Reservoir Straw & Plug Mod (RSP Mod)

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Scottes

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My theory on the design of the plug is for the plug to rest even with the top of the cart lip and flex inward with pressure from the bridge. When the cart is removed the plug should return to it's original shape. Is this correct?
That's my theory too, and I'm looking for the right material. I haven't tried the buff-puffs, the blue Marineland stuff doesn't spring back enough (and dies after 2-3 days and doesn't spring back at all). I got some Fluval-type stuff from some vendor a long time ago, advertised as something like "this is the right stuff" and need to dig that out.

I'm actually wondering if the plug should stick up a little in the middle only. I'm even debating about slicing the plug - just a little - and lining it up so the top of the bridge goes into the slice. This should maximize plug-to-bridge contact without compressing the plug too much.

With PTB, I got the best wicking when the bridge pushed down the center of the PTB, thus maximizing plug-to-bridge contact. That's my theory anyway. But with a plug, (EDIT: a plug made from the blue Marineland filter) the bridge pushes down the entire plug. I can often see a line embedded into the plug where it meets the bridge. And that line is about 1mm x 5mm - that's not much contact.

I'm spending time on experimenting with the Prodigy at 5 volts. The Protege at 3.7 volts is very easy to make with the RSP. The Prodigy burns through more juice because of the higher voltage.
I run a 5v Prodigy and 3.7v Chuck simultaneously. I actually have more problems with the Chuck. Go figure.
 

Scottbee

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I use the spring and Scotch Brite blue plug (on a 901 cart). How far the plug should be RECESSED below the lip is a function of the juice that I am using. For thick liquid like VG juices I have it recessed about 1-1.5mm, yielding little compression when it is up against the bridge. For thin PG liquids I have it recessed .5-1mm, which gives more compression.

For me, getting the right compression for the liquid being used has been the key to performance.
 

RatRacer

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Buf-Puf:
I picked up 1 last night, it's made by 3M. It's a softer, finer, less dense version of Scotch Brite. Definitely more flexible and more spring back, but is slightly affected by heat of the atty on the spring back. As Kristin noted, compression and how you load it effects wicking. The upper and lower flat scrub surfaces are more bonded to retain shape, and doesn't wick well, so you need to use the side surfaces for bridge contact.
So far it works very well, but you know by the taste when you're drying out, BLAGH!
 

kristin

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Hmmm...may be my liquid, but I don't get a bad taste when it starts to dry - just sort of a "dry" taste.

OK, day 7 and it's still working great. I'm going to switch out the plug with a fresh plug, to make sure the effect can be replicated and it's not a fluke!

I cut the plug flush with the cart - don't recess it at all. I haven't seen so much as a dent in the plug - it springs back or something. The center is a bit darker, but it seems because that is where the liquid is being drawn (I have brownish liquid), so it's concentrated there. When rinsed, no sign of it being burnt or melted at all.

Kevin, to answer your other post, I cut it with a scissors. I squish the pad down and cut a 4-5mm strip (may need to be trimmed more later.) Then lay it flat and cut a strip lengthwise (with the grain), a bit larger than the width of the cart. I shove that whole strip in until it hits the straw, then cut it flush with scissors.
 

Scottbee

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I cut the plug flush with the cart - don't recess it at all. I haven't seen so much as a dent in the plug - it springs back or something. The center is a bit darker, but it seems because that is where the liquid is being drawn (I have brownish liquid), so it's concentrated there. When rinsed, no sign of it being burnt or melted at all.

Yup... our setups are different, so we use a different mechanism to control the "compression". You compress yours "side to side" by making a plug that is wider than the cart opening and "squeezing" it in there. I control my compression by using a plug that is exactly the size of the opening, and using the bridge and spring to compress it. Different method, same net effect.
 

Hockeytown

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Holy smokes!! (pardon the bad pun) I can't skip a day reading this thread. There's too much go read through! LOL! I love it btw. I've found adjusting the depth as well as the length (how much you have to squeeze it) makes a pretty noticible difference as well. Once I find a good size, I'd love to make a die so you could whack it with a hammer to cut the same size every time. Oooh, giving away a future money maker on myself. :p
 

Scottbee

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Once I find a good size, I'd love to make a die so you could whack it with a hammer to cut the same size every time. Oooh, giving away a future money maker on myself. :p

Yup... that's why I'm currently sticking with my blue pad and just adjusting the depth. Can't beat the repeatability of the punch.... and I've cranked out about 50 plugs in 2 minutes.
 

kristin

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Ok, I must say I am THRILLED now.

I have never been able to get a decent vape out of peach flavors. As soon as the filler gets slightly dry, there is a strong perfume aftertaste that kicks in.

I just set up a new cart and it's AWESOME! I can finally get more than 2-3 vapes in without having to top off to avoid the perfume taste!

I actually had to trim off some of the width, so it wasn't so compressed. I'd say it's actually only at about 7mm. I also lengthened the straw, so the plug wasn't as tall. (This particular "peach" cart I had the straw at only 10mm - way too short - my first straw was closer to 15mm and that is better.) So my plug is about 5mm deep, 4mm wide and 7mm long - just long enough to fill the opening with little compression. And this peach is pretty thick HV.

Scottbee, I think that means our carts are actually pretty similar then!

I'm thrilled that I was able to easily recreate this performance on a different cart with a different liquid!!
 

kristin

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I've noticed that the plug starts to change shape after vaping - it seems the bottom of it gets pulled into the straw, so when I remove it for refills, it's more pointed on the bottom. Lets it pop right back into place.

This fresh plug is still vamping wonderfully with this peach flavor - I'm enjoying it so much, I can hardly put it down! LOL
 

a2dcovert

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I've noticed that the plug starts to change shape after vaping - it seems the bottom of it gets pulled into the straw, so when I remove it for refills, it's more pointed on the bottom. Lets it pop right back into place.

This fresh plug is still vamping wonderfully with this peach flavor - I'm enjoying it so much, I can hardly put it down! LOL

I have switched to a single stirring straw. This straw is a little larger than the normal stirring straw but still smaller than the opening just enough to provide support in the center and still not leave much room on the sides. I cut the straw slightly shorter so that it is level with the indentions for the air vents. This has added support for the filler and made the debth of the PB material by about 2mm. I'll see how this one works.

Kevin
 

kristin

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I have switched to a single stirring straw. This straw is a little larger than the normal stirring straw but still smaller than the opening just enough to provide support in the center and still not leave much room on the sides. I cut the straw slightly shorter so that it is level with the indentions for the air vents. This has added support for the filler and made the debth of the PB material by about 2mm. I'll see how this one works.

Kevin
Sounds promising - let us know!

I was wondering about just cutting a straw "ring" that is held in the cart, by tension, near the top of the cart - one that doesn't go all the way to the bottom of the cart. Sort of like the sideways spring.

Wait...did someone here already try that?? I can't remember now, but it sounds familiar, lol!

It may slowly get pushed into the cart during refills, though. I don't know...
 

kristin

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Don't get me wrong.... this mod is the absolute bomb.. and I simply love the stupid-good 20-vapor-ring clouds that I've been creating for the last week.... But if I keep this up I'm going to have to start looking for bigger volume-discounts or cheaper juice!
Too true!! LOL! Make you wonder how much liquid we were throwing away in old filler before!
 

a2dcovert

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Sounds promising - let us know!

I was wondering about just cutting a straw "ring" that is held in the cart, by tension, near the top of the cart - one that doesn't go all the way to the bottom of the cart. Sort of like the sideways spring.

Wait...did someone here already try that?? I can't remember now, but it sounds familiar, lol!

It may slowly get pushed into the cart during refills, though. I don't know...

This straw is only slightly smaller than the drinking straw so I have hope it will hold along with the side ridges from the air vents. I have also verified that the marineland foam weakens after just a few days. It totally looses it's support qualities and sinks down in the cart. If the PB material holds it's structure it will be a winner.

Kevin
 
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