May Have Found the Fix to Dry Hits/Leaking... Help with a Mod?

[mattkohl71]

After many issues with Kanger T2's and Mini Vivi Nova's alike, I have been searching for a fix to the dry hits/bad wicking issues of both devices. The Mini Vivi Nova doesn't have as many wicking issues, but the flavor/vapor could be better.

The Kanger T2's have a tendency to leak when they're on they're side for too long, or when I'm moving about. I think the extra wicking material will absorb the excess of the silica wicks and help prevent too much leaking as well.

And after much searching, I ran across this post[1] , which seems to be an easy enough mod to pull off.
So, my question is how could I get this extra wicking material in to the Kanger T2's thin slots to where the coil is?
On the Mini Vivi Nova, this will be easy as pie. The old Fluxomizers needed basically the exact same mod done to it, so I have no problem doing this once in awhile.

But for the Kangers, where I think it would help even more, I just don't see how it could work.
So any ideas on how to get the extra wicking in there? Maybe use a sewing need to guide the cotton in there... Or some really thin cotton yarn?

Also, if there are any other mods I may not know about with Kanger T2's that are easy, I'd love to know. I do all of the necessary measures to make sure it's wicking well (Constantly tip it, let it sit for awhile before the first vape, not filling above 2.0 line, etc.) but not leaking everywhere.
Thanks for any help!

 

[skelley]

First, the T2 heads need cleaned & dryed before use.
They (T2) already have a flavor strand if you look. All you have to do is pull off the rubber top seal and pull it out.
I have replaced the short flavor strand for a longer one of the same diameter so it now reaches the bottom of the tank.
You can do this with a thin strip of cotton baton also.
I have tried a larger strand, but it choked the wicks and I had to trim the seal slightly, so I went back to the thinner strand.

I think out of the box that the T2 has better flavor because of the factory strand, but you 'must' clean the heads prior to use or you 'will' get dry hits.
Not to mention the price, $5 bucks for the device and $1-$1.60 per head, why should I pay 2X-3X as much for a vivi?

 

[mattkohl71]

First, the T2 heads need cleaned & dryed before use.
They (T2) already have a flavor strand if you look. All you have to do is pull off the rubber top seal and pull it out.
I have replaced the short flavor strand for a longer one of the same diameter so it now reaches the bottom of the tank.
You can do this with a thin strip of cotton baton also.
I have tried a larger strand, but it choked the wicks and I had to trim the seal slightly, so I went back to the thinner strand.

I think out of the box that the T2 has better flavor because of the factory strand, but you 'must' clean the heads prior to use or you 'will' get dry hits.
Not to mention the price, $5 bucks for the device and $1-$1.60 per head, why should I pay 2X-3X as much for a vivi?

What exactly is a flavor strand?

Also I tried winging it with the cotton, and it's not working that well. I suck at making wicks, so I may order some cotton yarn/thread that doesn't have any polyester or any of that stuff. I made the wicks way too tight/thick. It's still vaping ok though!

Also, what do you mean by clean them? Like dry burn/rinse off/dry, or soak/dry burn/rinse off/dry? And how does this effect the dry hits?

Thanks for the insight. I'd love to get these to work fantastically, as I really do enjoy them, but the dry hits/leaking really sucks.

 

[skelley]

The flavor strand is a loose wick that they have laying on top of the coil.
Lift or remove the top seal and you should see it.
My heads are OEM and they all have this strand..
Do your heads have the loose strand?

Attys need cleaned prior to use. Some ship with antibacterial/shipping fluid. They are also fiberous materials and small particles can get trapped w/in those strands of wick which can hinder their wicking capabilities, not to mention what they go through during the manufacturing process.

I use a ultrasonic cleaner w/ PGA, then hot water rinse. I have also microwaved water and let them soak then rinse.
Dry either by paper towel or air dry. You can do quick dry burns to speed the process up.
I was getting terrible dry hits, but once they were cleaned, everything was great.

I have extra 3mm CE2 style wick material and I used a strand of that to replace the loose strand of the same diameter.
I also do not get leaks.
Every time I refill:
1) Remove drip tip and check the head to ensure it's tight.
2) Fill with juice
3) Slightly lift the top seal and allow the drip tip to reseat the seal.

Edit: By slightly lift, I mean that I use my finger nail and bring the seal edges up to where it looks square at the top. I do not lift it above the little nipple piece.

 

[JUDGMENT AFFIRMED]

Hi skelley,
my t2 have it, but its not laying on top of the coil, more like along side.

 

[mattkohl71]

Actually mine don't seem to have the flavor strand... I got them from Mount Olympus Vapors. Any way to check to see where they're from? I also have some from iVape on the way to check out.

I don't have a microwave actually, so I can just boil/heat up some water and let it soak then rinse with more hot water. Then a few dry burns/let it dry overnight and then I'll try that.

I definitely would like to just have these work without adding more wick myself. I'm not too into modding anything, and adding more wick seems to just choke everything up anyways. It's confusing and should be unneeded.

Thanks for the advice so far!

 

[skelley]

Hey JA, yeah mine are like that also. As long as the wick is up there somewhere on the coil, all seems good.
I tried vaping w/o it and I got tons of vapor but little flavor, so I put it back and life was good again.

 

[JUDGMENT AFFIRMED]

Maybe they moved when i cleaned all my replacement heads. I wasn't aware of them, they don't stick out to notice. THanks again. maybe i'll do what you did and see what thats like.

 

[skelley]

NP mattkohl71, not having that strand doesn't sound right and could be why they are leaking and null on flavor also.
My heads all came in a 5 piece foil blister pack if that helps.

 

[skelley]

My loose strand is the same length as the other wicks (out of the box) and I make sure it's centered after cleaning.
The only difference I notice in the longer ones that I made, is that I can vape them closer to empty and I don't need to tilt-2-vape as much.
Let me know how it goes

 

[JUDGMENT AFFIRMED]

I first noticed it when i took the original short wick head out to take apart and see how it is built. I wasn't even sure what it was. i'm useing one of the long wick ones without the cup and its working fine. I rebuit my first V2 saturday with cotton wick and have been testing it heavy, so far so good, but after 40 years of smoking i can't say the flavor is that much better.

 

[JUDGMENT AFFIRMED]

From what you just said, mine are different, and they were packaged individually.....from vapingme.

 

[skelley]

I like them both (short & long) but the long w/o the cups are becoming my favorite.
I only smoked for 23yrs and my taste buds go through phases. Some weeks I can taste every little note in my juices and then 'BLAM!', several weeks of tasting nothing.
But as long as I get tons of vapor and my nicotine, I'm good....lol.
I haven't rebuilt any T2's yet and I only have 1 dead so far, but I saved it

 

[skelley]

Do the long wick heads have a long flavor strand still?

From what you just said, mine are different, and they were packaged individually.....from vapingme.

 

[JUDGMENT AFFIRMED]

Where is it leaking at? Thats what i really like with mine, it doesn't leak.

 

[JUDGMENT AFFIRMED]

Do the long wick heads have a long flavor strand still?

No, i went and got one when you mentioned this, and looking into it i see the top of the coil.

 

[skelley]

Flip the wicks around and see if it's there. If not, I would find something to add one as the flavor is a lot better with it.

No, i went and got one when you mentioned this, and looking into it i see the top of the coil.

 

[JUDGMENT AFFIRMED]

I just took the metal cap off and it has no flavor wick, so the long wick replacement heads dont have it.

 

[JUDGMENT AFFIRMED]

YEA skelley, i'll do like you did and add a long wick and see what that does.

 

[skelley]

Bummer, I got mine from Vapor Alley and all of mine have it.