Holy wow, cotton IS amazing!

[partyannimal]

Thank you PLANofMAN, catalinaflyer, and Byebyeanalogs73 for your help.

I replaced the factory/silica wick from a head just now with cotton. I made a horrible Lime DIY juice before realizing I'm apparently not a big fan of lime. I couldn't get the flavor out, so I figured it would be the best one to tinker with because all of my others are still in pretty good shape (considering how long I've been using/cleaning/dry burning them).
I just tried it out and honestly, I'm shocked! I know, I know, cotton fans have been singing it's praise up and down the forum for a while now lol. I just assumed it was another YMMV thing, and different strokes for different folks.
Well let me tell you, I had been putting it off for a while with the excuse that I can't rebuild coils because I don't have anything to test the resistance with. I could kick myself now lol. I cannot believe how much my flavors were muted, and the difference that cotton makes!!!
The only negative side to this new discovery is that I may have to reformulate all of my favorite DIY juices now!! I aparently wasn't getting half of the taste that I should have been getting, and the vapor production is a bit better too.

One last query...how do I know when it needs to be changed, and since I can't dry burn with it, do I just have to soak my coils in PGA now when they're dirty?
On a final note, I'm DEFINITELY pulling the trigger on the itaste vv v3 I've been wanting for a while. No more excuses for not rebuilding coils, and I think it's about time I upgrade from my eGo style 650 and 1100's lol.

 

[Zealous]

most of us pull the cotton wick when it needs to be cleaned, do a dry burn of just the coil & then put more cotton in. Glad you like the cotton wick.

 

[Enoch777]

One last query...how do I know when it needs to be changed, and since I can't dry burn with it, do I just have to soak my coils in PGA now when they're dirty?

Congrats, I knew I wanted to get into rebuilding right away when I started and yes, it's definitely a world of difference. I generally change my cotton wicks out once a day since I vape NETs and desserts mostly. If you notice flavor going off, not bad, but off... then that juice might require more frequent wick changes. I've noticed if I use a crystal clear flavor the wick lasts much longer, days. Generally a bad cotton wick turns tan/brown i.e. darker, and doesn't perform quite as well or with as clean of a flavor as a fresh wick.

I pull the wick out, wipe up excess, dry burn coil clean, and install a new wick.

Not sure what device you're using, but it only takes me about 2 minutes with my RDAs, so I consider maintenance pretty low considering the performance and flavor you get.

Hope that helps

 

[Myrany]

I just yank out the cotton, dry burn the empty coils, insert new cotton and vape on.

When the taste goes off or I change flavors is when I do it.

 

[partyannimal]

Okay, thanks for the quick reply Zealous and Enoch777! I wasn't aware that I could dry burn the coil with no wick, although it kind of makes sense lol. I'm tempted to change the wicks in all of my tanks now, but I think I'll keep a few silica in for when I get lazy lol. I don't use tobacco, coffee, or many other dark juices so I don't have to clean them often to begin with. One of my ADV has been a chocolate concoction that I made with TFA clear chocolate, so it's not bad at all on my heads.
I'm glad to have taken another step in DIY vaping! Now I gotta get my first coil built and I'll TRULY feel accomplished lol! Thanks again everyone!!!

 

[partyannimal]

I just yank out the cotton, dry burn the empty coils, insert new cotton and vape on.

When the taste goes off or I change flavors is when I do it.

Yeah, um...the problem with looking for the "taste going off" is that it tastes totally different to me now to begin with lol! I guess it'll be trial and error for a bit.
No problemo, it's worth it.

 

[catalinaflyer]

On a final note, I'm DEFINITELY pulling the trigger on the itaste vv v3 I've been wanting for a while. No more excuses for not rebuilding coils, and I think it's about time I upgrade from my eGo style 650 and 1100's lol.

Excellent choice for a first VV/VW device, especially now that you have the "playing with the coils" bug since this unit will allow you to test the resistance of the coils. Not as good as a dedicated resistance meter or multi-meter but as long as your not trying to build sub-ohm coils then it will tell you if you have either a dead short/open circuit - or good resistance.

 

[catalinaflyer]

One last query...how do I know when it needs to be changed, and since I can't dry burn with it, do I just have to soak my coils in PGA now when they're dirty?

Over on the other thread -

Generally I will change the cotton once the flavor starts to get muted. I will do a really quick dry-burn on it while I have the cotton out then re-wick it. Make sure if you do try a dry burn don't stay on the button too long and get the legs of the coil hot or they may melt into the rubber grommet which doesn't taste or smell good. I got lucky and the last 2 Mini PT2's I got had coils with silicone (translucent white) grommets which have a much higher temperature resistance).

 

[partyannimal]

Excellent choice for a first VV/VW device, especially now that you have the "playing with the coils" bug since this unit will allow you to test the resistance of the coils. Not as good as a dedicated resistance meter or multi-meter but as long as your not trying to build sub-ohm coils then it will tell you if you have either a dead short/open circuit - or good resistance.

Thanks, that was my assumption after watching a few youtube reviews. And thanks again for all of your help!!!

 

[second2none]

Believe it or not you will just know something changed in the flavor.
As far as coil building goes you will probably find making the cotton wick to be harder at least I do on a protank head. Too thick or too thin can cause problems.

 

[partyannimal]

Believe it or not you will just know something changed in the flavor.
As far as coil building goes you will probably find making the cotton wick to be harder at least I do on a protank head. Too thick or too thin can cause problems.

Thanks for the info, I think I got lucky by using just enough this first time.
I just noticed we're almost neighbors! I almost moved to Sinking Spring a few years ago.

 

[Portertown]

Welcome to the wonderful world of cotton.
A lot of ways to use cotton, different types of cotton, boiling your cotton or not, etc.
A lot of info about cotton usage and tricks on the forum. Some do it one way, others another way. Work with it and you will find the way that works for you.

 

[mavric]

It's the fabric of our lives!

 

[Snickerfritz]

I usually change the cotton after a couple of tankfuls, and end up having to recoil about every three or four rewicks. I don't think the cotton lasts quite as long as silica, but it sure is a huge improvement when it's working well.

 

[jholl318]

100% White Cotton Yarn works great for Pro tank heads

 

[partyannimal]

100% White Cotton Yarn works great for Pro tank heads

I don't have a pro tank yet, but I've heard a lot about cotton yarn working well. Do you just separate the thread into smaller pieces, or does it work it's way through without much of a fight as is? I've never seen anyone mention any specific thickness to buy.

 

[Myrany]

I don't have a pro tank yet, but I've heard a lot about cotton yarn working well. Do you just separate the thread into smaller pieces, or does it work it's way through without much of a fight as is? I've never seen anyone mention any specific thickness to buy.

When I used the Cotton yarn I used a full strand inside the coil and 2 plys off a separated strand as flavor wicks.

 

[Rickb119]

I don't have a pro tank yet, but I've heard a lot about cotton yarn working well. Do you just separate the thread into smaller pieces, or does it work it's way through without much of a fight as is? I've never seen anyone mention any specific thickness to buy.

I started with the yarn and have switched to cotton cooking twine from BBY.

Try the yarn, cooking twine, cotton balls, etc. to see which you prefer.

 

[Rickb119]

I usually change the cotton after a couple of tankfuls, and end up having to recoil about every three or four rewicks. I don't think the cotton lasts quite as long as silica, but it sure is a huge improvement when it's working well.

Yup!

 

[bhswmc01]

I've been using cotton yarn for about a month and a half now, and I haven't had to replace any wicks yet (have about 10 in rotation). Every few tanks, I just soak the head in vodka for an hour or so, rinse them off, and let dry overnight.

To build, I do the same thing Myrany did. I've heard you can take 2 strands and use a beading needle to feed it thru the coil.