Silica vs Cotton

[Vicshalls]

I know that title has been beaten to death, but i am not thinking my question is all the same. Is it just me or does it seem harder to wrap a coil on silica? It seems like it just disenegrates on me. I have an easier time with cotton yarn. I am just trying to do some kanger coils. nothing fancy although i am making them too high and everything is getting burnt. lol practice makes perfect. the real question is what can i do to keep the silica from falling aprat? I am not thinking i like the cotton all that much and i have boiled it and all that jazz. i just want to at least try one with the silica to try the diffrence. Thanks for your help!

 

[happydave]

this is what i use. one wire that runs parallel with wick. it provides a ridge area to wrap a coil around then gently pull out the center wire.

you don't need the coil to be tight at all with silica.

 

[Vicshalls]

ok i will give that a try. thanks. i appreciate that. ya cause it seems to cut into it and next thing i know i have a mess. lol

 

[happydave]

ok i will give that a try. thanks. i appreciate that. ya cause it seems to cut into it and next thing i know i have a mess. lol

yeah the silica can only handle so much abuse before it starts to fall apart. this trick really helps.

 

[drxandy]

use a jig, or a small screwdriver.. makes it so easy.

 

[Vicshalls]

use a jig, or a small screwdriver.. makes it so easy.

thanks i have that it just seemed as i wrapped it would fall apart. that small piece of wire on there might help with the kanthal cutting into it. thanks for your advice though.

 

[happydave]

hows that working for you?

 

[Crash Moses]

But too loose with silica and the juice doesn't get where it needs to be and you end up with the equivalent of a hot leg.

With micro-coils I've found that the best way to pull the silica through is to unwind the silica strands, fold two in half and pull them through with another piece of wire. This works best on a 5/32 wrap rather than 1/16.

I can't find the original post where that was pointed out or I'd link it but I know it works.

That said...I still prefer the taste of cotton over silica but others don't. Besides, it's always fun to experiment.

 

[riseabovethestorm]

Misread. Reformulating response...


I mainly find cotton to be simpler because I can wrap the coils and have complete control over the width of my wick, but consistency is hard (as long as you have a good feel for springiness and use the same shape to make your coils each time, it helps).

 

[crxess]

Straight sewing needle works wonders.
Just run it beside the wick(not through)

 

[mgalyan]

Straight sewing needle works wonders.
Just run it beside the wick(not through)

That's a great idea.

Sent from my Amazon Kindle Fire HD using Tapatalk

 

[JmanEspresso]

Not all silica is the same quality.

Im a fan of silica. Ill use organic cotton from time to time, but my wick of choice for drippers, is Silica. 3mm. The stuff I use day to day, is wonderful. I always use 3mm, and I either double it over itself, or triple it over itself. Folding it so there is loops, because the loops are part of my build. But it would be the same idea as using two strands or three strands of silica, you would just be missing the loop(s) on the end.

I dont use anything like a drillbit to wrap my coil, but Im talking about a regular, spaced coil. Not a micro coil style build.


But its all down to the quality of your silica. If you can't handle it and fold it in half a couple times without it just falling apart, it ain't gonna work. Ive got like 30 feet of some 2mm silica, that is useless because of that. The 3mm stuff I use daily, I can fold it, bend it,twist it, pull.. its fine. Sometimes one of the strands that makes up the piece will untwist a few turns, but, usually towards the end of the build where Ive been futzing with the ends of the wicks to get them where I want them to go.

Only thing I can suggest is buy some silica wick from a couple different vendors and try them out.

 

[Portertown]

A large paper clip that one section has been bent out to a 90 degree angle works good for supporting the silica while wrapping the coil around it. You can hold the remaining part of the paper clip, the silica and the end of your wire with one hand and use your other hand to wrap the wire around the silica and the straightened section of the paper clip.