How to Set Up a Squonk RDA

Andrew Strang
How to Set Up a Squonk RDA
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TL;DR: Fit the bottom-feed (BF) pin, build and wick so the outlet stays clear, fill and seat the bottle with a straight, unkinked tube, then pulse-squonk (short squeeze → pause → release) before firing. Start at conservative wattage and work up.

How a Squonk Mod Works Cutaway showing battery, bottle and liquid tube feeding e-liquid up to an RDA via a hollow 510 pin. Battery Bottle RDA Deck Liquid feeds up Excess drains back
A squeeze pushes e-liquid up into the RDA via the hollow 510 pin; releasing lets excess drain back.

What You’ll Need

Safety First

  • Batteries: Use authentic, undamaged cells with intact wraps. Store and carry in cases only.
  • Regulated vs mech: If you’re not 100% comfortable with Ohm’s law and CDR limits, use a regulated squonk with protections.
  • Resistance: Build within your device/battery limits. Lower isn’t always better—aim for a sensible, flavour-forward range.

Step-by-Step Setup

1) Install the BF Pin

  1. Disassemble the RDA’s 510 assembly. Swap the solid pin for the BF (hollow) pin.
  2. Check insulators are present and seated correctly; tighten firmly but don’t over-torque.
  3. On hybrids/mechs, confirm the 510 positive pin protrudes clearly past the threads.
Bottom-Feed (BF) Pin — Cross-Section Cutaway of an RDA deck showing cotton and coil above a central squonk outlet; liquid travels up the hollow pin and spreads across the deck. Hollow 510 / BF pin Outlet
Liquid rises through the hollow BF pin, exits at the outlet, and spreads across the deck to saturate the cotton.

2) Build the Coils

  1. Install coils centred over the squonk outlet. Keep leads trimmed and secured.
  2. At low wattage, pulse and strum to remove hotspots (coils should glow from the centre out).

3) Wick for Squonking

  1. Thread cotton snugly (not choking). Fluff the tails lightly.
  2. Trim tails so they touch the deck but do not block the outlet or airflow slots.
  3. Create gentle “ramps” that guide liquid across the deck; leave a clear path around the BF outlet.
Wicking for Squonking — Do vs Don’t Two panels showing proper wick tail length and outlet clearance versus tails that block airflow or flood the deck. Do Tails guide liquid, outlet kept clear Don’t Tails block outlet/air, leads to flooding
Trim and place wick tails to guide liquid while keeping the BF outlet and airflow clear. Over-packing causes flooding and leaks.

4) Prepare the Mod & Bottle

  1. Rinse new bottles, then fill to ~80–90% to allow compression room.
  2. Seat the bottle firmly; route the tube straight with no kinks.
  3. Attach the RDA to the mod and ensure the hollow 510 mates correctly.
Refilling & Maintenance — Bottle, Tube, 510 Callouts for bottle care, straight tube routing, and 510 cleaning to reduce leaks and keep performance consistent. Bottle 510/RDA Rinse bottles regularly; replace worn caps/o-rings Keep tube straight, no kinks Clean 510 & contacts for steady power
Clean the bottle and tube, avoid kinks, and keep the 510/contacts tidy for reliable squonking.

5) Prime & Pulse-Squonk

  1. Add a few drops to the wick tops to start.
  2. Short squeeze until the deck just glistens; pause to let cotton absorb; release so excess retracts.
  3. Repeat once or twice. If you hear gurgle, you’ve over-squonked—let it clear before firing.
Pulse-Squonk Timing — Squeeze • Saturate • Release • Fire A simple timeline showing short squeeze to send liquid up, pause to saturate, release to retract excess, then fire. Squeeze Saturate Release 🔥 Fire Short squeeze Pause Retract excess Then vape
Use short, gentle squeezes; let the deck saturate and excess retract before firing.

6) Dial In Power

  1. Start low and increase until flavour is saturated without scorching.
  2. Open airflow in small steps to balance warmth, draw, and spitback control.

Break-In & Routine Use

  • New cotton tastes better after a few gentle puffs; flavour peaks once fully saturated.
  • Top-up rhythm: Squonk when flavour fades or cotton looks pale. Little and often beats long squeezes.

Troubleshooting

  • Leaking from airflow: Tails too long or packed; re-trim to clear the outlet and slots. Use shorter squeezes.
  • Dry hits: Not squonking often enough; check for kinks in the tube or a loose bottle seal.
  • Spitback/gurgle: Over-saturated deck. Fire briefly without squonking to clear; reduce squeeze time.
  • Weak performance (mech): Clean 510/contact surfaces; verify build is within battery CDR; swap to a fresh cell.

Maintenance

  • Rinse bottles/tubes regularly to avoid flavour carry-over.
  • Replace worn caps and o-rings; keep the 510 clean.
  • Re-wick when flavour dulls or cotton darkens.

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