Just Stainless Steel Wick and Filler

[BJ43]

Decide to start a new thread for those of us that are convinced the best and healthiest wick and filler is stainless steel.

The Basics:

Mesh....

STAINLESS STEEL WOVEN WIRE MESH (filter grading sheet) | eBay

Wool

Lustersheen Stainless Steel Hand Pads ~ Fine | eBay

Pipe filters

25 STAINLESS STEEL 3/4" TOBACCO SMOKING PIPE SCREENS | eBay

Wire

Resistance heating wire, Kanthal A-1 32 awg 75ft | eBay

Wire Calc

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...7052-atomizer-wicks-period-ohms-coil-calc.xls

 

[BJ43]

I started using ss wool years ago as a filler in my carts. My next ss was the Bonut made from the ss pipe filters for dripping but is not pure because there is still a small original wick, next I went to the repairable ce2 with all ss wick. This last is very good but has the hassles of all ce2s. My present project is with the A2 and I am very excited with the results so far.

 

[BJ43]

The standard A2 cart with a 1.6 ohm 32 awg ss wick.

 

[BJ43]

Stainless steel pipe screens rolled into a donut shape we call "Bonuts", installed into the atty to enhance dripping. Get up to half hour of vaping between drips.

 

[BJ43]

Repairable ce2 with 100% ss wick in a syringe tank.

 

[BJ43]

The 3.5 olm inverted V ss wick and 32awg coil. Almost 4 in of wire in this coil. The filler is a piece from a DC and you should pull it up into the A2 tube so that it doesn't get near the coil. This is by far the best at 6 to 7 volts that I have tried. In this mod I don't use the white part of the cart and just screw off the mouthpiece to rewet the filler. Roll the filler so the center stays open for air draw.

 

[ainako]

steel wool in carts? I remember a while back someone brought up the idea but it was tossed as we couldn't source a wool that was fine enough that was not impregnated with detergents. Nice find on the clean wool!

 

[BJ43]

steel wool in carts? I remember a while back someone brought up the idea but it was tossed as we couldn't source a wool that was fine enough that was not impregnated with detergents. Nice find on the clean wool!

Not plain steel, it has to be stainless steel. I have been using this brand both fine and medium for years.

 

[ainako]

which holds more juice or performs better?

 

[BJ43]

which holds more juice or performs better?

Medium holds more juice, fine wicks better. In normal atty I fill 3/4 med with a small final cap of fine.

 

[emonty]

Great new Thread BJ, will be following, trying what you recommend and enjoy the discussions!!!

 

[ED-209]

Great thread and thank you.

I am still waiting on my A2 and possibly a G tank in the future so still a newb when in comes to DIY attys.

 

[BJ43]

Tips:
Cutting the ss mesh on the diagonal to roll into a wick makes it easier to bend without kinking,
I have found that coils with at least two wire widths of space between each coil tend to stay clean longer.

 

[BJ43]

Oxidizing: First of all oxidizing is a process that takes time and patience. It can be done to the wick before or after wrapping the coil. Sometimes I do the wick and then give it one more heating and cooling after I wrap the coil. To oxidize you wet the wick with tap water, heat the part under the coil until red hot, then dip in more tap water. Do this three times. The minerals from the water oxidize or form a crust that is non conductive. I have never had one that was completely non conductive at first. Normally when a install a new one the coil starts heating up on the outer edges, an occasional drop of juice and 3 second burns while blowing on the coil will complete the process and you should end up seeing the whole coil glowing and vaping. It is important to get the wick red hot for oxidizing, gas mini torch, gas range, maybe a gas cigar lighter, not a regular Bic lighter. It gets easier with practice. I do several at a time and reuse the same wicks. After several coils on a wick I no longer have to re oxidize, just wrap the new coil and burn it in as above. Long needle nose pliers come in handy for oxidizing.

 

[mwa102464]

After burning mine 4 times I than burn it 4 more times with VG only, then I will burn it 4 more times with the juice I'm gonna use, this seems to really work well.

 

[mwa102464]

I also use a piece of the XC-116 around mine too, this helps keep the mesh a bit wetter and doesn't burn !

 

[BJ43]

I also use a piece of the XC-116 around mine too, this helps keep the mesh a bit wetter and doesn't burn !

XC-116 ? I am trying to never use silica or fiberglass, I quote: "Although fiberglass was thought to be a "safe" substitute for asbestos, researchers later found that it too was associated with the risk of lung cancer and lung disease. Fiberglass is one of a group of products known as man-made mineral fibers or man-made vitreous fibers. Hamsters forced to breathe fine-diameter fiberglass in a Swiss laboratory developed fibrotic lung conditions, tiny tumor-like growths, abnormal mesothelial cells and damaged cell nuclei only six months into a two-year study. One test animal exposed to fiberglass developed mesothelioma.

 

[BJ43]

A possible solution to the coil and diapers in the SC, DC, and TC. The diapers now are 100% cotton and probably don't give off any harmful fumes when they burn, just bad taste. Cotton is healthier than fiberglass.

 

[Wingapo]

Now this is my kind of thread! Thanks for starting it up BJ. I see the whole gang's here too.

 

[BJ43]

Hope to learn from you guys. Post your tricks, tips, experience, and pictures of stainless steel as a wick or filler.