I've been rebuilding wicks for a while but a little stumped on this.. Need input.

[Butters78]

I'm still building silica wicks. Don't worry guys I got some ss mesh from eBay in to try soon. Anyway with my silica wicks I always wondered what is best when it comes to wrapping. Where as, how much tension do you want with your wick against the coil? I know the wick had to be touching the coil but how much tension is best in your guys opinionn?

Should if be really loose or should there be alot of tension when pulling from side to side or somewhere in between? When I do mine there is some tension but hardly any. I figure that the silica expands when it's full of juice so there should be a decent amount of play with the wick. Just curious how much it expands. Where as if it's really loose but still touching I'll get more vapor or flavor. If it's a little too tight it'll choke the wick.

Thanks guys. Sorry for rambling lol.

 

[keenanmcfar]

I get solid results with barely touching. But the down side to that is its really got to be soaked. Not very forgiving when it comes to that.

 

[keenanmcfar]

Also, if you haven't tried it yet, try a cotton ball wick! Puts the silica ive been using to shame and much more forgiving than silica on coil tightness

 

[withravenoushunger]

I like to make it so that it's just touching the wick. I don't make it too tight so that it's strangling it but still tight enough that no part of the coil is off the wick. Don't know how to explain it but as long as the coil is touching the wick completely and not extremely tight, it should be fine. I guess what I'm saying is try to keep the wick the same shape as before you put the coil on it.

 

[unloaded]

Silica doesn't expand when it soaks up the juice. The organic wicks like cotton and bamboo do expand with juice.

 

[Spacedoutart]

I have found silica to work the best if it is snug. Best way is to use a paper clip (or something thin) along with the wick when you wrap the wire. And remover the paper clip when done wrapping the coil.... hahahaha... With this method it will be snug on the coils but loose enough you can slid the wick back and forth within the coil. Too loose and you will have that metallic taste from parts of the coil not touching the wick. Too tight and you will constantly getting the dry hit taste from juice not getting into the center of the coil.