McMaster Wicks

[RockinRobbieSF]

I ordered some silica rope from McMasters and kind of regret it. It's really tightly braided and I have trouble unwinding it to get some good wicks (or seems like I'm wasting a lot).

I saw someone on youtube using McMasters ceramic rope for wicks, and he got this loosely twisted stuff that seemed a lot easier to unwind and cut. What's the difference between silica and ceramic? anyone have any good hints for unbraiding the silica stuff?


Silica:
McMaster-Carr (silica)

Ceramic:
McMaster-Carr (ceramic)

 

[Ariel_MX]

I ordered some silica rope from McMasters and kind of regret it. It's really tightly braided and I have trouble unwinding it to get some good wicks (or seems like I'm wasting a lot).

I saw someone on youtube using McMasters ceramic rope for wicks, and he got this loosely twisted stuff that seemed a lot easier to unwind and cut. What's the difference between silica and ceramic? anyone have any good hints for unbraiding the silica stuff?


Silica:
McMaster-Carr (silica)

Ceramic:
McMaster-Carr (ceramic)

Hi Rockin,

I was thinking in get some of those, maybe you bough the "Tightly Braided", I think the one you saw on youtube was the "Loosely Twisted" one.

For what I have read on the specs, the Ceramic supports higher temperatures, so it should be easier to clean it: just a dry burn and you are ready to use it again.

Have you tryied the Nextel XC-116?

 

[RockinRobbieSF]

Hi Rockin,

I was thinking in get some of those, maybe you bough the "Tightly Braided", I think the one you saw on youtube was the "Loosely Twisted" one.

For what I have read on the specs, the Ceramic supports higher temperatures, so it should be easier to clean it: just a dry burn and you are ready to use it again.

Have you tryied the Nextel XC-116?

Yeah, stay away from "tightly braided". Unfortunately, the silica only comes that way. If I ever use it up, I'll go with the loosely braided ceramic.

I've never heard of Nextel XC-116. Does it wick well? I googled it and seems pretty interesting!

 

[Teach]

Yeah, stay away from "tightly braided". Unfortunately, the silica only comes that way. If I ever use it up, I'll go with the loosely braided ceramic.

I've never heard of Nextel XC-116. Does it wick well? I googled it and seems pretty interesting!

xc-116 is sleeving and frays badly when cut... never got into using it since the mesh is fine without it. If you order it be sure to get the smallest (1/16-1/8) and follow ordering instructions on the bottom of the page.

I've tried 2 or 3 types from Mcmaster and it's a pain to say the least - I didn't care for it either.

If you want glassfibre wick Heavens Gifts normally has it, but are out of stock right now. WickStore may be an option, but I haven't tried it. Glass Fibre Wick - 1m is available from Cloud 9.

 

[RockinRobbieSF]

Should add that Clouds of Vapor sells wick for the iAtty. And also coil (though the coil is 36 awg and the one I got from eBay is 32 which works pretty well for my purposes).

 

[RockinRobbieSF]

Below is the video I saw with the loosely twisted ceramic from McMasters which is what I thought looked pretty cool. Rope show begins at about 5:55. (Video is how to create a dual coil on the iAtty.)

 

[Teach]

Should add that Clouds of Vapor sells wick for the iAtty. And also coil (though the coil is 36 awg and the one I got from eBay is 32 which works pretty well for my purposes).

cool... didn't even think to check that area on COV! That wick is definitly not the same as I got.

 

[zippersnapper]

Rockin' Rob: (OR ANYBODY)
I watched all your vids, and bought some Silica wick & Kanthal. Im having a big problim with the silica though. I did a bad thing and bought the 3/8 tightly woven. I am able to get it unbraided, but its really hard for me to work with. This stuff feels like cotton fiber, and when I try and wrap a few coils, it just tears apart or gets all "fuzzy". Seems way to "frail". I can't work with it at all. Is the ceramic wick, which is considerably much more expensive, behave like this?

I came across a Youtube Vid were this UK gentleman is using SS #400 on his stardust, he even has a separate vid on how to "bend and season" it. Have you(or anynone) done this? I'm sure you have seen the "New" startdusts that have much longer wicks and improved, non-craking tanks...E-Smoker online has a new "Viva Nova" that looks promising, have you tried that one? I cant wait till someone tears that little wick and atty apart to see how easy it is (or if you can) rebuild it.

The rebuilidable part is what I want...Tired of spending money on throw away's...All the great (and expensive) rebuildables are ALWAYs sold out. No matter how good they are, or sweet they look, there no good to me or anyone, if ya can't buy them. I'm sure the Chinese are paying attention to our UK and American "Do it yourselfer's" and will mass produce there own..just like SmokTech did with their Pro V knock off...

 

[sumoman25]

Unfortunately you gotta make your own rebuildables it seems... I'm just not willing to pay 150$ for something I know I can make for <50$ for sure. I've got most of the parts for making a bottom coil tank set up, either using a genesis wick or standard wick. Just have to put it all together now...

 

[Teach]

Rockin' Rob: (OR ANYBODY)
I watched all your vids, and bought some Silica wick & Kanthal. Im having a big problim with the silica though. I did a bad thing and bought the 3/8 tightly woven. I am able to get it unbraided, but its really hard for me to work with. This stuff feels like cotton fiber, and when I try and wrap a few coils, it just tears apart or gets all "fuzzy". Seems way to "frail". I can't work with it at all. Is the ceramic wick, which is considerably much more expensive, behave like this?

I came across a Youtube Vid were this UK gentleman is using SS #400 on his stardust, he even has a separate vid on how to "bend and season" it. Have you(or anynone) done this? I'm sure you have seen the "New" startdusts that have much longer wicks and improved, non-craking tanks...E-Smoker online has a new "Viva Nova" that looks promising, have you tried that one? I cant wait till someone tears that little wick and atty apart to see how easy it is (or if you can) rebuild it.

The rebuilidable part is what I want...Tired of spending money on throw away's...All the great (and expensive) rebuildables are ALWAYs sold out. No matter how good they are, or sweet they look, there no good to me or anyone, if ya can't buy them. I'm sure the Chinese are paying attention to our UK and American "Do it yourselfer's" and will mass produce there own..just like SmokTech did with their Pro V knock off...

Zip... you can get standard atty glassfibre wick at Heaven's Gate

McMaster-Carr is the right stuff, but a pain. For me, that made it the wrong stuff.

Omega Engineering has Braided Ceramic Sleeving which many like - read the order instructions carefully - you'll want the XC-116... it's about 1.50p/foot.

 

[zippersnapper]

Thanx Teach...I saw the Omega "Nextel" (after I screwed the pooch with the silica rope) and am going to order some. Seems like alot of us who want to or are re-wicking, are buying from Omega.. I want 2' of XC 116 and XC 18, but the 116 looks like a back order for a week. When its restocked, I'll order.

INYO, Do you think the "Viva Nova" is using this wick material? The way its braided, and the size looks perfect...Just trying not to make ANOTHER mistake ordering wick.....

 

[DonG]

To anyone who got the mcmaster braided stuff......if you are having trouble unbraiding switch to the other end of the rope. Once you have separated a half inch or so unraveling the rest is a simple matter of pulling lightly on each strand in succession. It is put together in a slipknot fashion and several inches can be undone in just a minute or so without breakage.

 

[BuzzKilla]

I saw the Omega "Nextel" (after I screwed the pooch with the silica rope) and am going to order some. Seems like alot of us who want to or are re-wicking, are buying from Omega.. I want 2' of XC 116 and XC 18, but the 116 looks like a back order for a week.

This silica rope you speak of, does it require any unraveling or are those diameters the total width?
I got confused since i saw inner diameter in the description.....

 

[mwa102464]

old old old news,,,,,2-3mm silica is better for wick, the Omega worked pretty good in the first iAtty but thats it, just my opinion but you guys should just get the 2mm Silica that is used in the Vision style carto's, Grand tanks. The XC-116 is going to give you a harsh hit and just not wick the same or taste as good as thicker silica does. I've got rolls of both XC-116 & XC-118 and have used it plenty going back a year or more ago. Once in a while you can use one very small strand at times along with the silica but its not all it is cracked up to be in other Atty Mods, it also has a 1/8" hole in the center of it. Like I said worked good in the original iAtty but thats about it. It's amazing what people leap and jump into when they see something or hear something someone says or post, save your money guys. Also dont forget if you do use the omega you need to torch it and burn it really well first to burn off the small particles , if ya dont they will be getting stuck in your throat and you dont want this. Try to find the 2 to 3mm Silica to wrap your Kanthal around instead in your Atty's you will like this better in my opinion then the fiberglass or Omega, unless your using the iAtty 1 Just my personal opinion

 

[Teach]

roger that mwa...

I tried 116 out, but couldn't find the advantage over ss mesh... some seemed to like it though, may have been the iAtty folks.

 

[BuzzKilla]

MWA,

any links for recommended wick for us home-made atty guys?

or should i go with the ceramic from the McMaster link in this thread?

 

[mwa102464]

Guys here's a pic of what I'm saying to get,, I have a vendor friend who gets this for me from China but I believe Bruce @ COV also sells the same, same wick that is sold for the GG Odyssues. See Pic below = 2mm Silica

 

[mwa102464]

MWA,

any links for recommended wick for us home-made atty guys?

or should i go with the ceramic from the McMaster link in this thread?

I would not use that ceramic myself, find what I posted and use the 2mm Silica

Ever look inside of a really good Atty like a HH-357 or an i06 ? there is a very small piece of Silica and they produce mega vapor, it doesnt take some big thick piece of wick to create huge vapor, or fiberglass,,, plus you dont want the fiberglass particles in your throat, Again all this is just my personal view, I'm sure others will argue or think different, make your own wise educated decision of course

There are some other newer options that I and some others have been experimenting with, real ceramic/ porous ceramic, not rope, but reg pieces of ceramic, that work very well, see pics below, these will be coming soon to an Atty near you =

Pic's courteousness of Emonty

 

[zippersnapper]

Obviously mwa has way more experience doing this than myself. The wick he shows in post #17 is exactly what I'm looking for. The pics I saw for the new ViVI Nova, looks to be the exact same stuff...tightly woven, yet small in diameter and pliable.

If mwa would be so kind as to tell us where it gets it (aside from COV) that would outstanding. From all the posts I have been reading, silica is the way to go, but I can assure you, McMaster # 8828K726 ain't worth a damn. I say that only because when I try and wrap my Kanthal around it, it starts to fray..REALLY BAD:


It may be due to the size (3/8), I dont know... and all I end up with is a pile of fuzz..

Buzz: Yes you have to unravel, but i found this to be relatively easy...

 

[mwa102464]

I agree about the Mcmaster-Carr stuff,,, but I'm sorry like I said a vendor friend of mine ordered me some special from China and he doesn't make a habit of stocking or selling this so I cant post where I get it, sorry. Maybe look on Alibaba and contact some manufactures and then get together with 3-4 people who want some and split an order of it would be a good idea I think. Or just order it from Bruce @ COV what's wrong with that ? 10 feet will last you a longgggg time zippersnapper and Bruce usually has it I believe.