output.
They are made of POM * shaped asymmetric diabolo and exceed only 8mm of the top cap. Rather pleasant in the mouth, they are firmly held by their 510 tip and the two O-rings.

* POM: Polyoxymethylene (or polyformaldehyde or polyacetal), acronym POM.

Thanks to its structure and high crystallinity, POM offers very good physical characteristics:

High tensile and impact resistance;
Excellent resistance to fatigue;
Very good resistance to chemical agents;
Excellent dimensional stability;
Good electrical insulation characteristics;
Good creep resistance;
Low coefficient of friction and very good abrasion resistance;
Wide operating temperature range.

Dupont de Nemours marketed the first POM, under the name of Delrin in 1959 (Wikipedia source)

Let's go to the package provided.

Evaluation of the packaging

Presence of a box accompanying the product: Yes
Would you say that the packaging is up to the price of the product? Yes
Presence of a user manual? Yes
Is the manual understandable for a non-English speaker? Yes
Does the manual explain ALL features? Yes

Vapelier's note on packaging: 5 / 5

Reviewer's comments on conditioning

Le RTA Gear comes to you in a cardboard box, itself inserted in a "drawer" frame with a lid closed by a thin transparent plastic which allows you to see the ato from above. An authenticity verification code is present on one side of the box

Inside, perfectly protected by a pre-drilled semi-rigid foam, are the atomizer, a straight cylindrical tank and two drip-tips.
Under this foam, several pouches containing two Ni 80 coils, two cotton capillaries, a flat screwdriver, O-rings (2 complete sets of different colors), 4 spare screws as well as a spare positive pin.
Accompanying this material, a detailed explanatory note with photos and in French should allow you to properly use your acquisition, even though (but I dare to think) you will not have taken the time to read this review.

A truly complete package, as shown in the illustration below.

Appreciations in use

Transport facilities with mod of test configuration: Ok for an inside jacket pocket (no deformations)
Disassembly and cleaning facilities: Easy but requires a workspace
Filling facilities: Easy, even standing in the street
Easy to change resistors: Easy but requires a workspace to lose nothing
Is it possible to use this product throughout the day with several vials of E-Juice? It will take a little juggling but it is doable
Was there leak after one day of use? No

Vapelier's note on ease of use: 3.5 / 5

Reviewer's comments on the use of the product

Before going to the vape as such, I will address another technical aspect that will concern the design of this ato and more particularly its assembly. You will see two lights (grooves) on either side of the tray, in which you will have to insert the "mustaches" of your capillary (in this case the cotton provided). Let's look at how the case is presented to understand the logic of the designers and adapt our assembly.

All around the plateau you can see a circular ditch and two arches a little deeper at the lights. This is how the juice comes in contact with your cotton. The liquid supply will therefore depend on the amount of cotton soaked and its starting volume will depend on the absence of leakage always desirable.

Once your resistance is tight, you will find that the cotton supplied is rather densely thick, enough to present some threading difficulties, print it with twists keeping the end tightly between your fingers, to help it slide and to position without distorting the coil.

At this point, you will have to decide the size of the diving parts. The depth of the openings is 8mm up to the top edge, to which we will add 4mm of elbow until the entry of the resistance. The minimum mustache size on either side of your mount will be 12mm.
The delicate phase is to get the cotton into the lights without "crumpling" it, a small flat screwdriver will make a good tool to get there without worry, just check that the cotton is not stuffing anywhere and that it has arrived. flare into its housings.

It is now that we can try the bouzin, by priming it with delicacy, parsimony and fingering, you can close the hatches and fill the ballast. In this regard, do not forget to close the airholes (vents) before filling, and to reopen the ato upside down, after refueling, reliving the top cap, the air has tablet and just ask to take the juice with him to an exit (you follow?), hence the good idea to be able to completely close the airflows.

The resistance used is a wrapped clapton (wrapped around a soul) flat 3mm wide, it is given for 0,33Ω to a hair close, especially as you go, either add a half-turn or remove it, to perform positioning and tightening, (the legs are parallel to the factory and it is not suitable for mounting). For this test I have 5 turns, the box Shikra (rather precise) displays it to 0,36Ω.

With a greedy tobacco in 50/50 I started cushy at 30W, as I could refer to the rendering of the same juice with the True (Ehpro) in MTL, I quickly felt the difference. Airholes open to 2/3 the vape is lukewarm cold but much more successful in taste quality than in MTL, at 40W it is obvious. The power expressed is bluffing, I will review this juice with this ato. The feeling improved with the increase in temperature, it was still around 50W that I had to stop the progression, the risk of dry hit becoming certain.

For a more meaningful experience, I will use “my” juice, a rather generously proportioned fresh fruity 30/70 (around 18%) at 3mg / ml of nicotine, same coil cleaned, cotton changed. For comparison, I have at my disposal the Wasp Nano (Oumier) at 0,3Ω and the SKRR (Vaporesso) with a mesh resistance at 0,15Ω, already coiled for this juice.
I started 40W airholes open thoroughly, I took a good slap, this ato approaches very close to a good dripper, the flavors are accurate, the vape is cold if you shoot good free long enough puffs (5 seconds), it does not heat in the long run, without chain vape either.
No dry hit, a very honorable steam production.

At 50W my juice is not suitable for a hot vape, I cut short the experience but without observing any noticeable change in taste or overheating of the cotton.
Consumption is comparable to Wasp Nano, except that with 3,5ml reserve, we do not have to reload all 5 puffs, under test condition (vape supported) 3,5ml lasted almost 2h 30.
At the end of the tank, for lack of habit and to push the experience further, while the juice level was no longer visible since 3 puffs, I felt the dry hit coming a little too late. I am nevertheless completely conquered by this atomizer, it does not leak, it is discreet, perfectly machined, rather well designed, if we add to that a moderate price and a well supplied packaging, I see nothing to blame him.

Recommendations for use

What type of mod is it recommended to use this product with? Electronics AND Mechanics
With which mod model is it advisable to use this product? Tube in 24mm or more, small box like Rincoe Manto X
With which type of EJuice is it advisable to use this product? All liquids without problem
Description of the test configuration used: MC Clapton ribbon resistance - 0.36Ω - Cotton
Description of the ideal configuration with this product: Méca or box, sub-ohm or MTL - the choice is yours

was the product liked by the reviewer: Yes

Overall average of the Vapelier for this product: 4.5 / 5

The mood ticket of the reviewer

To conclude, the RTA Gear is an ideal material for all vapors, men, women, experienced or beginners, it is not complicated to put in service, provided that we meet some prerequisites which we quickly get used to. It allows a tight vape if necessary and rivals the good aerial drippers, both on the quality of the taste and on the production of steam. Just think of equipping yourself with some spare tanks, especially if like me, you have an exaggerated propensity to destroy them on any occasion.
I think that in the future we will have to count on the brand OFRFfor their first production they have set the bar qualitatively high, let us wish them the best, in the end we are all winners.

Good luck to all, see you soon.

(c) Copyright Le Vapelier SAS 2014 - Only full reproduction of this article is authorized - Any modification of any kind is totally prohibited and infringes the rights of this copyright.