Microscope Image-Interesting findings

[zippersnapper]

Since I'v been enjoying almost all of the great tank systems GV has to offer, I felt compelled to rip them apart and see what makes these things tick. Some may find this stupid and boring, while others might find it interesting.

IMO, mind you, the performance depends on the most part (not all), of the Atty Head and its design/manufacture. I have choosen my favorites (and not so), and took some close up's, with my kids toy PC microscope.

First, is the Phoenix BC XL (Original..not reborn). This one Vapes GREAT, but I dont understand why because the coils are wrapped very tightly together, unlike 99% of others I have seen. This seems to go against the grain of current design. Maybe due to such a confined space? Notice the ceramic cup used to insulate..

Next is another favorite, the Vision Nova Ver 2.5..Another super performer..Excellent coil construction, no insulator cup, but a "Insulating sleeve"..

Here is another solid performer, and quickly falling in love with. The Kanger T3. (I know, I already did this but had to do it again)

And the "Extra" wicks laid on top:

Let's not forget allot of our esteemed vaping masters favorite, the Vision Stardust. Notice the outstanding coil construction..No wonder these things vape like a freight train..

Now we move onto a relatively newcomer on the block, the Splifire. Very nice coil head indeed. Vapes pretty darn good, and doesn't gunk up quckly..MAJOR bonus:

Here's the last one, I sure hope Chris and Danno dont crucify me on this..The E1 reload. I had really high hopes for this. The build of the unit is solid, and comes with the nicest steel tip I have seen (close to worth the cost of the whole unit IMO). I experienced nothing but dry hit, after dry hit with this. I think, the reason lies in the coil head. QC need to be in check here. Otherwise, for the value, it would be awsome.

Other noteworthy observations:

I know a few of us, scrape our coils after a good dry burn. IHere's a shot of a Nova head that I soaked in 190 Everclear for a day, then dropped in Microwaved super hot water, then dry burned, and rinsed one more time in microwaved super hot water. As we see, even all this does not remove the burnt carbon deposits left on:

Heres a BC Phoenix, which underwent a good cleaning as described above, but had the coils scraped clean:

I'm a firm believer of giving the coils a soft and gentle scraping..


The last shot, is of the Insulation "Sleeve" used in the Nova heads (Ver 2.5). It looks to be made of Silica..Wonder where one might find this stuff?

Hope I didnt bore too many to death with this...

 

[Rule62]

I love the pictures. What did you use to take those? I'd like to be able to take pictures like that for a couple Facebook vaper groups I belong to.

 

[WallyO]

Nice pics zip. If the insulator sleeve is like the Kanger T0's it's fiberglass. They get very brittle and will break apart in your fingers.

That E1 head is disgusting. Such a shame they would even ship anything like that.

Vivi Nova head. Needs much more dry burning. A thorough dry burn, blowing it off in between each burn, makes any coil look like new. I burn the heck out of all of mine now and can not remember the last time I blew one.

One other thing I noticed is that even if a coil looks perfect before using, the coils do quite a bit of shifting around on the silica after using for a while. I'm sure that is do to all the expansion contraction cycles.

Once again, awesome pics. That's a nice toy.

 

[zippersnapper]

I love the pictures. What did you use to take those? I'd like to be able to take pictures like that for a couple Facebook vaper groups I belong to.

Thank Rule...I bought my kid this microscope last year at Wally World. They had a boatload, and if you wait till right before X-mas, (when they come out in bulk) they discounted them for $20.00..(made by tasco) and kept at the front with their cheap telescopes...I think there pretty cool...

 

[zippersnapper]

If the insulator sleeve is like the Kanger T0's it's fiberglass. They get very brittle and will break apart in your fingers.

Thanx Wally..The insulater sleeve, I can sqeeze in my fingers, and it doesnt disintegrate....remains pliable...

 

[WallyO]

Thanx Wally..The insulater sleeve, I can sqeeze in my fingers, and it doesnt disintegrate....remains pliable...

The one on the T0 I hit with a torch and them it became brittle and crumbled in my fingertips.
Next time I tear a Nova apart I'll torch that one and see what happens. Although they seem to be staying very pliable after some usage so maybe those are silica.

 

[Rule62]

Thanx Wally..The insulater sleeve, I can sqeeze in my fingers, and it doesnt disintegrate....remains pliable...

I read somewhere, don't remember where, of someone buying that sleeve stuff, and putting it around stainless mesh wicks, where the wick goes through the hole in the base of rebuildable attys. It involves enlarging the wick hole in the base though.

 

[zippersnapper]

That would be a perfect application for that stuff....

 

[Gypzy.Mama]

Awesome pics... Striking the E1 from my list. Adding in the SplitFire and T3 (for sure).

 

[Oh.Leever]

I read somewhere, don't remember where, of someone buying that sleeve stuff, and putting it around stainless mesh wicks, where the wick goes through the hole in the base of rebuildable attys. It involves enlarging the wick hole in the base though.

Michal Jansto perhaps? something related to WillPro maybe


as for the tight coils on the phoenix, it reminds me of peter k's method taken to the extreme.. or this other method that was refered to as a chaos wrap. either way, interesting to see.

lovely photos.

 

[harmonic]

nice photos zip
willpro was one of several that used the sleeving over a mesh wick if you wanted too (then you dont have to oxidize it). i have a piece of the silica sleeving and some of the ceramic kind too but once you cut it and try to work with it it just unravels and falls apart - there isnt really anything holding the weave together. i'm not sure why the ones in the nova heads dont unravel the same way..... unless they are fiberglass as was mentioned.....

 

[mikecup]

I believe that weave material is in the stallions. They do work well.

 

[Dieseler]

Mike i saw a video showing the inside of one of the factories inside China and how much hand assembly they did .
Must of been cold in there as well as they were all wearing coats.

 

[Firewing]

This is really interesting to see! Thanks for taking the time Zipper

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus, where the mountains meet the desert in Northern Cali