Same shelf the cotton balls were on. It is just a roll of cotton. You can use cotton balls, no difference that I can tell.
Most pharmacies or beauty supplies have cotton rolls.
Vivi Nova Rebuild tutorial
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Same shelf the cotton balls were on. It is just a roll of cotton. You can use cotton balls, no difference that I can tell.
Most pharmacies or beauty supplies have cotton rolls.
I have now made over 50 cotton wick combinations on the vivi nova and with all, if I put a small batten cotton wick over the coil it improves 100%. I read so much about over wicking and I use a lot of wick and have never experienced over wicking or flooding. I think a lot of people do not give it enough time to break in. It takes a good half hour of vaping before any cotton wick produces satisfactory vapor. Voltage control is very critical with cotton wicks as each one is slightly different and finding the sweet spot is important.
I just tried this on a couple stock heads last night. OMG! The difference in vapor production and taste is impressive. Now to try it with some of my rebuilt heads. This seems like a no-brainer for stock or rebuilt heads.
Mike, I first did this on stock heads and it was so good I almost didn't even think about rebuilding, I bought four vivi novas and had 12 heads. Figured why rebuild when the over wick makes them so good. Finally curiosity won and I rebuilt one this way and wow now I am a fanatic of this setup and it really doesn't matter what wick is in the coil, the batten over wick averages every thing out and makes it better.
Well I am getting weird taste after doing it with a coil at 2.2 ohms, think it's the plastic bottom cap that is burning. Going to check it when I get home, I also doubled the legs, and am using 0.20 kanthal wire
It's not the silica wick, thats for sure, and not the mesh (btw this was a hybrid SS mesh inside, wick towards the outside), but the flavor is off, like with just the silica wick. But I don't have this weird flavor in my phoenix rebuildable, so its related to something
It's not the silica wick, thats for sure, and not the mesh (btw this was a hybrid SS mesh inside, wick towards the outside), but the flavor is off, like with just the silica wick. But I don't have this weird flavor in my phoenix rebuildable, so its related to something
i fiuond some all natural no additives type 100% cotton yarn,it has a four leg twist as opposed to the normal 3 leg twist..this stuff wicks so incredibly well that @2.8ohms i have to turn volts down to 3.2 to keep from blasting my face off !!
BJ43 are you modding the head as well? Something like what urquidezj posted earlier?
or perhaps a more open (hole and slot) like L7D4N?
I open massive channels on my heads. I don't use a specific bit, I just use an engraving tool with my dremel and try to make it even on both sides. I make about a 5mm wick with cheesecloth, and 3 turns with 34g kanthal gives me just over 3 ohms.
I find this is best for the cinnamon liquid I vape, because even though I use a ProVari to adjust voltage for flavor, adjusting the wick size and number of wraps is just as important to maintaining a solid flavor and vapor production.
I find this is best for the cinnamon liquid I vape, because even though I use a ProVari to adjust voltage for flavor, adjusting the wick size and number of wraps is just as important to maintaining a solid flavor and vapor production.
BJ43 - I get what you are saying that the "batten over the wick averages everything out", After experiencing an almost perfect vape on your configuration (I used a coiled 1/0 cotton wick and the cotton batting) with a favorite juice that has been through attys, cartos (LR/HR, Dual), Silica wick Smoktech Vivi, SS mesh and cotton Smoktech Vivi, silica wick Viva Nova, SS Vivi Nova, cotton wick/cheesesloth Vivi Nova etc...
I want to see if you could describe in your own words the effect that you are tasting/feeling and generally experiencing vs these other mods?
While I am very interested to learn about your experiences, because you probably have this thing so better tuned than I have, I wanted to share a couple of comparative thoughts.
In general, not compared to all other combinations, your config provided me a kicka$$ balance of:
1) a very smooth taste and feel vape (no highs, no lows, just consistency)
2) no dry hits (the cotton batten provide a superior fast and supplemental wicking source to the primary coil wick)
3) fullness ( I dont know how to express this, but the body of the vape gets thicker. When I get the coils to the right heat, sometimes I feel the draw pressure increase and the vape get almost gooey (?)
4) Subtle flavors in the Juice that are non-existence or seriously muted in other set ups really shine through. ( I am using a 100% VG NET)
5) The vap always feel moist, not thick like the above, more like a high humidity air quality, like say being in the Islands?
Just for keeping things even , I have gotten great results on these other mods...especially SS mesh. But in combination, especially the smoothness of Cotton and the simplicity, this set up really shines. Just some thoughts, very interested to hear yours (or others).
5mm wick!
I was using this head... with a ~2.5mm cotton braided wick
Now I need to go pull out my file set and dig into that "chinese mystery metal" (cred to Cyrus Vap)
lol, on adjusting the wick size...can you get it any bigger?
gdeal: with all those descriptions and adjectives you must be very good with the ladies.
I can only tell you, those who know me here in the forum for almost 4 years know I was a dedicated steel man, from originally using ss wool for filler to inventing the bonut. I have laid all my genesis aside (at least 40). The only thing I reach for is a vivi nova with a wick over. I have 4 going at all times, each has a different cotton wick in the coil (batten, candle, cheesecloth, yarn) all have the small batten over wick, and if I had not marked each one I would not know the difference. I have done several blind tests with family and friends and they all said I gave them the same unit each time. Ok lets get this clear, I have been at this a long time and they were all broken in and tweaked with voltage to my sweet spot. They are all great, somehow that small overwick makes them all equally great. I accept that this is to my taste buds, but I am very happy with this new setup. The reason I have 4 is that I chain vape and double draw so they get hot and I rotate the four.
I can only tell you, those who know me here in the forum for almost 4 years know I was a dedicated steel man, from originally using ss wool for filler to inventing the bonut. I have laid all my genesis aside (at least 40). The only thing I reach for is a vivi nova with a wick over. I have 4 going at all times, each has a different cotton wick in the coil (batten, candle, cheesecloth, yarn) all have the small batten over wick, and if I had not marked each one I would not know the difference. I have done several blind tests with family and friends and they all said I gave them the same unit each time. Ok lets get this clear, I have been at this a long time and they were all broken in and tweaked with voltage to my sweet spot. They are all great, somehow that small overwick makes them all equally great. I accept that this is to my taste buds, but I am very happy with this new setup. The reason I have 4 is that I chain vape and double draw so they get hot and I rotate the four.
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gdeal: with all those descriptions and adjectives you must be very good with the ladies.
Ahh..the ladies...yes...many moons ago but somehow I was lucky to find the "one". Still going strong after 20 years....
I have researched your posts and respect your expertise. I have only been at this for about a month, by chance I joined ECF, and have spent many hours reading through the forums (including all of that 2700+ post monster thread started by EvilGrym as well as one by raidy). (Sleep is for the other guy...) I have followed the advancement of the art with great interest.
To the uninitiated, the modding world can be very complex. I have just started to understand the complexities. You and other "gurus" make this less daunting. (much respect to them as well..Scuba,Quigs, etc. and others who I have may not yet be that familiar with.)
I rely on the opinions and insights of the contributors here and hope to help others on a similar path. While half the fun of this is the pursuit of the perfect vape, it is also the cause of much frustration. There is old saying, "separate the wheat from the chaff".
I guess in the end you stated it well...hit your sweet spot... what your taste buds like...and what you are happy with. But your insights really parted the clouds for me. Especially, that you really need to break-in the wick with cotton. Gentle at first, then all guns a blazing...
Now back to an awesome vape and a Grand Marnier. And see where my order for 3 Vivi Novas are in transit...
Okay, I finally got all the supplies I need to do this. I just finished boiling my cotton wicks and they are drying now and should be ready for me tonight. I just have one question about the cotton batten stuff to put over the coil. Would gauze work for this? I thought I had some cottonballs laying around but I don't but I found some gauze and boiled it with the wicks.
As I am writing this I am starting to think I better just go to the store tonight and get the cotton batten because the thought experiment I just did says that the batten will be a lot more absorbant than the gauze.
I was trying to save myself a trip to the store but I think I am gonna have to go.
As I am writing this I am starting to think I better just go to the store tonight and get the cotton batten because the thought experiment I just did says that the batten will be a lot more absorbant than the gauze.
I was trying to save myself a trip to the store but I think I am gonna have to go.
Okay, I finally got all the supplies I need to do this. I just finished boiling my cotton wicks and they are drying now and should be ready for me tonight. I just have one question about the cotton batten stuff to put over the coil. Would gauze work for this? I thought I had some cottonballs laying around but I don't but I found some gauze and boiled it with the wicks.
As I am writing this I am starting to think I better just go to the store tonight and get the cotton batten because the thought experiment I just did says that the batten will be a lot more absorbant than the gauze.
I was trying to save myself a trip to the store but I think I am gonna have to go.
Go to the store.
Okay, I finally got all the supplies I need to do this. I just finished boiling my cotton wicks and they are drying now and should be ready for me tonight. I just have one question about the cotton batten stuff to put over the coil. Would gauze work for this? I thought I had some cottonballs laying around but I don't but I found some gauze and boiled it with the wicks.
As I am writing this I am starting to think I better just go to the store tonight and get the cotton batten because the thought experiment I just did says that the batten will be a lot more absorbant than the gauze.
I was trying to save myself a trip to the store but I think I am gonna have to go.
buy some cotton balls. tell your significant other they are for her,( 2 or 3 will make a lot of wicks), kill 2 birds etc..lol
don't think so. ones i have are already sterile. i just rip a piece off and fashion it into a short wick. then trim the ends to make it look neat
Whoa!!!! Thanks to everyone that contributed to this thread and related threads! My Vivi is now a vaping beast! This is incredible.
I was able to do it on my first try, and I have you all to thank for that. Although, it took me a minute to figure out a coil wrapping method that worked for me.
A special thank you to BJ.
I was able to do it on my first try, and I have you all to thank for that.
Although, it took me a minute to figure out a coil wrapping method that worked for me. A special thank you to BJ.
Whoa!!!! Thanks to everyone that contributed to this thread and related threads! My Vivi is now a vaping beast! This is incredible.
I was able to do it on my first try, and I have you all to thank for that.
A special thank you to BJ.
Amazing isn't it.
For 1/2 cent of cotton you go from Yugo to Ferrari. (or a '55 T-bird) Not sure if I can post this but for those looking to do some shopping for love one's cosmetic or first aid needs: CVS Cotton Balls - CVS pharmacy
Ha..that's a life time of rebuilds!
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