To oxidize or not??

[varivapr]

So I'm just curious what most others out there are doing. I use to oxidize the crap out of all my wicks. Then I began to oxidize less and less each time and now I dont oxidize at all. Just clean the mesh good and wrap completely unoxidized and pulse until it glows. Seems to work much better and produces at more consistently glowing coil with rarely a hotspot much quicker. So just wondering if most others oxidize or not?

 

[BuzzKilla]

NOPE.

and it only takes about 2 minutes, with the pulse method on an RSST.

Error codes would get irritating on a Provari though...

 

[varivapr]

yeah i wouldn't even attempt of a vv. Logic tells you the opposite that youd get more hotspots with no oxidation but the pulsing does a better job of oxidizing evenly i guess

 

[Kemosabe]

i still oxidize. i tried doing an unoxidized build when that whole chromium scare was new and it went terribly. i started out with a batt that was low on voltage so i wasnt pulsing with a fresh batt. half way through my pulsing i was getting frustrated with hotspots and decided to meter my batt to see where i was at...i had discharged it down close to 2.5v! scared me. i thought the batt was going to explode. so needless to say i never tried that again.

i read somewhere that you want to use a nearly dead batt for pulsing. is that what you guys do? if so, how do you keep from deeply discharging it?

 

[varivapr]

Ive used fully charged and less than fully. I usually use one thats full or close to it. I think the trick is is to not pick at it and try to fix the hotspots. just keep pulsing for longer intervals as you can and whala

 

[Rule62]

I pulse oxidize on my mechanicals. On my vv/vw mods, I torch oxidize once, and then a couple juice burns. Too much of a PITA to pulse on vv/vw mods.

 

[Kemosabe]

Ive used fully charged and less than fully. I usually use one thats full or close to it. I think the trick is is to not pick at it and try to fix the hotspots. just keep pulsing for longer intervals as you can and whala

oh wow. i would have never known that! so you dont touch the hotspots. interesting. i bet i was close to successfully getting my coil going on the unoxidized wick because i was going at it for what seemed like a long time.

so wait....how do you differentiate between an actual hotspot that needs to get worked out and one thats only occuring because of the unoxidized layer?

 

[grainey1968]

I pulse my coil and un-oxidized wick on my old bolt mod (even with a fresh battery - just carefully). Then, when I'm happy with the coil, I move it back onto my Provari. Stops the headache of the E1 error!

 

[lamarrk]

ZEN has a video showing how to build a coil and get it glowing evenly. He picks it and says that's all you have to do. I've tried it and it works. I'll keep picking mine.

 

[varivapr]

ZEN is using an oxidized wick. We are talking about unoxidized wicks. If u pick at it unoxidized it makes it worse because as you pulse the wire oxidizes the mesh underneath it. When you pick it you wove the wire to a new spot on the mesh that isnt oxidized yet and has to start all over. No need to touch it at all. Its starts glowing at the top (uninsulated wick hole) and slowly works its way down until it glows evenly. Like this. Genesis setup without a torch - YouTube

 

[Happy2beMe]

Thanks for the post. I thought I had to oxidize. now I'm gonna try it your way. I'd rather not start a fresh wick with the charred taste. I've already started pulsing with a mech mod instead of picking, so, it should be no sweat for me. good idea, again, thanks.

 

[Verdant]

i only oxidize the half of the wick thats gonna be wrapped, the section that goes into the tank i keep clean

 

[The M4n C4nn0n]

If you are using 28g then as you pulse almost any and all hot spots will go away, just keep holding the button down longer and longer each time and they should eventually go away. I almost never have to pick at my coil to get it all glowing without any hot spots. 28g is a LOT easier to do this with, if you can do it with 32g then you're amazing.

 

[razor4432]

Unoxidized here and call me crazy but I pulse out the hotspots with my eVic. It'll fire short enough bursts to slowly take care of the short error. I do fiddle with the coil a little as I am doing it but I don't do any major adjustments. Just enough of a bump to get the coil glowing farther down and once it all glows evenly do long fires and voila, good to go Just did a new coil and wick about 10 minutes ago

 

[Endor]

My last 2 have been unoxidized via pulse method, 28awg kanthal. Works great and a nice clean taste. I only pick a little when it "stalls out".

I boil the unwrapped mesh for about 20 minutes beforehand.