I previously alluded to a couple of R4 XL wick experiments I was trying with stock way-too-short wicks & purposeful wick distraction. Ive tested them both enough to post the results.
After stretching the bows to the bases, I ended up with 2 stubs at the cup. Rather than add any wick, I tried to assist the cap action in these two ways;
(1) wrapping the bows around the center post & pinning them there with the wires. No contact with the tube wall except up at the cup.
(2) wrapping each bow around an individual wire and pulling the wires wide to force as much contact with the tube wall as possible.
With each, when the tube is dropped onto the base, the stubs fold down so there are the original 3 wick strands immediately at the cup just need to get the juice up there. In all other ways (tube ID, filler ring, etc), these are stock XL configurations. Here they are, naked
Twiggy - (1) & Bette - (2):
My assumption going in was that Twiggy would cap better (many wick & wire members in close proximity around the common center tube), but I was way-wrong. In fact, Twiggy sucks. I dont know if its a material issue or what, but liquid levels below the bottom of the shrink tubing dont wick worth a damn no matter the juice. Bette on the other hand, wicks wonderfully all the way to the bottom of the bows. My juices love the combination of tube wall, wick strands, & wire for cap action and dont miss the 3rd wick tail at all.
So
Im through with XL wick experiments (the onlookers sigh with relief
) and Im going back to my stormi-syringes & stock shorties and just vape for a while...