New to the forum as well as a new Vaper! Got my first LT and TANK

[slowturtle]

Hi everyone. Just got into vaping last week. Purchased my first Lavatube(v1) and DCT@1.5ohms and an extra cartomizer at 3.0hms. Loved both and worked great until I got my Vision Stone 3. I have a few questions that I hope some people can answer for me.

I've recently been looking into repairable atomizers and it was one of the reasons why I picked up a Vision Stone 3. I realize that it is basically a clearomizer (ce2) with an easy fill tank. And I read in numerous places about rebuilding the coil with silica rope. The pieces seem so small, is it even possible? If so, how would one go about it? How will I know when I need to change out the "innards" or when the atty/silica is bad? Is it easier to stick with clearomizers? How often should I clean it and will cleaning it out with water be enough? I have read about people doing dry burns, but I am assuming that is only for bottom feeders/dripping?

What kind of wire would I need to repair an atomizer? Where would I get silica rope from? What kind of gauge does the silica rope need to be for certain ohms?

I've read on the forums with the debates on vaping off cotton/polyfill/silica/ss mesh. Cotton sounds like the best. But how bad is it to vape off of silica? Do they give off different tastes? Does silica really produce needle-like material that can get stuck in your lungs when you inhale?

I have also been looking into getting a more discreet setup for my on-the-go and going-out needs. I learned my lesson when I went out to sushi last week with a couple friends and went outside to vape, I was catching way too much attention from people walking by. I am looking at getting an eGo battery with a clearomizer. Any suggestions or thoughts? I'm trying to keep it fairly inexpensive.

 

[Pappy]

Sorry that I can't help you with ANY of your questions, but wanted to welcome you to ECF. Congrats on the LT also.

 

[moishesmom]

I can't help either - just wanted to say "welcome & congrats". Glad you found something right off the bat you like!

 

[nansc]

Hi same as above but hi and welcome to the forum.

 

[sailorman]

Hi everyone. Just got into vaping last week. Purchased my first Lavatube(v1) and DCT@1.5ohms and an extra cartomizer at 3.0hms. Loved both and worked great until I got my Vision Stone 3. I have a few questions that I hope some people can answer for me.

Hi. I'll give it a shot. I have a V1 lavatube and I use VS3's.

I've recently been looking into repairable atomizers and it was one of the reasons why I picked up a Vision Stone 3. I realize that it is basically a clearomizer (ce2) with an easy fill tank. And I read in numerous places about rebuilding the coil with silica rope. The pieces seem so small, is it even possible? If so, how would one go about it? How will I know when I need to change out the "innards" or when the atty/silica is bad? Is it easier to stick with clearomizers? How often should I clean it and will cleaning it out with water be enough? I have read about people doing dry burns, but I am assuming that is only for bottom feeders/dripping?

I don't think I'd try to rebuild the coil. It might be possible, but I can't imagine it. You change out the innards when the coil burns out. They last a very long time though. The only problem with the VS3's is future availability of innards. It will be, or might already be, discontinued because of the new Vivi Nova tank. Gotvapes says they will get a hold of new innards, but they are out of stock and I haven't seen them availlable anywhere else. If you know of some place the has them, please PM me and let me know.
The Vivi Nova has replaceable heads as well. Replacement heads for either the VS3 or the Vivi Nova are less than $3 each. I can't imagine it would be worth rebuilding a VS3 coil. When mine all burn out, I'm ditching the tank if innards arent' available. I'll switch to the vivi nova.
You can clean them as often as you want. I usually take a peek at the coil and if it looks encrusted, I take it apart, soak the innards in high proof vodka for a few hours, soak for a couple hours in hot water with a denture cleaning tablet, rinse with hot water and dry burn. It's easier to dry burn if you let it dry for a day or two first, but you can do it immediately if you can't wait. Just mount it on your PV and cycle through a bunch of 1 to 3 second fires and blow on it, fire it blow on it, etc. Do this until the coil glows red immediately when you push the button. The gunk on the coil will turn to white ash. I gently brush the ash off with a fine sable hair paintbrush. and it's good to go. This can take many firing cycles if the innards are still wet, but eventually it'll burn the gunk off the coils.

What kind of wire would I need to repair an atomizer? Where would I get silica rope from? What kind of gauge does the silica rope need to be for certain ohms?

The resistance is a function of the number of turns and the gauge of the wire. For the rest, you'lll have to wait until someone who rebuilds atty's answers. I don't do it.

I've read on the forums with the debates on vaping off cotton/polyfill/silica/ss mesh. Cotton sounds like the best. But how bad is it to vape off of silica? Do they give off different tastes? Does silica really produce needle-like material that can get stuck in your lungs when you inhale?

Cotton might be the best, but it's a pain to deal with unless you have a re-buildable atty that's designed to be easy to rebuild. I've looked at my coils under a high powered loupe and not seen any needles, but they could be there. I'm going to assume that if they're kept wet, it's won't be a big problem. Take a stroll through an industrial park and you'll probably inhale far worse stuff than you would in a lifetime of vaping silica wicks. If you don't let a carto get dry and burn, I doubt polyfill is a big danger either, but I don't use it because I prefer the taste of clearomizers. People who rebuild attys can explain SS mesh. It has to be oxidized first and it sounds like a big pain in the .... to me, but that's just me.

I have also been looking into getting a more discreet setup for my on-the-go and going-out needs. I learned my lesson when I went out to sushi last week with a couple friends and went outside to vape, I was catching way too much attention from people walking by. I am looking at getting an eGo battery with a clearomizer. Any suggestions or thoughts? I'm trying to keep it fairly inexpensive.

Elite Vaporworks KGO Starter Kit with Boge LR Cartomizers - KGO
Best deal on a kGo. More power than an eGo and no gimmicky "T" or "C" to leak and cost you extra money. Use whatever you want on it, carto, clearo, atty, Stardust tank, etc.

 

[sailorman]

BTW, don't expect decent vapor with a 1.5ohm carto, dual or single coil, with a Lavatube 1.
The LT limits your amps, so it will only let you vape at 3.7V on a 1.5ohm carto.
3.7V on a dual coil is inadequate. You need to have at lest 4.5 volts for good vapor with a dual coil carto.
That was a big issue with the first version of the Lavatube, but it's been fixed in the Version 1.5.
Stick as close to 2.5-3ohms as you can and you'll be fine. You don't need low resistance cartos on a VV PV.

 

[slowturtle]

Oh wow, Thanks for all of the information sailorman. I was looking through some videos of rebuilding wciks and it doesn't seem like much work. I would just need a soldering iron, some wire and wick and that vs3 would work good as new. I did look into the Vivi Nova and I'm probably going to switch to that. But if I can snipe some innards, I'll even be more happy. I like this VS3 too much to let it go.

You did say that the coil would last a long time, but would dry burning destroy the wick the coil is wrapped around? Are there no problems with the wick disintegrating?

 

[slowturtle]

This is what I was talking about with the silica wicks.

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/modding-forum/284030-wick-materials-safe-vs-dangerous.html

 

[sailorman]

Oh wow, Thanks for all of the information sailorman. I was looking through some videos of rebuilding wciks and it doesn't seem like much work. I would just need a soldering iron, some wire and wick and that vs3 would work good as new. I did look into the Vivi Nova and I'm probably going to switch to that. But if I can snipe some innards, I'll even be more happy. I like this VS3 too much to let it go.

You did say that the coil would last a long time, but would dry burning destroy the wick the coil is wrapped around? Are there no problems with the wick disintegrating?

I've been using one for over a month. I just cleaned it today for the 3rd or 4th time. When I looked at it under the loupe at about 20X magnification, I didn't see anything like the pictures I've seen posted of little needles of silica. There is only a very short piece in the cup and if any of it was broken off, it probably gets brushed away when I clean it.

Silica wick is fireproof and heatproof. That''s why they use it instead of some other material. In fact, when you get a new Vision Stone, it's a good idea to take a lighter to the coil and wick before you use it the first time to burn off any residual oil or chemicals that might be on it from the manufacturing process.

If you have a big high powered magnifier, it might not be that hard to rebuild a coil, but it's like microsurgery. The rebuildable attys I've seen have all been significantly larger than what's in a CE2. Cost-wise it just isn't worth it. I suspect the Vivi Novas are going to be better than the VS3's, just like the VS3s are better than the VS2s. You can still get VS2s for $7 btw, so I don't see the point in rebuilding them, especially if you can get innards for $2.75. I'm going to cross my fingers and hope Gotvapes comes through on CE3 innards. If it was a high quality dripping atty, it would be different. I would rebuild a HH357 or an AVA if I could. Rebuildable attys are pretty expensive though and I'm a clearomizer type guy except for some limited dripping.

 

[slowturtle]

I've been using one for over a month. I just cleaned it today for the 3rd or 4th time. When I looked at it under the loupe at about 20X magnification, I didn't see anything like the pictures I've seen posted of little needles of silica. There is only a very short piece in the cup and if any of it was broken off, it probably gets brushed away when I clean it.

Silica wick is fireproof and heatproof. That''s why they use it instead of some other material. In fact, when you get a new Vision Stone, it's a good idea to take a lighter to the coil and wick before you use it the first time to burn off any residual oil or chemicals that might be on it from the manufacturing process.

If you have a big high powered magnifier, it might not be that hard to rebuild a coil, but it's like microsurgery. The rebuildable attys I've seen have all been significantly larger than what's in a CE2. Cost-wise it just isn't worth it. I suspect the Vivi Novas are going to be better than the VS3's, just like the VS3s are better than the VS2s. You can still get VS2s for $7 btw, so I don't see the point in rebuilding them, especially if you can get innards for $2.75. I'm going to cross my fingers and hope Gotvapes comes through on CE3 innards. If it was a high quality dripping atty, it would be different. I would rebuild a HH357 or an AVA if I could. Rebuildable attys are pretty expensive though and I'm a clearomizer type guy except for some limited dripping.

Thanks for answering that question that was plaguing me for a week! It's a lot calming to know that silica is heat/fire resistant. I should have googled it. And I really hope GotVapes comes through with that restocking of the innards.

 

[DaveP]

Keeping the wicking wet sticks whatever might come off to the wick bundle. Where you have to be careful with silica is when it is sanded or cut and dust results. I doubt there'd be detectable fibers in the vape from a wet atomizer. I top off before I get dry anyway.

As for resistance and voltage combinations, you can look at this chart and compare wattage to voltage and resistance combinations. With the Lavatube 1 a 3.0 ohm coil used at voltages above 4v is probably where you will find the sweet spot. It won't put you anywhere near the amp limit, so it won't downshift the voltage to compensate like it does with a LR coil. You'll notice the flavor and vapor blossoming with a 4 ohm atty.

Click the chart to get a larger version.

Safe Vaping Power Chart