How often do you change coils and/or wicks?

[Jorunkun]

For those of you who use rebuildable atomizers, how long do your coils and wicks last? Also, do you always rebuild both or just re-wick a coil?

I have been exchanging both coil and wick on a weekly basis, but this is mostly for practical reasons (I don't have the time or peace of mind to do it on weeknights).

How do you decide when it's time for a new coil and/ or wick?

 

[vsummer1]

My coils last a long time. In fact, I have one that was used daily for well over a month on an A7 and is still fine, I just am using a different atty now. It is still going on my VV Grand now. It has xc-116 for the wick, and has never been changed either. I won't change it until the coil literally fails as I love the setup. I don't fix it if it ain't broke. DH's coil failed last night, and he has never changed it since he got it, I would say well over a month and more like 4 months.

On the RM2 I have been experimenting with different set ups, so don't know how long one will last. With a cotton wick, I usually only change it when I screw up and don't squonk when I should have and it burns a little. You can tell by the flavor change. I was driving today and didn't pay enough attention so had to change it out.

So, I guess it matters what wick you are using how often you rewick. As for coiling, if my setup works it works for well over a month with just a dry burn when it needs it.

 

[MamaTried]

My coils last a long time. In fact, I have one that was used daily for well over a month on an A7 and is still fine, I just am using a different atty now. It is still going on my VV Grand now. It has xc-116 for the wick, and has never been changed either. I won't change it until the coil literally fails as I love the setup. I don't fix it if it ain't broke. DH's coil failed last night, and he has never changed it since he got it, I would say well over a month and more like 4 months.

On the RM2 I have been experimenting with different set ups, so don't know how long one will last. With a cotton wick, I usually only change it when I screw up and don't squonk when I should have and it burns a little. You can tell by the flavor change. I was driving today and didn't pay enough attention so had to change it out.

So, I guess it matters what wick you are using how often you rewick. As for coiling, if my setup works it works for well over a month with just a dry burn when it needs it.

how do you wrap the xc-116, Val? i'm on a quest to find something i never have to re-wick...

 

[vsummer1]

how do you wrap the xc-116, Val? i'm on a quest to find something i never have to re-wick...

I just unroll some wire, use my trusty bic to torch the part for the coil, take the spool of wire and xc-116 in one hand, and wrap the loose end around the xc-116, using the spool to keep it taught. Nothing fancy, but I do have to use both hands: one to hold the spool and wick and one to wrap the wire free hand. It isn't as pretty as all the coils I see people making, but darn it, it works. I have been doing it for so long I don't really think about it. I leave long tails and put it on the atty, then meter it, adjust the coils if necessary (but haven't had to in a long time, you just kind know after a while) then snip the tails. It took me all of about 5 minutes to wash the atty, make the coil and wick and get it back to DH so he can go another few months before bothering me again. He doesn't require a sub-ohm micro-coil so no fancy tools needed.

 

[MamaTried]

I just unroll some wire, use my trusty bic to torch the part for the coil, take the spool of wire and xc-116 in one hand, and wrap the loose end around the xc-116, using the spool to keep it taught. Nothing fancy, but I do have to use both hands: one to hold the spool and wick and one to wrap the wire free hand. It isn't as pretty as all the coils I see people making, but darn it, it works. I have been doing it for so long I don't really think about it. I leave long tails and put it on the atty, then meter it, adjust the coils if necessary (but haven't had to in a long time, you just kind know after a while) then snip the tails. It took me all of about 5 minutes to wash the atty, make the coil and wick and get it back to DH so he can go another few months before bothering me again. He doesn't require a sub-ohm micro-coil so no fancy tools needed.

thanks!

if you ever move north, i'll prolly need to hire a nurse, cook, coil-winder in the not-too-distant future

 

[vsummer1]

thanks!

if you ever move north, i'll prolly need to hire a nurse, cook, coil-winder in the not-too-distant future

I don't do dishes, almost everything goes in the dishwasher. I require a maid to do the floors and bathrooms, so she may as well do everything else. I also need Kahlua and Baileys with decaf coffee, a stocked wine fridge, and a comfortable couch in front of a large TV with CNBC on for napping after my coffee. Walking Dead on Sundays, no negotiation on that. Wifi too of course. If I think of anything else, I'll let ya know. It may not be a good deal for you

 

[MamaTried]

I don't do dishes, almost everything goes in the dishwasher. I require a maid to do the floors and bathrooms, so she may as well do everything else. I also need Kahlua and Baileys with decaf coffee, a stocked wine fridge, and a comfortable couch in front of a large TV with CNBC on for napping after my coffee. Walking Dead on Sundays, no negotiation on that. Wifi too of course. If I think of anything else, I'll let ya know. It may not be a good deal for you

deal!

 

[Joshinthecity]

I change wicks (cotton) when I change flavours. Every day or 2.
I've been re-coiling about twice a week..
but I don't really know why...

j.

 

[ltrainer]

i change my cotton wicks every 2 or 3 days. I vaping unflavored juice so no goopy build up on them. I change a coil about every 3 or 4 weeks just because, ummm..I have no idea why I change my coils.

 

[super_X_drifter]

I rotate between my REOs and prolly put 3-4 ml a day thru the two in rotation. One has an RM2 and one has a chalice.

I also vape unflavored nic base.

Wick = rolled cotton changed every week.
Coils = 29 ga on chalice and 28 ga on RM2 micro coils changed about once a month these days. I've never left a coil on long enough for it to fail or lose performance.

 

[txgtr]

I use thick gunky juices and like to switch between flavors pretty often so i re-wick a lot. I recoil about once a week even though its probably not necessary. I just the the bug and do it.

I use the cotton bed method so re-wicking is simple and fast. I love the way a fresh wick tastes especially with bobas bounty.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

 

[Filthy-Beast]

I have too much fun trying new wicks and coils designs to leave one more than a week or two. When I travel and do multi-city trips in a week I use silca or ceramic wicks and all I have to worry about each night is charging batteries and filling bottles.

 

[Jorunkun]

Thanks, this is helpful. I had no idea coils lasted this long and I think I'll change wicks more often from now on.

How long do coils last at the most - or rather, what would happen when they, I dunno, expire?

 

[JC Okie]

They'll eventually just not fire all of a sudden. Usually one of the legs will just break and no longer make contact. I guess with all the heating up and cooling down, they must gradually get brittle...or just burn through. Anyway, that's how it happens, eventually. Most of us have so much fun making coils that we don't give them a chance.

 

[tnt56]

With sterile cotton I try and change daily. Coils get changed when I'm bored or in the mood.

 

[rudy4653]

how do you wrap the xc-116, Val? i'm on a quest to find something i never have to re-wick...

Hi Mama,
I know what you mean about the rewicking thing. I was a devoted cotton user but seemed I had to rewick at inopportune moments and got frustrated, escpecially with my "road REO" , had to be dependable and no fuss.
I now use the XC but I use the XC132 size at it is much smaller and can be used for "micro" coils easier than XC116 IMO.
I simply cut 1 little piece ( 1/2") and then slip in a syringe needle or paperclip inside the sleeve. Be sure to use something that WILL NOT STRETCH the XC, just slides in. Then you just wrap your micro coil the same as you would wrapping around a drill bit. Mount it on your RM with the needle/paperclip still inside the XC sleeve. Once all you adjustments are in place and screws tightened you just slip out the needle/clip and the XC will stay in place just like the cotton wick method. If the XC is stretched once you slide out the clip/needle it will then shrink and be too loose inside the coil. So the key is sliding something inside the XC that fits easily.
I am then good to go for WEEKS!! I dry burn every few days or when changing flavors. I never find myself in a situation like driving and my cotton wick fails and I have to pull over and rewick or try rewicking AND driving at the same time!

 

[Matthee]

Hi Mama,
I know what you mean about the rewicking thing. I was a devoted cotton user but seemed I had to rewick at inopportune moments and got frustrated, escpecially with my "road REO" , had to be dependable and no fuss.
I now use the XC but I use the XC132 size at it is much smaller and can be used for "micro" coils easier than XC116 IMO.
I simply cut 1 little piece ( 1/2") and then slip in a syringe needle or paperclip inside the sleeve. Be sure to use something that WILL NOT STRETCH the XC, just slides in. Then you just wrap your micro coil the same as you would wrapping around a drill bit. Mount it on your RM with the needle/paperclip still inside the XC sleeve. Once all you adjustments are in place and screws tightened you just slip out the needle/clip and the XC will stay in place just like the cotton wick method. If the XC is stretched once you slide out the clip/needle it will then shrink and be too loose inside the coil. So the key is sliding something inside the XC that fits easily.
I am then good to go for WEEKS!! I dry burn every few days or when changing flavors. I never find myself in a situation like driving and my cotton wick fails and I have to pull over and rewick or try rewicking AND driving at the same time!

A picture(s) if possible please Rudy.

 

[rudy4653]

Will do with good camera over the weekend.
It's basically the exact same procedure as wrapping a coil around a drill bit , the only difference is that the drill bit or item of choice would be slipped inside the XC and wrap tight like normal, mount on RBA, then slip out needle or whatever you use, the xc will stay in the coil just like a cotton wick.
I have been using the small hex key that came with my Hornet RBA pre RM days. It's a perfect size to slip inside the XC132. The diameter comes out to almost the exact same as wrapping a 1/16" drill bit. A small paperclip or needle would work as well. Just nothing bigger than the inside of the xc.

 

[yaypudding]

I vape until something tastes funky, it really depends on the juice and ohms I'm vaping at. gunkier juices usually require a wick change pretty quickly, 2-3 days, but the lighter juices can get upwards of a week. I use cotton exclusively. Longest I'll usually go on a coil is a couple weeks, just cause I like to switch it up ohms wise.

 

[Matthee]

Thx Rudy, that helps. Does the wick stay straight or can one bend it towards atty floor? My coils are quite high.