Sub Ohm + Silica or Cotton = Dry Throat?

[The Yeti]

So, I'm a pretty experienced vaper....been at it for almost 4 years now...but just recently (around 5 months) started building sub-ohm (usually around .75-.8).

No matter what atomizer I use (Ithaka, kayfun, Spheroid, various drippers), it seems that if I'm using silica, ekowool or cotton as a wick I get a horrible dry, scratchy throat - especially the next morning.

I use 50/50 DIY juice.

I do not get the same thing with my gennys using SS mesh wicks.

Anyone else experience the same?

 

[Spacedoutart]

I have heard this from a few people before. Most sub-ohm coils produce this effect and I have found 2 solutions. 1st is air flow. Sub ohm coils need alot of air flow to make sure. Can you open the air holes more or drill them out? If air flow is not the problem then the nic content may be. Try lowering your nicotine content to see if you have less of a harsh throat.

This is what I have found to work for me.

 

[The Yeti]

The weird part is that I run the same sub-ohm coils on my genny, with pretty much the same airflow (I can't really adjust it on the KFL) and I don't get the dry throat with the genny.

That being said, after thinking about it I realized that about the same time I went sub-ohm, I also switched to a direct-lung inhale (due to the large airholes needed for sub-ohm). I think this is probably contributing to the dry throat.

Gonna try even larger airholes on my drippers and see what happens!

 

[Randy C]

So, I'm a pretty experienced vaper....been at it for almost 4 years now...but just recently (around 5 months) started building sub-ohm (usually around .75-.8).

No matter what atomizer I use (Ithaka, Kayfun, Spheroid, various drippers), it seems that if I'm using silica, ekowool or cotton as a wick I get a horrible dry, scratchy throat - especially the next morning.

I use 50/50 DIY juice.

I do not get the same thing with my gennys using SS mesh wicks.

Anyone else experience the same?

Umm.... don't go sub-ohm

 

[armoworrior]

Umm.... don't go sub-ohm

there is nothing wrong with sub-ohm if you do it right.

 

[The Yeti]

Umm.... don't go sub-ohm

Nothing above 1 ohm satisfies me or I would.

 

[CloudZ]

Nothing above 1 ohm satisfies me or I would.

Technically, nothing under 16 watts satisfies you, which is understandable. Very few regulated mods will let you go that high, so you are stuck with sub ohms and mechs.

What wire gauge are you using? Thinner wire gets hotter and can be too harsh at SLR, so thicker wire is an option. 28 gauge works well for .6-.9 ohms IME.

-- Sent from my Android phone --

 

[dr g]

It's probably the air intake issue, but you could try lowering the nic to verify. This similar thing hits hookah smokers when they start out as well because of the large air intake. Solution is to drink more water, you're basically getting dried out. The vapor is pulling moisture from you.

It attenuates over time for most.

EDIT: You might also try going 100% VG, I've always found PG harder on the throat, it is a known respiratory irritant, and you are inhaling a lot more of it when you go high wattage.

 

[NicoHolic]

From forum member pdib, I got the concept of using an 8 wrap micro coil (around a 1/16" drill bit or 16 gauge filler needle) of what ever gauge and material that gives you the resistance you want. 8 wraps gives enough wire to wick to juice contact (for a mech) without increasing the mass so much that it takes too long to heat. As wire thickness and power go up, so does the contact area, so no point gets too hot, as the problem can be with decreasing wraps of thinner, higher resistance wire to get lower resistance. Here's what I use (based on my 0.5Ω coil and Temco specs). I don't get hot throat with these even with 24 mg nic. Coil position with respect to air hole (or vice versa) can decrease throat hit too.

An 8/7 wrap micro coil on a Reomizer 2:
26 AWG Nichrome 60 = 0.5Ω @ 0.1272" wide
based on the above:
26 AWG Kanthal A1  = 0.6Ω @ 0.1272" wide
27 AWG Kanthal A1  = 0.8Ω @ 0.1136" wide
28 AWG Nichrome 60 = 0.8Ω @ 0.1008" wide
28 AWG Kanthal A1  = 1.0Ω @ 0.1008" wide
29 AWG Kanthal A1  = 1.2Ω @ 0.0904" wide
30 AWG Nichrome 60 = 1.3Ω @ 0.0800" wide
30 AWG Kanthal A1  = 1.6Ω @ 0.0800" wide
31 AWG Kanthal A1  = 2.0Ω @ 0.0712" wide
32 AWG Nichrome 60 = 2.0Ω @ 0.0640" wide
32 AWG Kanthal A1  = 2.5Ω @ 0.0640" wide

eta: I only use cotton wick

eta2: I vape 50/50

 

[zoiDman]

Nothing above 1 ohm satisfies me or I would.

You said you were using a 50:50 e-Liquid, what Nicotine mg is it?

 

[The Yeti]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys!

I usually use 26 or 28awg wire.

My nicquid is at 10mg, dropping to 8mg as soon as the current batch is used up.

The strange thing to me is, I can use the same resistance on a ss mesh wick and not get the dry throat - it's only from non-ss mesh based wicks that do it.

 

[CloudZ]

Do you lung-inhale on the genny? This type of inhale is well known to be more harsh, in fact too harsh for most vapers.

Also consider wicking more loosely or more tightly. When you compress a soft wick too much, it gets choked and the vapor is more sparse. Too little compression does the same thing, but it also allows non-contacting coil surface which can burn some of the juice and cause harshness. I am sure you have experienced insufficient wicking in the genny at some point, the vapor tends to be harsh if not terrible burnt tasting. It's kind if the same thing.

The other thing is that the genny will be smoother (cooler) because the mesh wick absorbs heat from the coil. Perhaps try slightly higher resistance on the soft wick setups to reduce the temperature.

-- Sent from my Android phone --

 

[natedawgdaboss]

I find that any issue I have with harshness and throat hit are from inproper airhole placement...as I vape straight to the lung I can tell right away...also micro coils are a cooler vape for me until the atty heats up then it gets harsh and I have to pull harder to alleviate the harshness...switching from silica to cotton has made my throat a little scratchy that sounds more like your issue

 

[Papadragon]

Do you lung-inhale on the genny? This type of inhale is well known to be more harsh, in fact too harsh for most vapers.

Also consider wicking more loosely or more tightly. When you compress a soft wick too much, it gets choked and the vapor is more sparse. Too little compression does the same thing, but it also allows non-contacting coil surface which can burn some of the juice and cause harshness. I am sure you have experienced insufficient wicking in the genny at some point, the vapor tends to be harsh if not terrible burnt tasting. It's kind if the same thing.

The other thing is that the genny will be smoother (cooler) because the mesh wick absorbs heat from the coil. Perhaps try slightly higher resistance on the soft wick setups to reduce the temperature.

-- Sent from my Android phone --

This one rite here is the correct answer you are rite the cotton and silica heat up faster than ss mesh wick a one ohm 28g micro coil will fix this problem for you

 

[Randy C]

there is nothing wrong with sub-ohm if you do it right.

Play on words: If you're doing it right, there's no need to go sub-ohm

Honestly. I don't get all the hype about sub-ohm. With a properly wrapped coil, I've never had the need to go below 1-ohm-ever.

 

[dr g]

Play on words: If you're doing it right, there's no need to go sub-ohm

Honestly. I don't get all the hype about sub-ohm. With a properly wrapped coil, I've never had the need to go below 1-ohm-ever.

What wattage? Subohm is about wattage.

 

[st0nedpenguin]

Play on words: If you're doing it right, there's no need to go sub-ohm

Honestly. I don't get all the hype about sub-ohm. With a properly wrapped coil, I've never had the need to go below 1-ohm-ever.

Surprisingly, a "properly wrapped coil" at sub ohm...performs better.

 

[zoiDman]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys!

I usually use 26 or 28awg wire.

My nicquid is at 10mg, dropping to 8mg as soon as the current batch is used up.

The strange thing to me is, I can use the same resistance on a ss mesh wick and not get the dry throat - it's only from non-ss mesh based wicks that do it.

The reason I asked is Maybe you would be More Satisfied if you Used a Slightly Higher Nicotine Level?

 

[zoiDman]

Surprisingly, a "properly wrapped coil" at sub ohm...performs better.

Define "Better".

 

[BuzzKilla]

Play on words: If you're doing it right, there's no need to go sub-ohm

Honestly. I don't get all the hype about sub-ohm. With a properly wrapped coil, I've never had the need to go below 1-ohm-ever.

you sir, don't know what you're missing