Dry hits because of air trapped in the wells

[KurtVD]

I have an RTA that I prefer over my RDA, but it does something that has produced dry hits for the longest time, until recently I found out why (and what to do against it): There are air bubbles getting trapped somewhere (I guess in the wells), and if I keep on vaping ‘normally’ (slow draws), the wick will dry out and I’m getting a dry hit, even though the tank is full (or at any other level, doesn’t matter). The solution (other than waiting for quite a long time) is to plug/unplug the air hole while drawing hard for a few seconds (without heating), then the bubbles will come up through the tank and the next puff will be tasty again. Is this normal? It’s an MTL (Berserker Mini 22mm), and I don’t inhale, maybe my draws are too weak?

 

[Letitia]

Longer draws and/or thicker juice can cause this. Just tipping the atty will also release the air bubbles.

 

[Izan]

I have an RTA that I prefer over my RDA, but it does something that has produced dry hits for the longest time, until recently I found out why (and what to do against it): There are air bubbles getting trapped somewhere (I guess in the wells), and if I keep on vaping ‘normally’ (slow draws), the wick will dry out and I’m getting a dry hit, even though the tank is full (or at any other level, doesn’t matter). The solution (other than waiting for quite a long time) is to plug/unplug the air hole while drawing hard for a few seconds (without heating), then the bubbles will come up through the tank and the next puff will be tasty again. Is this normal? It’s an MTL (Berserker Mini 22mm), and I don’t inhale, maybe my draws are too weak?

It sounds like a bit too much wick and/or your juice may be a bit thick.
If the juice is VG heavy, perhaps a few drops of distilled water may help.
Using a bit less wick next time may help also.

Cheers
I

 

[DaveP]

I have an RTA that I prefer over my RDA, but it does something that has produced dry hits for the longest time, until recently I found out why (and what to do against it): There are air bubbles getting trapped somewhere (I guess in the wells), and if I keep on vaping ‘normally’ (slow draws), the wick will dry out and I’m getting a dry hit, even though the tank is full (or at any other level, doesn’t matter). The solution (other than waiting for quite a long time) is to plug/unplug the air hole while drawing hard for a few seconds (without heating), then the bubbles will come up through the tank and the next puff will be tasty again. Is this normal? It’s an MTL (Berserker Mini 22mm), and I don’t inhale, maybe my draws are too weak?

Bubbles coming up in the tank occur as you create a partial vacuum in the tank when you draw on the drip tip. This equalizes the pressure on the tank after juice is drawn into the chimney. Prior to your vape the pressures are equal. Once you hit the drip tip for a vape the pressure in the chimney goes negative and more juice is pulled from the tank to equalize the pressure and re-wet the wick.

If you are getting dry hits it's because there's too much air flow and the process of juice feed is occurring too slowly. If your atty has an air adjustment, close it down to the small hole and work from there to find the right one. Juice viscosity also affects the process. High VG juice requires a tank that can feed thick juice at a high air flow rate.

The Beserker has an air adjust ring. Close it down to restrict air flow and the problem should cease. You are creating more vacuum by pulling on the atty while you are covering the air holes. Start at the smallest hole and experiment. Find the right one and and the problem should go away. If it doesn't, maybe your VG level is too high. A couple of drops of distilled water in a tank will help to thin the VG.

 

[KurtVD]

It sounds like a bit too much wick and/or your juice may be a bit thick.
If the juice is VG heavy, perhaps a few drops of distilled water may help.
Using a bit less wick next time may help also.

Cheers
I

It’s the juice, it’s definitely quite thick. I don’t think it’s too much wick, I’ve been through that, because this particular atomizer tends to leak if there’s too much wick. I will add a little water, that will probably help.

 

[DaveP]

It’s the juice, it’s definitely quite thick. I don’t think it’s too much wick, I’ve been through that, because this particular atomizer tends to leak if there’s too much wick. I will add a little water, that will probably help.

As Izan said, adding a small amount of distilled water to the tank will help. Start with a drop or two and go from there.

 

[greek mule]

I don’t think it’s too much wick, I’ve been through that, because this particular atomizer tends to leak if there’s too much wick.

Probably a Typo..too much wick in the wells gives dry hits and no leaking at all.

 

[tdman77]

Having too thin of a wick can also cause dry hits. I had a RTA that was meant to use 3mm coils but I fitted a 4mm coil and had to comb out my wicks super thin to fit into the wicking channels. It was enough wick to prevent flooding but was to thin to provide adequate wicking to the large coil. There is a sweet spot you have to find for the coil build and the deck's wicking channel.

 

[KurtVD]

Probably a Typo..too much wick in the wells gives dry hits and no leaking at all.

Maybe it depends what is ‘too much’? It was my first rebuildable, and it took me a while to find out how to make it leakproof, but I found that with less wick, I have less problems.

 

[KurtVD]

High VG juice requires a tank that can feed thick juice at a high air flow rate.

The Beserker has an air adjust ring. Close it down to restrict air flow and the problem should cease

Thank you, I could try that, even though I would rather keep the ring at its current position, and dilute the juice instead. Because putting the ring on a smaller position will also produce a different vapor, and I’ll have to draw harder, and I like it the way it is now.

 

[DaveP]

Thank you, I could try that, even though I would rather keep the ring at its current position, and dilute the juice instead. Because putting the ring on a smaller position will also produce a different vapor, and I’ll have to draw harder, and I like it the way it is now.

I'm a MTL vaper and I always keep the air flow adjustment on the largest air hole. The Beserker could stand to have at least one more larger air hole for those of us who like an easy MTL draw, IMO.

With high VG juice your best option is to add a couple of drops of distilled water to a tank of VG juice.

 

[KurtVD]

A little update for all of you who gave me advice (and thanks to you all): I have diluted one of my juices with water, and there's still air getting trapped in the wells. Fortunately I'm using temperature control, that way I'm only getting "mild" dry hits when I forget to do something about it, but it's annoying nevertheless. I'll experiment some more with the wicking, seeing as these are the only two variables...

 

[KurtVD]

Bubbles coming up in the tank occur as you create a partial vacuum in the tank when you draw on the drip tip. This equalizes the pressure on the tank after juice is drawn into the chimney. Prior to your vape the pressures are equal. Once you hit the drip tip for a vape the pressure in the chimney goes negative and more juice is pulled from the tank to equalize the pressure and re-wet the wick.

If you are getting dry hits it's because there's too much air flow and the process of juice feed is occurring too slowly. If your atty has an air adjustment, close it down to the small hole and work from there to find the right one. Juice viscosity also affects the process. High VG juice requires a tank that can feed thick juice at a high air flow rate.

The Beserker has an air adjust ring. Close it down to restrict air flow and the problem should cease. You are creating more vacuum by pulling on the atty while you are covering the air holes. Start at the smallest hole and experiment. Find the right one and and the problem should go away. If it doesn't, maybe your VG level is too high. A couple of drops of distilled water in a tank will help to thin the VG.

It's quite an old thread, but I still haven't solved the problem, it's a real nuisance. I'm spending more time trying to get these air pockets out of the wells, than actually vaping, it's really frustrating. So far I've tried anything I can possibly imaging to reduce the airflow, to no avail. Not only did I vape on the smallest hole, I even closed it partially with the ring, and closed it entirely after each draw. And even with water-diluted juice, still the same problem (it's 70 or 80% VG, and really quite thick, but I add enough water to thin it out considerably).

Here's something I don't quite understand: Every few times, when I'm trying to get the air pockets released from the wells, they just won't come up, whatever I do. By chance, I've found out that in these situations, all I have to do is unscrew the top lid, and that feels like there's vacuum inside, but once I lift it off, the air bubbles come up all by themselves, no knocking or shaking required. Obviously the vacuum inside the tank seems to be raison that the juice doesn't flow into the wells, hence the creation of the air pockets in there. But this looks to me like a design flaw, that can't be remedied by thinner juice, or less airflow. Am I right?

 

[mimöschen]

There are many possible causes for vaporlock.

Although that's usually more a problem with clones, it may be because of bad orings.
Change them out.

Don't crank the topfillport down too hard.
When you feel the resistance of the rubber gasket/oring when screwing the topcap down, give the cap another quarter turn and leave it there.

 

[Tabac man]

I think the OP seeing the problem the wrong way. The problem isn't bubbles being stuck somewhere. There are NO bubbles because the wicking is too tight somewhere, probably in the juice wells. By sucking hard enough to wet that wick you pull juice up through, creating pressure and the incoming air then become bubbles. When you get the wicking right the bubbles will happen naturally. Over stuffing the juice wells also mutes the flavour considerably.

The Berserker can actually be wicking pretty good and still have muted flavour. They have a sweet spot re how much cotton should go into the wells for good wicking AND good flavour. In my experience (with the mini) that window is fairly small.

 

[DeloresRose]

I think the OP seeing the problem the wrong way. The problem isn't bubbles being stuck somewhere. There are NO bubbles because the wicking is too tight somewhere, probably in the juice wells. By sucking hard enough to wet that wick you pull juice up through, creating pressure and the incoming air then become bubbles. When you get the wicking right the bubbles will happen naturally. Over stuffing the juice wells also mutes the flavour considerably.

The Berserker can actually be wicking pretty good and still have muted flavour. They have a sweet spot re how much cotton should go into the wells for good wicking AND good flavour. In my experience (with the mini) that window is fairly small.

I’m with you on this. Unless, like mentioned, it’s a clone. I have no problem with my berserker, after fiddling with it a few times - it was my first rta, so there was a learning curve.

My error was too much cotton. I watched all those YouTube videos and I guess my idea of ‘enough to give some resistance going through the coil’ is a bit different than what the reviewers meant.

And I over corrected and had leaks, lol. But soon enough found how much was Goldilocks.

Every RTA is like that, has a perfect amount. After a while, a few different RTAs, you can tell just by looking what is going to work.

 

[DaveP]

As https://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/members/tabac-man.346073/ said, juice doesn't give when you take a hit. There must be air in the tank to allow the pull on the mouthpiece to create vacuum to pull juice into the wick. A completely full tank will exhibit hydro-static lock and juice flow will be minimum at best. Bubbles in the tank are your friend. They shrink under the pull from the mouthpiece and draw in more juice. No bubble, no juice feed.

 

[Letitia]

My Crius single coil didn’t get bubbles but always got saturated hits. Same with the SMM, depends on the atty whether you get visible bubbles.

 

[KurtVD]

There are many possible causes for vaporlock.

Although that's usually more a problem with clones, it may be because of bad orings.
Change them out.

Don't crank the topfillport down too hard.
When you feel the resistance of the rubber gasket/oring when screwing the topcap down, give the cap another quarter turn and leave it there.

I guess that will work, however it won't really be mobile anymore that way

 

[KurtVD]

There are many possible causes for vaporlock.

Although that's usually more a problem with clones, it may be because of bad orings.
Change them out.

Don't crank the topfillport down too hard.
When you feel the resistance of the rubber gasket/oring when screwing the topcap down, give the cap another quarter turn and leave it there.

Well, I have two, and one of them is a clone, but it happens with either of them.

I will see where I can get new o-rings. Do you order them at fasttech? But then I would also like to understand. If an o-ring is bad, why does that create or contribute to this problem? Since I would need some more air in the tank, how does a bad o-ring prevent air from getting there?

The suggestion about the top lid is not very practical, because that would make it not leak, but literally empty its tank whenever it would fall on its side. I'd rather open it, let the air in, and close it again every now and then..

Thanks