Salting natural fiber wicks, anyone tried it?

[Smithereens]

It dawned on me the other day. I've messed around making all sorts of wicked things, oil lamps, candles and attempts at backpacking stoves. One of the first things you need to do is to salt your wicks. For whatever reason, salt makes natural fibers better able to resist heat and burning up. Salted wicks outlast unsalted ones by a great margin, and I mean the difference is huge. (still not fireproof! the wick will burn, but it takes longer.)

Has anyone tried it with an atomizer? I'm not sure if the salt would come out of the wick and flavor the juice... I don't think it would.
I just rewicked all three of my RDAs and I'm not willing to tear one down to try a salted wick. I do have a wick ready to try though it will be several days or more before I get to it.

If anyone else wants to experiment, the process is simple.

Take a glass of water and add non-iodized table salt until the salt will no longer dissolve. Dip your wick making sure it's saturated. Remove the wick from the saltwater and hang till it's completely dry. Don't wring it out or blot it dry, you want the water to evap and leave as much salt as possible. Proceed rewicking as normal.

Don't know how this might work with cotton balls, yarn and the like should be good.

If you do try it post up how it turns out.... if I don't try it first myself.

 

[Maurice Pudlo]

I think I'd first see if salt will dissolve in PG or VG, if not then by all means go ahead and give it a shot. I use SS wick, no measure of salt will help. In fact I think it might hinder wicking performance.

Maurice

 

[mad maori]

yuck!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Smithereens]

yuck!!!!!!!!!!!!

I didn't say to EAT your wick!! (But you're free to try! Maybe a little marinara sauce???)

Your cat 420 friendly? Looks like it needs to back off a bit!

 

[Smithereens]

I think I'd first see if salt will dissolve in PG or VG, if not then by all means go ahead and give it a shot. I use SS wick, no measure of salt will help. In fact I think it might hinder wicking performance.

Maurice

Solubility! DOH! True, salt is insoluble on stuff like parrafin and kerosene... VG and PG are hygroscopic and any watter they absorb will dissolve the salt into the solution... so this is most likely a non starter...

Eh, heck. I need to just go to bed, it's late and me moind ain't a werking goode.

 

[scrappy]

I think I read that you need to use pure salt if it's going to be in contact with your juice.

 

[Pensilac]

I had read somewhere in the DIY forum of someone using salt in some of their juices to add flavor. So while it may make the wicks last longer, I personally have no idea about that, it would more than likely add a salty flavor to any juice you tried it with which you might find not to your liking.