Cotton frustrations

Status
Not open for further replies.

Ca Ike

Ultra Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Jan 20, 2014
1,121
4,217
Cali
I've been using rolled cotton balls for a while now and love it over silica by far. The vapor output it easily twice that of silica in the same build and flavor is much better.

However I have noticed issues with it. Getting a consistent wick is nearly impossible, not because of varying amounts since I found a way to minimize that but because of the cotton itself. Fiber orientation is critical for good wicking and cotton ball fibers are all directions. The other thing hampering wick performance is the amount of pills in the cotton. These act like a dam significantly slowing juice flow. The only way I can get a good consistent wick is to comb the cotton and that's a lot of extra work.

I'm looking at rayon and ramie fiber but every source I find seems to be out of stock. Anyone know where to get raw cotton that's already combed to remove pills and tangled fibers?
 

ShariR

Vaping Master
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Jun 13, 2013
8,375
33,469
Nashville, TN
I have heard that the Shiseido organic cotton makeup pads are about the same as the KGD. Check you big mall retailers like Macys and Nordstrom. One person I know has tried 100% organic makeup pads from CVS and said they work. Have not tried either so I don't know for sure.

Good luck. I am thinking the 100% cotton, rolled cotton from CVS is good too but it is sterile, not organic.
 

R Coy

Senior Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
I've been using rolled cotton balls for a while now and love it over silica by far. The vapor output it easily twice that of silica in the same build and flavor is much better.

However I have noticed issues with it. Getting a consistent wick is nearly impossible, not because of varying amounts since I found a way to minimize that but because of the cotton itself. Fiber orientation is critical for good wicking and cotton ball fibers are all directions. The other thing hampering wick performance is the amount of pills in the cotton. These act like a dam significantly slowing juice flow. The only way I can get a good consistent wick is to comb the cotton and that's a lot of extra work.

I'm looking at rayon and ramie fiber but every source I find seems to be out of stock. Anyone know where to get raw cotton that's already combed to remove pills and tangled fibers?

I got a package of this:

Amazon.com : Muji Japan 4 Layers Facial Cotton Pad (60 sheets) : Facial Cleansing Pads : Beauty

and it seems to work well, it is combed and flat so I just cut strips and insert in my coils.
 

R Coy

Senior Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
I use cotton cooking twine that I buy at BBY and use a bead needle (Hobby Lobby) to pull it into the coil. It is not organic and not bleached (I boil mine a couple of times).

If you don't absolutely have to have organic, give it a try. It's cheap and easy.

What is a BBY?
 

Ryedan

ECF Guru
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Mar 31, 2012
12,869
19,652
Ontario, Canada
PBusardo reviewed the wicking abilities of organic cotton, hemp, Japanese cotton, & rayon. Organic cotton came in last place. Rayon and Japanese cotton if I remember correctly tied for best. I believe Japanese cotton is Koh Gen Do (KGD).

I bought Graham rayon Cellucotton 44060 (500 foot box) from a local Sally's Beauty Supply. Check on the Sally's website for a store near you, or you can order online from them. I have not bought Koh Gen Do, but a search should turn up suppliers.
 

JMarca

E-Cig Afficionado
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Mar 19, 2013
1,522
1,987
47
New York
Try some Rayon you can get the stuff online from Sally's or locally if you go to their site and look up a local branch, stuff is dirt cheap for a lifetime supply.

I've been on regular organic cotton for months but as PBusardo said in his video cotton does have that clothie/drying taste property. I always needed to have water nearby.
I've also got some Koh Gen Do a friend gave me, found that too be better than regular cotton balls but there is something about cotton, maybe it's just me.
 

dspin

Vaping Master
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Sep 2, 2010
7,513
8,328
USA
I have never liked any kind of cotton - especially balls until I found Pima Cotton Sliver.

They sell sample pieces and its worth your while to try some. Just pull off a strand length wise and roll into desired wick size. Pure clean flavor, its all I use now. Unfortunately due to demand the price has gone up


Pima cotton sliver
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Users who are viewing this thread