how to safely check for hotspot on a vivi nova rebuilt head???

[Steviou]

hey guys, so today i just replaced the coil and wick on my vivi nova with 32 kanthal wire and cotton yarn. everything seems to be working fine, with 5 wrap of coil it is giving me 1.7 ohm and the cotton seems to be wicking really well. However, im not sure if the coil is being wrapped perfectly and want to check if there is a hotspot on it, how should i check this and not burn my wick???

 

[100%VG]

Hello Steviou,

I've seen several YouTube Videos about rebuilding this Atomizer. In most of them, they make sure there are no shorts first, and check the resistance, and then fire it up and look at it. With a Cotton Wick, you'll have to get it Wet first, but you'd do best to do that no matter what you use for Wicking. You simply fire it up and look for an evenly dispersed red pattern in the coil, in the proper section of the coil (not too close to the edges). Hot Spots will show up readily if the coils are too close together somewhere. If the coils is Red on the ends, it may be too close to the Atomizer Chamber. Your coil needs to be well centered, and properly (evenly) spaced.

It's been suggested that adjusting the Spacing of the coils is best done while it's Red Hot, because that helps it to retain your adjustments better. Use something long and sharp, like a Needle or something, so you can get the coils properly spaced, while giving a short press of the Fire Button now and then to keep it Hot. Make the adjusts you need, and that should be all there is to it.

JunkyRock13 has some very good Videos for many tank and Atomizer operations that are very well made, with some pretty good close-ups, and very well discussed procedures as he goes. There are some other very good and helpful people making these Videos, and they all do it much the same, but I kinda like JunkyRock13.

If you haven't considered it, you can also make a Stainless Steel Mesh Wick for your Vivi Nova. There's are two Videos I've seen that take you all the way through the process, and a discussion on ECF about SS Mesh Wicks in general. One person did a fairly elaborate experiment with different Mesh densities (i.e. 300, 400, 500), and discovered that (contrary to popular belief) 500 SS Mesh is actually the best for any e-liquid, but especially for 100% VG. And, that the more Mesh you can tightly wrap into a Wick that will fit, the better. To accommodate a thicker Wick, some people even cut the Wick Slot channel in this Vivi Nova wider, to be able to make a Wick with better Flow, by being Fatter than what will fit otherwise.

A very dense SS Mesh Wick, made with 500 SS Mesh, maintaining a narrow tubed channel hole inside, if proper wrapped and oxidized, will have Wicking properties approaching that of Cotton. You are wise to get away from Silica and Fiberglass Wicks, but you don't have to use Cotton to have a high quality, clean-burning Wick with great Capillary Action.

If I had the links to these Videos and that ECF-Posted SS Mesh Study, I'd share them with you, but it was a good while back that I found them. None the less, they are still available and shouldn't be that hard for you to find for yourself.

I hope this helps you,

100%VG

 

[JazzyTech]

I am a big fan of cotton, but I just recently found (thanks to BJ43s research) a *really* good hemp twine wick that outperforms most of the cotton, especially for the vivis. The twine is 1mm and you cut two pieces equal length, wrap your 32awg kanthal around them making an oval shape. They swell like cotton, so you don't want to wrap the coil tightly. What I like about the hemp twine is it's ability to take more heat abuse than cotton. If you dry burn cotton at all, it quickly looses it's ability to wick. Hemp twine, on the other hand can take some moderate dry burning. Tough stuff and vapes great!
here's the link to it if you're interested:
Hemp Twine Cord 1mm 20 Test 5 10 or 25 Yards Color Selectable | eBay

just to be certain you know: you can't dry burn cotton at all. If you attempt to shift the coils around while they have turned hot enough to see glowing, the cotton is already damaged. It's a different world with SS

Also: a good way to stop A-1's "springyness" is to turn it red hot with a lighter before you make your coil. Makes it easier to work with.

 

[100%VG]

I am a big fan of cotton, but I just recently found (thanks to BJ43s research) a *really* good hemp twine wick that outperforms most of the cotton, especially for the vivis. The twine is 1mm and you cut two pieces equal length, wrap your 32awg kanthal around them making an oval shape. They swell like cotton, so you don't want to wrap the coil tightly. What I like about the hemp twine is it's ability to take more heat abuse than cotton. If you dry burn cotton at all, it quickly looses it's ability to wick. Hemp twine, on the other hand can take some moderate dry burning. Tough stuff and vapes great!
here's the link to it if you're interested:
Hemp Twine Cord 1mm 20 Test 5 10 or 25 Yards Color Selectable | eBay

just to be certain you know: you can't dry burn cotton at all. If you attempt to shift the coils around while they have turned hot enough to see glowing, the cotton is already damaged. It's a different world with SS

Also: a good way to stop A-1's "springyness" is to turn it red hot with a lighter before you make your coil. Makes it easier to work with.

Hello JazzyTech,

You're right about heating the Kanthal Wire with a Lighter. I forgot to mention that. This helps to Clean it of Oils and such used in the Manufacturing process, and helps to Temper for Wrapping Wicks. For further cleaning after the Lighter burn, it could be wiped down with a Lint-Free Cloth, and you could even add some Isopropyl Alcohol to that cloth. Most of the residue would evaporate, and the rest would easily burn off during the Test Fire and Coil Spacing procedure.

I was aware that Cotton must be kept Wet, but I didn't know that it could lose absorption from getting Hot - only that it would Burn Up if it gets Dry.

I had seen a link talking about Safe things to for for Wicking, and Hemp was mentioned nearly last, if not last - maybe because it's the Best. It's good to know that it is Better than Cotton, for Capillary Action and Durability. This makes it a great Alternative to Silica.

Since Hemp is so much Cheaper than SS Mesh, and a lot easier to find and use (just Wash it), I'm thinking that it will be what I'll choose in the future. It would make for a nice comparison to a well-made SS Mesh Wick.

My Vivi Nova V3 3.5ml Tank came with 3 stands of what looks like 1mm Wick, and in all likelihood, it's Silica Wick. But the point is that I could use 3 or even 4 stands of this Hemp, to try to Suck Up more E-Liquid. Good point about not wrapping too tightly! I am using 100% VG that I mix myself, and this stuff is Very Thick. If I can use Hemp, and not have to Thin my VG, that would be fantastic. If I could find 2mm or 3mm Hemp, I'd try that, too.

I'm really quite leery of many things on eBay. They are notorious for selling things mislabeled, especially things like Lithium Ion Batteries, but there are many other examples of misrepresentations of products throughout eBay. There's probably not as much reason to "fudge the facts" about something like a Hemp product, with its many various uses, but when you're looking for Purity of Products, because you're going to use them in an E-Cig, I can't help but be very cautious. You're going to need to Wash the Hemp (Cotton, etc.) anyway, and Boiling it for 10 minutes is best if I recall, so I'm guessing that this stuff would probably be OK.

A Mouse-Over of the main photo shows it's 100% Hemp. I guess you purchased the Natural (not Dyed) option. $3.95 for 25 yards isn't bad, but I could probably find it locally at Wal-Mart, and maybe even in 2mm or 3mm. As I recall, the person who posted this Safe Wicking Material thread said that Wal-Mart stuff was OK. 100% Hemp is the important thing.

Thanks for sharing,

100%VG

 

[Steviou]

thx for the info guys

 

[JazzyTech]

It's easy to forget that once the coil is on a cotton wick, you can't dry burn it. Well, you *could* but then you'd be replacing the wick I'm built 'em a few times and remembered that I forgot...

I mainly use VG as well and hemp twine works very well with it. When you dry burn cotton, you know immediately from the taste. Not so with Hemp since it resists burning much better. I've read about people who use hemp wrapped in SS to assist wicking, which I thought was pretty interesting.

"Natural" is definitely the one you want. We don't need to be inhaling color dyes I referred the ebay link for convenience; referring a brick and mortal limits global reach. If you're in the USA, "Micheal's and "JoAnn's" carries "BeadSmith" hemp twine which is the second best in terms of wicking.(I'm using their 2mm twine right now in my Odysseus clone) So far, only the one listed on Ebay has the best wicking properties that we found to date. Many people in Europe were unable to source a good supplier citing bad taste, waxed, etc.

I hate to say it, but I don't think anything wicks as well as silica. Some methods come close when properly tweaked though

I wasn't sure how long most people thought the boiling process should take. I actually boil my hemp 3 times 15 mins per. I'm sure that's overkill...

 

[100%VG]

I hate to say it, but I don't think anything wicks as well as silica. Some methods come close when properly tweaked though.

I wasn't sure how long most people thought the boiling process should take. I actually boil my hemp 3 times 15 mins per. I'm sure that's overkill.

Hello again JazzyTech,

Not to be argumentative or contrary about Silica v Cotton, but if I remember correctly, the ECF Post I read about Safe Wicking Materials said that Cotton wicks better than Silica, and since you say Hemp wicks better than Cotton, that makes Hemp the best of the Natural Fibers. It was this link, too, that said to boil them for 10 minutes, if I remember correctly. But I'd have to admit that Overkill is better than not killing everything!!! At least you're thorough. A quick ECF search for safe wick would probably get you right to that post response.

100%VG

 

[Steviou]

i found out about hemp right after i got home from buying my cotton yarn, if i would've known....

 

[100%VG]

i found out about hemp right after i got home from buying my cotton yarn, if i would've known....

That's what ECF is all about. Isn't it Great!!! I love this sharing/learning experience.

BTW - you can always exchange that Cotton for Hemp. Just sayin'

 

[JazzyTech]

I'm basing my statement on what others have said. I personally vaped on silica a grand total of one day when I first started. My impression at the time was that silica wicked better; mainly because I couldn't tell what I was getting a dry hit. That's what you don't want to have, since, as we know, when silica goes dry under heat, that's when the potential for shedding shards is most.
Cotton and hemp wicks great; just not in all situations. The 2mm hemp twine I'm vaping on works great in my Ody clone, but that's most likely because it's sandwiched in closed, 2mm channels. The same 1mm hemp that I speak so highly of when used in vivis doesn't wick so great for me in AGAs, and totally fails in my Ody clone. Also, I tend to chain vape; so I'm asking a lot from that cotton and hemp
This is all a forum of information and learning; I'm happy to be corrected and/or better educated. That's what we're all here for: to better ourselves, right? No confrontation felt on my end

Oh, and hemp is just more forgiving that cotton when you push it too hard. When it starts going dry, you'll notice a distinct earthy flavor. When cotton it's an almost instant bad taste when pressed too hard. One or two of those, and the cotton's history Hemp still can't beat cotton for it's pillowy taste. Speaking of taste, your e-fluids will taste different, depending on what your vaping with. I find just VG is particularly sweet and full on hemp; moreso than cotton.

 

[100%VG]

I'm basing my statement on what others have said. I personally vaped on silica a grand total of one day when I first started. My impression at the time was that silica wicked better; mainly because I couldn't tell what I was getting a dry hit. That's what you don't want to have, since, as we know, when silica goes dry under heat, that's when the potential for shedding shards is most.
Cotton and hemp wicks great; just not in all situations. The 2mm hemp twine I'm vaping on works great in my Ody clone, but that's most likely because it's sandwiched in closed, 2mm channels. The same 1mm hemp that I speak so highly of when used in vivis doesn't wick so great for me in AGAs, and totally fails in my Ody clone. Also, I tend to chain vape; so I'm asking a lot from that cotton and hemp
This is all a forum of information and learning; I'm happy to be corrected and/or better educated. That's what we're all here for: to better ourselves, right? No confrontation felt on my end

Oh, and hemp is just more forgiving that cotton when you push it too hard. When it starts going dry, you'll notice a distinct earthy flavor. When cotton it's an almost instant bad taste when pressed too hard. One or two of those, and the cotton's history Hemp still can't beat cotton for it's pillowy taste. Speaking of taste, your e-fluids will taste different, depending on what your vaping with. I find just VG is particularly sweet and full on hemp; moreso than cotton.

Hello Jazzy,

I've been scouring ECF, looking for where I got the information I was telling you. I have not been able to find it where ever I saw it before, and it's driving me nuts. However, as far as Boiling goes, I think you'd do best to stay with your multiple boiling procedure, just as you had it before. I've seen it said many times that the natural fibers should be boiled up to 3 times, using fresh water each time, after boiling for at least 10 minutes each. Some people dry it in an oven, and some let it air dry. I tend to think that the air dry process might take too long in some environments, giving too long for Nasties to be attracted and/or grow. So I'd favor a fast dry, and then store it in Baggies, or something.

I've been spending a lot of time on Wick materials. Safe vs dangerous., started by EvilGrym, looking for what I saw before. I haven't found what I saw before, but I have pretty much quit looking because this Post/Thread is so good. They are studying Cotton in many forms, Hemp, Bamboo, etc., sharing their experiences. I've been reading for days, trying to catch up, so that's why you never heard back from me - I was looking for verification I could point you to.

Since I use the Vivi Nova myself, I'll take your advice about 1mm hemp string vs 2mm or 3mm. But BJ43 is about to do one of his famous studies that you're going to want to follow. This is what he's done so far (in red)...

I hung 1 foot each of Silica, Lydia's (Bamboo), Cotton Candle Wick Square Braid #2, and 1mm Hemp (your favorite Jazzy) from a coat hanger with the ends in two inches of water for a wicking race. The winner by a long shot was the hemp (hooray for Jazzy), fastest and highest, second Lydia's, third square braid, and last silica. Going to let them all dry out and try to roll a foot of cotton wick to do it again in the daylight and try to video it. Maybe a little food coloring in the water for contrast. It is really amazing how much faster and higher the hemp is. Going to leave them in the water overnight to see if any can get as high as the hemp. (high as the hemp) lol

With some suggestions and encouragement, he's agreed to do a test similar to his original Stainless Steel test that concluded #500 SS Mesh was the best for anything, but especially for 100% VG. And he's also going to compare Stainless Steel now to everything else in the natural fibers he's selected.

Also, your experience with Hemp v Cotton, strand sizes, etc., and the Tanks and things you've used them in, with success and fail rates, would be most welcomed here.

So be sure to tune in for the Test Results,

100%VG

 

[JazzyTech]

Thanks for the notice 100%VG... It was a google search that originally brought me to ECF, and to that very thread. Back then it was only 2.5k comments are so Had reached 3K by the time I finished it. If you read the whole thing then you'd see my comments. I became a member of ECF because of it Some very knowledgeable folks hanging around that thread. I'm still watching that thread; occasionally comment and add my experiences their for all my cotton/hemp/bamboo experiences. BJ43 is the one that tested and discovered that 1mm hemp that I recommended to you. I needed 2mm and took a chance on a brand that resembled the one that BJ43 originally found. After some chatting, he told me the one I chose happened to be his second favorite
He has since contacted the original seller of the 1mm hemp and they will be offering the 2mm in that same brand so I'll be getting that for testing as well! "Daddy needs 2mm for his Ody clone" (snicker)

And, for the record: I do add some distilled water to my VG. I keep away from PG mostly (except in small amounts in flavors occasionally.

 

[100%VG]

Thanks for the notice 100%VG... It was a google search that originally brought me to ECF, and to that very thread. Back then it was only 2.5k comments are so Had reached 3K by the time I finished it. If you read the whole thing then you'd see my comments. I became a member of ECF because of it Some very knowledgeable folks hanging around that thread. I'm still watching that thread; occasionally comment and add my experiences their for all my cotton/hemp/bamboo experiences. BJ43 is the one that tested and discovered that 1mm hemp that I recommended to you. I needed 2mm and took a chance on a brand that resembled the one that BJ43 originally found. After some chatting, he told me the one I chose happened to be his second favorite
He has since contacted the original seller of the 1mm hemp and they will be offering the 2mm in that same brand so I'll be getting that for testing as well! "Daddy needs 2mm for his Ody clone" (snicker)

And, for the record: I do add some distilled water to my VG. I keep away from PG mostly (except in small amounts in flavors occasionally.

Jazzy,

I thought that was you I've seen. I hit a few threads, and didn't really remember where I saw you. But I think that Wick Race is going to be a good one.

The link to Cool Breeze's Wick Materials and Properties has gotten hot lately. There have been some comments thrown about, but someone decided that there should be some Scare Remarks against Cotton, that were accepted and posted, and I have taken issue with them. This guy xpen seems to be a total fool. I hope he's not your brother-in-law. I'd really feel sorry for my sister in such a case. He's made some statements with nothing but vague references behind them, so I wonder who's side he's really on. It really kinda twerked me, because there's already so much disinformation flying around, and every time I turn around, there's a new issue to worry about, research, and come to conclusions about, so this thing was really bad timing for me. Check out Breeze's page, read up on it, and see what your impression is. You'd have to start with the OP on page one to see the Notes, and item #1, talking about Acrolein and Formaldehyde. I saw this and said ...?!!! So I set out trying to educate Breeze, and this xpen piped up, explaining how important of an issue it was. I kinda went off on him, but I'm so tired of all the games and agendas. I wasn't Rude, but I made my point. And I invited anyone having real information with regard to his statements to step up and present it. So I guess I'll see what comes of it. I'll either get admonished, banned, or applauded.

You can tell me what you think, if you like.

100%VG

 

[JazzyTech]

Coolbreeze is no idiot. He's done a lot of his own testing and belongs to a generation that approaches subjects with humility than "I know something". He's not posting his findings as "the word" but just putting together what he's heard. I'm sure once people see what he's doing he'll get a lot more input/help.

I think xpen is just perhaps overzealous with the info. He's not the first to raise the acrolein question. It has been addressed more than once on the "safe vs. dangerous" thread. I remember first stumbling upon the acrolein and spent a whole day researching. It's been awhile, but I believe I was one of those who asked the in the wicks vs. thread about the acrolein and safety. Bottom line is, we're all "the mice in the cage" on this whole vaping thing. The real verdict will come in twenty years from now on our health. I fully understand we're all looking out for our health, now more than ever since we've made the decision to improve

I'm not related to xpen, but have had a few good back and forths about e-cigs and vaping in general. I don't think he's just out to stop ppl from vaping on cotton. I personally wouldn't care since I've done my own research and am content in the knowledge that as long as I don't push the cotton too hard, I'm safe. Although lately I've been really enjoying hemp twine. It's a bit tougher than cotton. Doesn't deliver the sweet tastes like cotton does though. I think hemp would be excellent with tobacco flavored fluids. Again, I don't vape on tobacco tastes at all; just an assumption.

I haven't totally dismissed silica based wicks. If I can find one that is safe, I'd be happy to use it. Matter of fact I've got a special one coming in the mail and Coolbreeze will have a sample to test against his own experience which goes years beyond my own. If memory serves, he was the first I recall reading about who did a "wick race" and reported it to the ECF community. Don't quote me on that, but I recall he was definitely involved in that.

For the record: 100%cotton #1/0 (2mm) is my favorite cotton. I've been using it for months.
I followed the hemp discussion and realized early on that it generally wasn't good, unless someone discovered a good type/brand. BJ43 was the guy that recommend that hemp that I am so impressed with. The credit must go to him for that
I tried bamboo. It makes me sick. Come to find out many people who used bamboo with a peppermint/menthol found it to be "funky".. That was my conclusion as well.


And, with keeping with the original reason for this thread: I rarely have an issue with a dry spot with cotton because it swells so much. But, I've found that if you take your pv into a completely dark place and *lightly* blow the coil as you fire it, you will see one of the coils begin to go red before the others. So long as you don't overdo it, you can identify potential hotspots.. at least the coil that has the potential to go hot first.
Hope this helps

 

[100%VG]

Coolbreeze is no idiot. He's done a lot of his own testing and belongs to a generation that approaches subjects with humility than "I know something". He's not posting his findings as "the word" but just putting together what he's heard. I'm sure once people see what he's doing he'll get a lot more input/help.

I think xpen is just perhaps overzealous with the info. He's not the first to raise the acrolein question. It has been addressed more than once on the "safe vs. dangerous" thread. I remember first stumbling upon the acrolein and spent a whole day researching. It's been awhile, but I believe I was one of those who asked the in the wicks vs. thread about the acrolein and safety. Bottom line is, we're all "the mice in the cage" on this whole vaping thing. The real verdict will come in twenty years from now on our health. I fully understand we're all looking out for our health, now more than ever since we've made the decision to improve

I'm not related to xpen, but have had a few good back and forths about e-cigs and vaping in general. I don't think he's just out to stop ppl from vaping on cotton. I personally wouldn't care since I've done my own research and am content in the knowledge that as long as I don't push the cotton too hard, I'm safe. Although lately I've been really enjoying hemp twine. It's a bit tougher than cotton. Doesn't deliver the sweet tastes like cotton does though. I think hemp would be excellent with tobacco flavored fluids. Again, I don't vape on tobacco tastes at all; just an assumption.

I haven't totally dismissed silica based wicks. If I can find one that is safe, I'd be happy to use it. Matter of fact I've got a special one coming in the mail and Coolbreeze will have a sample to test against his own experience which goes years beyond my own. If memory serves, he was the first I recall reading about who did a "wick race" and reported it to the ECF community. Don't quote me on that, but I recall he was definitely involved in that.

For the record: 100%cotton #1/0 (2mm) is my favorite cotton. I've been using it for months.
I followed the hemp discussion and realized early on that it generally wasn't good, unless someone discovered a good type/brand. BJ43 was the guy that recommend that hemp that I am so impressed with. The credit must go to him for that
I tried bamboo. It makes me sick. Come to find out many people who used bamboo with a peppermint/menthol found it to be "funky".. That was my conclusion as well.


And, with keeping with the original reason for this thread: I rarely have an issue with a dry spot with cotton because it swells so much. But, I've found that if you take your pv into a completely dark place and *lightly* blow the coil as you fire it, you will see one of the coils begin to go red before the others. So long as you don't overdo it, you can identify potential hotspots.. at least the coil that has the potential to go hot first.
Hope this helps

Jazzy,

I certainly never implied that Cool Breeze was an idiot, or at least that was not my intent. I am of that same generation, and his intentions in making that Chart were good. And yes, xpen was over zealous, but I thought it was more over zealous of Cool to post it without more research. xpen responded to my rant, and admitted that the whole thing was based on a Cotton Wick getting too dry, and to me, that made the whole thing a non-issue.

However, when you post something on a forum like this, which is seen the whole world over, I think it's important to be as accurate as possible. Expressing your experiences is one thing, but posting someone said that someone said in a Safety Chart is a whole different animal. I hope he'll be more careful in the future. That's all. If a newbie saw that Chart, and was frightened away from a truly healthier alternative to cigarettes, that would be totally counter to the point.

And Yes, we are the rats in this maze, but the more I study and research, the more I find that many of the Issues are fabricated. Now this Silica Wick thing... I take that seriously. While I'm certain that Silica Wick was chosen because they are more sturdy than cotton, we have found that there are very good alternatives, like your Hemp.

If you are going to submit your New Silica Wick to anyone for testing, why not try to get it to EvilGrym, who was one of the guys who raised the awareness in the first place, if not THE ORIGINAL guy. Yes, you'd have to send it to Moscow, but does Breeze really have the technology to do that kind of testing? IDK, maybe he does. Maybe I have underestimated him over this Chart thing. I do recognize that he's totally open to new information with regard to said Chart, and that kind of thing really needs to be open to feedback, but I was very disappointed with that Acrolein and Formaldehyde thing. Or, you could write a PM to Grym with brand and name of it, and maybe where he could get said Silica Wick, and study it for himself. He was asked in Safe v Dangerous if he had looked at Cotton like he looked at Silica, and I have not seen a reply to that yet (I'm 2/3 through it all). But since Silica was his concern, he might jump on that one. Just a thought. We are quite Off Topic here, doing this in this thread. I'm open to doing this via PM, if you are.

100%VG