Switching back to non metalic wicks.

[Gr8Scott]

Long story short, Been vaping for 2 months or so. Started with a nova. didn't like it. Switched to rba's (aga t2) ss mesh. Been vaping on the ss mesh for about a month now and decided to stop because of unreliability especially while out and about I keep finding myself on long drives fiddling with the damn mesh to get the stupid hotspots so the inhales are not harsh but its crossed the line already. Its not that I don't know what i'm doing because I do. I spent vast hours (probably weeks of research and many hours of videos) learning how to wick and coil and oxidize etc...

I don't know maybe its this nichrome wire? is kenthal more reliable for hotspots than nichrome comparing at same awg? let me know but I went out and bought myself some martha stewart hemp/cotton wick just for the hell of it because someone recommended it on a video. I'm thinking about dropping the aga t2 and purchasing an Igo-L. So after reading this let me know what you guys think.

Main thing is I just want a guaranteed enjoyable vape while im out and about without having to worry about readjusting coils on the move.

I have an old DID that's never had mesh in it period. It's still a work in progress with cotton, as it doesn't wick as well as I'd like, but it's one less thing to toil over.

I am making juice DIY, delving into the possibilities of NET solutions, tweaking rebuildables and trying to grasp all the new facets of these specialized aspects in our hobby (that are evolving at warp speed, it seems) and studying battery chemistry and how it correlates to our devices...

I just don't and haven't seen the big fascination with SS mesh.

So I'm with ya on that.

Make sure you boil that cotton and slowly pour off the residue on the top of the water: the impurities gather there.

Buy one of these:

Wyvern Rebuildable Atomizer

Or a Phoenix V3 if you can find one.

Install the cotton wick with one end longer and pointing up, this will allow extra juice wicking and vape happy.

I am back using the Phoenix v2, despite it's center pins tendency to recess upward, because of it's simple reliability.

 

[upsetter21]

I've been on RBA's for about 1.5 years. Surprisingly the Geni style was the hardest one for me to learn at first. I eventually figured out Nichrome is a PITA compared to Kanthal. I don't know why but the Nichrome shorts more easily. I'm guessing it has something to due with the shine apparent on Nichrome - it must not oxidize as readily. Too bad, because it's easier to clean and re-use a nichrome coil.

I also found I was being too neat with my coil. A beautifully wrapped TIGHT coil will short more than a looser wrap. I started wrapping my coils tight at first to get the curved-memory in the wire, but then I rotate back a full turn to loosen the coil. Just a little gap between the SS and the coil makes that extra resistance to keep the electrons in the coil and out of the mesh.

My current "best rig" is an Oddy with SS mesh roll wrapped over two cotton yarn wicks. The SS wrap enhances flavor & protects the cotton from burning. The mesh also stays when I clean my coil, then I thread a new yarn into the mesh roll.

 

[neptoon]

I use a aga t2 and I got tired of the hot spots to, so I put silica in it and it worked great then I gave the ceramic wicks a try. No more hot spots and a clean taste I don't think I will go back to ss. The only draw back is they are fragile. http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...ing-porous-ceramic-wicks-418.html#post9516557

I would like to try the ceramics as well but the only place selling them other than chinese import from alibaba is this shop here that wants 20 bucks for 3 which is a big ripoff and i'm not buying the fish tank one because I don't have a dremmel and can't craft my own.

 

[neptoon]

I prefer the Aga to mostly anything due to its consistency. Thing is, if you get hotspots from just carrying it around, you're not done with the jiggery pokery. Don't settle for no visible hotspots on a dry wick. Keep poking and jiggering until new hotspots don't form.

It's also way easier to use lower gauge (thicker) wire. I use 29awg atm, since I couldn't quickly get hold of 28awg. Electricity is lazy and follow the path of least resistance. The less resistance in the wire, the less likely the current will jump to the SS wick. Also, thicker wire won't bite into the wick like the thinner ones. Makes it easier to get it tightly wrapped with no gaps between wick and coil.

I'm no expert, but this works for me. Skinning cats, etc...

I totally agree with you but the problem is I cannot make coils lower than 1.3 ohms on my vamo v2 and also doesn't running sub 2 ohm coils drain battery life really fast? I like to go out with my vamo in 18350 mode and i keep a spare one in pocket. I wouldn't be very happy if the 350 ran out on me in 2 hours just because I decided to make a 28 gauge coil that gives me a sub 2ohm resistance.

Don't give up!!! After fiddling with SS mesh wicks, different gauges of kanthal and ribbon, different resistances, I finally settled with

a ceramic wick (FC2000) 5.5 wraps of 29 ga kanthal making it 1.3 ohms. 1st tank load of juice vaped nice, second even better. Its

been over a 2 weeks with this setup and it is unbelieveably better. Don't give up, the wicks get better with every use.

How long does your battery last at 1.3? I need something solid for going out all day.

A lot of people getting interested in wire rope as well.

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/rebuildable-atomizer-systems/375999-wire-rope-wick.html

A fellow AGA-T2 ss mesh sufferer. :-(

definitely looks interesting seems like everyone switched to wire rope haha. Will stop by home depot and get some then.

 

[Satava]

I totally agree with you but the problem is I cannot make coils lower than 1.3 ohms on my vamo v2 and also doesn't running sub 2 ohm coils drain battery life really fast? I like to go out with my vamo in 18350 mode and i keep a spare one in pocket. I wouldn't be very happy if the 350 ran out on me in 2 hours just because I decided to make a 28 gauge coil that gives me a sub 2ohm resistance.




How long does your battery last at 1.3? I need something solid for going out all day.



definitely looks interesting seems like everyone switched to wire rope haha. Will stop by home depot and get some then.

I too like to take my vamo out in shorty mode, my 650s are for my mechanical. I also have an ego floating around with an A7 on it. I typically do a 5 wrap of 0.5x0.1 ribbon over a 3/32 rope from McMaster that I sleeve with XS-18 from kidney puncher. I never have shorts. Ever. It comes out to about 1.7 ohms and my battery life is less than stellar but it gets me through. Just carry more batteries

When I was using 30awg I'd 4-wrap to about 1.3 ohms and would get about 2-3 hours of vaping heavily while driving between batteries. I get about the same at 1.7 tbh.

If you do go to HD for the wire, make sure it isn't galvanized. I'd almost suggest just ordering it from McMaster. You can get 1-2ft of each size, 1/16, 3/32, 1/8 and have all the rope you'll ever need for any device. I've been looking into getting some XC-116 (Ceramic Sleeving) to cover a piece of 1/16 stainless rope for my AGA to reduce the thermal displacement i've been noticing. The thought is if the coil heats up faster and doesn't make the wick toasty my battery can last longer? Maybe? I dunno lol.

 

[WattWick]

I totally agree with you but the problem is I cannot make coils lower than 1.3 ohms on my vamo v2 and also doesn't running sub 2 ohm coils drain battery life really fast? I like to go out with my vamo in 18350 mode and i keep a spare one in pocket. I wouldn't be very happy if the 350 ran out on me in 2 hours just because I decided to make a 28 gauge coil that gives me a sub 2ohm resistance

I'm no expert but I definitely see your issues with 18650s in the Vamo. I carry 2 mech mods, one dripper and one Aga. Both coiled at .7 ohms. One 18350 and one 18490. Varies which is which. For work I usually swap the 350s once. The 490 would last until I'm home, and then some.

This is no accurate measure since I use 2 mods and there's personal habits. Think I could confidently carry just the 18490, tho. But I always have a spare bat or two anyways. Never know when I'm not going straight home.

Keep in mind the Vamo is huuuuge even in 350 mode. My Gus 18500 is lots shorter.

 

[neptoon]

ok guys thanks for the input. After a long day of vaping all day on a new ss wick and coil again I couldn't get rid of the hot spots and metalic taste. Even after several tanks. I can't get into ceramics yet because everyone is out of stock and the ones that seem to be in stock cost too much. I managed to successfully build a hybrid wick by following this awesome video on youtube.

Good thing I had some of that martha stewart cotton/hemp yarn laying around. So I put like 3 strands through the center of the ss mesh because mine was hollow (don't know how to make solid) and then at the end I wrapped the whole top area with the hybrid hemp yarn. Let me tell you this is something else...the flavor is amazing and clouds of vapor!. Its only been 10 minutes since I finished this build so I can't really point out any flaws. I'll make sure to update if you want.

Here is the link to the video. I did it exactly like that except my threads were not 100% cotton mine are 35%hemp 65%cotton.
SS Mesh/Cotton hybrid wick - YouTube

 

[Satava]

Yeah, those hybrid wicks are pretty tasty for sure. Just be careful to not let the cotton get dry or you'll be pulling it all apart!

 

[scooterholic]

Glad you found something that works for you, if you want to try a solid wick this might help http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...ly-opportunities-hone-your-skills-part-1.html

 

[neptoon]

update: I gave up on all the cotton techniques since the aftertaste from it doesn't go away. Plus, After a day of vaping with hybrid cotton wick I would get major gunk buildup and really bad tasting vape. I found it was too much maintenance and went back to pure ss mesh.
My setup now is as follows:
500 ss mesh with twisted 34awg coil with 4/5 wraps = 1.8 oh reading. Its been working really well, I rarely get any spontaneous hotspots like I did with an untwisted coil and there is less of a metalic taste.

 

[varivapr]

If and when funds allow maybe try another RBA. AGAs are notorious for being more difficult than other when it comes to hotspots. Def the most hotspot prone atty ive tried. On any other atty I very rarely get any unless the coil is at the end of it life. On an AGA they still tend to show up randomly and at the worst times like when driving. If you want to solve all your problems and have the $ to blow get a Kayfun 3.1 or an Ithaka and your worries are solved

 

[neptoon]

If and when funds allow maybe try another RBA. AGAs are notorious for being more difficult than other when it comes to hotspots. Def the most hotspot prone atty ive tried. On any other atty I very rarely get any unless the coil is at the end of it life. On an AGA they still tend to show up randomly and at the worst times like when driving. If you want to solve all your problems and have the $ to blow get a Kayfun 3.1 or an Ithaka and your worries are solved

Thanks for the suggestions but i'm definitely not in the market for an RBA over 40$. I was leaning more towards an RSST, IGO-L and Protank.

 

[varivapr]

RSST will be much much better in the hotspot catagory

 

[neptoon]

RSST will be much much better in the hotspot catagory

My only concerns with the RSST are that the tank is not glass so I can't use all juices in it and from what I understand the drip tip hole is really big which isn't compatible with most tips?
And of course from reading your comments on other threads the flavor is muted compared to other RBA's.

 

[The Yeti]

FWIW, I really like the drip tip that comes with the RSST, albeit is a little wobbly.