Cotton wicks for RBAs - suggestions?

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JiGGLiN

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hmm i wouldn't use medical gauze. it singes fast and doesn't wick fast enough in a genny. you really should use the ss mesh with it. www.delawarevapors.com has a good price on 6"x8" 400 mesh for like 6 bucks.

you can try using cotton on it. i would use 100% pure cotton yarn from walmart 3mm x 250' for like $1.77 it's what i use in my drippers.
toddsreviews on youtube does a silica setup on the aga t that will give you guidance. :vapor:


Since I'm an rba noob I'm a bit intimidated by the ss. I'll make my first attempt with the one they sent with it.

That funky taste I'm getting must be the burning of the strands.

Does Target sell any cotton yarn I could use? Walmart is a little farther away and I HATE that one. LOL.

Thanks for the links...now I got a lot of reading/watching to do.
 

RooRooBears

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Nordak

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boshans

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Most square braided wick is treated with boric acid, which is what causes it to burn more slowly than untreated cotton. The butcher's twine should work quite well. I'm going to pick some up on my lunch break...$2.98/roll, food grade.

You think this would be ok? Square Braided 100 Cotton Wick 6 0 4 0 2 0 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 | eBay

Even though it is square braided, it says untreated and unprimed...don't know if that means no boric or not though.
 

icyice

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Ended up not having time to go to... well, anywhere. So I just ordered this online:

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Aunt-Lydia-s-Fashion-Crochet-Cotton/21268482

3mm, 100% mercerized cotton yarn (learned that Mercerized cotton absorbs better vs Unmercerized... random info). I'm hoping this works out because it's a mere $2.28 for 150 yds.

How is the Mercerized cotton holding up now? I just bought about 150 yards of 100% Cotton Mercerized, and I've heard that its not a good idea to use, however I did boil mine, but have yet to build a coil with it. Is it safe to use?
 

williegntx

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I use straight up organic cotton balls from Walgreens. 3 bucks for a big bag. No need to boil, at least I don't. I tried organic cotton yarn before and it doesn't even compare to the regular ol cotton balls.

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Thanks for your input, I just got some Organic from CVS and didn't know if it needed to be boiled before use. I'll give it a go without boiling...I know the other cotton is horrific without boiling.

:toast:
 

NakiFantaki

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Thanks for your input, I just got some Organic from CVS and didn't know if it needed to be boiled before use. I'll give it a go without boiling...I know the other cotton is horrific without boiling.

:toast:

I use that same kind and don't boil it. After about 5 hits its all juice you will taste.

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NakiFantaki

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I would still boil those organic cotton balls they are bleached and sterilized with hydrogen peroxide I don't think that's something u want to vape

The organic ones aren't bleached with anything. They aren't even that white like normal cotton balls. Anyway, for the tiny amount of cotton I use I hardly doubt there is that much hydrogen peroxide in that small piece. I think its so funny that all of us used to smoke cigarettes with TONS of unknown and known toxic chemicals and now we worry about EVERY little thing that's in our juices and equipment.

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JamezC

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The organic ones aren't bleached with anything. They aren't even that white like normal cotton balls. Anyway, for the tiny amount of cotton I use I hardly doubt there is that much hydrogen peroxide in that small piece. I think its so funny that all of us used to smoke cigarettes with TONS of unknown and known toxic chemicals and now we worry about EVERY little thing that's in our juices and equipment.

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Lol I know what you mean, it really is ironic when you think about it :laugh: I don't boil mine either, I get a little bit of a cotton taste for about a minute or so but it goes away quickly.
 

Enoch777

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Yea. It is kinda funny. Organic cotton balls aren't treated with many chemicals. I'd like to get some freshly picked cotton though.

Me too! Had a good idea. You know those cotton pods that grow naturally? I'm trying desperately to find some. I know they grow locally in sparse patches and I know they're still in-season. If I could find just *one* of these pods I'd be set for wick until Spring. Two? Maybe a whole year. You'd have to pick the seeds out but who cares.

Doesn't get much more organic than that, so long as you're sensible about the location you find them in.

Ehhhh, I haven't seen any yet though so will probably end up having to buy some organic hemp. Oh well :)
 

williegntx

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Me too! Had a good idea. You know those cotton pods that grow naturally? I'm trying desperately to find some. I know they grow locally in sparse patches and I know they're still in-season. If I could find just *one* of these pods I'd be set for wick until Spring. Two? Maybe a whole year. You'd have to pick the seeds out but who cares.

Doesn't get much more organic than that, so long as you're sensible about the location you find them in.

Ehhhh, I haven't seen any yet though so will probably end up having to buy some organic hemp. Oh well :)

Getting cotton from the field...:facepalm: They spray the fields for boll weevils, look close at the fields you will see the traps. When you do find a field there is usually some remaining even after harvest before it is plowed under, but you definitely should boil and clean it gooood. I know because about a year ago I did get some and without cleaning...NASTY. YMMV :toast:

The organic that I got from CVS was an OMG moment with a Nano/Mini coil, again YMMV. :)
 

dice57

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been using Walmart 100% cotton balls, pre-boiled them, works great, no issues. Waiting for my hemp fiber to arrive, then will see if cotton will still be used for wicking. Now to figure out what else cotton balls can be used for. Oh well, still $2.50 for a lifetime supply of wick material is pretty cheap. lmao.
 

ta2dave76

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Yea. It is kinda funny. Organic cotton balls aren't treated with many chemicals. I'd like to get some freshly picked cotton though.

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Me too! Had a good idea. You know those cotton pods that grow naturally? I'm trying desperately to find some. I know they grow locally in sparse patches and I know they're still in-season. If I could find just *one* of these pods I'd be set for wick until Spring. Two? Maybe a whole year. You'd have to pick the seeds out but who cares.

Doesn't get much more organic than that, so long as you're sensible about the location you find them in.

Ehhhh, I haven't seen any yet though so will probably end up having to buy some organic hemp. Oh well :)


Ive got about a pound of it that was sent from my uncles fields in TN. Works great! My vape shop even wants to buy some off me.
 
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