How I re-wick my T3's with cheesecloth (pictues)

[Mitey F]

I had been curious about cotton wicks for quite some time now. With no wire for my AGA on hand, that wasn't going to happen. Then I saw the http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/clearomizers/377470-installing-cotton-you-kanger-t3s.html thread started by floatingtrem.

I figured, "Hell, I've got some extra T3 heads sitting around, why not?". And so it began.

Before I start, 2 things.

1. All of the pictures were taken with my phone, as it's much easier to get them to my photobucket with my phone than it is with my DSLR. Sorry for the quality.

2. I have only done this a few times, and in the last 2 days. I do not know how long these wicks will last. What I DO know, is that they have not needed ANY break-in for flavor, they work great right away.

Here's how I did it.

First, pull out an old (or new I suppose) T3 head. My heads were already cleaned and dried before storage. If yours are used, clean them well (however you like to do so) and dry thoroughly! Remove all of the silica wick with tweezers, small pliers, fingernails, whatever, and dry burn.

I use 100% cotton cheesecloth, the package doesn't specify bleached vs. unbleached, so I can't attest to what it is.

Then I separate 15 strands of cotton for use as a wick, and a single piece to thread the wick through the coil.

Double over the single strand and thread it through the coil.

Put the new cotton wick material through the loop you have created.

And pull the new wick (carefully) through the coil. I have found with 15 strands, there is very little resistance, and minimal distortion of the coil.

Trim to length. I like surgical snips (like they'd use for sutures) or sharp swiss army knife scissors.

I then take another 30 strands (yes, 30 more) and install them as the flavor wick, and again, trim to length.

I then install the grommet (standard direction, not reversed) and the center post. At this point I have been checking the resistance to make sure there are no shorts, as it's much easier to fix a short at this point than it is when your clearo is all full of yummy juice.

That's it! With 15 strands for the wick (doubled over to make 30 when installed) and 30 strands for the flavor wick, I have not needed a SINGLE break-in puff. I fill the clearo, let it sit for about 1 minute to fully absorb, and start vaping. Tastes great with good vapor right from the get go. With this wick combo, I have also had NOT ONE SINGLE GURGLE thus far. I'm only about 2 fills in, but so far, I'm EXTREMELY happy with the results. Unless I burn or severely damage a coil, I don't see myself buying hardly any new T3 heads. This REALLY IS WORKING THAT WELL FOR ME!

I hope this helps someone. Happy vaping

 

[pcrdude]

Wow, I'm going to have to try this.

Would this cheesecloth be like the type you used?

Amazon.com: Norpro 367 Natural Cheese Cloth: Kitchen & Dining

 

[Mitey F]

pcr, the cloth I have is a much more coarse weave, although I'd imagine that would work fine. Cheesecloth is basically cheesecloth as far as I know. I'll grab a picture tonight of the cloth and package. Right now, I gotta go warm the bike up and get geared up. Work time.

 

[pcrdude]

Hey Mitey, thanks for that. I am guessing you used the kind they wrap lemons with in seafood joints. Like this:

http://www.amazon.com/Harold-Import-Company-Inc-044/dp/B000GLPPIU/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

Ride safe!

 

[Steve11973]

I just rewicked a T3 using your method. It seems to be working just fine right now. Lots of vape!!!
My cheesecloth is fine mesh. I used the 30/30 method. It pulled through the coil with no resistance and i used the excess that I trimmed for the flavor wick.

Thanks for sharing.


Sent from my iPhone

 

[BentWookie]

Nice tutorial. Never thought to rewick instead of just wrapping a new coil/wick. Like I said in the other thread I'm currently using cotton makeup pads cut into strips and twisted but I may have to give the cheesecloth another shot. Do you do much chain vaping? Does the cheese cloth hold up well? The cotton balls burned out for me in less than a day.

 

[Mitey F]

I chain vape on breaks and lunch at work with the T3's, haven't had a burning or gurgling issue yet. When I'm home I have RBA's and drippers that I use. But still, I'll do about 15 minute stints of chain vaping with these and have had no issues yet. All of my new T3 wicks are about 4 days old and going strong. I suppose I should note however, that I very rarely vape sweet/thick juices, typically just tobacco flavors.

 

[kimbo55]

I did mine with rolled piece of cheesecloth and it tasted really burnt. Will try your "string" from the cloth to see if the crap taste goes away. Thanks

 

[Mitey F]

It's not fair for me to say "if you do this, it will work great". No one can say that about anything. Period. What I CAN tell you, is that it worked great for ME, and apparently a few others.

I'd *imagine* you rolled your cheesecloth too tight in the coil, which doesn't allow it to wick properly. This will promptly burn the cotton, and you cannot get rid of that taste.

If you'd like, give my method a try, and report back with your findings. Feedback is a good thing, whether it's positive or negative.

Good luck!

EDIT: be sure to dry burn the coil before inserting new cotton. If there's burnt cotton on your coil, it could likely leave a bad taste.

 

[toadyfatz]

Just wanted to chime in with my experience so far. Like I said in the other thread I have been re-wicking my T3's with rolled organic cotton wicks from make up pads for about a month. I have been rolling another cotton wick on top of the coil also. I have had very good luck with this method. I just tried your 30 strand wick and flavor wick method with this natural cheese cloth: 100% Natural Cotton Cheese Cloth - Bed Bath & Beyond So far the results have been really great! Great flavor with no issues at all. Thanks for the info! I will post back with more info as I use it for awhile.

 

[Mitey F]

Please keep us updated, I'd like to know if it's working as well in the "long term" for others as it has been for me.

My T3's are due for a cleaning, so tonight I'll be disassembling them and checking for burning etc (although I haven't had any bad flavors). I'll report back with my findings, and hopefully some others will do the same.

The cotton revolution

 

[Uncle Sam]

T I have been looking for methods to improve the quality of the T3's , though they are pretty great in their original forms. You, sir, are a genius. I will give this a try straight away and report on the results.

VAPE ON!!

 

[Gloria]

Thanks much for the very clear directions!!!

Just finished rewicking a T3 according to your instructions (except I used a piece of nichrome wire as the threader). Tested at 2.0 ohms with new wick.

It's producing great flavor and vapor. Only problem is some gurgling. Maybe I should remove some of the top strands?

 

[RDonat]

Thanks for the cheese cloth tip. I had no idea you could use cotton. I've been buying the silica wick material but I have cheese cloth laying around here. Thanks again for the tip a saving me a few bucks !!

 

[Mitey F]

RD - you're welcome!

Gloria - if anything, add a few more strands. If you remove the flavor wick (top strands), you'll be allowing more juice into the air passage, which would likely INCREASE gurgling.

 

[Dave Bowser]

RD - you're welcome!

Gloria - if anything, add a few more strands. If you remove the flavor wick (top strands), you'll be allowing more juice into the air passage, which would likely INCREASE gurgling.

I had the opposite with mine. I removed the top "flavor wick" and the gurgle went away!

I got to thinking, why could you not do the same with white cotton sewing thread, just make sure it is cotton.

 

[vernhall]

If a wick is shot would it make the head act as though it's not functioning at all? I have a T3 and it suddenly stopped working. Battery is firing (works fine with a new head), but no vape at all! Is the head fried or...? New(ish) to vaping so at a loss here...

 

[NickSteel]

Going try this, but with a new coil formed with a 4/40 machine screw. Sounds very interesting.

 

[stacee jaxx]

Hey man !...........

I cut off the ends of a q tip and slice open the tube then cut away some of the tube to decrease the diameter of it and place silica wick in it then roll it in my fingers to make it tight. I get another two q tips and cut the ends off of those and slide one on each end of the split tube to keep it tight. Then i wrap my coil round it. Slide the coil off the split tube and onto the wick and i'm done. The hardest part is getting the rubber bung/ grommit back into the hole of the base. I ended up putting the metal contact in the grommit first then pushing it all in the base. I get about 2.8 ohm's from 6 loops. works great. Now i don't need to get new bases.

 

[spider362]

Picked up my cheesecloth at my local grocery store (Food Lion). Two square yards for $3.99. That should be enough for 2, maybe 3, new wicks... .

Just finished the wick rebuild following OP's instructions.

First five minutes I have tons of vapor and good flavor (if you can call Menthol a flavor).

Now I'll wait and see if I get any flooding or dry hits.

Thanks Mitey F for excellent instructions and pics.