Best cotton for single coil RTAs

[Pigs]

I use rayon, got the 40' from Amazon. I also have used cotton bacon prime and V2, as well as muji pads.
CB prime is nice. It has a good texture to work with, and a very neutral flavor, similar to rayon, but doesn't pronounce the sweeteners as much. CBv2 is ok too, but I prefer rayon over that.
Really, after the needs of the atomizer, which I must admit, I haven't used an rta, just RDAs, the type of juice you use is just as important, as wick can impart flavor, or mute, or brighten certain notes.

RDAs are so much more forgiving when it comes to cotton. You can pick just based on flavour because wicking is rarely an issue. RTAs -small ones especially- can be oh so finicky to get right. Speed of wicking is paramount. Longevity is also more of a factor in an RTA because it's more painful to replace wick than in an rda.

 

[HigherStateD]

RDAs are so much more forgiving when it comes to cotton. You can pick just based on flavour because wicking is rarely an issue. RTAs -small ones especially- can be oh so finicky to get right. Speed of wicking is paramount. Longevity is also more of a factor in an RTA because it's more painful to replace wick than in an RDA.

That was my assumption. I'd imagine on a sub ohm RTA, rayon would be the most efficient wick material for flow, if the shrinkage issue could be mitigated.

 

[Beamslider]

Amazing bundle, the wire? which one?

I got the wire from Lightning vapes.....They just tossed it in the package for free.

Lightning Vapes - All the RBA supplies you need, shipped same day!

 

[Tabac man]

I've been using Mujji pads for years and thought I'd try some different things. Just curiosity and I wasn't expecting much somehow. Tried Rayon and it gave me the heebie jeebies. Dunno why but to me it looks off, feels off and sounds off. The feel of it makes my skin crawl.

I'm now trying Cotton Bacon Prime and have re wicked three rta's using three different flavours. So far I like it. Using too much can leave a taste but use less and there's no taste of cotton. It's clean and fresh a bit like Rayon. It seems to swell more than Mujji too so another reason to use less. Over priced it may be but it works well.

 

[ShowMeTwice]

Rayon here ... though I also use CottonMan's Mavaton's Select Gold (oils removed) cotton.
This is the size of a thick bed pillow and will likely outlast me.

 

[Hobbs]

What diameter coil do you build for the Vapeshell?

My builds are quite small. 8 wrap 30ga kanthal on 2mm @ 1.83ohms running @ 7.0watts.
With that small a build in the Vapeshell, I needed the swelling/expanding of Cotton to fill the juice wells. Wasn't happy with Rayon and I too have a box of Rayon from Sally's.

Regardless, cotton or rayon, my preferred build is just a bit too small to be ideal for the Vapshell. Same can be said of the Crossbow. I gave up using the Vapeshell or Crossbow in the Billet Box.

Not only do I vape low power, I vape non-flavored 50/50 18mg. SOooo clogging and super wick speed are a non consideration. I prefer the taste of cotton over rayon. Rayon tastes chemically to me whereas cotton tastes organic. The only cotton I've tried is Muji and Cotton Bacon V2. I prefer the Cotton Bacon.

I use my small build and Cotton Bacon in a couple of Kayfun [lite] 2019's. Works flawlessly for the MTL/restricted DL tootle vaper that I am. I've tried a half dozen build decks in the Billet Box without consistent success and have given up completely on it ... for now. My Billet Boxes are relegated to running a Comfort Bridge with a 1.8ohm Nautilus coil only.

Cotton vs Rayon is not only a matter of taste, but vape style, builds, equipment and circumstance will dictate which is best for a given situation. Try both. Wicking is cheap.

 

[tj99959]

I STILL wrap my coils around 4 strands of 0.8mm silica string.
Much truer flavor than ANY cotton or rayon.

 

[bombastinator]

That was my assumption. I'd imagine on a sub ohm RTA, rayon would be the most efficient wick material for flow, if the shrinkage issue could be mitigated.

It’s kind of specifically atty dependent. My profile really likes rayon but my aromamizer plus has issues with it. Partially it’s the wick thinning issue.

 

[Tabac man]

I STILL wrap my coils around 4 strands of 0.8mm silica string.
Much truer flavor than ANY cotton or rayon.

You are the combined advanced AND professional vaper. You must be simultaneously overweight and skinny, with plastic shrink wrapped teeth and a big blob of silicone gel in your stomach.

 

[englishmick]

I STILL wrap my coils around 4 strands of 0.8mm silica string.
Much truer flavor than ANY cotton or rayon.

You WHAT?

 

[Baditude]

I STILL wrap my coils around 4 strands of 0.8mm silica string.
Much truer flavor than ANY cotton or rayon.

Truly "old school".

No, that's so old its older than old school.

 

[vapdivrr]

I STILL wrap my coils around 4 strands of 0.8mm silica string.
Much truer flavor than ANY cotton or rayon.

Never really enjoyed silica myself. wrapping wire around a wick instead of threading it thru is unknown to most, but that's the way it use to be. I much preferred a genny in those days. but when sup gave us the micro coil, I was all over it.

 

[HigherStateD]

Never really enjoyed silica myself. wrapping wire around a wick instead of threading it thru is unknown to most, but that's the way it use to be. I much preferred a genny in those days. but when sup gave us the micro coil, I was all over it.

The boulder rock uses a silica wick.
Not a terrible juul-a-like.
If I could find 4mm ecowool, I'd give it a go...

 

[madstabber]

I used to rebuild my pro tank coils wrapping 32 gauge kanthal, I believe, around some silica and then later on XC-116. Stuff was kinda pricey, I’d get it kiln fired, from some place in one of the Dakotas. If I searched I believe I have a foot or so left over. Next time I’m bored I may revisit the ceramic rope wick to wick a modern day rda/rta

 

[airidosas252]

I was using Koh Gen Do, cheap and reliable cotton once you take off thick and dense outer layers of the cotton.
Now I'm using Vapefly Firebolt cotton. At first I was really sceptical, because I got horrible cotton taste at first, but once I broke in that cotton, nothing but flavor was coming out of my RTA.
I guess it depends how you prepare your atomizer. With either cotton I've used, the experience is almost identical.

 

[Pigs]

I was using Koh Gen Do, cheap and reliable cotton once you take off thick and dense outer layers of the cotton.
Now I'm using Vapefly Firebolt cotton. At first I was really sceptical, because I got horrible cotton taste at first, but once I broke in that cotton, nothing but flavor was coming out of my RTA.
I guess it depends how you prepare your atomizer. With either cotton I've used, the experience is almost identical.

Ive got a box of different brands. Tried a heap: Native Wicks, Jellyfish, Cotton Bacon, Koh Gen Do etc but keep coming back to 2 brands - Team Vape Lab and Kendo Gold. They're not bleached and even though they have a slower break in time than most they also last longer. The trick with Kendo gold in the Vapeshell is to not leave even a tiny strand dry before it goes into the boro. Total saturation or else even sitting for 30 minutes will end up giving me dry hits.
Next stop rayon.

 

[vapdivrr]

The boulder rock uses a silica wick.
Not a terrible juul-a-like.
If I could find 4mm ecowool, I'd give it a go...

Cant you just double up some 2mm silica? It's not only the silica, but the way you coil. Silica can be threaded into a coil, buts it's a pain and should be wrapped around instead. Also using thinner wire is best, because it's hard to take something thicker then 26 or 28 and wrap that around the wick. Then you have to mount a wicked coil to posts, which is a bit of a pain as well...imo, side by side, cotton is a much better wick , if it wasnt most would still be using silica. ...it took about a year for the majority, once cotton came out to switch from silica. People still use it however and you might even like it better, as everyone's taste is different and why rebuilding is so awesome...one great thing is dry burning it!! Just fire that coil up and it's kind of self cleaning...

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

 

[vapdivrr]

I used to rebuild my pro tank coils wrapping 32 gauge kanthal, I believe, around some silica and then later on XC-116. Stuff was kinda pricey, I’d get it kiln fired, from some place in one of the Dakotas. If I searched I believe I have a foot or so left over. Next time I’m bored I may revisit the ceramic rope wick to wick a modern day rda/rta

Xc worked really well but like you said had to be heated in a kiln to burn off the sizing and I was always worried that these places said it was, but wasnt. I remember having to upbraid that stuff as well and if you didnt cut it correctly, the ends would be wonky . .

I used to rebuild my pro tank coils wrapping 32 gauge kanthal, I believe, around some silica and then later on XC-116. Stuff was kinda pricey, I’d get it kiln fired, from some place in one of the Dakotas. If I searched I believe I have a foot or so left over. Next time I’m bored I may revisit the ceramic rope wick to wick a modern day rda/rta

 

[sorrynomore]

I used to recoil my protank coils with silica way back when.
For the last bunch of years I've been using Shiseido cotton pads in my Berserkers and Kayfun clones.

 

[DaveP]

Rayon has infinite fiber length unlike cotton. This makes thinning it a bit odd. The main difficulty with rayon is procurement. The stuff is cheap but is produced mainly for the beauty industry and comes in a three-lifetime-supply size only.

I thin mine frequently. Just cut a piece and hold it by one end. Slide your fingers repeatedly along the length. Fibers come off quickly until the wick is the right diameter to fit your coil. I start by cutting a piece about 2" long with scissors and then cut it lengthwise to make several wicks.

Rayon does come in rather large boxes, but less than $10 will get you 2 or 3 years supply. I'm still working on my first box purchased two or three years ago. What I have left from the 40ft box recently stuffed a quart sized zip lock bag tightly and should last me 6 or 8 months, maybe more.