A cheap alternative to PTB

[isande]

So I found some white nylon tulle at Hobby Lobby today, and it was so cheap that I had to give it a try and see how it compared to the Lipton Pyramid tea bags.

In case you don't know, tulle is a fine mesh fabric with diamond-shaped holes. It's woven in such a way that it doesn't ravel at all when cut. Or at least that's what the fabric I have is...

The mesh is a bit larger than PTB but apparently it's fine enough because this stuff works like a charm.

Anyway, this works just as well as PTB for me when used in the exact same way. I think the roll I bought is about 8 inches wide and it's 25 yards long. It was on sale for $1.99 for an 8" wide roll that is 25 yards long. Regular price is $2.99 -- still very cheap. I estimate I can get 900 cartridge fillers out of one roll.

Plus there's no tea to dump, no seams to worry about, and it doesn't ravel at all.

Here's what the label says if anyone is thinking about looking for this at Hobby Lobby:
SKU: 178327
Item # T-5 Matte Tulle - White
25 Yards - 100% Nylon

--K

 

[buttercrunch]

isande, I agree 1000% !!
I was looking thru my gift wrap box yesterday and saw a roll of tulle ribbon and the proverbial light bulb went on right over my head!! I filled a cart with it and loved it so much I switched all my carts this morning. it's basically the same as PTB material but easier to work with, lighter and softer, it wicks better and molds perfectly around the atty wick. and a lifetime supply, for only a couple bucks!!!
go to the wedding section of any fabric store, they will have it.

 

[kellie]

This does not melt? It sounds so much cheaper. Please let everyone know in a few days how it goes. Very curious

 

[isande]

So far, so good.. no melting, no funny taste. It wicks beautifully and is very easy to work with.

--K

 

[buttercrunch]

nope, it doesn't melt! the best part is that it stays pliable and "sproingy" in the cart (PTB seems to get brittle after sitting in a cart for a few days, has anyone noticed that? maybe it's just me). I'm loving it!

 

[Stehle]

Interesting... keep us all posted.

 

[danielwow12]

I can vouch for this mod! I went to my local hobby store (Michaels) and bought some 100% nylon Tulle. It came in a roll of 6 in. x 25 yds for only $3! I loaded up my janty and my 801 and both taste GREAT. I was previously having burning problems with the carts sticking to the attys. I will keep updated on this but so far they are working GREAT.

I made sure not to have the new filler recessed into the cartridge either, to make it wick better.

so far so good!

EDIT: If you're interested, you can find these in the wedding section. Same stuff used to make wedding veils i think...

 

[Hellen A. Handbasket]

Are you guy talking about Organza or Tulle?

Organza ribbon works great. Here is the thread with pictures of the difference http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...ters-where-who-how-post361401.html#post361401

 

[danielwow12]

Are you guy talking about Organza or Tulle?

Organza ribbon works great. Here is the thread with pictures of the difference http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...ters-where-who-how-post361401.html#post361401

What I got was the Tulle, but I did see the organza. What exactly is the problem with the Tulle? Mine seems to hold lots of liquid and wick perfectly, with no taste of burning (like with the other fiber).

 

[isande]

It's tulle.

--K

 

[Hellen A. Handbasket]

Just asking.

The Organza was most similar to the Lipton PTB, with the exception that it has come to light that Lipton uses PET plastic, and it has some health concerns, so I went with the Organza since the Lipton bags worked well.

Interesting that the Tulle works... I'll have to give it a try! I figured that the large open weave wouldn't hold liquid. Good to see another alternative.

 

[buttercrunch]

I'm using tulle,it's working great! but I will try organza also, to see which I prefer.

 

[isande]

My experiences so far:

Tulle:
Softer and springier, so less likely to get "mashed" by the atty.
Wicks better.
Requires more material to work properly.
Can be hard to work with.

Organza:
Easier to work with, particularly if you accordion-fold.
Requires less material.
Doesn't "spring back" as easily if mashed by the atty.

Both are cheap, cheap, cheap. I heartily recommend that anyone considering either buy a spool of both and see which one they like better.

--K

 

[Porphy]

In my experience fillers that "spring back" tend to be worse than ones that get mashed and hold the indent to "cup" the bridge. Anyone else notice this?

 

[danielwow12]

I have encountered one problem. It may be because i'm still experimenting, but I noticed that I put just a bit too much liquid, it will flood the atty (because it is springy, keeps wicking).

 

[isande]

I have encountered one problem. It may be because i'm still experimenting, but I noticed that I put just a bit too much liquid, it will flood the atty (because it is springy, keeps wicking).

You may not be using enough tulle if this happens... I do have to use a fair bit more of this than of the PTB or organza.

--K

 

[danielwow12]

You may not be using enough tulle if this happens... I do have to use a fair bit more of this than of the PTB or organza.

--K

A-ha, yeah I'm trying rolling it up and folding it, so the folded end is at the opening of the cart. Is this what you do? I have it recessed a bit inside.

 

[isande]

I start with a piece about 3 1/2 inches long and 2 inches wide. I then roll it up and fold in half, then shred the unfolded end by making 3 or 4 cuts about half way up. Then I insert the folded end into the cart, all the way to the bottom. I usually need a toothpick to get it all the way down in there. I snip it off slightly *above* the end of the cart, allowing about 1/16th of an inch to extend from the end of the cart.

I've noticed if it's recessed at all, it's definitely easier to overfill and flood the atty.

--K

 

[Pumaman]

Based on the logic behind rhoneils Plug Mod (or rho mod) I reversed this and am having great luck. I picked up the Tulle today and am basically doing a fold in half carpet roll, but I am putting the cut side in the cartridge first and leaving the folded end to contact the atomizer. After reading rho's post, this makes all kinds of sense from a physics stand point. the fold in the material offers greater surface area to the liquid then the ends do, which makes more liquid stay at that end. This creates directional wicking towards the folded end. With the carpet roll, there remains a hole in the middle which facilitates filling and allows air to the opposite end while vaping. I pulled out the fill from my 510 after doing this, which had been filled with Ruyan vanilla which has a dark tint, and the cut end was pure white, all fluid had been wicked to the folded end. I am using the one fold carpet roll as opposed to the double fold on the end in the rho mod as the tulle isn't as easy to work with as the PTB, will try it both ways after I hunt down the Organza polyester.

 

[rhoneil]

Based on the logic behind rhoneils Plug Mod (or rho mod) I reversed this and am having great luck. I picked up the Tulle today and am basically doing a fold in half carpet roll, but I am putting the cut side in the cartridge first and leaving the folded end to contact the atomizer. After reading rho's post, this makes all kinds of sense from a physics stand point. the fold in the material offers greater surface area to the liquid then the ends do, which makes more liquid stay at that end. This creates directional wicking towards the folded end. With the carpet roll, there remains a hole in the middle which facilitates filling and allows air to the opposite end while vaping. I pulled out the fill from my 510 after doing this, which had been filled with Ruyan vanilla which has a dark tint, and the cut end was pure white, all fluid had been wicked to the folded end. I am using the one fold carpet roll as opposed to the double fold on the end in the rho mod as the tulle isn't as easy to work with as the PTB, will try it both ways after I hunt down the Organza polyester.

This sounds great. Im really interested in how this works. The only reason we moved to the double fold was to prevent leaking. The double fold will bring more material in the fold using the same amount of material from the tea bag. But if you are able to cut the material to the size you want it would not be needed, we would not be limited to the half teabag we are using.

I hope this works, I may have to make a run to Michaels.

rho