Half full bottle squonking woes...

[Borescoped]

Ok, getting the hang of proper tightness of the cap for the squonk bottle, but when I get down to about half full, things get a bit tricky, and not having consistent success squonking at that point (without popping the drip tip off and visually verifying flow). I'm trying to master the art of a blind squonking a complete 6ml bottle AND not once getting a dry pull.

I thought I saw (while doing homework on REOs) that someone had posted some advice for half a bottle and below squonking. For the life of me, I can't remember what thread, or who was advising regarding the half full or less bottle methodology.

Any one have advice to toss out there, or a link handy so I can sally forth and read up on this?

T.I.A!


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[JC Okie]

Are you using an RM2? How I handle a half full bottle is that I just hold the pressure on the bottle longer. Then I actually go fill the bottle because it's a lot easier with a full bottle. I pretty much chain vape.....at least I vape back to back to back in spurts. Then I may put it down for an extended time. Anyway, I've heard not to squonk juice onto a hot coil, but I do. Having said that, how I can tell if my coil is wet is that after I have vaped a few hits, I squonk. When I see a little puff of vapor come out the top of the drip tip and/or the air hole of the RM2, I know it's hit the mark. The reason they say to not squonk onto a hot coil is that it may pop the coil, but it's never happened to me. I use 28 gauge wire and it's pretty sturdy. Don't know if this helps or not.

 

[Borescoped]

Are you using an RM2? How I handle a half full bottle is that I just hold the pressure on the bottle longer. Then I actually go fill the bottle because it's a lot easier with a full bottle. I pretty much chain vape.....at least I vape back to back to back in spurts. Then I may put it down for an extended time. Anyway, I've heard not to squonk juice onto a hot coil, but I do. Having said that, how I can tell if my coil is wet is that after I have vaped a few hits, I squonk. When I see a little puff of vapor come out the top of the drip tip and/or the air hole of the RM2, I know it's hit the mark. The reason they say to not squonk onto a hot coil is that it may pop the coil, but it's never happened to me. I use 28 gauge wire and it's pretty sturdy. Don't know if this helps or not.

Yeah, using an RM2. Held a longer squonk, check. Got tired of dry pulls, just go refill bottle, then rewick, check. If my coil has been properly squozed, 2 pulls, re squonk, check.

Notice little puff of vapor from air hole and/or DT when squonking, check... BUT sometimes I still get a dry pull. I've noticed that just because I see the puff, doesn't guarantee a saturated wick (depending on the speed of the squonk and juice level from what I can tell so far).

This does help, makes me think about each individual step and validating the process to find a common denominator, so that I may quickly achieve the mastery of "the 6ml's of blind squonking w/out any dry pulls" technique!


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[Funk Dracula]

Easy. Good firm 2-4 sec squonk. Just make sure that your juice hole is free to drain up and back down. The lower the bottle gets the harder and longer you need to press the bottle.

I swear I don't have any "secrets" to my squonking; but I've never had a problem blind squonking from day 1. Never any flooding, never a dry hit. I get my bottles just about bone dry.

I really can't think of anything that I'm doing differently. I follow Super_X's short wicking guidelines (although I keep mine even shorter) and that's it... huh...

The only advantage I can even remotely think of is I do have rather strong and dexterous hands being a musician... but nah I really don't think that's making a difference between me and any other Reonaut.

I guess I'll add to make sure your tube isn't somehow pressing against the inside of the bottle preventing a good flow from the bottom... I've had that happen early on but always caught it straight away because you can tell due to the bottle not bending/compressing at all.

hmmmm...

 

[solace.discord]

Yeah, using an RM2. Held a longer squonk, check. Got tired of dry pulls, just go refill bottle, then rewick, check. If my coil has been properly squozed, 2 pulls, re squonk, check.

Notice little puff of vapor from air hole and/or DT when squonking, check... BUT sometimes I still get a dry pull. I've noticed that just because I see the puff, doesn't guarantee a saturated wick (depending on the speed of the squonk and juice level from what I can tell so far).

^^^^this.. thanks for posting..

 

[JC Okie]

Easy. Good firm 2-4 sec squonk. Just make sure that your juice hole is free to drain up and back down. The lower the bottle gets the harder and longer you need to press the bottle.

I swear I don't have any "secrets" to my squonking; but I've never had a problem blind squonking from day 1. Never any flooding, never a dry hit. I get my bottles just about bone dry.

I really can't think of anything that I'm doing differently. I follow Super_X's short wicking guidelines (although I keep mine even shorter) and that's it... huh...

The only advantage I can even remotely think of is I do have rather strong and dexterous hands being a musician... but nah I really don't think that's making a difference between me and any other Reonaut.

I guess I'll add to make sure your tube isn't somehow pressing against the inside of the bottle preventing a good flow from the bottom... I've had that happen early on but always caught it straight away because you can tell due to the bottle not bending/compressing at all.

hmmmm...

Good point about the tube. Clip a "V" in the bottom of your feed tube so that it can't suction itself to the bottom of the bottle and obstruct the free flow of the juice.

 

[Borescoped]

I did ensure that I kept the wicks short (just long enough to touch the deck when saturated), check. It does seem like a firm squonk for that amount of time does help.

That next part about the lower it gets, the longer and harder you have to squonk might be the key piece.

When you write about the tube pressing agains the inside of the bottle, do you mean like pinching the tube off when attempting to squonk? That I'll have to see if I do, but I don't think I do.

I think I needed that validation on technique about the longer/harder part, think I was beginning to overcome this issue with that, but wasn't quite sure if it was correct. Thanks!


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[Borescoped]

Good point about the tube. Clip a "V" in the bottom of your feed tube so that it can't suction itself to the bottom of the bottle and obstruct the free flow of the juice.

My tube hangs about 1/4" from bottom of the bottle, but I do still need to v-cut the tube as it isn't yet, and pull the cap up the tube, so the tube is on the bottom. I haven't had any problems with it yet though, suctioning down anywhere.

Thanks for all the quick replies so far folks! This IS helping us noobs out!


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[nerak]

I did ensure that I kept the wicks short (just long enough to touch the deck when saturated), check. It does seem like a firm squonk for that amount of time does help.

That next part about the lower it gets, the longer and harder you have to squonk might be the key piece.

When you write about the tube pressing agains the inside of the bottle, do you mean like pinching the tube off when attempting to squonk? That I'll have to see if I do, but I don't think I do.

I think I needed that validation on technique about the longer/harder part, think I was beginning to overcome this issue with that, but wasn't quite sure if it was correct. Thanks!


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I have noticed that when the bottle juice is low I have to squonk longer. Also make sure I allow enough time for the wick to soak up the juice.

Usually I will fill a bottle at 1/2 to 1/3 full. Just find it easier that way.

I do still get some dry hits but only if I am not paying attention and pick up a REO that has sit awhile. I fail to notice the bottle fullness and hit before I squonk.

 

[Borescoped]

I have noticed that when the bottle juice is low I have to squonk longer. Also make sure I allow enough time for the wick to soak up the juice.

Usually I will fill a bottle at 1/2 to 1/3 full. Just find it easier that way.

I do still get some dry hits but only if I am not paying attention and pick up a REO that has sit awhile. I fail to notice the bottle fullness and hit before I squonk.

I agree, it seems to be easier to just fill, but by me mastering the full 6ml's, I'll increase my REOnaut skill and confidence in that I can literally go out, all day, have all the juice I need, not take any wick AND no back ups. Sounds like a worthy goal to me!


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[Borescoped]

It would seem that there is a VERY fine line between longer and harder... And having it drip out your hole.

Wiping down the side of my RM2 now LOL.


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[nerak]

I agree, it seems to be easier to just fill, but by me mastering the full 6ml's, I'll increase my REOnaut skill and confidence in that I can literally go out, all day, have all the juice I need, not take any wick AND no back ups. Sounds like a worthy goal to me!


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One more thing. I have noticed some of my tubing has a slight curve. It helps to hold a 1/2 empty bottle so it is tilted just a little to the side where the tubing is resting.

If you squonk while the REO is tilted back the tubing might not draw in juice well.

 

[Borescoped]

One more thing. I have noticed some of my tubing has a slight curve. It helps to hold a 1/2 empty bottle so it is tilted just a little to the side where the tubing is resting.

If you squonk while the REO is tilted back the tubing might not draw in juice well.

Now THAT is one I didn't think about, thanks!


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[SLIPPY_EEL]

you'll also find the bottles have soft and harder sections, think of the bottle like a square.. the soft sections are opposite each other, if you set your bottle up so your squonking the soft part it'll be easier as the juice gets low

i tend to squonk hard and tilt away from airhole for a sec or 2 then as i straighten up reo i let go the squonk, works for me

 

[Filthy-Beast]

I find a good 5 count is needed on a half full or lower bottle. I've gotten the hang of it now. when I first started I'd look closely and could see the juice when it reached the air hole. If was dark or I was driving I drew in air through the drip tip until I could hear or feel a slight gurgle, you also need to give it a little longer to drain back down.

 

[Wickeddeuce]

so here is my way... blind i point the hole down squeeze while taking a gentle pull... when i get a slight gurgle starting, i hold it up right, stop squeezing but dont remove pressure, then after a few seconds release the pressure...

looking (without removing the dt) i watch the air hole... see the juice, hold it for a few seconds, and boom done... with my nano that has a nice cotton bed that wraps around when the juice gets where it should be i put the air hole up for a second as that is more where the cotton bed is... then set it normal and release...

too easy...

 

[ancient puffer]

FWIW, I *finally* learned how to "blind squonk". Now that I know, it's a piece of cake. Oh and not my own discovery, read it somewhere on this forum.

1) Rotate REO so that the air hole (side intake) is facing DOWN.
2) Squonk while drawing on (but not firing) REO.
3) When you hear the "gurgle", you know the juice level is high enough to already be soaking the wick, so stop.
4) return REO to upright position and count to 6.
5) for added fun, when you return to upright position, immediately hold REO next to your ear. Most times you can hear the excess juice being sucked back down into the bottle (less noticable with a nearly empty bottle).
6) vape your brains out until time to resquonk

I find this works quite well even while driving, and is invaluable if vaping in semi-darkness.

 

[ric23]

With my limited experience, I believe that when your bottle is half full, there is more air coming in the tube from the deck to your bottle. Kinda like the concept of the bottle is putting out more pressure when its full when your filling from a gas tank. I hope I am conveying my thinking. That is why it helps to just fill the bottle again. Sometimes, I watch the tube that is inside my bottle, press it until it doesn't have any air anymore(this will put juice on your deck) then I add a couple of drops on the deck and then let go of the bottle. This helps for a bit until it needs a longer squonk again. Dang! I know I confused a lot of people if not everybody! Sorry!

 

[Borescoped]

The long&hard squonk/tilt/gurgle/release technique seems to be working very well for me, combined with the longer/harder squonk. I don't have to see or hear if it's wicked properly in the dark or while driving.

Thank you all very much for the help!


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[Raynman]

I draw on the DT air hole pointed down while squonking till I hear or feel the gurgle. (feel in a high noise area) When it gurgles I rotate the Reo around while still drawing on the DT and hit the fire button.