The case for cotton wicks

[Rickajho]

Having read this whole thread - and just setting aside my ViVi's after my initial experience with them - I'm wondering if a reality check is in order. In other words, why all the fuss trying to get these things to work? I'm beginning to think this is waaaayyy too much creative problem solving energy being applied here to what is inherent design flaw: fighting gravity and hygroscopics. There seem to be reasons why the ViVi problems are not a problem with attys (top down feeding) and cartos (broader contact area with filler.) Now let's make a worst possible design? Put the coil as far away from the liquid as possible, expect the wicking to do an uphill climb supplying liquids, and transfer that liquid via a very small surface area due to a tightly wound coil constricting the wick? Like as not, I only see so much compromise - at best - in the battle to make this design work as well as we might want it to.

 

[Kemosabe]

i see exactly what you mean, Rickajho. gravity is not our friend in this scanario. but there is something to be said about a top-coil design. i for one, am a big fan of the extra TH is is delivered frm a top coil. taking a pull straight from the coil makes it worth it to have to struggle with wicking just a bit. but for me its not even an issue anymore. i have gotten so used to tipping the tank between draws that by instinct i even do it when ive got an atty on there not even thinking about it.

 

[TomCatt]

A few points:

1 - Cotton wicks much better than silica
2 - A coil should never be wrapped tight on a wick
3 - top coils give a much warmer vapor than bottom coils. Drawing on cool vapor is the same as sucking air through a straw to me .




Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk

 

[Kemosabe]

I have used cotton balls as an overwick. My experience is, they work great when the main wick is new but then the flavor and vapor falls off a cliff after a day or so. I have tried replacing the cotton overwick but it doesn't restore its performance unless the main wick is changed too.

I learned of this method from BJ43.
These are pictures from BJ43 from the Vivi Nova Rebuild thread.
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...tems/295410-vivi-nova-rebuild-tutorial-5.html
View attachment 136886View attachment 136887

does the overwick get wrapped in coil too, or does it just get layed on top of the coil?

 

[Soundhunter]

Having read this whole thread - and just setting aside my ViVi's after my initial experience with them - I'm wondering if a reality check is in order. In other words, why all the fuss trying to get these things to work? I'm beginning to think this is waaaayyy too much creative problem solving energy being applied here to what is inherent design flaw: fighting gravity and hygroscopics. There seem to be reasons why the ViVi problems are not a problem with attys (top down feeding) and cartos (broader contact area with filler.) Now let's make a worst possible design? Put the coil as far away from the liquid as possible, expect the wicking to do an uphill climb supplying liquids, and transfer that liquid via a very small surface area due to a tightly wound coil constricting the wick? Like as not, I only see so much compromise - at best - in the battle to make this design work as well as we might want it to.

Interesting and makes sense..but in reality (at least for me anyways) I find the VN more consistent (with proper use and technique) and just as and many times more flavor wise then any carto I have tried so far .. I don't get dry hits, don't seem to have near the failure rate I have experienced with cartos.. Just this morning I received a beautiful Bella/Elegance tank - dropped the carto in... vapped like a freight train for about 20 minutes, set it down, came back 10 minutes or so later ...flooded...blow it out... lose a good bit of juice (although minimized by the beautiful design of the Bella tanks)..replace the carto...DUD.. Not a new occurrence for me over several different types of tanks and cartos

I like cartos when they work but I never seem to have those issues with a VN and don't notice any flavor loss/muting/leaking at all..so..just one persons experience but I'm not really experiencing any "design flaw" ?

 

[cherrycakes]

HELP

does anyone know if you can be allergic to the silica in iclear 30 wicks?
I had one in my hands and now my face is swelling up and my chest is breaking out in a rash.
took some allergy meds but idk I'm not gonna touch this stuff anymore if I'm allergic. definitely not vaping it 0.o

 

[Indagroove]

Cherry,

I have heard of people getting rashes and such with PG. What level PG are you vaping now?

Groove

 

[Koman]

HELP

does anyone know if you can be allergic to the silica in iclear 30 wicks?
I had one in my hands and now my face is swelling up and my chest is breaking out in a rash.
took some allergy meds but idk I'm not gonna touch this stuff anymore if I'm allergic. definitely not vaping it 0.o

That's unfortunate. Sounds like an allergy to me!

 

[Nofretz]

I have been using braided cotton for a while in my VN's & BCC's and get fairly good results. However, after ~ 2 weeks the wick will deteriorate at the coil.

Questions for those that have used both cotton & bamboo; will bamboo "burn through" as easily as cotton? And which seem to have better flavor transfer?