Weird Throat Hit w/ Cotton Wick

[fjgotgame24]

So I been vaping with no problems for a few months now however I recently made the change to cotton wicks and been having an issue. I've noticed that I been getting something similar to a th but its different in that it makes me cough. Its kind of hard to describe but I guess a normal th would be more smooth and slightly bitter whereas this one feels like the vapor is thin and it gives off a coldish feeling in the back of my throat. It reminds me of that feel when I would swim as a kid and accidentally swallow water then get that chlorine taste. I tried to just vape through it but its not working as I will cough without fail. (pretty nasty cough) I use sterile cotton and havent boiled it but I was thinking maybe these cotton balls are bleached. Or is it just the fabric that Im not used too? Not sure but any help would be much appreciated.

 

[liquidzoo]

What kind of cotton balls are you using? I've used the Walgreens Organic Cotton Balls with none of the funky flavors you are describing. I currently have it in coils on both my RDA and ProTank.

 

[stylezuk]

Sterile cotton is the reason and not boiling it, you want organic as sterile has been treated..

 

[PLANofMAN]

You'll want to boil them. Hydrogen Peroxide doesn't taste very good, does it?

 

[fierks]

I've boiled my organic cotton but I think I need to go for a second boiling as I still get a weird throat hit as well. Rip Trippers recommended boiling twice but I figured once was fine, there's a reason hes an expert and I'm not.

 

[crxess]

Bull Hockey!
Rinse/Steam and Drying is the last of the sterilization process - Not Bleaching.

Thin Vapor is likely to much wick - Same as Dry hits on Silica - Harsh and nasty

May also be poor air flow(blocking air path) causing Harsh hits and little vapor.

 

[Mark Anthony]

Bull Hockey!
Rinse/Steam and Drying is the last of the sterilization process - Not Bleaching.

Thin Vapor is likely to much wick - Same as Dry hits on Silica - Harsh and nasty

May also be poor air flow(blocking air path) causing Harsh hits and little vapor.

Agree 100% ^^^^^^ I use organic cotton balls when building and after the first few hits it's awesome.

 

[Christopherja]

Agree 100% ^^^^^^ I use organic cotton balls when building and after the first few hits it's awesome.

Another chime-in here: I use organic cotton balls - I never boil, and after the first few hits, it's all pure flavour.

 

[Ahoy]

Try enlarging those airholes a bit. Don't go crazy though, start small and work your way up until you are satisfied. I am not sure how low you are building your coil but as you start to drift into lower ohms you will want larger airholes.

How much cotton is used in your build? a pic might prove helpful for us to take a look at the build.
Do you have good wick to coil contact?
Do you have your airholes lined up parallel with your coils?
Check, did you burn the cotton at all? Sometimes I do this on accident and don't taste a burning ashy taste...it's just an off taste until I change them over.
When was the last time you changed your cotton out?
To me there is a break in period for cotton. Usually this is about 5 minutes of vaping.
I have used regular cotton balls w/o boiling (yeah yeah i know) and the vape was fine for me. Everyone's taste buds are different though. As others have stated, take a drive to your local CVS/Wally world and look for organic cotton if you don't want to boil. That is your best bet.

 

[Legolas]

My first hit on new cotton ball wick is great. I do juice soak the wick and fire it a few times and add a few more drops before I put the tank on and get that first awesome vape. Organic cotton balls is the only thing I've used where the first draw is as good as the last draw before I rewick.

 

[Bunnykiller]

boiling is useless... all it does is make the cotton wet then you have to wait for it to dry. What you need to do is get some 98.3% Nitric acid soak it a while and make it into nitrocellulose. You will get a real bang out of your vape then... just kidding do not try at home!!
As far as the peroxide myth... its H2O2 which breaks down to O2 and H20 ... thats why it fizzies on cuts, its the oxygen combining and releasing, producing water... looks like alot of people forgot the lessons in Hi school chemistry

 

[CShaver]

Get ready to light your torches and sharpen your pitchforks!

I use cottonballs I found at Turkey Hill for a dollar. Non organic, sterile cottonballs. I don't boil it. Still geta a great vape from beginning to end.