There seems to be a resurgence of interest in the Nextel product as the rush to new wicking systems we saw this year has ebbed over the past few months. Nextel seems to have remained a quiet and subtle contender. I should probably first note the differences of the three alternatives.
First silica, I've come to avoid it because of its propensity to break down catastrophically when higher wattage is applied or over time with sustained high heat levels or
chaining. In Protank's, clearo's and other atty's this is problematical as top wicks, for example decompose and fall aside from the coil like fish bones. This fouls the tank with fluid and together this jumbled mess obstructs airflow. I won't get into the details of it's contribution to possible particulates in the juice due to this degradation. I don't have the time today.
Briefly, Ekowool although silica, is in some respects similar to Nextel in its heat bearing capacity, like high quality silica rope. Both Ekowool and Nextel are braided or woven rather than wound. Nextel does though have a significantly higher heat tolerance than Ekowool. So much so that it can be readily and sustainably torched to a rather pristine state. And this is the very most critical factor; both in terms of performance and most importantly flavor. Because despite the advice which is more a truism than reality, not all wick materials clean up in the wash. Nextel comes much, much closer to that expectation.
My cleaning procedure is a wash in ordinary filtered water first heated by microwave to a boil. Then heads and tanks promptly take a plunge allowing heat to dissolve any dried solids they may have accumulated in their drier regions. These do affect flavor considerably and are often missed, like in the receptacle of the head cap. This process is done as soon as the water is cool enough to venture into. Since I recycle so often I seldom see a need for anything much more in tanks. And for Nextel this is all that's required. I use a formidable collection of small candle pyrex I've accumulated through the years (so don't throw away those decorator candles once done). Typical test recycle time is 2.5-3 tank fills. I tend to push tanks for my test purposes but for best flavor I go 4 half tank top-offs as I prefer juice to appear pristine. I rewick coils only as necessary and the primary wick and top wicks of the same diameter may go as many as six cycles. The determining factor is caramelization of thicker juices. This will happen but do not char Nextel like silica. Where in silica they are more distinct solids, these attach as rather permanent stains to the ceramic. Once lodged they do not move. To me a good thing because the minute solids are not floating along in the fluid. What may be removed burns off during torching. As the wick is pressed hard it will stain in time with reuse. While virtually impossible to remove these solids from silica you may see the process in this video by SnG...
Ceramic Wick Cleaning - YouTube
And I must admit I was utterly skeptical when I ordered my first supply of Nextel a month after quitting. And even far longer. I'm afraid I had to
pee on the electric fence for myself where silica was concerned before I was willing to observe the obvious. So I can confirm with absolute confidence that you will see the result seen on this clip. Consistently. Except for solids which by virtue of their own heated state stain the ceramic. Due to the heat tolerance of Nextel this is difficult to accomplish but it happens with extended use or extreme wattage. My bad.
BTW guys let me add this is not exactly
easy work. I'm vaping tanks all day I'm not necessarily particularly fond of getting at. A row of 6 usually in various stages of composition. Especially if they're failing and you have to see it through. Think about it. For my breaks I go to the drippers. In a lot of ways I'm sorry I invented the job description. It's not exactly the same…when ya hafta vape.
Now given all this why didn't I use this material from the beginning? Well quite honestly I was influenced by suspension of disbelief, the adage that "it must be true" if everybody says it, does it, doesn't object, and that applies to silica…the big gorilla in the room.
We all went/go to cotton because none of us can thread the damned stuff. Let's be honest. It's cheap. Nextel is not. In price. But it is — in practice.
I committed to this process of testing, funding virtually all of the work equipment, materials, tools and assistance because I wanted to be as certain as I could reasonably be to suggest this product to others.
Now the good part. Very simply, you can wick this material almost as easily as cotton.
And the good part is the exact diameter of this material at roughly 1.5-1.75 mm (dry-washed-saturated) is precisely the optimal design diameter for Kanger's and a great many atomizers. I don't know who first observed that this material could be used as a wick…but I'd love to kiss the guy/girl because I was about ready to fail when I started. I could not keep up with the tank/wick maintenance requirements!
Let me close quickly here because I posted prematurely. We have two vendors presently. There may be other small scale vendors. If anyone is aware of a source, I'd be grateful if you could provide me the details. But for now they are (in alpha order)…
RBA Supplies LLC
SnG Vapor
I make no personal guarantee as to the suitability or safety of this product. My test has been about its adaptive potentials to vaping. How its benefits might relate to other products we are using. My methodology and statistical approaches are not at a lab level either. I also have no direct relationship with any vendors or producers, present or prior. I've really scrutinized this material in the hopes that it might be, or become, a viable alternative to the vaping community.
There have been a number of important threads on Nextel on ECF. Perhaps questions or discussion can be directed there. I would prefer this not become that here. But wanted to place a significant marker here on the subject.
I wish you all good luck and enjoyment if you should try it.
