Tornado/Ego tank wick wrapping made easy

[shaude]

Wrapping the PTB around the wick was driving me nuts - I just haven't got the knack! But I've made something that wraps the PTB round the wick perfectly and quickly every time.
I took a 1" blunt syringe needle (it must be 17 gauge with white coded plastic tip). Carefully chop away the plastic tip with a sharl stanley knife. This leaves you with a tiny metal tube (the answer to my prayers).

Double a length of sewing cotton and thread the two ends through the tube leaving a small loop at the other end of the tube. Place about 2" length of single strand wick on the loop with the loop near the end of the wick.

Then simply pull the other end of the cotton to pull the wick through the tube. Adjust to have same amount of wick sticking out of each end of the tube. Roll the PTB around the tube. With one hand grip the PTB and wick while pulling off the tube with the other.
This leaves you just holding the perfecly wrapped PTB and wick. Just fold in as in SimpleCJ's method and use the cotton again in a loop to pull the new wick through the wick plate. Trim in the usual way.

This is all so easy and I've got re-wicking down to 2 minutes. Hope this helps some of you. Best wishes from London UK.

 

[fabli]

This is a great idea! I'm going to try it with a small cocktail straw.

Thanks!

 

[Erfmann]

Very cool. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Caoka]

Thanks for the information. I was wondering if the wick fibers are strong like a thread or are they very loose,delicate and easy to come apart? I have an EGO-t and I have sent away for the silica.

 

[shaude]

First to Fabli: I'm pretty sure a cocktail straw would be far too big. The 17 gauge needle is the exactly precise size.

Now to Caoka: Assuming you have ordered the 3/8 inch round woven silica (fibreglass) wick. Cut off a 2" length. If you then prise out one of the 'weaves', lay it on the table and gently run an old tooth or razor cleaning brush over it you will see it part into 4 equal strands. Each of these strands is the exact thickness for a perfect wick (when doubled over with the PTB material).
You will get 24 wicks from just this 2" length. So you see that your wick material will probably last the rest of your life. The wick will not be loose, delicate or come apart. Also the PTB holds it firmly in the atty plate.

Incidentally, after enjoying a cup of Black Russian Earl Grey Tea, I wash out the PTB and cut it open to form an oblong piece. If you gently heat this over a warm (not hot) heat source such as a hair dryer, all the creases will come out. From just one tea bag I get the material for 10 new wicks.

We owe SimpleCJ an enormous debt for his method. I can now re-wick as often as needed and give the atty's a good clean and dry burn before the putting the plate back. So my atty's now have at least 6 month or more life, and vaping is always at it's best.

 

[fabli]

Would either of these do the trick?

 

[shaude]

Hi Fabli,
No, they will not do as it looks like a plastic needle, also why by so many. You don't need the syringe, just the needle. Here is where I get mine in the UK. Maybe they will post to USA. I get 20 needles for next to nothing. Scroll down the page and choose 17gauge (white). Best wishes.

Syringe Dispensing Blunt End 1" Nozzle (20 pack) | eBay UK

 

[shaude]

Here's another source of exactly the type of needle I use at just 33 cents each:

17 Gauge 1.0 Inch - Blunt Dispensing Needles - Luer Lock

 

[shaude]

I have 20 of these needles and would be happy to sent you a couple (I'll even take the plastic tip off for you so they're ready to use). But how does one securely give home addresses?

 

[fabli]

Shaude, thanks for the kind offer, but I just ordered five from the second link you provided.

Thanks again for all your help...I'll let you know how I make out when the needles arrive.

 

[fabli]

Okay. I got the needles and they work great for wrapping the PTB around the silica rope. But I still have a problem fitting the doubled-over wick into the needle plate. Using the thread will not work as the whole thing is simply too large for the plate hole.

How do you compress the wick?

 

[shaude]

Hi Fabli, Sorry to keep you waiting, I've been away.
The wick will go through the needle plate. Just grip the thread firmly and pull firmly. The wick compresses itself as it enters the needle plate. If you have rolled the PTB nice and close to the needle it will fit. It needs to be a fairly tight fit or it would fall out in use.

But are you using too much wick? One woven strand taken from your wick supply naturally divides into 4 wicks. Just lay it on the table and gently stroke it with an old toothbrush or razor cleaning brush and you will see it divide to 4 strands. You only need one of these.

Hope it all works for you. Mine are great...

 

[kaoslego]

Hi There,

Pretty new to this but was wondering if someone could answer some questions for me if possible?

I had 6 blown out tornado tank atomisers and am trying to get them working again. Have pulled out the inside bit and burnt the wick til it goes white. But i broke 4 of them, 2 work fine now but 4 are broke.

i just have a couple of questions if someone can help:
- Is the silica rope what looks like the wick?and where can i buy it?
- also what is PTB?

Many thanks

cheers,

 

[MasonD]

Hi There,

Pretty new to this but was wondering if someone could answer some questions for me if possible?

I had 6 blown out tornado tank atomisers and am trying to get them working again. Have pulled out the inside bit and burnt the wick til it goes white. But i broke 4 of them, 2 work fine now but 4 are broke.

i just have a couple of questions if someone can help:
- Is the silica rope what looks like the wick?and where can i buy it?
- also what is PTB?

Many thanks

cheers,

Here's one vendor for silica rope: McMaster-Carr You want the 99% round braided stuff. A foot will last you forever. Don't get lower grade fiberglass, cause it will melt; the silica will not.

And you want to read this whole thread: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/ego-type-models/169520-simplecjs-ego-t-wick-mod.html

On your 4 atties-- if they don't fire at all, then you probably popped the coil. If it's just a wick problem, then you can fix it-- just pack a bit of patience as you find the right amount of silica to use. That's why, if you read simple cj's thread, you want to read most of it-- he says himself that his pictures are deceiving: you really don't need that much silica.

I've found that I don't need that much ptb; just enough to keep the silica together.

Once you learn this, though, you will have a much better experience with the T; you can make new wicks when you want, and they vape much better and more consistent than the stock wicks-- especially the stock wicks in cheapie atties. More flavor, and better flavor, too. Then, if you keep your atty cleaned regularly, it seems the hardware will last a long time, which is nice.