Cobra mesh ?

[Rule62]

oh would you please tell me how you are doing your ss. i think the little frays on the edge are getting me. how many times you burn etc the more info the better as this has only been my 3rd set up with a genny. i am better but not as good as i am going to be and i thank you for your help.

You can avoid the frays on the edge by folding the outer edge inward before you finish rolling. Sort of like making a hem. That way, there won't be any fuzzy edges. I fold about 1/4".

 

[Maconi]

As far as drilling the Cobra goes. The hole is supposedly 1mm factory. However, mine was inbetween 0.95mm and 1mm. That doesn't sound like much, but I used a 1mm drill bit and it made a world of difference. Draws were always too harsh/would burn my throat before. I thought I was messing up the wick/coil and remade it day after day. It's great after opening the hole just that extra 0.05mm.

 

[arh32]

ok more help please. i have it going good but there is after a tank dark juice in the bottom of the tank. does this happen to everyone? or is it just me?

 

[n3oNLit3]

ok more help please. i have it going good but there is after a tank dark juice in the bottom of the tank. does this happen to everyone? or is it just me?

From what ive read it is somewhat of a common issue, its called leaching. It happens more often on a wick with a center channel as apposed to a solid wick. Ive seen some avoid it by using a U wick

 

[arh32]

okok gotcha, and i am using a tube. well 500 is on its way and i will go with soild when it gets here. is yours in yet n3o?

 

[n3oNLit3]

okok gotcha, and i am using a tube. well 500 is on its way and i will go with soild when it gets here. is yours in yet n3o?

Nope not here yet. It appears to be making the rounds of the Maryland USPS distributions center for 2 days. Tracking says it was in transit only to later say it was processed through the same facility it supposedly left hours ago. IDK anymore. Hoping it'll be here by Saturday

 

[arh32]

just did the drill bit thing... i like its easy and fast 4 wrap 1.6 ohm 4v. but i am still fighting hot spots. this ss has been burnt about 5 times and juice put on and burnt like 4. i dont know why this still happens? only thing i can think is my ss is the same size as the hole and i kinda have to twist and push to get it in but just a little. do you all find that if the ss is more easy to go in the hole then you get less hot spots?

 

[carcen5]

Thankfully I'm not the only one!!, first setup blows me away the second attempt I think is my fault and I "over think" it cause will take hours. Too answer ur question directly, my wick was rolled loose, but fit snug against tank wick hole, for the cobra it's better(i think!!) for the wick not to hug the wall of wick hole, ie the drill bit/petar k method could be used but with smaller than 2mm bit. The first rba coil I made was all hand, and it was darn good, but the consistentecy of drill bit satisfies my OCD, so that I can replicate my setup, once I've "gotten it".

With the paperclip still in mesh I roll it tight as I can, in one direction, on a lint free towel that sit on my table. It's so skinny it's like a cocktail straw. Then I roll in exact opposite direction with slight pressure til it "feels right size". When sliding wick into coil, if it's slghtly too big(or loose) i can micro adjust its size as going in by turning it like screw as I slide wick in. When wick is at final resting place it's snug on coil and the wick hole. If I put it in fill hole, it would stay however far I put it in, and easily slide with just a touch.

After reading your first attempt and comparing with mine, I think you are correct about leaving space between wick and hole, and I mean generous space. My guess u didn't fight hotspots first attempt? I don't have them now only because I've oxidized my wick, juice burn offs, never close to ash, and part that touches coil and tank.

My tank is working great but I'm sure the "right" setup would blow mine away. There's a how to vid on phiniac showing a method I've yet to try but this looks "ideal" for wicking on the cobra, as I read somewhere with this and space between wick-hole, this guy/gal left fill screw in and still wicked vertically
BTW how do you make coil, hand-wrapping the wick already in place? Here's the "how to", hope I answered your question and sorry if too detailed
Video Library - Phiniac Rugged Pyrex Glass Tanks

 

[carcen5]

Arh32...sorry for the double posting ladies and gents, I just read you tried drill bit. It's consistency brings me back to using it, but the hotspots right? Me too. Next I'm using smaller drill bit this evening, will report results

I try avoid oxidizing, except jack frost(very crucial), until wick is perfect size, and I'll oxidize the new wick with straight vg and coil burns at low voltage. Then when content, I'll gently twist out and torch the area where I can see the coil marks. Then wick is pretty stable.
Do you oxidize before rolling wick? Unless you said it already and I missed it i apologize, but when I started doing this, it was a big change in how I made wick and coil fit that results in less hotspots.
I'm using 500 mesh, tried solid wick pulled from another rba and it didn't wick on cobra. This thing is fun and tricky, and I can't wait to run dual wicks

 

[arh32]

yes my first tank the ss was smaller than the hole, and no hot spots at all. i also do like you and see how the size is in the tank then oxidize, but i burn the crap out of it. 3 burns then 3 juice burns. how much do you oxidize your wick? and yes i am going to go to a smaller bit sometime. its going so good now think ill just let it go for a week or os

 

[arh32]

oh how this vid is is how i did it the first time. trying to make up my mind if i like this or drill bit better.

 

[carcen5]

I take cut mesh size, hold with tweezers and constantly move torch one side of mesh until its evenly spread layer of brown-bluish color. Do same to other side. Then I roll the wick, and run ligher to burn off fray or debris. At this point, with other rba, I could throw it in and vape away. The cobra I juice burn off only, 2-3 times, and torch only coil location once, only while wick is wet from e juice, never water. I was frustrated with wick and over oxidized and turned fragile and brittle, that may be why u have black flakes in tank after a while(just a guess tho) cause only time i noticed same thing
I've read/watched a too much, and from what I've gathered I think it boils down to every guy/gal to themselves. Kno what I mean? I was torn on which nice rba to get nd heard the cobra is one of the hardest ones to get going right but so rewarding....if I'm only halfway there I'm happy. Hope I've helped, as you have helped me with sharing your experience. I'll try smaller bit, so wick won't touch walls and report back.

 

[carcen5]

The video! In my mind it makes "oxidizing-wick-space-logic" , for the cobra, IMHO!!! I only tried once and was one those frustrated-if-this-thing-doesn't-work-I'm-going burn my house down attitudes. So it was poorly done to say the least and didn't wick, and red hot leads. I took cobra off and dripped 357 rest of night. Know when to stop! Ha!

And don't know if makes difference, I usually wrap coil clockwise with drill bit, opposite wrap on each post. The vid says counter clockwise on the coil. Just an observation no clue if makes difference.

It was on a cheap rba that I "mastered" my version of drill bit, so thats ONLY reason I'm using it now. But always wanted to come back to this vid, on a first attempt. Ok I'll try vid-method tonight, especially if it was working for you, will post results if interested in results.
Thanks for help! Two minds better than one

 

[arh32]

ok just did the "small drill bit"5/64. 40x40 mesh and paperclip rolled as tight as i could about 2 hot spots but had them worked out in about 2 min. vape wise idk about the same Maby more vapor with the bigger wick haha thats my luck. so back where i started, how to make my ss hole size and have no hot spots? but then this is new ss and i work the rest of the week and wont have time to play with it so will keep like it is and see if break in will help. will post back, and yes let me know how yours is when you get it set up with small drill bit.

 

[arh32]

ok well i went ahead and did drill bit full size ss and fought hot spots for hours cobra people what am i doing wrong here? tried burn ss then roll, tried to roll then burn. nothing seams to help. is it always going to be this hard cause i dont know what i can do any better.

 

[Rule62]

ok well i went ahead and did drill bit full size ss and fought hot spots for hours cobra people what am i doing wrong here? tried burn ss then roll, tried to roll then burn. nothing seams to help. is it always going to be this hard cause i dont know what i can do any better.

No, it won't always be that hard. Once you get it, you got it. And you'll be able to do it over and over. For me, it all boils down to two things: Properly oxidizing the wick; and proper coil tension on the wick.

 

[carcen5]

No, it won't always be that hard. Once you get it, you got it. And you'll be able to do it over and over. For me, it all boils down to two things: Properly oxidizing the wick; and proper coil tension on the wick.

that sums it up. btw rule62, been member for a while and have learned much from your advice, thanks for sharing experience. that "got it" feeling is one that brings great satisfaction

 

[arh32]

No, it won't always be that hard. Once you get it, you got it. And you'll be able to do it over and over. For me, it all boils down to two things: Properly oxidizing the wick; and proper coil tension on the wick.

I would LOVE to hear how you oxidize your wick and about your coil tension. please and thank you

 

[arh32]

Thank you all for your help. The better i get...the better it gets. it does get better. can do nice coil now every time no hot spots. Love It !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[carcen5]

Glad to hear you are enjoying it! As for last week, it seemed I couldn't build a decent coil or wick to save my life. I did some reading in the UK forums, and stumbled across a few people that wrapped coil counter clock wise(even tho negative post on right of wick). They also suggest a decent, but not overdone, oxidation of the top half the wick as the threaded wick hole will catch hairs of the mesh.

In any event, I haven't the need to yank the wick out in frustration for days, so I'm leaving it be...but saw some really cool picks for dual wicks. If i only had some NR wire, would give it a go

Glad it's working for u..anything noticeably different you did this time around that might have "been it"?