Why did my Hellvape MD RTA leak?

[Simplejack]

Just cleaned and filled and been using it for about 15 minutes or so and then it started gurgling and looked at the tank and it was only 3/4 the way full after I just filled it about 1/16" below the top of the tank glass with air layer visible.
It appeared to be leaking out the flow adjustment holes.
What happen here? Everything was good when I put it all back together.
If it was just too full, why would it drain the tank?

 

[Simplejack]

Looking closer. Would this be the problem?
Not sure how it got a dead end after wicking. It was nicely tucked it like on the other side.
Using COTN lace 2.5mm cotton.

 

[Mordacai]

Yeah, that would have done it @Simplejack.

If the wells aren't filled enough by the wicking, an RTA does a wonderful impersonation of a colander.

Hopefully on your next rewicking you'll get it sussed.

 

[Simplejack]

Ok thanks. Not sure how that even happened.. If anything, i thought it was too stuffed.
I've stuffed less before and no leaks. Must have been a thin spot in the cotton or something?
Visually when dry it looked good, but obviously wasn't. I'll use different cotton on next wick.
Is thin spots in cotton normal or freak accident? Lol..

 

[Mordacai]

It happens @Simplejack. Looks good dry, but useless when wet.

It's just trying to find the goldilocks zone of wicking with a specific atomiser. Not too much, not too little, but just right.

Have you ever heard about Rayon being used for wicking? It's either Grahame's Cellucotton Rayon or Tidi Rayon balls (non sterile), Tidi is supposed to be the best but I can only get Grahame's in the UK.

It behaves totally different to Cotton, there's a 2 part thread on the forum if you want a little light reading during these interesting times.

 

[JustWondering1]

Ok thanks. Not sure how that even happened.. If anything, i thought it was too stuffed.
I've stuffed less before and no leaks. Must have been a thin spot in the cotton or something?
Visually when dry it looked good, but obviously wasn't. I'll use different cotton on next wick.
Is thin spots in cotton normal or freak accident? Lol..

Sometimes your wick is just too thin in the exact wrong place. I would take the cotton out and rewick. When you tuck your tails into the wicking channel, look just below the channel and you will see a horizontal slot or hole on the base. When wicked properly, you will be able to see the white cotton through the slot and make sure you see that cotton filling the entire slot. That should definitely help you. Good luck!

 

[vaper1960]

What is the ID (inside diameter) of the coil? It was the wicking that caused the issue, but one reason I don't use "shoelace" cotton is because I try different ID coils and they only work for one size. I like cellu-cotton but you have to really stuff the coil well (twist it to help get it through the coil, then untwist pull back/forth to straighten it back up)

 

[T0mmy1977]

Great RTA.