how long do ss mesh wicks last?

[Scoper50]

This may be a redundant question, but I'm just getting into rebuildables. Picked up a AGA T2 this morning and I'm gonna try to set it up for the first time tonight.

I have two little squares of ss mesh and can't believe how expensive it is for what it is. How long does one of these wicks last? I'm also looking for cheap vendors to buy wick and wire in bulk

 

[Cool_Breeze]

One week to one month.

 

[grindle]

A standard Genni mesh for me (45mmx65mm) lasts about 3 months. This is with weekly rinsing, dry-burns and vaping steeped tobacco juices for the most part.

Edit: to clarify I vape around 2-3mls a day using dual coil setups w/mesh.

In a dripper you'd get away with using 7mm or 8mmx65mm so that same genni-sized mesh will last ~5-6 times as long because you get 5-6 more wicks out of that length!

Also, the end of the mesh that goes into the tank has had little to no crud built up, so rinse it, flame it, use it again (dripper!).
No point wasting it.

Mesh isn't really that expensive considering how long it lasts and - once you have it set up right - how little you have to look after it. You're earning your time back once you have the knack.

I got my mesh from The Mesh Company and my wires from peleon.pl and Zivipf.

 

[supertrunker]

The mesh lasts for ages - the coil not so. Both are cheap on Ebay - here's what you ought to be paying - 100 ft A-1 Kanthal $9 - 2 x 12" x 12" 400 SS mesh $9!

Wire and mesh is so cheap it ought to be outlawed and i'm sure it soon will be hehe!

T

 

[SirSteve]

One week to one month.

That short of lifespan huh? Bummer, I was hoping to avoid rolling wicks as long as possible.

Temco industrial power has good prices on wire, they are on ebay and I believe they have they have thier own website.

Steam Monkey has decent prices on mesh and you can get wire from them also, ebay seller Mary Hoffer also has decent prices on mesh.

Sadly it seems most vendors are way overpriced on this stuff, I am sure others will chime in with good deals also. Good luck and welcome to the world of rebuildable, I just entered this world last week and I'm hooked.

 

[Hello World]

Many months. Dryburning is likely the No. 1 culprit for wear and tear.

 

[Thrasher]

yea what they said mesh shouldnt be expensive if it is get it somewhere else.
i have wicks go for a long time, usually after a few weeks i flip them and get a few more easy. i have one geni that is long and when the coil area is crappy i cut it off and still use the rest of the wick in my short tank.
i only dryburn the coils and usually just rinse or soak the wick in hotwater. some people use alcohol.

 

[mgmrick]

My ss wicks are 6 months old. Each time i build a new coil I rinse the wick out under faucet dry with my butane torch. It wicks as well today as the first day. I dont see throwing them away anytime soon

 

[mgmrick]

Why do you say that?

One week to one month.

 

[donnah]

I'm still using the same wicks I started with a couple months ago. $5 worth of mesh form somewhere like steammonkey will last me a year or more.

 

[CountSmackula]

I've got some that are 6+ months old. Every 3rd tank or so I flush them with VERY hot (190°) water. I inject 2-3 10ml syringes through the fill hole so that it flushes out through the wick. If there's any crud left on the wick I brush it off with a small child's toothbrush.

 

[albcig]

i still use my first mesh wick from around 5 months ago. i boil it, and it works perfectly.

 

[tattooed]

I've only tossed a wick because I wanted a fresh start, other than that I've had really no reason.

 

[mgmrick]

Yes ss mesh wicks last a very long time. I am at 6 months or so and vape at least a tank a day on my main wick. Still like new if not better than new

 

[Nanooks]

When I first started cleaning my wick I would dry burn with just water on the wick and would rust. Changed it up and took the wick out, washed good, coat in juice and torched it a couple times. Seems to extend my wick life. I keep them now till they wick poorly or become brittle.

 

[Boeriemore]

Silica wicks burn and get gummed up at the coil after a day or so. If this does not happen
with ss wicks then I must give this a try.

 

[kainvamp86]

Apparently I have been throwing away wicks needlessly, I need to start rinsing mine with hot water. I have a few left and hopefully they will last a lot longer than I have been getting out of them.

 

[ScottP]

Why not use SS rope? I can't see that ever needing to be replaced. Coil maybe, but 1 wick forever.