What kind of cotton for new wicks?

[melissa1928]

Hello, all. I am new, as you probably guessed.

I'm relatively new to vaping. I tried it a few years ago, with cigalikes, but it just wasn't great -- too much fiddling around, not enough satisfaction. I'm reasonably happy with this new Kanger, though. *Much* more satisfying. I haven't gotten off of traditional cigarettes yet, but I'm smoking less, and I've ordered some WTA juice which I hope will help even more. There's definitely something missing with vaping.

My big question right now is this: When people say that they put in a new wick with cotton, what sort of cotton are they talking about? Bits of those fake-cotton balls? Bits of actual cotton balls, if those still exist? Cotton thread? Unbleached cotton yarn? Shreds of old cotton T-shirts?

The old wicks look like they're made of thick, bleached thread twined together. Could I just use the cotton thread from my sewing box?

 

[Sthur]

Plain old organic cotton balls like these. Boil them for 15 min to make sure they are clean.

CVS 100% Cotton Triple Size Organic Cotton Balls - CVS pharmacy

 

[ElConquistador]

I would say any or all of the things you mentioned! I use either "Peaches N Creme" cotton yarn from WalMart or cotton butcher's twine, both of which I boil first. Yes, I believe I even saw that someone had used an old t-shirt in an emergency!

 

[InTheShade]

The old wicks are made of silica, which unlike cotton, doesn't burn. It also doesn't wick as well as cotton - hence people are replacing them.

You can use organic cotton balls like Sthur mentioned (I do) or some people recommend peaches and cream cotton yarn. I wouldn't use cotton thread, it's too processed and may have residual machine oils on it.

A lot of forum members recommend boiling cotton or 15 minutes or so before use too.

At a pinch, you can pull the cotton off a q-tip and use that - although again, it's a really processed product so I am not sure it doesn't have any additives applied to it.

 

[Dakota Jim]

If you are going to boil it use distilled water as some tap water may instill more chemicals than you had originally in the cotton

I personally don't boil the cotton because I never boiled my cigarettes before smoking them

 

[melissa1928]

Hmm. Why that one particular yarn? Seems like any cotton yarn would work about the same.

 

[amy_h_26]

Another total newbie chiming in -- and Im so sorry if this seems completely off topic, but, when using the cotton ball, how do you know how much to use?

 

[AlB53]

what are you useing it IN? I use Sterile 100% cotton balls, don't boil but thats me
less can be more when it comes to cotton

 

[amy_h_26]

oh haha sorry using it in a kanger protank 2, mini.

 

[EL Pistoffo]

I use CVS sterile cotton, no boiling or anything else. Be sure to not use too much cotton for wick or it will restrict wicking and cause dry hits.

Cotton is much better on my mini Protank 2. I used to use regular ole cotton balls but like the sterile better. A package will last forever.

 

[EL Pistoffo]

what are you useing it IN? I use Sterile 100% cotton balls, don't boil but thats me
less can be more when it comes to cotton

Yep, sterile cotton is sterile, no need to boil to sterilize it. It is most likely steam sterilized which is more effective than boiling and no chemicals are used.

 

[melissa1928]

I use CVS sterile cotton, no boiling or anything else. Be sure to not use too much cotton for wick or it will restrict wicking and cause dry hits.

Ah, the sterile first aid cotton. Of course. And one package would last pretty much forever, or at least it will if I can keep my son out of it.

I guess we just have to experiment to find out how much is too much. This is a fun new hobby.

 

[damthisisfun]

Bunny balls are a little trickier to use than cotton yarn - especially in coils such as PTs. You have to play around to make sure you use the riight amount - too much - juice can leak and coil can gurgle - too little and flavor and vapor can be meh - and possibly burn the wick. For that reason I tend to use bunny balls mostly in drippers. Cotton yarn (like someone else mentioned - Peaches n Cream) - seems to reduce the issue of leaking/gurgling etc for me. Each "thread" of yarn haas 4 individual smaller threads woven in it. I use it for the coil - then 2 individual smaller threads for the flavor wicks..............happy wicking - u gonna recoil em too?

 

[melissa1928]

Yes, I see your point . . . I think all my yarn is synthetic, but it wouldn't be hard to grab a skein of real cotton. Perhaps I'll just do that.

I don't know how to do anything other than clean and rewick. I'm watching YouTube videos, but I'm not exactly overflowing with confidence just yet. I suppose I should learn about recoiling as well, but I figure I'll work on one thing at a time.

 

[BillyWJ]

Another total newbie chiming in -- and Im so sorry if this seems completely off topic, but, when using the cotton ball, how do you know how much to use?

Not off topic at all - it's kind of trial and error, and what device you're using. I usually pull the ball apart, and get a swatch about the size of a knitting needle, or a little smaller, and twist it into a cord, tightly. Cotton swells a lot when saturated, so if it seems like too little, it's probably just right. One way you can test is to twist some up, let it unroll a little, and wick some water into it from a glass of water - if it swells up bigger than the inner diameter of the coil, it's too much.

Remember that the silica wick they sell for replacement wicks is 2-3mm in size, use that as a ballpark for your cotton.

 

[damthisisfun]

Making coils seems to be OMG - WOW - but once u make a few - i bet you will be saying - that is not too bad.............BE CAREFUL - even if u aint making coils yet - shorts are not a good thing...........(not the ones we wear - lol)

 

[melissa1928]

Hmm, putting a spiral wick inside? Interesting verbal picture. Perhaps I should check out more YouTube videos to be sure I understand you.

Got any links to a good video on rewicking a Kanger P2?

 

[EL Pistoffo]

Hmm, putting a spiral wick inside? Interesting verbal picture. Perhaps I should check out more YouTube videos to be sure I understand you.

Got any links to a good video on rewicking a Kanger P2?

About half way through this video he demonstrate putting a cotton wick on PT coil: Mini Protank Micro Coil Rebuild - YouTube

Here's another: Cotton wick protank for better performance - YouTube

I've been using cotton wicks on my stock Kanger coils. I don't use flavor wicks, they caused dry hits for me. I eventually figured out the right amount to get away with using no flavor wicks yet also not have flooding. It took some trial and error.

Tomorrow I start my first coil rebuilds. Going to be interesting.

 

[rat6fink]

pic from earlier today. I just pulled out the silica, rolled up some cotton, ad threaded it through the existing stock coil.


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[MassiveKlouds]

What Sthur said!! He/She knows their ish!! LOL! Happy Vaping!