Different Cottons for different wicks

[Porksmuggler]

JD1, go with the Ecru instead of white, there's no good reason to start with a bleached yarn, if an Ecru is available. The Ecru is not dyed.

I've been using it since shortly after starting vaping, I have a PG allergy, but first thought it might have been a problem with the silica wick, and switched early on. I quickly went to 100% VG, but kept the cotton, and never looked back.

Spent too many years smoking to have yet another thing to fret over like inhaling silica particles, or hexavalent chromium from SS mesh, even if the danger is determined later to be minimal...

 

[xMackx]

JD1, go with the Ecru instead of white, there's no good reason to start with a bleached yarn, if an Ecru is available. The Ecru is not dyed.

I've been using it since shortly after starting vaping, I have a PG allergy, but first thought it might have been a problem with the silica wick, and switched early on. I quickly went to 100% VG, but kept the cotton, and never looked back.

Spent too many years smoking to have yet another thing to fret over like inhaling silica particles, or hexavalent chromium from SS mesh, even if the danger is determined later to be minimal...

Yeah, from my own experience I have noticed that the types of cotton to most leary about are ropes, twines, yarn. Basically anything that's weeved because a lot of companies will use 5% polyester, rayon or nylon to give it durability and makes production easier. I have bought twine that says 100% cotton and it had said mentioned synthetic fibers. That's the reason why I am so adamant on telling people to do burn tests no matter what the package says.

 

[xMackx]

Another thing people should know is not all brands are created equal. Two different companies might be weeved different even though it may be the sold as the same product. So don't right something off as being bad material when a different brand could make all the difference. When talking about organic products and the industries producing them there are multitudes of things that can make for different product.

 

[lettucehead]

So when I do a burn test, what do I look for to determine if the cotton material has synthetic fibers or not?

Also, do I still need to boil plain ol' cottonballs?
From your experience, boiling cotton balls doesn't disintegrate them into mush?

I built a coil yesterday using a cotton ball straight from the bag (ah, glorious ignorance!) and I've been impressed at the flavor and vapor production.

 

[adeline]

So when I do a burn test, what do I look for to determine if the cotton material has synthetic fibers or not?

Also, do I still need to boil plain ol' cottonballs?
From your experience, boiling cotton balls doesn't disintegrate them into mush?

I built a coil yesterday using a cotton ball straight from the bag (ah, glorious ignorance!) and I've been impressed at the flavor and vapor production.

Synthetic materials will burn fast and unevenly. It will also leave behind a hard, almost plastic fiber. You don't want anything that you've burned to be "crunchy" or hard. Mack can explain that better.

I didn't boil cotton balls at first, but I do now. I just boil a bunch at once and I'm probably set for life.

They didn't turn to mush, exactly. They mostly kept shape, and they're still very much workable.

 

[JD1]

JD1, go with the Ecru instead of white, there's no good reason to start with a bleached yarn, if an Ecru is available. The Ecru is not dyed..........

Good to know. I'll look for it next time I'm at Walmart.

 

[JD1]

Hey Adeline, are you ready to report on the peaches and cream yet?

 

[pkj]

JD1, go with the Ecru instead of white, there's no good reason to start with a bleached yarn, if an Ecru is available. The Ecru is not dyed.

What brand of Ecru yarn are you using and where do you purchase it?

It is my understanding that Ecru colored yarn contains dye. Perhaps yours does not. The only way to make sure it is dye free is to get confirmation from the manufacturer. In most cases, dye free materials have labeling indicating dye free.

Ecru is a color. Until one gets the confirmation of dye free from the manufacturer or labeling, I would assume it contains dye.

I know upwards of 50 spinners. All of the spinners I know use acid, and some use dye and/or bleach in the final steps when creating yarn or crochet threads.

 

[JD1]

^^^^^ I did a search and it looks like my Walmart doesn't have the ecru anyways. I'll probably just pick up some of the white and boil it good to get the blueing and bleach residue out, as you mentioned in your other post.

 

[BikerBob]

Another use for old ashtrays! I took a small amount of the material: for yarn/thread about 1/2 to 1 inch; a pinch the size of a cotton swab end for cotton rounds/balls. Lit it on fire, and dropped it into the ashtray. Once I silenced the smoke detectors (recommend doing this outside, or stove-top with vent fan running) checked and found only ash left from the burning. I think this is 100% cotton. Repeated with a piece of "Johnson & Johnson REACH waxed dental floss". Found a small ball of 'plastic' left after burning it. I think this is synthetic.

 

[adeline]

Hey Adeline, are you ready to report on the peaches and cream yet?

Yeah I just need to take some time to examine my wicks... Supposed to be "working" right now, so I'll get to it a little later.

I just want to see how the wicks hold up with moderate use, and heavy use.

I can report that I like the flavor and vapor so far, and wicking is excellent as expected.

I enjoy working with this yarn, because it's more "rope-like" than the organic yarn I was working with -- stays together and you can manipulate it easily.

I will also say that this doesn't do well with "just" a couple hours of soaking. I burned the yarn on my A7 pretty quickly (within a couple hours of vaping) because I literally had everything soaking, and I needed to vape something.

Everything that soaked overnight is performing beautifully. I'll follow up with the longevity/durability report later.

 

[Gummy Bare]

Man, there's a lot more to this cotton thing than I expected after reading more in this post.

:: sent from android with tapatalk ::

 

[xMackx]

So when I do a burn test, what do I look for to determine if the cotton material has synthetic fibers or not?

Also, do I still need to boil plain ol' cottonballs?
From your experience, boiling cotton balls doesn't disintegrate them into mush?

I built a coil yesterday using a cotton ball straight from the bag (ah, glorious ignorance!) and I've been impressed at the flavor and vapor production.

Take a piece of said cotton, bring it into the flame slowly. If it looks like it's melting that means synthetic fibers. Should be a clean yellow flame if all cotton. Blow it out, now examine the char. Pure cotton char feels as soft as the un burnt cotton. The biggest give away is if the char is hard and crispy meaning synthetic fibers. Another big give away is how the smoke smells when you extinguish the flame. Pure cotton will smell just like burnt paper (any synthetic fibers smell like plastic burning).

Always boil any cotton you will use, even if it is safe it will make it taste cleaner.

Cotton cellulose will not disintegrate in boiling water. The fibers may fall apart with overly aggressive stirring. Cotton fibers are actually really strong and resilient. Just boil and squeeze flat and they will maintain their strength

 

[adeline]

Quick longevity update on the peaches and cream yarn...

WOW. I was expecting to see dark singe/burn on my wick in my IGO-L (I put that thing through its paces in the last couple days).

Nope. Nada. Zilch. Nice, clean wick.

Same on my A7 (rewicked since the "let's vape it after 2-3 hours of soak, coughcough, burn" episode), same on my Killer.

I've put the Dream (bt804) through a couple tanks, but it's hard to see the wick/coil without completely dissasembling.

I'll check back in on these at the 1-week mark, but so far, I give it a big thumbs up!

 

[BlazinZ28]

I hope you boiled plenty of it! Almost out of cotton yarn here

 

[Porksmuggler]

What brand of Ecru yarn are you using and where do you purchase it?

It is my understanding that Ecru colored yarn contains dye. Perhaps yours does not. The only way to make sure it is dye free is to get confirmation from the manufacturer. In most cases, dye free materials have labeling indicating dye free.

Ecru is a color. Until one gets the confirmation of dye free from the manufacturer or labeling, I would assume it contains dye.

I know upwards of 50 spinners. All of the spinners I know use acid, and some use dye and/or bleach in the final steps when creating yarn or crochet threads.

We were discussing Peaches & Creme, it is not dyed, response straight from the company. Ecru is by definition not dyed anyway, so I would recommend that you assume this, until confirmed otherwise. There is the likelihood of some bleaching for consistency, but not to the extent of white.

What brands are you referring to that have dyed Ecru?

 

[pkj]

Thank you for confirming you have contacted the manufacturer for the Peaches & Creme Ecru. They would, or should, know if there was, or was not, dye in their Ecru product.

I don't remember which brand it was. I purchased it in the LA garment dist when I was picking up a textile order. Put it into the pan to boil and immediately noticed the water change color. By the time it completed the first boil, the water looked like weak tea. The second boil still had some color in the water. Third boil, very light color in the water.

At that point I threw it into the trash because I considered it unusable for wicking. I will try to find it in the store(s) and write down the brand. My next buying trip to LA is in early June.

Cotton fields are all over this area. I have a cotton field within a few blocks of my house. I'm bartering my products with a couple local spinners. I do not expect to see a great deal of difference between the store bought yarn and the hand spun yarn. But I want to find out for myself. Will let you know if there is a difference worth noting.

 

[adeline]

I hope you boiled plenty of it! Almost out of cotton yarn here

I boiled what I thought was enough for both of us.. but since I've doubled the number of RBAs I have I need to boil some more. I don't measure I just pull out armfuls and boil it. I have a nice long bunch for you, but I'll do some more today!

 

[adeline]

Cotton fields are all over this area. I have a cotton field within a few blocks of my house. I'm bartering my products with a couple local spinners. I do not expect to see a great deal of difference between the store bought yarn and the hand spun yarn. But I want to find out for myself. Will let you know if there is a difference worth noting.

I WISH I could find a local cotton grower/spinner.

I kind of feel like I'd have a different experience with fresh, hand-spun yarn. If I could find an ORGANIC grower/spinner, I'd be in heaven!! No pesticides, less processing, and you can be absolutely certain it's 100% cotton and nothing... NOTHING else.

I'm really jealous of you right now!

 

[StaircaseWit]

I WISH I could find a local cotton grower/spinner.

I kind of feel like I'd have a different experience with fresh, hand-spun yarn. If I could find an ORGANIC grower/spinner, I'd be in heaven!! No pesticides, less processing, and you can be absolutely certain it's 100% cotton and nothing... NOTHING else.

I'm really jealous of you right now!

That makes me think: I live not too far from Amish country, where one can routinely watch demonstrations of yarn spinning. Since they don't really buy "outside" products other than certain machinery, I wonder if they grow their own cotton? I know they spin their own wool yarn.