Shaggy63 wrote: "I got a few things of copper tubing from a local hobby shop. Hobbytownusa I guess closed . Anyways, which is better, copper or brass? I didn't buy any type of epoxy, I didn't like the cancer warnings. I'm going to try to figure something else out. Can't wait till tonight so I can work on it."
asdaq wrote: "I'd vote brass over the copper, as brass has less copper in it and leaching would be less. Copper is the softer of the two as well."
I'd like to respond to these 2 posts.
First, asdaq, I completely agree that brass gets the edge over copper for the exact reasons you state. Also, I think stainless steel would be even better, although it's harder to find and harder to work with.
Shaggy63 - I share your concerns about epoxy. Everything I read about CURED epoxy says it's safe, but still I'm concerned about using it in an application where it's inhaled and exposed to high temps. I can think of 2 approaches to eliminate the POSSIBLE risks of epoxy (I say "possible" because I'm not completely convinced there's any risk.):
1 - Build a top-fed version of the design. I posted my approach to a top-fed design earlier in this thread, and it requires no epoxy.
2 - Use epoxy as the design calls for, but place a "plastic insert" on top of it. This one I've not tried - it only exists in my head (scary thought). It's hard to describe this, but I'll try. First you would build the design pretty much exactly as l3oertjie describes at the beginning of the thread. Then you would make a plastic tank that would hold the e-liquid and prevent it from touching the copper/brass/steel and epoxy. The insert would surround the tubes and it would sit on top of the epoxy base. Imagine something like a section of drinking straw that you squeeze around the tubes. Of course the straw would need a bottom so the e-liquid doesn't flow to the epoxy. Also, it can't actually be a drinking straw because the high temp would probably melt it. So what we need here is something similar to a straw, but able to stand up to high temp. If I come up with something I'll let you know, but I'm hoping someone will do the work for me
Anyway, that's my 2 cents. I've said it before and I'll say it again: the real invention here is the solderless method of attaching the nichrome coil. Almost any atty design could incorporate this method. This method truly gives you an atty that can be rebuilt quickly, easily, and inexpensively. In other words, it gives you an "Atomizer/Cartomizer for life". Another thing I've said before and I'll say again: This method/design is brilliant.
