Different Cottons for different wicks

[JD1]

Geez, the wife and I were in the 99¢ Only store and didn't see the rounds, but we were looking in the makeup area, not the tampon section, uhmm, maybey I'll have her go back and look again.

In the store I went to there were several 'Sally Hansen' products in the section I found the rounds, including the tweezers. In fact the tweezers were only a few feet away from the rounds. The rounds aren't tampons in the American sense of the word lol.

 

[adeline]

Tampon is french for buffer or pad.

I found mine near the cotton balls and q-tips at dollar general.

 

[oplholik]

How thick, or thin, are those anyway?

 

[adeline]

How thick, or thin, are those anyway?

After boiling, a bunch of mine are super thick. You could easily make like 20 wicks off one of these things.

I'm still trying to get the thickness right for wicking.

 

[Cjax]

Less is more when it come to cotton, it expands greatly when soaked, some more than others. I like cheesecloth because it probly expands the least and makes it easier to judge how much to use when it's dry.

 

[oplholik]

The yarn I'm using, or trying to use, doesn't seem to expand all that much.

 

[Cjax]

I was more refering to cotton gauze/balls/batting, more fiberous types. The yarn would probably be more threaded, like the cheesecloth, though not nearly as much. But that is good to know, I've never used yarn, but I have used all the other afore mentioned types and for me the cheesecloth was the best.

 

[adeline]

I was more refering to cotton gauze/balls/batting, more fiberous types. The yarn would probably be more threaded, like the cheesecloth, though not nearly as much. But that is good to know, I've never used yarn, but I have used all the other afore mentioned types and for me the cheesecloth was the best.

I really, REALLY liked the cheesecloth wick. I keep thinking of different ways to wrap it, or different wicks to wrap it around.

 

[StaircaseWit]

Can anyone give me a mini-primer on using cotton wicks?

I've read this entire thread, so I know the basics of selection, the types you guys/gals are using, etc. What I'm not sure of is how you are wrapping your coils. I've seen some use a needle or such to support the cotton as you wind; others seem to wind off the wick and later insert it. Is there any consensus on what works well for a mod where the wick has to inserted through wick holes into a tank? And what size roughly are you using for a given wick hole size? I've read about "choking the wick" with too large a wick in too small a hole -- any guidelines you can offer?

 

[xMackx]

Can anyone give me a mini-primer on using cotton wicks?

I've read this entire thread, so I know the basics of selection, the types you guys/gals are using, etc. What I'm not sure of is how you are wrapping your coils. I've seen some use a needle or such to support the cotton as you wind; others seem to wind off the wick and later insert it. Is there any consensus on what works well for a mod where the wick has to inserted through wick holes into a tank? And what size roughly are you using for a given wick hole size? I've read about "choking the wick" with too large a wick in too small a hole -- any guidelines you can offer?

I would recommend you start with a cotton wool (cotton balls/rounds ect.) as they are the most absorbant and forgiving. Rule of thumb is your wick should be able to slide back and forth through the coil easily while dry, same goes for wick holes. You will probably have an easier time mounting a coil then threading your wick through because it's more consistent for the coil. Just make sure you let the cotton soak in juice a few hours before trying to vape it. Also keeping your coil wraps closer together helps prevent hot spots. Other than that just experiment and you will find what you like best.

 

[adeline]

I would recommend you start with a cotton wool (cotton balls/rounds ect.) as they are the most absorbant and forgiving. Rule of thumb is your wick should be able to slide back and forth through the coil easily while dry, same goes for wick holes. You will probably have an easier time mounting a coil then threading your wick through because it's more consistent for the coil. Just make sure you let the cotton soak in juice a few hours before trying to vape it. Also keeping your coil wraps closer together helps prevent hot spots. Other than that just experiment and you will find what you like best.

To further expand on the bold above.. You don't need as much cotton as you think. Definitely start with cotton balls or cotton rounds, they're easy. Make your wick like half as thick as you think you need. Seriously. This stuff expands!

And yeah, everything that Mack said!!

 

[StaircaseWit]

I would recommend you start with a cotton wool (cotton balls/rounds ect.) as they are the most absorbant and forgiving. Rule of thumb is your wick should be able to slide back and forth through the coil easily while dry, same goes for wick holes. You will probably have an easier time mounting a coil then threading your wick through because it's more consistent for the coil. Just make sure you let the cotton soak in juice a few hours before trying to vape it. Also keeping your coil wraps closer together helps prevent hot spots. Other than that just experiment and you will find what you like best.

That was quick! Thanks.

I only had cotton balls in the house and I was too lazy to run to Dollar General (tomorrow if I have the time), so I boiled the 100% cotton (so the bag says) balls twice for 25-30 minutes each time. They're drying now.

Okay, I was picturing quite a bit more cotton than it sliding easily when dry. I'm glad I asked.

To further expand on the bold above.. You don't need as much cotton as you think. Definitely start with cotton balls or cotton rounds, they're easy. Make your wick like half as thick as you think you need. Seriously. This stuff expands!

And yeah, everything that Mack said!!

Half is a good rule of thumb. Looking forward to making my first cotton wick, and I'm glad I asked for advice here first. I know I would have used way more than half the size.

Thanks so much.

 

[veganvap]

"It's not a guess if you're educated enough to know the difference between burnt plastic and burnt cotton. You say that the info is only good for someone who takes cotton wicks seriously which indicates you don't intend using cotton, which means you're here to question proven methods with no experience. Educating people how to do a burn test and boiling removing chemicals can effect people towards better health. Telling us on every post to email companies to determine chemical additives is getting kind of old. If you don't use cotton this really isn't your thread."

Contacting companies about addatives is more assuring than smelling a burn test. I aparently haven't suggested contacting manufacturers enough, as I've seen more people assume or go by others suggesting 'just pick the 'natural' color and boil it".
I meant the cotton wiki writer was one of the first to 'take cotton seriously' because it seems outdated and there's better info out there.

 

[oplholik]

I would recommend you start with a cotton wool (cotton balls/rounds ect.) as they are the most absorbant and forgiving. Rule of thumb is your wick should be able to slide back and forth through the coil easily while dry, same goes for wick holes. You will probably have an easier time mounting a coil then threading your wick through because it's more consistent for the coil. Just make sure you let the cotton soak in juice a few hours before trying to vape it. Also keeping your coil wraps closer together helps prevent hot spots. Other than that just experiment and you will find what you like best.

So this would mean then that the coil dia. should be close to the wick hole diameter?

Uhmm, never mind, I guess it just makes sense that it does. As it turns out, the wick holes are the size as I've been making the coils anyway.

 

[xMackx]

To further expand on the bold above.. You don't need as much cotton as you think. Definitely start with cotton balls or cotton rounds, they're easy. Make your wick like half as thick as you think you need. Seriously. This stuff expands!

And yeah, everything that Mack said!!

Great advice, I think we all used too much cotton for our first wick lol. Seriously I use about 1/12th as much cotton as my first attempt.

 

[oplholik]

Well darn, I still can't come up with any of the rounds. None at the 99¢ store, or Walgreens. Guess in the morning I'm gonna have to run all over the place to see if there are any stores with any left.

 

[xMackx]

Well darn, I still can't come up with any of the rounds. None at the 99¢ store, or Walgreens. Guess in the morning I'm gonna have to run all over the place to see if there are any stores with any left.

That's odd, but hopefully there should be several other stores that do. Just make sure you don't buy the more expensive ones that are mixed with aloe vera. I get mine from the dollar tree, 80 for a dollar.

 

[oplholik]

The Dollar Tree will be my first stop in the morning, hopefully they will have them. I made a 3 wrap coil today and I'm anxious to try a wick made from the rounds in it.

 

[xMackx]

The Dollar Tree will be my first stop in the morning, hopefully they will have them. I made a 3 wrap coil today and I'm anxious to try a wick made from the rounds in it.

They're in the medicine aisle next to bags of cotton balls and tooth brushs. You actually do want the cheap ones because they're not quilted or mixed with aloe.

 

[pkj]

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