N00b question on dry burning

[Jaylah]

I've been reading instructions, and watching videos about dry-burning bottom coils for my Aro II. The brick-and-morter store I use charges $3 each for these, and I've found some flavors of e-juice seem to foul them rather quickly. (Like less than a full tank and things taste burned.) I thought it if it was a rather simple procedure, I might be able to save a reasonable amount of money.

However, from what I'm seeing, it's a really futzy business and I also found a mail-order place where I can order fresh coils for about $1.34 each, plus a very nominal S&H charge. (If your order totals at least $30, it even ships free.)

So I'm wondering if it's even worth the bother to clean coils when I can have fresh ones for that little.

Does anybody else bother dry burning those kinds of coils and, if so, do you think it's really worth the savings?

 

[CJHacker]

I think this is a case where a rebuildable atomizer is best. I've got the same deal. I use the little EVOD style atomizers since I switch out flavors a lot and they're cheap. But when I have something that I want to vape on all day, every day, I think I need something that can be rebuilt so I can just build new coils myself instead of buying replacements every couple of weeks. I believe your supposed to take the wick out when dry burning, which on some of these can be a real pain too.

 

[Jaylah]

I believe your supposed to take the wick out when dry burning, which on some of these can be a real pain too.

Yeah, that's the part that seemed so futzy when I was watching the videos.

"Pry this tiny metal stem out that's in there tight enough you might need pliers to do it. Then, since you're almost 60 years old and your eyes aren't what they once were, get out your 'readers' or you won't even be able to see this wick that you must then remove with tweezers. Don't lose the wick! Rinse everything under hot running water, being careful not to lose any of the little bitty parts down the drain. Use a Q-tip to make sure the coil is completely dry before dry-burning it, or you'll short out your power supply. Dry burn the coil. Then pick up the wick with your tweezers and rinse it under hot running water. Blot it dry several times with a paper towel. Assuming you still have not lost the wick, replace it whence it came from and then -- while keeping the wick perfectly centered -- replace that tiny metal stem. Replace the little silicone cap (assuming you haven't lost it yet)........................."

Well, as I said, it seemed like an awfully lot of futz-work for something I can buy new for just over a dollar.

And I'm not sure but I might just be enough of a lazy tightwad that I won't buy flavors that seem to gunk up the coil so fast. (I really can live without "cotton candy" flavored e-juice, which tastes more like bubble-gum to me.) Not when I can vape other great flavors with a single coil for about a week.

I don't mind paying $1.34 to replace a coil every 5 - 7 days. I'd far rather do that than all the rigamarole that goes into cleaning one. But I'm certainly not happy having to use three coils (either new or dry-burned) for one tank of e-juice.

 

[CJHacker]

But I'm certainly not happy having to use three coils (either new or dry-burned) for one tank of e-juice.

Yes, that seems like a crazy amount of coils to go through.. I will usually run through several tanks in my little EVODs before even thinking about replacing the coils. I've got some of these that I'm on about 3 weeks now and haven't replaced the coils.

 

[fraychek]

It's not that difficult. (70 year old here.) Your stock wicks will have flavor wicks that lie on top of the coil. Not difficult remove. They will come off when you rinse the coil anyway. I replace those with a bit of cotton that I pull off a cotton ball and roll between my fingers. You do not need to remove the silica wick that is in the coil. Lay the rinsed parts on a paper towel. They will dry quickly. Not a long or difficult procedure. Yes, you will save only a buck or so per coil, but it adds up and I'd rather spend it on something else. Once you've done it a few times you might even try winding fresh coils. I didn't have any trouble learning to do it, but I do have experience with wire from my jewelry making hobby.

 

[Jaylah]

I replace those with a bit of cotton that I pull off a cotton ball and roll between my fingers.

I wondered about that. Thanks!

I know the instructions/video's said to rinse the flavor wicks, but I couldn't help but think that they'd eventually get rather gunked up, too. And I didn't have the slightest idea where I'd get replacement wicks.

With that knowledge, I think I might be more inclined to at least try this. I've already ordered 15 new coils from the place I found on the internet, so I'd have enough coils to last me quite a while. Then, every once in a while, I could assembly-line fashion clean and dry-burn several.

The brick-and-morter store where I bought my set-up said they sell "rebuilt" coils at half price, and after I got into this a bit, I basically assumed they're just selling dry-burned coils with fresh replacement wicks. So other than where to get replacement wicks, I was kind of coming to the conclusion that I could do the "rebuilding" myself.

Besides the benefit to my health from quitting smoking, I was also looking forward to a significant money saving. If I can "rebuild" (clean and dry-burn) coils myself, then -- assuming I can keep the "Oh, shiney-itis" in check -- I can reduce my expenditure from about $300 per month for analogs to about $40 per month for e-juice!!

 

[edyle]

I've been reading instructions, and watching videos about dry-burning bottom coils for my Aro II. The brick-and-morter store I use charges $3 each for these, and I've found some flavors of e-juice seem to foul them rather quickly. (Like less than a full tank and things taste burned.) I thought it if it was a rather simple procedure, I might be able to save a reasonable amount of money.

However, from what I'm seeing, it's a really futzy business and I also found a mail-order place where I can order fresh coils for about $1.34 each, plus a very nominal S&H charge. (If your order totals at least $30, it even ships free.)

So I'm wondering if it's even worth the bother to clean coils when I can have fresh ones for that little.

Does anybody else bother dry burning those kinds of coils and, if so, do you think it's really worth the savings?

futzy?

If you can afford to spend a dollar a day on coils or if you don't vape that much and a coil lasts a week then good for you; buy fresh coils.

Lots of people dryburn their coils; there's really nothing wrong with the coils, they're just dirty and need cleaning; you can reuse a coil some 10 times if you just dryburn it.

 

[edyle]

I think this is a case where a rebuildable atomizer is best. I've got the same deal. I use the little EVOD style atomizers since I switch out flavors a lot and they're cheap. But when I have something that I want to vape on all day, every day, I think I need something that can be rebuilt so I can just build new coils myself instead of buying replacements every couple of weeks. I believe your supposed to take the wick out when dry burning, which on some of these can be a real pain too.

If it's the silica wick that came with the coil, no you leave the wick there; silica wick does not burn.

If you replace the silica wick with cotton, then when the coil needs cleaning you put it to soak; soaking in hot water makes it easy to take out the wick; after you take out the wick, you dryburn to clean it, then rewick with cotton.

 

[edyle]

I wondered about that. Thanks!

I know the instructions/video's said to rinse the flavor wicks, but I couldn't help but think that they'd eventually get rather gunked up, too. And I didn't have the slightest idea where I'd get replacement wicks.

With that knowledge, I think I might be more inclined to at least try this. I've already ordered 15 new coils from the place I found on the internet, so I'd have enough coils to last me quite a while. Then, every once in a while, I could assembly-line fashion clean and dry-burn several.

The brick-and-morter store where I bought my set-up said they sell "rebuilt" coils at half price, and after I got into this a bit, I basically assumed they're just selling dry-burned coils with fresh replacement wicks. So other than where to get replacement wicks, I was kind of coming to the conclusion that I could do the "rebuilding" myself.

Besides the benefit to my health from quitting smoking, I was also looking forward to a significant money saving. If I can "rebuild" (clean and dry-burn) coils myself, then -- assuming I can keep the "Oh, shiney-itis" in check -- I can reduce my expenditure from about $300 per month for analogs to about $40 per month for e-juice!!

Cotton rewick was one of the most single dramatic improvements I got out of coils.
Used to just leave the silica center wick and only add cotton on top for months, but when I finally had a coil where the silica literally fell apart and I tried rewicking with cotton, I was surprised how easy it was; and I don't add topwicks anymore; works better without the topwicks once I just have a cotton centerwick.

Stop throwing away your protank coils – ITCVapes

 

[CJHacker]

If it's the silica wick that came with the coil, no you leave the wick there; silica wick does not burn.

Thanks for the heads up edyle! I've only ever replaced with cotton, so I haven't done anything with silica other than throw it away.

 

[Jaylah]

So I guess I need to add cotton balls to my next shopping list.

 

[edyle]

So I guess I need to add cotton balls to my next shopping list.

1 simple cotton ball lasts me more than a month.

 

[Jaylah]

I suppose so, in the minute quantities you'd use cotton for coils.

No matter. I can use them for other stuff around here, too. Like cleaning the "gookies" out of my cat's eyes.

I always have a big apothecary jar of square cotton pads for taking off nail polish, but those are "quilted" into little bars. I think I need just plain cotton balls where you can unroll a little piece.

 

[MickHeyes]

Boil it first and let it dry off naturally unless it's organic. They use bleach to whiten the cheaper cotton balls you can buy

 

[fraychek]

Cotton rewick was one of the most single dramatic improvements I got out of coils.
Used to just leave the silica center wick and only add cotton on top for months, but when I finally had a coil where the silica literally fell apart and I tried rewicking with cotton, I was surprised how easy it was; and I don't add topwicks anymore; works better without the topwicks once I just have a cotton centerwick.

Stop throwing away your protank coils – ITCVapes

Yes when I wind new coils I wick them with cotton and don't add the additional flavor wick. I just do that when I clean and dry burn stock coils. Even that little cotton flavor wick makes a big difference then.

 

[GoodahSP]

That kinda sucks that the coils aren't lasting you a whole tank. Think my worst scenario was 3 days before I had to swap it out. I was using a chocolate blend juice if I remember right. Most of heads I use in a protank or kanger t3s last at least a couple of weeks.

Since you're going to open up those protank/evod/etc heads and play with cotton anyways, some of the stock coils aren't very pretty and poorly wrapped. Nice ones I've seen in the 1.8 and 2.2 ohm setups have a little gap in the middle and 3 coils evenly spaced on each end so before I put the head in the tank I try to copy that. Make sure none of the coils touch the metal edges if you plan on playing with them.
I also soak the used head in a little vodka for at least 30 mins then blow off the excess vodka before I dry burn it. Most of the time I can get another week or two out of them without replacing the wick.

 

[Jaylah]

Just did my first successful dry burn. Yeah Skippy! So proud of me.

And yes, this will cut down the costs even more!


But no more "Cotton Candy" juice.

 

[DingerCPA]

I wondered about that. Thanks!

I know the instructions/video's said to rinse the flavor wicks, but I couldn't help but think that they'd eventually get rather gunked up, too. And I didn't have the slightest idea where I'd get replacement wicks.

With that knowledge, I think I might be more inclined to at least try this. I've already ordered 15 new coils from the place I found on the internet, so I'd have enough coils to last me quite a while. Then, every once in a while, I could assembly-line fashion clean and dry-burn several.

The brick-and-morter store where I bought my set-up said they sell "rebuilt" coils at half price, and after I got into this a bit, I basically assumed they're just selling dry-burned coils with fresh replacement wicks. So other than where to get replacement wicks, I was kind of coming to the conclusion that I could do the "rebuilding" myself.

Besides the benefit to my health from quitting smoking, I was also looking forward to a significant money saving. If I can "rebuild" (clean and dry-burn) coils myself, then -- assuming I can keep the "Oh, shiney-itis" in check -- I can reduce my expenditure from about $300 per month for analogs to about $40 per month for e-juice!!

Dryburning and rewicking is SOOOOOOO easy. Heck, if I can do it, you can

:edit: edyle has already beat me to the post, so I won't inundate you

 

[GoodahSP]

Just did my first successful dry burn. Yeah Skippy! So proud of me.

And yes, this will cut down the costs even more!


But no more "Cotton Candy" juice.

Nice. But why no more Cotton Candy juice specially if you enjoy it? You've already got the dry burning part down, and if the wicks get stubborn to clean even after soaking in vodka, just pull them and replace them with cotton. After awhile you might be rebuilding your own coils too.

 

[Jaylah]

Nice. But why no more Cotton Candy juice specially if you enjoy it?

Well, first, it tastes more like bubble-gum than cotton candy to me. Not bad, but not good enough to have to clean coils that often. When I get tired of my regular favorite, I've found another great "dessert" flavor called "Ivory Bliss." (Blend of raspberry, white chocolate and almond.) Heaven!!

I guess I just feel that there are so many wonderful flavors it's not really worth my time and energy to vape one that gunks up coils so fast.