Why is silica even used?

[bloodless2010]

So as we know silica wick is used for all standard coil heads/tanks that are on the market (Except some newer OCC coils that are being released) but this raised a question for me, why did we even used silica in the first place? As we all know silica is quite dangerous and I'm not 100% sure myself if it's even safe to vape, there's a lot of discussion regarding the safety of it. Why was it used in the first place and not just cotton?

EDIT: Seems this turned a little way unexpected. I am a little bit uneducated on silica but I'm simply aware that crystalline silica is known to be dangerous, I was unsure if the silica wick we use is amorphous or crystalline. While I agree there are pros and cons to silica but many people pointed out that silicosis takes years and years to develop, but regardless there is still a threat, now I'm not saying that it's harmless or harmful, but it's too early to tell currently.

 

[Froth]

Necessity, when silica wick was being introduced and tried for the first time the RDA as we know it didn't even exist yet, coil wrapping techniques were vastly different as most people wrapped and burned their wire right on the wick prior to juicing it and silica can take a dry burn without issue. Personally I see silica as a carry-over from the "dark days" before vaping became much more mainstream.

 

[bloodless2010]

Necessity, when silica wick was being introduced and tried for the first time the RDA as we know it didn't even exist yet, coil wrapping techniques were vastly different as most people wrapped and burned their wire right on the wick prior to juicing it and silica can take a dry burn without issue. Personally I see silica as a carry-over from the "dark days" before vaping became much more mainstream.

Nice to know, thanks for filling that bit in. It really should be changed because there are unknown dangers regarding it, I'm unsure if that's just me being worried or just being un-educated about the stuff. I recently bought a bunch of organic cotton and I'm completely ditching silica anyway, It's so much nicer and easier to work with.

 

[supertrunker]

As we all know silica is quite dangerous

Compared to what?

T

 

[WonderDude32]

I agree with Froth. Silica wicks better than cotton. If you're having wicking issues, you can still purchase silica and it may help however we know that you get a cleaner taste with organic cotton.

 

[bloodless2010]

Compared to what?

T

Well I'm not really comparing it to anything but from personal research crystalline silica is known to cause silicosis, various other lung diseases including lung cancer.

I agree with Froth. Silica wicks better than cotton. If you're having wicking issues, you can still purchase silica and it may help however we know that you get a cleaner taste with organic cotton.

I don't think Froth mentioned that silica wicks were better then cotton, he said it carried on from the 'dark days' of vaping, which might be a bad thing

 

[supertrunker]

Not really.

Interesting conversation with my Doc today - Silica Wicks | E-Cigarette Forum

T

 

[WonderDude32]

I meant that I agree with Froth. period. However, silica wicks better. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[bloodless2010]

I meant that I agree with Froth. period. However, silica wicks better. Sorry for the confusion.

Care to elaborate why you prefer silica wicks just out of curiosity?

 

[supertrunker]

I don't think there is any wicking whatsoever that is "approved" for vaping use.

But the reason i asked 'compared to what' is simply that compared to continued smoking, any of them are preferable from a health point of view.
What i find harder to understand is that ex-smokers are now alarmed by 2 inches of silica and its potential health impact.

T

 

[bloodless2010]

I don't think there is any wicking whatsoever that is "approved" for vaping use.

But the reason i asked 'compared to what' is simply that compared to continued smoking, any of them are preferable from a health point of view.
What i find harder to understand is that ex-smokers are now alarmed by 2 inches of silica and its potential health impact.

T

That's a really good point. But for those of us who quit for the health reason, I guess it's no harm to be as safe as possible and sceptical considering we quit for health.

 

[Jimi D.]

I've been using silica wicks for over 5 years. I'm being the guinea pig for the vaping community. Yeah I've seen those scare threads. Where some idiot just dry burned the wick and coil to oblivion. Reminds me of the formaldehyde testing in Japan not too long ago. I use silica for one reason. Being that it doesn't shrink or burn away if USED PROPERLY. I stay away from organic materials that burns or shrinks. That's just me. I smoked for 25 years. Switching to vaping will probably not add years to my life. But quitting smoking has laid my chronic coughing to rest.

 

[supertrunker]

If it re-grew hair, i'd be up for it!

We are all guinea pigs for vaping and it was always going to be that way, because it was new. As time elapses it'll become clear what, if any, the hazards are. They are unlikely to be vaping using silica wicks.

But Jimi's ribbon builds look suspect to me.



T

 

[Thrasher]

Wow, havent seen one of these in a while. I love silica, doesnt burn, lasts forever, wicks great.


As for silicosis please head to osha and read up a bit before making a misleading claim.

Silicosis is a disease contracted mainly by silica miners and industrial workers who
A have been under heavy exposure for a long time.
And
B is usualy caused by dust that becomes imbedded in the lungs, not fibres that can and most likely will be expelled

 

[Miata GT]

Silica wicks are better for newer users IMO, but I'm thinking clearo tanks like a ProTank, T3S, etc.

 

[Jimi D.]

If it re-grew hair, i'd be up for it!

We are all guinea pigs for vaping and it was always going to be that way, because it was new. As time elapses it'll become clear what, if any, the hazards are. They are unlikely to be vaping using silica wicks.

But Jimi's ribbon builds look suspect to me.



T

Ohh to have hair like Fabio again !

Speaking of ribbon. I have some .4 and .5 Ni200 on its way I sure hope I like this temp control. But really not to concerned about it, being that we use silica my friend

ALL HAIL to the old school vapers !

 

[Jimi D.]

Wow, havent seen one of these in a while. I love silica, doesnt burn, lasts forever, wicks great.


As for silicosis please head to osha and read up a bit before making a misleading claim.

Silicosis is a disease contracted mainly by silica miners and industrial workers who
A have been under heavy exposure for a long time.
And
B is usualy caused by dust that becomes imbedded in the lungs, not fibres that can and most likely will be expelled

Absolutely. It's the dust that's the killer. If any fibers are actually breaking and inhaled. They would just be swallowed. The microns are just too big. Makes a great Medamucil though.

 

[bwh79]

crystalline silica is known to cause silicosis, various other lung diseases including lung cancer.

Which is probably why the wicks are made from amorphous silica, and not the crystalline variety. You do know that inhaling cotton fibers can be pretty bad for you too, right? It's all about the size and shape of the particle. If they're significantly longer than they are wide, then they act like tiny spears and can embed themselves into the lung tissue. If this happens and they are also sufficiently small, then the cilia (tiny hair-like constructs) in your lungs won't be able to work them back out. Then, if they're also biologically inert, and aren't metabolized (broken-down on a molecular level) by the body, and they can't be worked out by the cilia, they'll just stay there, embedded in the lung tissue forever. This is where the lung cancer etc. come from. This is what happens with fiberglass, with crystalline silica (which is why we use amorphous, i.e. "shapeless" or "blob-like" silica for wicks, instead of the spear-like crystalline variety) and, yes, even cotton fibers. Just because something is "natural" (cotton vs. silica), doesn't necessarily mean it's better for you.

 

[Thrasher]

Absolutely. It's the dust that's the killer. If any fibers are actually breaking and inhaled. They would just be swallowed. The microns are just too big. Makes a great Medamucil though.

My counter argument has always been - to inhale enough silica shards to cause a problem silica wicks would have to be disintegrating in mere hours not 4-6 months
And
How does the dust travel through the wick to the coil area to get into the actual vapor?

 

[Jimi D.]

My counter argument has always been - to inhale enough silica shards to cause a problem clearomizer wicks would have to be disintegrating in mere hours not 4-6 months
And
How does the dust travel through the wick to the coil area to get into the actual vapor?

Exactly ! Amorphous silica withstands 1800 Fahrenheit. So how would dust form in the first place ?