Discontinued The RBT Milaana (unregulated single 18650)

[AhBeVapin]

Hey now,

ABv says, 'it's a keeper'.....but I'm still testing...

Got 6 sessions on a brand new battery. Battery was depleted to 3.55V as measured on my Efest LUC S2 charger.
I used the long stem 4 times and the short stem twice using my usual 30mg dose. The short stem sessions were actually dog walks outside at night (15C) Each time I felt the session was done, I loaded (later) the remainder in my Nano (no change to my usual temp setting or screen depth). Regarding the first three stems, got 1 1/2 to 2 'roasty' hits on the Nano, so I knew I could extract further. The last short stem (last night) I could not extract further on my Nano.
I feel like I'm on the right path with this vape. Documented combustion in posts above this worried me, so I may have been 'light' on the power button. However, I don't think I'll end up combusting with this unit & will 'lean' on the button longer on future sessions.
The Milaana (4 batteries) & my two Solos now greatly extend the time I can be 'off grid'.
Thanks to all for your posts on this device...IT'S AWESOME
ABv out

 

[Shit Snacks]

Are all the older units cold and slow?

Nope, Pak and I had early early beta units that were tuned slower/cooler (Krazy and a couple others too like Ed) and we told RBT to go hotter/faster for production. There were a few early units from that first run that were running cooler/slower, but they werent common at all and there can be slight variation as production became more consistent over time. Any units bought now or recently should be plenty hot/fast, that is the standard for all Milaana

Yes, mine is the earliest released although it arrived via Germany and took a few weeks so others had theirs before I ever saw mine. It was tuned cool for me since @RastaBuddhaTao knew I like lower temperature vapour.

I still think the dominant influence is technique and not heater tuning. If you pack tight large loads then you will get quite different battery life than you would with small loose loads. Likewise, if you did short sessions with lungbusters you'd get radically different battery performance than you would with one or two light vapour hits every half hour.

Right. So I definitely can get more bowls per battery on my newer hotter/faster beta, I also love the low temps flavor chasing, so it just means I hold the trigger much less than on the beta and as a result get improved battery life. Agreed it comes down to technique, it's trigger use and how you draw, but the way you pack is the other big variable (I know you like small bowls like me too). Good to see you back in here too btw

@6079Smith - Great photos. Thanks for posting them. Glad you are enjoying the way they work. Love how they fit log vapes, Milaanas, and also LSV.

@Bravesst - Thanks for posting photos of all the stems. Happy you like them. Has been fun making them.

@Skywalker OG - Thanks for the stem photos. Hope it works well for you.

@ZC - Nice stem photos. Glad you are enjoying them.

Recently discovered that one of the wires to the fake 18650 battery from my 10A DC converter w/ digital display had several broken strands, so I re-did the connection. What a difference it made. The Milaana heater will now glow much brighter than with a freshly charged battery. Have to be careful not to combust. Am also using a 12v 10A brick power supply.
I set the output voltage to 9. When the button is pushed, the voltage instantly drops to around 4.2 but quickly starts climbing back up to around 5 (where the heater glows bright). I start inhaling when the voltage gets to around 4.8 and am able to easily drag away all the heat that the heater can produce with a hard pull and maintain a voltage of around 4.7. The digital display provides the feedback to get precise temperature control through draw speed and initial start voltage. If the voltage starts dropping to 4.6, I slow down the draw until it is back up to around 4.7. The roast is very consistent and repeatable. The initial output voltage can be as high as 12, but only gets the heater hotter than it needs to be and risks combustion. 9 seems to be a good voltage to start for this DC converter unit. I like not having to rely on counting to know when it is time to begin drawing on the Milaana.

Was asked recently if I could make an 18mm x 14mm wooden adapter for the Milaana. Decided to give it a try. This one is made from tulip wood. The hole in the 14mm end is 3/8" for very good air flow. The 14mm end also works well for a mouthpiece if used as a shorty stem. May have to make more of them.

Stunning as usual Alan! Tulipwood is cool, I think those 18-14 stems will be very popular... Yes I still need to email you about a regular wooden shorty, I'm saving up for it

And cool stuff with the vvps, crazy going above 4.2v no wonder it glows bright, just gotta be carful with that excess heat as I'm sure you are. Also love that you have one of these, can't wait til Zion gets going so you can try that as well

 

[b0]

If anything I would guess that it would be your battery, but could also be your bowl size. If it were your unit, the power would have to be going somewhere else I believe, and unless your unit and cooper is always hot as hell, I can't see that being a thing. ... Has anyone had any battery super depleting units yet? Not sure.

I get easily 4 bowls, but my bowl is basket style at the brim packed about 3/4, so not a ton of herb.
How long are your preheats? Mine are about 0-2 seconds


I think pretty much most of the first rollouts were "colder" (not rly cold, just to clarify) than the ones being pumped out currently.

The first hit from cold is always 5 seconds preheat and 5 seconds holding, then I let it go and keep drawing, all of this with a slow draw. After the second it's usually 3 seconds preheat, 3 seconds holding. All of this using a fresh battery. I'm sure it's not the battery because I'm using new VTC 5's that I got yesterday and have been testing also with LG HG2 and Samsung25r. A lot of different ones.

Maybe the problem is the size of my bowls? I just weighted a normal bowl (not the small ones I do sometimes) and it's 0.07. With my regular short stem I use 2 screens from broken ELB's that I had around, one on the bottom (less particulates goes through than with the original one) and another small one on top (that way nothing falls in the heater) tamping the herb a bit, I have found that slightly packed vapes much better and I have to preheat less time. here you have a couple pictures of the bowl I'm gonna start:

I doubt that your unit is faulty. It is almost certainly your technique, which isn't faulty either, it just gives you different results from others. I'm not sure how you determine when your battery needs to be swapped, but it could be that you simply don't like waiting for the longer heat-up as they deplete. With my technique, two bowls result in the battery dropping to about 3.70 V at which point I swap. You can take the batteries a lot lower than this but I don't have the patience for the longer warm-up.

Yeah I don't have the patience for longer warm-up and usually change my battery aroun the 3.60 mark. I will do some testing with the bowl pictured and report back how many draws and how much battery I use.

Dont you have an older colder/slower unit though? After 2 bowls in my newer one I'd only be at like 4v or even above... Sounds like big bowls too @b0 so that makes sense, how many hits? Two ELBs worth is a lot, a full bowl for me is still only like half an elb probably, just filling the basket, so that's a big factor I expect

Not 100% sure about the 2 ELBs example. I usually fill my ELBs until 1/3rd so I thought that maybe it was double but I just weighted a bowl and its 0.07 so I guess I usually do something between that and 0.1 per bowl. Sometimes I do smaller quick ones, but it's usually through water. With this size I can't do more than 1 and a half bowl and most of the time I just do 1 and change the battery because it's between 3.65 and 3.8. My VTC5s are brand new and his first charge so I don't know if they will improve with a few more cycles.

I'm gonna do some testing tonight and report back with number of hits, preheating needed and use of battery with this bowl.

Even tho, this vape is amazing. I have to admit that I don't remember last time I used my EVO (and has been my favorite vape forever) and only use my FF2 for concentrates. The only other vape that I use everyday is my loved Omnivap, but if instead of 5 seconds I only needed 3 to preheat I would be happier for sure! But I don't know if that's posible

 

[ZC]

@b0

I believe using two screens like that takes a little more heating, since that first screen is going to absorb a lot of heat that doesn't make it to the herb.

 

[b0]

@b0

I believe using two screens like that takes a little more heating, since that first screen is going to absorb a lot of heat that doesn't make it to the herb.

I have thought about this too, but when I started using the Mi I didn't use that screen and it was the same. The ELBs are reaaally thin I don't think they can't absorb too much heat.

Will try that too in a fresh battery just to be sure and add it to my testing results.

Thanks to all for the help!

 

[Shit Snacks]

The first hit from cold is always 5 seconds preheat and 5 seconds holding, then I let it go and keep drawing, all of this with a slow draw. After the second it's usually 3 seconds preheat, 3 seconds holding. All of this using a fresh battery. I'm sure it's not the battery because I'm using new VTC 5's that I got yesterday and have been testing also with LG HG2 and Samsung25r. A lot of different ones.

Maybe the problem is the size of my bowls? I just weighted a normal bowl (not the small ones I do sometimes) and it's 0.07. With my regular short stem I use 2 screens from broken ELB's that I had around, one on the bottom (less particulates goes through than with the original one) and another small one on top (that way nothing falls in the heater) tamping the herb a bit, I have found that slightly packed vapes much better and I have to preheat less time. here you have a couple pictures of the bowl I'm gonna start:

Yeah I don't have the patience for longer warm-up and usually change my battery aroun the 3.60 mark. I will do some testing with the bowl pictured and report back how many draws and how much battery I use.



Not 100% sure about the 2 ELBs example. I usually fill my ELBs until 1/3rd so I thought that maybe it was double but I just weighted a bowl and its 0.07 so I guess I usually do something between that and 0.1 per bowl. Sometimes I do smaller quick ones, but it's usually through water. With this size I can't do more than 1 and a half bowl and most of the time I just do 1 and change the battery because it's between 3.65 and 3.8. My VTC5s are brand new and his first charge so I don't know if they will improve with a few more cycles.

I'm gonna do some testing tonight and report back with number of hits, preheating needed and use of battery with this bowl.

Even tho, this vape is amazing. I have to admit that I don't remember last time I used my EVO (and has been my favorite vape forever) and only use my FF2 for concentrates. The only other vape that I use everyday is my loved Omnivap, but if instead of 5 seconds I only needed 3 to preheat I would be happier for sure! But I don't know if that's posible

Yeah I don't know, I don't really preheat at all unless the battery is below 3.9v myself. Could be the second screen is robbing some heat from your load, could be closer to the heater without it too (screen basket style)

 

[mnicsy999]

My initial thoughts it's a very nice and a solid vaporizer. I was practicing with the longer stem last night. I have been keeping track of how much vaporizing time with the one battery that I have and it seemed like around 45 min of continual use added up over last night and today. Of course a lot of variables from person to person depending on their vaporizing habits. For me that was a total of 4 bowls.

I went to sleep earlier than usual last night because after 2 bowls I was ready for bed sooner. Also in a pretty sleepy medicated state.

I'm trying out the shorter stem today.

The Milaana is just a little shorter than the Enano.

Still trying to find my sweet spot. I am working on getting my technique down. I give a couple of stirs during my session. I am giving my load a slight pack.

How do you like the short stem in comparison to the long? (assuming you've tried it by now)

 

[ZC]

Fwiw I've always had to preheat even in successive hits.

 

[CarolKing]

@mnicsy999 I like the shorter stem as well as the longer one. I like the feel of the shorter stem being closer to the unit. I didn't think it was that much more harsh than the longer stem. I was surprised. It does get warmer but that's to be espected but not too warm to be uncomfortable.

I'm glad it was mentioned that the batteries take longer to heat the unit up when they are low. The flavor is great as long as I don't get the vapor too hot so it's harsh. I can't keep my finger on the trigger ha ha ha. I'm keeping ice water close by.

Using some Black Cherry Soda strain and the vapor is great as long as I don't get things too hot. Currently using the shorter stem.

 

[ZC]

New Mi arrived quickly from 420edc. Packed very well and all glass in-tact.

New Mi is definitely hotter than the old one. The heater screen is also deeper down, so some of the screens that didn't fit my old unit fit the new one.

Also nice to see the recessed glass and heater intake screen in person. It looks good, but I kinda prefer the non-recessed glass now that I'm looking at them both face-to-face.

The newer unit is about 2mm shorter than the old one, and the copper cap is as shiny as can be.

Taste is the same on both units. No glue smell, though the new unit clearly has a lot more visible glue. IIRC there was a mention of using more glue after a few users glass came unglued.

I also received the brown LG 3000mAH battery which I haven't tried yet. Sitting on the charger at 3.61.

At any rate, happy to have a backup now. Also nice to keep one in a different room.

 

[KeroZen]

Hey, I posted a quick update about the cheap USB Li-Ion chargers in this DIY section thread here: http://fuckcombustion.com/threads/usb-18650-charger-on-the-cheap.21811/#post-1029894

I'll just paraphrase for you tl:dr guys: the small plastic power bank appears to do a very reasonable job and you can get one for way under $1 shipped to your place. It's a great 1 Amp backup charger that works over USB and it's very handy when you can't bring your large dual or quad charger with you.

Just double-check your end voltages to ensure it's working properly and voila!

PS: I also ordered one of the constant voltage LED PSU's that I listed earlier, but I took the 7.5V one as I intend to use it for the Zion. Note that it could work with the Mi when adding an extra step-down regulator in-line. So far so good but I'll make a separate thread in the DIY section to document it later on.

 

[ZC]

@KeroZen

I wouldn't be surprised if it actually works well with the Mi. The cable from the regulator to the Mi lowers the resistance, so you tend to turn the voltage much higher than stock. It would be a hot Mi but it would likely work.

 

[KeroZen]

I might try it then. Those PSU's have a somewhat adjustable output voltage already, but not something you might want to change frequently (it's a very crappy plastic trimpot, the kind of which gets destroyed pretty fast by the screwdriver if you know what I mean!)

I'm considering making the fake cell / adapter using 3D printing. For now I'm experiencing with something hacked out of a piece of scrap wood I got laying around and... bloody alligator clips again haha. I'll keep you all informed of the progress!

Glad to see even more well-known VIP's from the forum boarding the RBT train! (@Vitolo, @CarolKing wink wink)

 

[AJS]

@mnicsy999 I like the shorter stem as well as the longer one. I like the feel of the shorter stem being closer to the unit. I didn't think it was that much more harsh than the longer stem. I was surprised. It does get warmer but that's to be espected but not too warm to be uncomfortable.

I'm glad it was mentioned that the batteries take longer to heat the unit up when they are low. The flavor is great as long as I don't get the vapor too hot so it's harsh. I can't keep my finger on the trigger ha ha ha. I'm keeping ice water close by.

Using some Black Cherry Soda strain and the vapor is great as long as I don't get things too hot. Currently using the shorter stem.

If you can tolerate it, a faster draw (or increasingly faster as the hit goes on) can keep the temp down without having to baby the trigger. I, personally, with the shorter stem, cannot tolerate too fast of an inhale because the heat hits me too fast, but it is a great way for huge, flavorful hits while keeping the temp down. If you wait too long before you speed up your draw, careful, as the cloud will be massive

The first hit from cold is always 5 seconds preheat and 5 seconds holding, then I let it go and keep drawing, all of this with a slow draw. After the second it's usually 3 seconds preheat, 3 seconds holding. All of this using a fresh battery. I'm sure it's not the battery because I'm using new VTC 5's that I got yesterday and have been testing also with LG HG2 and Samsung25r. A lot of different ones.

Maybe the problem is the size of my bowls? I just weighted a normal bowl (not the small ones I do sometimes) and it's 0.07. With my regular short stem I use 2 screens from broken ELB's that I had around, one on the bottom (less particulates goes through than with the original one) and another small one on top (that way nothing falls in the heater) tamping the herb a bit, I have found that slightly packed vapes much better and I have to preheat less time. here you have a couple pictures of the bowl I'm gonna start:

Yeah I don't have the patience for longer warm-up and usually change my battery aroun the 3.60 mark. I will do some testing with the bowl pictured and report back how many draws and how much battery I use.



Not 100% sure about the 2 ELBs example. I usually fill my ELBs until 1/3rd so I thought that maybe it was double but I just weighted a bowl and its 0.07 so I guess I usually do something between that and 0.1 per bowl. Sometimes I do smaller quick ones, but it's usually through water. With this size I can't do more than 1 and a half bowl and most of the time I just do 1 and change the battery because it's between 3.65 and 3.8. My VTC5s are brand new and his first charge so I don't know if they will improve with a few more cycles.

I'm gonna do some testing tonight and report back with number of hits, preheating needed and use of battery with this bowl.

Even tho, this vape is amazing. I have to admit that I don't remember last time I used my EVO (and has been my favorite vape forever) and only use my FF2 for concentrates. The only other vape that I use everyday is my loved Omnivap, but if instead of 5 seconds I only needed 3 to preheat I would be happier for sure! But I don't know if that's posible

That's a long preheat compared to what I'm used to. That's what I was doing for my (now backup) older unit...my newer one I can rip almost right after the button is pressed.

Edit: just threw my batt on the charger. After 3 small basket sessions today, I was at 3.89.

 

[ZC]

it's a very crappy plastic trimpot, the kind of which gets destroyed pretty fast by the screwdriver if you know what I mean!

At about 4:08 in this build they show a way to replace your trim pot with a proper volume knob potentiometer. 17:23 is where he calibrates it.

 

[Skywalker OG]

Found an 18-14mm adapter that fits my Milaana and have been experimenting with water. Works great! Last time I tried was when I first got the Milaana and I didn't have much luck.

This was with terrible weed on the third hit of a pretty large bowl. No pre-heat. I'm sure I'll be able to make it a little cloudier when I get more used to it but not bad for my first try in a long time I don't think.

 

[b0]

@pakalolo @Shit Snacks @AJS I vaped that bowl yesterday and to be honest I'm gonna send an email to @RastaBuddhaTao because after reading how your units works I think mine is running a bit on the cold side.

To finish that bowl I had 20 draws, I know I could have done it in less but I wanted to use similar pre-heatings. I did a first hit with a 5 seconds preheat+5 seconds while hitting it and then let the button go, after it I took another 4 with a 3sec preheating+3 seconds while heating. This resulted in amazing low temp vapor with an amazing flavor. After 5 minutes with a cold unit I did exactly the same process. After this first 10 hits I took the stem out to check the meds.

Light yellow and green, I stir (It didn't need it really) and go back. This time 7sec pre-heating + 7 on first hit and 4sec+4 in the next four hits. Really whispy vapor, needed more preheating. Retry after letting the unit cool and stirring with 7sec+7 on first hit and 5sec+5 on the next 4. Still wispy vapor but the bowl is done for sure.

Battery is on 3.88V. IMO too low after just one bowl and I needed to much preheating, don't you think guys?

After this I did a small bowl (less than 0.05) with the screen in basket style and another without screen and both were finished in 5-6 hits with a new fresh battery so I think the screen doesn't make an apreciable difference.

Thanks for the help!

 

[pandaphysics]

Bo my unit is similarly cold to yours. 2 bowls a battery and im down to 3.75V. I usually need 5-10 sec preheat depending on how warm the unit is. I've been tempted to send it in but I feel bad since it works.

 

[Vitolo]

My unit uses up a battery on one session.

If you can tolerate it, a faster draw (or increasingly faster as the hit goes on) can keep the temp down without having to baby the trigger.

The entire principal of the SSV/DBV/LSV.
I treat it during the heat application as a DBV turned to about 2:00 on the dial, and get perfect hits.
On a full battery I wait about 5 to 7 seconds before drawing.
I get about 5 to 6 satisfying hits (of 5-6 seconds each), then the load AND the battery are done.

 

[RastaBuddhaTao]

I believe that a company should remain fully transparent at all times. If you are operating in the best interest of the customer you can always be honest about what your company is doing. This means that your failures as well as your successes need to be divulged. Operating in a open and honest way makes it acceptable to make mistakes rather than the typical tact of trying to hide bad news from the customer to prevent a "negative impact" to the brand. This transparent culture allowed us to resolve all defects uncovered in the initial Milaana fleet as well as make additional improvements to reach the design's entitlement. Thanks to all of you who patiently worked through the speed bumps that are encountered with every new product release in a very synergistic way.

As some of you close to me know, content from FC and my www have been used in court proceedeings for the past nine months. I apologize for being scarce and seemingly somewhat uncooperative as it was out of necessity. I am happy to say that my legal issues are now resolved and behind me and I am able to once again enjoy my freedom of speech. Please know that RBT customer best interest have always been the driving force.

I would like to thank all of you for your patience and support in the last few months. With some health issues behind me, a new grass roots FC manufacturer coming up to speed, and a Marketing Manager who is passionate about the product starting work to brand RBT, I am excited to start the next leg of this Journey.

Given that RBT started here I believe that the brand is here, in all of you. For that reason, I have asked that the Marketing Manager work with all of you in the branding efforts. So, what does the RBT brand mean to you? How do we simplify the logo? Is Vape Different! the right tag line? How does the new manual look, feel, read? How do we make RBT and it's products the best they can be from a customers perspective. In the coming weeks the answers will develop right here collaboratively and I am truly excited to watch what transpires.

To get things started... I have been told that a logo should be simple enough that you can describe it to someone and they can draw it. So, our current logo concept is an equilateral triangle with one side parallel with the ground. Now, draw a dot in the center of the triangle. Now draw a line from the dot to one of the points on the triangle. Now, repeat the last step for the other two points on the triangle. Now, this forms three minor triangles inside of the major triangle. Now, color the left triangle Red, the right triangle green, and the bottom triangle yellow.

The first person to post a picture that accurately depicts what is described above will receive a free pair of short mouthpieces and a screen pack (US shipping rate). Now, lets have some fun @VegNVape style

 

[friedrich]

an equilateral triangle with one side parallel with the ground. Now, draw a dot in the center of the triangle. Now draw a line from the dot to one of the points on the triangle. Now, repeat the last step for the other two points on the triangle. Now, this forms three minor triangles inside of the major triangle. Now, color the left triangle Red, the right triangle green, and the bottom triangle yellow.

Roughly like this?

 

[Shit Snacks]

How fast are y'all drawing? I dont think there's all these cold units, I'd be very surprised... Have you tried drawing much much slower? That could be why you seem to need to preheat so long, but really on a fresh battery it should get pretty damn hot pretty damn fast, but I always draw fairly slow and steady especially at first

 

[DocGonzo]

I'm sure some people are just using different technique, but the fact that there are people with multiple Mis saying one is significantly hotter tells me there is some real variance out there. Really looking forward to getting my cooler unit back from its tuneup, personally.

 

[KeroZen]

after reading how your units works I think mine is running a bit on the cold side (...) To finish that bowl I had 20 draws, I know I could have done it in less but I wanted to use similar pre-heatings.

I get between 20 and 35 hits per bowl and 3 bowls per cell but only if I push the cell down to about 3.3V and that 3rd session is pushy and requires longer trigger times.

I don't think your device is out of specs. As Ryan said in the previous update there were very few genuinely cold units in the wild, and several people thought their device was cold where in fact it was in specs.

If you have access to a good multimeter you could verify that easily.

2 bowls a battery and im down to 3.75V

Again, sounds normal to me.

I get about 5 to 6 satisfying hits (of 5-6 seconds each), then the load AND the battery are done.

That on the other hand sounds completely suspect. May I ask you what kind of cell you are using? It looks like what would happen when using a cell that doesn't match the discharge rate requirements (minimum 20A continuous)

Again, using a good multimeter it should be relatively easy to sort it out.

 

[b0]

How fast are y'all drawing? I dont think there are cold units, I'd be very surprised... Have you tried drawing much much slower? That could be why you seem to need to preheat so long, but really on a fresh battery it should get pretty damn hot pretty damn fast, but I always draw fairly slow and steady especially at first

Slow and steady is how I draw, like with most convection portables

I'm paying more attention this weekend now that I have better batteries and probably contact @RastaBuddhaTao to know his opinion.

On the good side, my technique is improving a lot this days because I'm really paying attention on how I use it and observing the changes closer

I get between 20 and 35 hits per bowl and 3 bowls per cell but only if I push the cell down to about 3.3V and that 3rd session is pushy and requires longer trigger times.

I don't think your device is out of specs. As Ryan said in the previous update there were very few genuinely cold units in the wild, and several people thought their device was cold where in fact it was in specs.

If you have access to a good multimeter you could verify that easily.

Thanks for your answer @KeroZen, would you mind sending me a DM letting me know wich kind of multimeter I need and how to test it? Won't mind trying that before sending it