I have a habit of running my DIY test dripper until it's completely dry, to prevent flavors from mixing. It works good except for one thing, the cotton wick is always catching on fire and just sits there smoldering until I re-drip. I have a few feet of silica sitting around and decided to try that instead. But I can't start it, it just shreds apart when I try to put in the coil. I've tried wetting it and twisting it (doesn't work) and taping the end (too fat to fit through). I would just use ss mesh but I don't have a torch and don't really feel like buying one just to wick one atty. Any ideas?
How to start a silica wick?
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You need to wrap your coil around the wick and your mandrel/drill bit/thingy of your choice at the same time when you build. You will probably have to adjust down the size of what you wrap your coil around in the process.
another option to rickajho's suggestion above, would be to fold the silica in half as I described here: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...592-sensitivity-cotton-wick.html#post12232328
just need to find the right diameter depending on the size of silica you are using.
good luck!
just need to find the right diameter depending on the size of silica you are using.
good luck!
I use 2 pieces of 2mm silica wick in my kayfun ... In order to be able to pull 2 pieces of it though the coil, I need to use a 2.8mm (7/64") drill bit to wind the coil around. This gives me a large enough coil inside diameter for the 2 pieces of silica.
Again, just pull the double piece of silica through the coil with a piece of wire as in the photos below ... then cut to your correct length after installing the silica in the coil
BTW ... the photos below show cotton yarn, but installing braided silica wick is the same procedure:
Again, just pull the double piece of silica through the coil with a piece of wire as in the photos below ... then cut to your correct length after installing the silica in the coil
BTW ... the photos below show cotton yarn, but installing braided silica wick is the same procedure:
I've done the double pull using an extra piece of wire (like above) but I also found a way that worked better for me, especially when re-wicking in place.
I take some plain old white school glue and coat about the first 1/3 to 1/2 inch of my silica, making sure I have it as smooth as possible, and let it dry. Once dry I cut it at an extreme bias, giving the silica a point at the end. The point should go into the coil enough to grab it and pull it through. I generally pull my silica all the way through to the other end before I cut it so I can just glue it up once and keep reusing it.
I also do this with cotton yarn and it worked even better since cotton actually absorbs the glue.
Hope that helps
I take some plain old white school glue and coat about the first 1/3 to 1/2 inch of my silica, making sure I have it as smooth as possible, and let it dry. Once dry I cut it at an extreme bias, giving the silica a point at the end. The point should go into the coil enough to grab it and pull it through. I generally pull my silica all the way through to the other end before I cut it so I can just glue it up once and keep reusing it.
I also do this with cotton yarn and it worked even better since cotton actually absorbs the glue.
Hope that helps
I've seen some cut a drinking straw length wise, stick the silica in there and feed it through the coil.
By the way you don't need a torch to use mesh wicks. That technique is almost a thing of the past. Both due to worries about overheating the metal and to it giving a somewhat nasty initial flavor. I believe most current mesh users either don't pre-oxidize at all or simply gives the wick a couple of juice burns.
By the way you don't need a torch to use mesh wicks. That technique is almost a thing of the past. Both due to worries about overheating the metal and to it giving a somewhat nasty initial flavor. I believe most current mesh users either don't pre-oxidize at all or simply gives the wick a couple of juice burns.
Not a micro coil at all. In fact, the coil was made by wrapping 28 AWG wire around a 3/32" (2.4mm) drill rod. This coil is 1.6 ohms. A slightly larger 7/64" (2.8mm) drill rod works too. Some silica is slightly thicker than others, so you just need to see what works best for you.
Bottom line ... you need the inside diameter of your coil to be large enough to pull a double piece of braided 2mm silica through it.
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Another tip ...
Some of these Kayfuns are susceptible to gurgling and flooding at times.
Adding a very small piece of cotton down over each juice channel before pushing down your silica wicks (as shown in the bottom photo) will stop the gurgling.
Just don't pack the cotton tightly over the top of the juice channels.
Some of these Kayfuns are susceptible to gurgling and flooding at times.
Adding a very small piece of cotton down over each juice channel before pushing down your silica wicks (as shown in the bottom photo) will stop the gurgling.
Just don't pack the cotton tightly over the top of the juice channels.
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