Why is SS mesh considered "safer" than silica or cotton wicks?

[V00D00]

I have come across a lot of threads talking about using SS mesh instead of silica or cotton wicks in RBAs. Most people seem to think it is a safer alternative but I just wanted to know why? Obviously I am no medical expert by any means, but I would think it would be the exact opposite. I would think its much better to inhale stray pieces of cotton or silica than inhaling vapor or shards of stainless steel don't you? I have a Phoenix and every time I dry burn it and smell metal I just don't feel safe using it.

 

[Thrasher]

if you want to get into the material aspect silica shards will not break down or dissolve if inhaled and could become an irritant leading to infections. and something like silica or cotton can burn releasing solid particles whereas a steel wick cannot burn just be charred further, to actually burn a steel wick to the point of releasing material would mean you atty is melting down anyways and you wouldnt be able to holt it at that temperature.

to get "shards" from a steel wick it would have to be in pretty bad shape and you would have normally replaced it long before this point, every single 510 style atty is either bridged using steel mesh or just a raw coil in the bottom.

the metal taste you get from the atty is the coil getting dry or burning unevenly, and in the end i would rather take any of these over the chemicals found in cigs.

 

[Gr8Scott]

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if you want to get into the material aspect silica shards will not break down or dissolve if inhaled and could become an irritant leading to infections. and something like silica or cotton can burn releasing solid particles whereas a steel wick cannot burn just be charred further, to actually burn a steel wick to the point of releasing material would mean you atty is melting down anyways and you wouldnt be able to holt it at that temperature.

to get "shards" from a steel wick it would have to be in pretty bad shape and you would have normally replaced it long before this point, every single 510 style atty is either bridged using steel mesh or just a raw coil in the bottom.

the metal taste you get from the atty is the coil getting dry or burning unevenly, and in the end i would rather take any of these over the chemicals found in cigs.

I am with you on the silica, but I am not seeing the danger of cotton, which is a natural material...

Thoughts?

 

[Thrasher]

i dont think it is dangerous so to speak from something like shards, butjust from the standpoint of if burned it will be solid particles in the smoke reaching the lungs, but i dont think you will still use it as im sure youll be gagging and know plenty well it needs replacing.

but it should be noted -

According to the North Carolina Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Heath Program, raw cotton dust is to blame for several forms of breathing difficulty and lung disease.

this is for workers in cotton mills and i dont think applies to the limited exposure we have to the tiny wicks:

 

[Skinny Pete]

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if you want to get into the material aspect silica shards will not break down or dissolve if inhaled and could become an irritant leading to infections. and something like silica or cotton can burn releasing solid particles whereas a steel wick cannot burn just be charred further, to actually burn a steel wick to the point of releasing material would mean you atty is melting down anyways and you wouldnt be able to holt it at that temperature.

to get "shards" from a steel wick it would have to be in pretty bad shape and you would have normally replaced it long before this point, every single 510 style atty is either bridged using steel mesh or just a raw coil in the bottom.

the metal taste you get from the atty is the coil getting dry or burning unevenly, and in the end i would rather take any of these over the chemicals found in cigs.

absolutely true.

 

[j4mmin42]

I am with you on the silica, but I am not seeing the danger of cotton, which is a natural material...

Thoughts?

Tobacco is a natural material too, but when it burns, it releases thousands of dangerous chemicals.

I understand that's a loaded statement and we aren't comparing apples to apples...but...depending on the type of cotton, the temperature of your coils, and whether or not you eventually mess up and burn through it, SS builds are (in theory) substantially less dangerous. SS is not completely inert, but it does not have many of the risks that come with using flammable materials (or in the case of silica, materials that are otherwise *proven* to be harmful to our lungs).

A true ceramic wick may- or may not- be the "best of both worlds". Air stone material is not true ceramic, and some ceramics out there have very nasty side-effects in humans...so it would have to be the right composition.

 

[Gr8Scott]

Tobacco is a natural material too, but when it burns, it releases thousands of dangerous chemicals.

I understand that's a loaded statement and we aren't comparing apples to apples...but...depending on the type of cotton, the temperature of your coils, and whether or not you eventually mess up and burn through it, SS builds are (in theory) substantially less dangerous. SS is not completely inert, but it does not have many of the risks that come with using flammable materials (or in the case of silica, materials that are otherwise *proven* to be harmful to our lungs).

A true ceramic wick may- or may not- be the "best of both worlds". Air stone material is not true ceramic, and some ceramics out there have very nasty side-effects in humans...so it would have to be the right composition.

Ya know I am curios about ceramics, yet I know next to nothing about them. Big learning curve?

 

[Thrasher]

Ya know I am curios about ceramics, yet I know next to nothing about them. Big learning curve?

i would wait till the votes are in, the supplies are regular and the price drops a bit, i cant see 3-4 dollars for a wick i can snap if i drop my PV.
but no it would be even easier as it doesnt short out and stays stiff, just wrap a coil, drop it in, adjust any hotspot (if any at all) and vape when its dirty burn and clean it with a quick torching and ""snap"" there goes your wick lol (told ya not to drop it)

 

[JD1]

I am with you on the silica, but I am not seeing the danger of cotton, which is a natural material...

Thoughts?

There's a big, long thread on cotton here on the forum, from back when folks were concerned about it in cartos. One of the things that I picked up on from that thread was that the paper in ciggies and that other smokable wasn't considered harmful. I had the link to a paper on it at one time. You might do a google search if you want to read more for yourself.

I realize cotton isn't paper, but as you point out, it is a natural substance and I just don't think the tiny amount from a cotton fiber burning here and there is going to cause any harm at all. Just be sure and let cotton soak for a few hours before use and keep it wet.

 

[dam718]

To be perfectly honest here, I think that the idea of getting silica fiber that deep into your lungs is likely not something to get worked up over. I am no medical professional, but if your body is working as intended, there is quite a bit of moisture between your mouth and your lungs that will trap the fiber, and send it flying right back out with the next sneeze or cough that you produce... At worse, it might make it to your belly when you swallow and get eaten up by stomach acid, or find its way out the rear end exhaust...

That's pure speculation on my part, but a fair educated guess...

Not like we're sucking on the drip tip with the power of a Kirby... That might cause some real issues to be concerned about... But with the slow, controlled drags we're taking, I don't think there's much to be concerned about...

I have experimented with several forms of cotton and silica wicks, and have some SS mesh coming in the mail... But that experimentation is all in the name of finding the best flavor, not out of health concerns.

 

[Thrasher]

To be perfectly honest here, I think that the idea of getting silica fiber that deep into your lungs is likely not something to get worked up over. I am no medical professional, but if your body is working as intended, there is quite a bit of moisture between your mouth and your lungs that will trap the fiber, and send it flying right back out with the next sneeze or cough that you produce... At worse, it might make it to your belly when you swallow and get eaten up by stomach acid, or find its way out the rear end exhaust...

That's pure speculation on my part, but a fair educated guess...

Not like we're sucking on the drip tip with the power of a Kirby... That might cause some real issues to be concerned about... But with the slow, controlled drags we're taking, I don't think there's much to be concerned about...




I have experimented with several forms of cotton and silica wicks, and have some SS mesh coming in the mail... But that experimentation is all in the name of finding the best flavor, not out of health concerns.

until further proven wrong i have to agree - the degradation of a silica wick will only happen in the are exposed to the coil and the coil area is 3=5 mm if that much wide, to be receiving enough silica material to be harmful, the degradation would be such that you would be replacing wicks every few hours. and simply rinsing them before first use should remove any stray fibers from manufacturing

in some of my rebuildables i now take the wick and inspect them after replacing them since this started to be a big controversy and i see nothing more then some discoloration at the point of contact with the coil but i generally run soft wicks lower in voltage then steel to keep the vape cooler.
It is my belief (and my opinion) that if this was the issue it is being made out to be the tens of 1000's of clearo and nova users, as well ... all those penlope ody and RBA dripperfans around the world would start to show problems rather frequently. while i dont discount the possible one off situations (anything is possible) i think it would have manifested itself into a bigger widespread epidemic by now if really happening at the rate shown in some of the other posts..

 

[juicejunky]

I switched to cotton just in case and also it is easier and cheaper to buy, but I always felt if silica fibers were getting airborne with vaping, we'd be getting symptoms in our mouth first like itching, bumps, irritation, etc.

 

[JD1]

I switched to cotton just in case and also it is easier and cheaper to buy, but I always felt if silica fibers were getting airborne with vaping, we'd be getting symptoms in our mouth first like itching, bumps, irritation, etc.

Well, of course the mouth doesn't have the tiny structures the lungs do, but you could be right about that. I also switched to cotton for the same reasons plus I think cotton wicks slightly better.

 

[somejerk]

You would have to get silica hotter than steel to burn it. If you don't believe me try lighting it on fire.
You would have to get it to 1,400 -2,800 degrees to melt it.