To dry burn or not to dry burn. That's the question. It always gets me confused.

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Offday

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I agree with most of what's been said here. But in my opinion, and my opinion only. Unless your oxidizing a mesh wick. There is NO such thing as a "dry" burn. Silica wicks must be "wet" before you attempt ANY type of burn period. Eaither water, couple drops of juice whatever, "everyone" will tell you never to "dry" burn because it will ruin the wicks. You "always" burn off a wick that's been washed out, so it's in fact "wet" . Or you drip a couple drops of juice before you ever fire a "new" wick,
So with that said, simpler to just change out a vivi head or carto if the taste goes south, they're cheap enough.

So in my opinion we need some type of terminology other than "dry burn" because I never understood it. And I think that might be part of the problem. I think a lot of folks are destroying their wicks because short pulses to clean a wick. And over doing it is a very very fine line.
 

bacc.vap

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I don't really understand this dry burning is not for silica wicks stuff. People have been doing it to silica wicks long before mesh wicks were even in use. Maybe if silica wicks are getting burned it's because it's substandard silica or not silica at all. I can only attest to my experince, but I've been dry burning silica wicks for just about Two years now, other then a couple of wicks breaking up after a couple months use I've never had a problem. It's more likely a problem of not getting your cartos clean enough.
 

Vapoor eyes er

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Really ?? I have burned plenty of silica material with a fixed 3.2 batt...I guess it depends on what type of silica wick you are using...the wick material in a Vision clearomiser must be some of the cheapest or not 100% silica...I have burned em so bad the wicks fall off...

also in some cases the bad "burnt taste" people are talking about is the insulator material...not necessarily the wick itself...or filler material in a carto...

Not an opinion but fact....silica burns @ 1600°C. Been using Vision Vivi Novas for 6 months. Dry burning 1.8 ohms @ 4.5 volts. As for breaking off silica wicks are tiny pieces of silica braided together to form a wick. I toss mine, even though they're firing fine, at 10 weeks because the silica wick begins to break down and shard. I can also appreciate all the other ingredients in juice- flavorings (some of which will destroy a plastic tank), nicotine, etc.

 

Robino1

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Been dry burning my coils too. Let's see, October to now......18 heads in rotation.... Still going strong. Oh I take that back, I've lost two. Yes, I do see a difference after dry burning on the coil. They get gunked up enough that I can't see the coils, after dry burning, I can see the coils again. It's like a self cleaning oven. You burn off the build up and it turns to ash. I take out my heads after two tanks, rinse then put them in the allotted compartment for the ones that need dryburning. After I get about ten or so in that compartment it's cleaning day. Go through the routine of dryburning.

After the dry burning, they then go into the "Ready for use" compartment. Haven't had any problems.

Must be doin something right or just super lucky.

Oh, you can remove that insulator sleave if it looks too disgusting. But a Polident soak usually takes care of that. I do that once a month. All heads, except the one that is in use, gets put into a cup with a Polident tablet, boiling water to cover, let soak for a few hours (or over night if you forget about them :facepalm: ). Rinse with very hot water, throw them into the ready compartment and it's dry by the time I need one.
 

Robino1

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Not an opinion but fact....silica burns @ 1600°C. Been using Vision Vivi Novas for 6 months. Dry burning 1.8 ohms @ 4.5 volts. As for breaking off silica wicks are tiny pieces of silica braided together to form a wick. I toss mine, even though they're firing fine, at 10 weeks because the silica wick begins to break down and shard. I can also appreciate all the other ingredients in juice- flavorings (some of which will destroy a plastic tank), nicotine, etc.



+ 1 gazillion!! Can I like this like a Million times?!?!?!

I've never seen that video but man does it make a point! :D
 

DaveP

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Dry burning is kind of an art. You can pop a coil if you are too aggressive. I wash my Vivi Nova heads in steaming hot water from the sink tap for 30-60 seconds. You need something to hold it with if the water burns your fingers. I've never boiled a coil.

When I get through washing, I press the ends of the wicks that are hanging to get out excess water and then install the head without the tank and pulse the fire button and let it sizzle. When the sizzling dies down, most of the water is vaporized from the wick and I move to a darkened corner and continue pulsing the fire button long enough to see a dim red glow on the coil, then I release and repeat. You need a little room light to see the smoke wisp up early in the dry burn. That smoke is caked on juice burning. Once there's no more little wisps of smoke rising, you are done.

I get like new flavor from a dry burn and recycle my Vivi heads several times. I agree that you don't want to overextend the use of a single wick because of wick deterioration, but I've not worried about silica in the vapor simply because vaping is a wet wick process. I wouldn't vape a dry wick for fear of wick particles being sucked up in the draw, but a wet coil is likely to hold that sort of stuff in place.

If there are tests showing shards in the vapor from a submerged wick/coil, I'd like to see the links. Such a test would need a filter medium material that could be viewed under a microscope to reveal what went out of the wick into the vapor.

Back in the 50s Kent produced an asbestos cigarette filter called Micronite. It was the subject of many lawsuits as test proved that asbestos particles from the filter were showing up in the lungs of cancer patients who smoked Kents. We wouldn't want to be guinea pigs for ecig wicks, would we? Really, if anyone has access to a test link that shows silica fibers coming out of a wicked ecig, post it.

I'm not saying it's not true. It could be a problem. I just want to know if it's been detected. The wicks in ecig tanks are supposed to be long fiber silica. Yes, it can break down into short fibers during use, I suppose, and it probably does. I'm just thinking that the wetted nature of a tank wick prevents them from floating up in the vapor. Maybe they can, who knows?

This topic talks about silica wicks with a preface from a scientist who wrote an article about the safety of silica wicks.
http://forum.caravelamods.pt/index.php?topic=283.0
 
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Vapoor eyes er

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+ 1 gazillion!! Can I like this like a Million times?!?!?!

I've never seen that video but man does it make a point! :D

LOL thanks it is a good one. I know awhile ago a certain manufacturer who shall remain nameless was braiding fiberglass+ silica together.
We're just at the tail end of a Vision Vivi Nova test group (20 people) with our non profit vape prog and the Vivi's passed with flying colors. Far more economical even after buying .75 ST XL cartos awhile ago.

 

danny4x4

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Thanks for all the input! Unfortunately, the question is still unresolved. :-(
Fortunately, I've learnt something- just use whatever method works for me. :)
And also to stop being a cheapo. Just toss the clearo if it goes south.

I ordered different clearos from health cabin about a month ago to see what would work for me. So hopefully, I should get them soon.

Hope to share my experience with others so new users can know that they're not alone in their frustrations.
 

Vapoor eyes er

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Sorry about the interruption.
Yes, I drink lots of water. I understand that taste may be affected by not drinking enough water. Maybe, I'm still not drinking enough? Because by evening, vaping doesn't seem to give me that ooomph. Lack of taste and throat hit. I thought it might be the clearomizers because all 5 or 6 of them would taste funky. Throughout the day, I would take a couple of puffs from one and immediately switch to another one and puff on it. This is to enable the wicks to wick up the juice.
Staying hydrated has a huge impact on the quality of the vape. When I used the clearos with long wicks never had any wicking issues. If you're chain vaping maybe a suggestion to consider upping your nicotine? I just switched to the Vision Vivi Novas cuz I could see they were a superior build quality. Realize some acidic juices will damage plastic tanks..they have Vivi metal sleeves for this reason.

By the way, please give suggestions on China vendors only. In this FINE city I live in, anything that resembles a cigarette, but is not a cigarette, is illegal. So, it's easier to get my wares from China suppliers/vendors.
HealthCabin as you know is great.
Greenhouse One | Electronic Cigarettes | Atomizers | Eliquid
BestEcig-High quality mini e-cig|e-cigarette|eGo,best e-liquid|e-cigs wholesale
Best electronic cigarettes_ecigarettes_eliquids_ejuices - Heaven Gifts
Eastmall
I've ordered from all the above Vendors and they are reputable. They are also ECF verified/ listed.
Just placed an order with https://www.vaporbreak.com/en/ and my order is now in Chinese Customs. He had some communication problems but recently hired extra English speaking staff and orders are now flowing. Prices are crazy cheap.

Aren't Vivi Novas clearos too??? Cause I'm getting confused with all the names thrown about. As I understand it. Phoenix, Stardust, Vivis are all clearos, right? Sorry if it seems a stupiak (another hint to where I'm from) question.
LOLLL. Originally Vivi Novas were known as tanks- I just always lumped Stardusts, Vivis, etc in the clearo group. You'll also find lots of renaming of products- some vendors also have the manufacturer re-label/ re-brand a product.

I understand that what works for one person, may not work for another. I'm willing to try different setups to find what suits me. But it must use ego batteries/threads cause it's the easiest to find/buy. :-$
Realize "eGo" is no longer a brand of PV but a class/ style.
Ego Class/ style PVs
JoyTech eGo fires @ 3.3 volts
JoyTech UpGrade C fires at 3.3 volts or the other mode, most of the time @ 3.7 volts.
Kgo fires @ 3.7 volts
Smok Tek eGo fires @ 3.7 volts
All the above PVs are manufactured by large and reputable companies and are 510 threaded, the most common of threads.

Next but still in the eGo class are the Mini VV (variable voltage) PVs- the Vision Spinner and the JoyTechTwist. Also 510 threading and 3.2v ~ 4.8v by spinning the knob at the bottom. The diff models are 400 mah- 1300 mah depending on the brand.
Remember Battery Info: 100 mah= 1 hr normal vaping before recharge is needed.

Would be wonderful if you would all share your best vape with ego setup from China vendors. Hope I'm not asking too much.
Realize all the above batteries are disposable and good for 200- 300 recharges. If I were living in a country where the Ecig was not allowed I'd consider a PV that uses separate batteries. When the battery dies you simply, legally and inexpensively purchase a new battery.
 
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Vapoor eyes er

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THANKS Vapoor eyes er!!!!!
Very grateful that you took the time to answer all my questions. Really really grateful!!!!

You're always very welcome Danny and again I apologize for getting sidetracked.

My very first PV was a 3.7 volt Mech Mod- large but no electronics to burn out- all mechanical with separate batteries. 1 1/2 yrs later and it still looks and fires as good as when I bought it. Needed to replace 1 connector.
Cheers and the best of Luck.
 
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Katya

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I've done it myself several times when testing cartomizers. Most recently I torched Bloog cartomizers' wicks. They don't burn--they turn white. Of course, one has to take a cartomizer apart before doing that. Please do not try to dry burn cartomizers!!!!! And torching is not the same as dry burning.

Wicks don't burn. But the coil may pop during dry burning process when too much heat is applied to dry coil.
 
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Katya

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This topic talks about silica wicks with a preface from a scientist who wrote an article about the safety of silica wicks.
Health hazards due to the inhalation of amorphous silica.

Hi Dave!

There is a very long thread here dealing with this issue. I've been following it for a while, but it's really depressing. It started with some reports on the Russian boards. I'm seriously considering switching to cotton wicks--some day...

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...-materials-safe-vs-dangerous.html#post5717639

And another one--shorter and less depressing! :)

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...28-wick-matreials-properties.html#post8395028
 
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Katya

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Hi Katya. From my research, using silica wicks, first washing them to rid the wicks of any loose silica and then use. The minute they begin to shard I toss them. Re wicked once with cotton and it was a great vape. Also considering going back to cotton.

Thanks Vapoor! :)
 

DaveP

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Hi Dave!

There is a very long thread here dealing with this issue. I've been following it for a while, but it's really depressing. It started with some reports on the Russian boards. I'm seriously considering switching to cotton wicks--some day...

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...-materials-safe-vs-dangerous.html#post5717639

And another one--shorter and less depressing! :)

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...28-wick-matreials-properties.html#post8395028


I read the first page of the first thread and will check it out more thoroughly as I can. I definitely want to know what's safe and absolutely don't want to get into something that could be as or more dangerous than smoking. After all, we switched to get away from the perils of tobacco use, didn't we? ;)
 

Katya

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I read the first page of the first thread and will check it out more thoroughly as I can. I definitely want to know what's safe and absolutely don't want to get into something that could be as or more dangerous than smoking. After all, we switched to get away from the perils of tobacco use, didn't we? ;)

Please let us know what you think about the subject. I'm somewhat conflicted...
 
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