Ralikar's EASY noob-proof Vivi Cotton Re-wicking method! Monkey-easy!

[Ralikar]

Another Vivi Nova Rebuild - YouTube

This is my source video... I have 0 mechanical skill... So after 3 failed wicks--one too thick and 2 that didn't work for no apparent reason -- I was ready to smash my Vivi into a pile and give up. But I used a compilation method of ECF tips which will work for joo!

1) Go to Lowes and buy a 2mm threaded bolt. They are not at all stores. Paying 50cents for 2 will be the best EC investment ever... Now, take your 32 kanthal and wrap it tight on the threaded screw. 4 coils for 2 ohms initial 5 for like 2.9. It will be easy to wrap 4/5 tight coils on the screw.

2) Bend the wire ends up and then twist the "hot legs". You only have to twist each like 12 times or so not go crazy (refer to video if you are lost).

3) Take your boiled #4 cotton (4 strands) from Walmart and twist it apart so you have 2 strands.

4) Un screw your wire from the bolt--it will literally unscrew off. Slide the 2 strand wick through your coils.

You have just made your perfect wick/coil assembly. Now:

5) Put it in the slot. One wire touches the threads, the other wire goes through the washer. Replace the pin.

6) Cut excess with scissors. Ensure you cut close so the little wire poking out at the ends is as small as possible.

7) Test with multimeter... Vape...

I did 4 flawless ones in a row doing this... The screw ensures your coils are proper and gives you a consistent ohm reading each one, the 2 strand wick threads loosly through so as not to be too tight and burn when it swells. It is that easy--I just made 15 spare wicks/coils and the last one looks Popular Mechanics neat as if I had skills. Easy, easy, repeatable method.

Noob-proof!

Props to Genesis guy for the screw idea and props to above video guy.

 

[LongHaul]

Sounds good

 

[WillyB]

You probably would have seen more action if you had posted this in Modding-> Atomizer mods.

 

[classwife]

Actually....since it involves the Vivi Nova...

Moved to Rebuildable Atomizer Systems from General E-Smoking Discussion

 

[WillyB]

Classy is always on the ball.

I hope they pay you well.

 

[Spazmelda]

Cool. Thanks!

 

[Ralikar]

I posted it where I wanted it... New people don't always look there and there's lots of vivi interest. I assumed it would get moved later. 95% don't even look/know about the modding section. Any modder can do what I did in 5 secs.

 

[datacreek]

What did you mean by #4 cotton (4 strands) from Walmart. What and where do you find that at Walmart?

 

[Sev00]

I am going to try this. I am guessing the doubled up legs do two things.

1. More wire, less resistance in the leg portion. This means less heat on the gromet.
2. Makes the legs stiffer, so less chance they will contack the sides of the head. Were they are not suppose to that is.

Thanks Ralikar, great post. Bringing together 2 good ideas.

Sev

 

[WillyB]

2. Makes the legs stiffer, so less chance they will contack the sides of the head. Were they are not suppose to that is.

If you note in the vid he still had quite a bit of distance from his twist points to the actual coil. Not ideal. Try to get as close as you can to the actual coil.

More wire, less resistance in the leg portion. This means less heat on the gromet.

The way he made it there is still quite a bit of resistance wire that will be uselessly glowing. Ideally you want only the coil to glow and nothing else.

 

[Ralikar]

I bought my yarn at a fabrics store... People posting on ECF they got theirs at Walmart. It's white 100% cotton yarn; #4 means it has 4 strings in the twist although it may not say that on the wrapper. Like a big ball of white cotton yarn grandma used to knit...

Yes, people do it w/o doubling the legs but I didn't want the plastic to burn and, as Sev said, it makes the wire taught so it's easy to draw down and not touch the sides.

 

[keenanmcfar]

Another pro tip for the nova: if you are wrapping your coil on a pin, leave the pin in when u put the wick into make the connections at the bottom! It keeps the coil straight and right where it needs to be. Perfect every time. After the connections are made, simply slide the pin out, pop the top on, fill and you are good to go!

 

[sandybeach]

It seems really complicated! But I already have about 5 burnt vivi's so maybe it's worth a try

 

[sandybeach]

So where do you get the kanthal?

 

[Ralikar]

Keen, this whole process is about not using a pin... work with me...

Kanthal

Silica Wicks | The source of great supplies

 

[JUDGMENT AFFIRMED]

Thanks Ralikar, i liked it.

 

[buddylee]

Nice tip, will try this tomorrow. First few i did the coils were to close together and I kept trying to push them apart once inside the tank.

 

[KevNewEngland]

First few i did the coils were to close together and I kept trying to push them apart once inside the tank.

I wonder why that matters? I have seen a lot of videos about this and nobody mentions whether or not the wraps should touch each other. In fact, I've seen at least 1 video where the guy has them as close as possible. I'm going to be doing this in the near future. Would somebody clarify this a bit? Also, if using no resistance wires for the legs, how do you make the attachment to the coil? Let's keep this thread going, it's a good one!
Thanks!

 

[Ralikar]

1) The source video shows you the basic technique for the hot legs. There is no attachment. Wrap the wire on the screw for the coils then do the hot legs process the guy does in the video with the wire still on the screw. All you do is double the ends back and twist them together.

2) The coils should not touch each other or there will be a short.



PROCESS EDIT: Since I can't edit my original post. The wick works better if you untwist the two strands after you're done. Two strands untwisted minimizes swelling problems.

PROCESS EDIT #2: A nail clippers works great to clip the wire very short.

 

[KevNewEngland]

1) The source video shows you the basic technique for the hot legs. There is no attachment. Wrap the wire on the screw for the coils then do the hot legs process the guy does in the video with the wire still on the screw. All you do is double the ends back and twist them together.

2) The coils should not touch each other or there will be a short.



PROCESS EDIT: Since I can't edit my original post. The wick works better if you untwist the two strands after you're done. Two strands untwisted minimizes swelling problems.

PROCESS EDIT #2: A nail clippers works great to clip the wire very short.

Thanks a bunch. That helps a lot. Being an electrician, I figured the coils shouldn't touch. If you watch Lord Daven's excellent Vision Vivi Nova Review, he kind of says otherwise but I'm not 100% sure. I suppose he would have problems if they were touching.
Thanks again!