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

[Scott_Simpson]

I've successfully rebuilt my Kanger T3s with cheesecloth as the wick and they work great ... here's a hint: if you want the best taste and the longest life out of your cheesecloth wicks, install your new coiled wick, saturate the wick/coil with juice before reinstalling the stem and grommet, fill the tank, reinstall the rebuilt coil assembly, and then let it sit and soak for at least an hour before firing it up the first time!

Especially with the 100% VG juices I use, it is critical that the wick be completely and thoroughly saturated, otherwise it will scorch, it will burn, it will mute the juice flavor, and it will break down much sooner. I rewick all my RBAs with cheesecloth now—Penelopes, Vivi Novas, Vision Eternitys, Kanger T3s, etc.—and this long pre-soak has had major positive benefits!

 

[MandaPants311]

I've successfully rebuilt my Kanger T3s with cheesecloth as the wick and they work great ... here's a hint: if you want the best taste and the longest life out of your cheesecloth wicks, install your new coiled wick, saturate the wick/coil with juice before reinstalling the stem and grommet, fill the tank, reinstall the rebuilt coil assembly, and then let it sit and soak for at least an hour before firing it up the first time!

Especially with the 100% VG juices I use, it is critical that the wick be completely and thoroughly saturated, otherwise it will scorch, it will burn, it will mute the juice flavor, and it will break down much sooner. I rewick all my RBAs with cheesecloth now—Penelopes, Vivi Novas, Vision Eternitys, Kanger T3s, etc.—and this long pre-soak has had major positive benefits!

I actually did this for the first time a week or so ago, before I saw this thread. I'm extremely new at modifying any of this stuff so it didnt turn out perfect lol I only used about 10 strings from cheese cloth so it worked great for 10 minutes maybe (i vape 100% VG liquids and I think the cotton wick helped with flavor)and then idk what happened. But after reading this I'll try again. Do I have to check the resistance on the coil though? I don't have an... Ohm reader I guess it's called, sorry for my ignorance. I assumed since I didnt really adjust any wires it would stay the same, but I'm not too sure. I'm kind of suprised cotton wick replacement heads aren't an option to purchase from any venders. But thanks for the tips!!

 

[yotasavg]

I actually did this for the first time a week or so ago, before I saw this thread. I'm extremely new at modifying any of this stuff so it didnt turn out perfect lol I only used about 10 strings from cheese cloth so it worked great for 10 minutes maybe (i vape 100% VG liquids and I think the cotton wick helped with flavor)and then idk what happened. But after reading this I'll try again. Do I have to check the resistance on the coil though? I don't have an... Ohm reader I guess it's called, sorry for my ignorance. I assumed since I didnt really adjust any wires it would stay the same, but I'm not too sure. I'm kind of suprised cotton wick replacement heads aren't an option to purchase from any venders. But thanks for the tips!!

Can't wait to try this method as well. I don't have an ohm reader either, so I assume we just won't be able to check for shorts before the whole thing is back together.

 

[Mitey F]

So long as you are very careful with the coil, in theory it should remain the same resistance. Just be sure if you nudge the coil around you check to be sure the wires are still where they're supposed to be.

Glad this is such a hit, maybe I got some good karma comin' my way

 

[spider362]

Mitley F, have you figured out about how long a cheesecloth wick should last? A day, week, month, only when you start getting a burnt taste?

I know I'll replace mine during a dry burn, every week or two, but is there a need to replace them any sooner?

 

[Mitey F]

I've replaced them every week or so.

 

[spider362]

Thanks, that was the time frame I was thinking about.

 

[yotasavg]

Since I'm new(er) to vaping, and feel that I'm a very light vaper, how many tanks would you say you go through in a week on the same head? I really only burn about 1 full T3 tank per week...

 

[spider362]

I go through about 5 tanks a week and my first T3 head lasted just over 20 weeks before I destroyed the coil trying to get the original silica wick out. I was picking out the tiny loose fibers with tweezers and accidentally grabbed a coil and pulled the whole thing out of shape. Couldn't get it back right so I've put it aside for my first recoil try as soon as I can get some wire. But before I destroyed it it was still going strong.

 

[NickSteel]

I go through about 5 tanks a week and my first T3 head lasted just over 20 weeks before I destroyed the coil trying to get the original silica wick out. I was picking out the tiny loose fibers with tweezers and accidentally grabbed a coil and pulled the whole thing out of shape. Couldn't get it back right so I've put it aside for my first recoil try as soon as I can get some wire. But before I destroyed it it was still going strong.

Our Clearomizers, T3's and Vivi's seem to go on and on. Three months so far with occasional cleaning with everclear. I have rewicked one T3 with failed coil (out of 5 family users). Used silica with machine screw formed coil without a problem. Will try cheesecloth next - whenever that is!

 

[yotasavg]

I go through about 5 tanks a week and my first T3 head lasted just over 20 weeks before I destroyed the coil trying to get the original silica wick out. I was picking out the tiny loose fibers with tweezers and accidentally grabbed a coil and pulled the whole thing out of shape. Couldn't get it back right so I've put it aside for my first recoil try as soon as I can get some wire. But before I destroyed it it was still going strong.

Ok, that puts things in perspective. So your weekly replacement of cotton wicks would be my monthly replacement. I have been using the same T3 head for maybe 8 weeks now and I finally opened it up and gave it a good dry burn. Looks new still but the tinkerer in me still had to rip out the silica to replace with cotton lol. We shall see!

 

[spider362]

Our Clearomizers, T3's and Vivi's seem to go on and on. Three months so far with occasional cleaning with everclear. I have rewicked one T3 with failed coil (out of 5 family users). Used silica with machine screw formed coil without a problem. Will try cheesecloth next - whenever that is!

Cheesecloth is a very loosely woven cotton fabric used mostly in cooking. The big round wheels of cheese are wrapped in it thus the name.

I bought mine at my local grocery store. Got a pack containing 2 square yards for $3.99.
You might also be able to find it at any store that sells craft supplies like Walmart, Michaels, or A. C. Moore.

When you get it, open it out flat and cut a strip about 3 inches wide. You can then pull the individual strands from the cloth one at a time. I pulled 5 out and then folded those 3 times and cut to make a total of 15 strands. Then you can cut this bundle in 4 inch lengths for your main wick.

I then pulled 15 of the short 3 inch strands and put them together to make the flavor wick.

Then follow the original poster's instructions on installing the new wicks. Works like a champ.

 

[Mitey F]

Yup. One of the great things about cheesecloth is that it's so cheap. If you use 15 3" strands for each head replacement, you have easily 100+ wicks for about $3

 

[RRaider]

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.

>snipped for space



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

Thank you! This literally saved me from going back to analogs out of frustration. Not thrilled with the idea of having to redo them every week but at least I have a workable solution until I find something better. I had to use more strands of the cheese cloth I got, but it's working great.

 

[MamaReads]

Plan to try this. Thank you so much!!! I have it bookmarked. Rewicked a coil this morning (well, the hubby did) using cotton. The wick worked, but it gurgled and flooded. Will pick up some cheese cloth in order to try your method!! Even if we never learn to recoil these, at least we can extend their life by rewicking!! Thank you, again!!

 

[Dave L]

First I gotta say what a great thread this is! For all of us confused noobs - and I hope & presume there'll be a never-ending crop of us - these practical tips are priceless! From DIY juice to RBAs, my focus from the first has been on saving money. My wife and I both feel that vaping gives us more pleasure than smoking ever did, and we're saving a couple hundred bucks a month too! Woot! Life is good!

But second, in this and many other threads I'm reading that folks find the need to replace or rebuild various components often. Seems like some maintenance task needs to be taken care of just about every week. We've been really lucky, I guess. We've only been at this a month, but every single piece of equipment still works flawlessly (knock on wood). Just today I flushed out one of my Boge cartos and dumped it in a glass of vodka to see about extending its life. It was starting to taste burnt. I'm gonna do that to a couple more in the next week or so, too. None of our clearos leak. All our batteries are holding up splendidly. So am I gonna wake up one of these days and think: "The honeymoon is over!"? Will all my tanks begin cracking and all our wicks start tasting burnt and all our coils go out one of these days? I'd prefer to think our karma is good and we are blessed!

 

[auTONYmous]

I've had my T3s a little over a month. Both of my original coils were still okay, but a couple weeks ago, I ordered some 2.2ohm heads. When those showed up, I kept going on the original 2.4s until the silica wicks started pulling out.

My 1st rewick was with cotton ball. It was "OK", but deteriorated kinda quick. The 2nd I was also rebuilding with cotton, when I fubared the coil trying to squeeze the cotton through. So, I broke out a couple new 2.2s, broke down my old ones, ordered some 32awg nichrome, and picked up a mile of cheesecloth from Hobby Lobby.

I went ahead and used the #4-40 screw method to make new coils (6 wraps should be abt 2.4ohms, yes it was almost too easy...don't forget to braise the wire to burn off any impurities and heat treat it to hold shape), then I went ahead with the 30-30 cheesecloth for wicks. I added a dab of 100%vg to the dry wicks, and they're soaking as I type this.

I'll report back when I get a few test vapes on the new rebuilt heads, but so far so good.

Sent using The Illudium Q-36 Space Modulator©

 

[Mitey F]

I'm stoked this is helping people! I've recently moved to RBA's almost exclusively, but the girlfriend's still on the T3's, so I'm wicking hers every now and again. I haven't bought a T3 head in months!

 

[NickSteel]

I wick my T3. Will try cheesecloth next time.

 

[bassplayer44]

Mitey F,

Just wanted to write thank you for the tutorial. I have a rebuildable CE4 that had the bad burnt taste and decided to try this method out before pitching it (I have a Vision Vivi Nova and 4 - T2s so I wasn't that opposed to the idea lol).

Believe it or not, in my super noob mindset, I wasn't even aware the coil wrapped around the wick until today. I thought it just went on top and the rubber cap helped push the wick down for contact.

Anyway, I followed the guide and the only difference was elongating the wicks since its a top coil setup. Now I'm vaping the peach and it's...well... just peachy.

One question I have and didn't see it brought up in the replies is if you boiled the cheesecloth and dried prior to using? I've seen other recommendations of boiling cotton wick materials as a precaution and was curious if you went that route as well.

Thanks again for the guide.