Wick materials. Safe vs dangerous.

[Charlz]

I had really good luck awhile back with just rolling the inner cotton diaper piece from a horizontal carto into a tube shape and wrapping a coil around that. But that was before this thread so I didn't believe it would work long term. Now I've been rebuilding my echomizers for a couple months now so the material is in short supply. Haven't found an appropriate replacement yet. I've looked at all sorts of things from cotton makeup pads to old t-shirts but haven't found anything with quite the right thickness and density.
The inner filler of a standard sized horizontal carto is too small for a ce2 but might work in a ce3 or a stardust

 

[vapspaz]

Cool thread. Tagged for lurking purposes.

 

[BJ43]

I had really good luck awhile back with just rolling the inner cotton diaper piece from a horizontal carto into a tube shape and wrapping a coil around that. But that was before this thread so I didn't believe it would work long term. Now I've been rebuilding my echomizers for a couple months now so the material is in short supply. Haven't found an appropriate replacement yet. I've looked at all sorts of things from cotton makeup pads to old t-shirts but haven't found anything with quite the right thickness and density.
The inner filler of a standard sized horizontal carto is too small for a ce2 but might work in a ce3 or a stardust

I found that a many times washed 100 % cotton handkerchief was basically the same as the diaper material in the DC.

 

[kosliev]

Running on gauze, I don't boil it, just take it off the package (after I washed my hands real well to minimize fat/body grease on it), cut a random patch, roll it tight, slide it in the coil, cut excess, drip juice so it expands to fit, done.

Bandage lasts about 10ml for me, so about 2-3 days-ish before it turns just caramel/brown (with no visible gunk), and I just change it, takes 30 seconds, then again I think your performance/longevity will greatly vary depending on your setup.

Clean taste, its pretty easy to understand when its getting dry, good wicking.
Truly amazing stuff.

My package reads 100% cotton sterile bandages, so I don't think boiling is required.

 

[IVapus]

Running on gauze, I don't boil it, just take it off the package (after I washed my hands real well to minimize fat/body grease on it), cut a random patch, roll it tight, slide it in the coil, cut excess, drip juice so it expands to fit, done.

Bandage lasts about 10ml for me, so about 2-3 days-ish before it turns just caramel/brown (with no visible gunk), and I just change it, takes 30 seconds, then again I think your performance/longevity will greatly vary depending on your setup.

Clean taste, its pretty easy to understand when its getting dry, good wicking.
Truly amazing stuff.

My package reads 100% cotton sterile bandages, so I don't think boiling is required.

Thanks for that. Also, you can change out a wick in 30 seconds? Color me impressed. I'm thinking I'll be lucky if I can do it in 30 minutes. And that's if I don't get frustrated and give up on it, lol.

 

[Charlz]

I found that a many times washed 100 % cotton handkerchief was basically the same as the diaper material in the DC.

Ahhh. So the trick is a well worn piece of cotton. Time to go abuse the fluff cycle on my dryer. I thought the cuff of my t-shirt would work too. Guess I was stuck on an exact match. Almost ripped apart a pair of golf socks I have but they are way too comfortable now.

 

[kosliev]

Thanks for that. Also, you can change out a wick in 30 seconds? Color me impressed. I'm thinking I'll be lucky if I can do it in 30 minutes. And that's if I don't get frustrated and give up on it, lol.

I think it really depends on what atty you're using, I'm using an atty I built myself inside an ego cone, the coil has a 3mm diameter and is 1cm long and both ends are exposed (not in the way of posts), so its very easy to work with, just cut gauze, roll it, and slide in there, the old one gets slided off just as easily.

If your coil is really small you may want to look into cotton or bamboo yarn and using a sewing needle to thread it trough the coil

 

[bluegrasslover]

both from michael's sir

cotton yarn (regardless, make sure whatever you get is 100% cotton and NOT mercerized)

Why not mercerized? Seems like it would actually be better for wicking.

 

[Cyrus Vap]

you raise a good question

i was operating on the principle that all I wanted in the wick was cotton, with no/minimum additives

I may have misunderstood, I thought mercerization referred to the process of wrapping cotton over a nylon core, but wiki seems to suggest its the process of treating with NaOH....

Dunno

 

[WIvapor]

I tried my first cotton wick tonight. I used a piece of cotton gauze, rolled it, six wraps of Kanthal. Wow, working very good so far, nice clean taste. Thanks to the OP.

 

[bluegrasslover]

you raise a good question

i was operating on the principle that all I wanted in the wick was cotton, with no/minimum additives

I may have misunderstood, I thought mercerization referred to the process of wrapping cotton over a nylon core, but wiki seems to suggest its the process of treating with NaOH....

Dunno

Yea, that was my reference as well. Based on what it says of the process there are no residual chemicals, etc from the process.

Well, that's what I bought so I'll let everyone know once I try it. Boiled and dried it tonight.

 

[Cyrus Vap]

All the mercerized yarn I saw at michaels was mixed
With nylon, polyester, etc. I think that's what got the idea into my head

If yours is labeled 100% cotton I sure it'll be perfect

 

[roadrash]

I tried my first cotton wick tonight. I used a piece of cotton gauze, rolled it, six wraps of Kanthal. Wow, working very good so far, nice clean taste. Thanks to the OP.

Another Veteran who likes it. :I don't understand why, this wick mod has not just exploded into a frenzy.

 

[jrm850]

Great thread...
Another poster mentioned hemp early in this thread. Has anyone tried it? People have been smoking the stuff for a heck of a long time so I would feel pretty safe if it did happen to toast a bit.

 

[bluegrasslover]

All the mercerized yarn I saw at michaels was mixed
With nylon, polyester, etc. I think that's what got the idea into my head

If yours is labeled 100% cotton I sure it'll be perfect

Yup...100% mercerized cotton

 

[L7D4N]

Thanks for the awesome info from all!

I have opted to purchase the aforementioned 100% Cotton braided wick from an eBay seller which should be here at some point next week:

Square Braided 100% Cotton wick 6/0, 4/0, 2/0, 1/0, #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6 | eBay

I will be using this in an Ato-Miser, as well as my Scubagen and Genesis Mini, as the silica I have just doesn't seem to cut it for me.

I'll report back next week once I have the wick in-hand and get to use it with the rebuildables I have.

Thanks guys!

 

[kosliev]

Great thread...
Another poster mentioned hemp early in this thread. Has anyone tried it? People have been smoking the stuff for a heck of a long time so I would feel pretty safe if it did happen to toast a bit.

I remember that Evilgrym already tried hemp and said it was no good

 

[Vapor2112]

How do you like the Ato-Miser? I've been strongly considering ordering one from Drew.

Thanks for the awesome info from all!

I have opted to purchase the aforementioned 100% Cotton braided wick from an eBay seller which should be here at some point next week:

Square Braided 100% Cotton wick 6/0, 4/0, 2/0, 1/0, #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6 | eBay

I will be using this in an Ato-Miser, as well as my Scubagen and Genesis Mini, as the silica I have just doesn't seem to cut it for me.

I'll report back next week once I have the wick in-hand and get to use it with the rebuildables I have.

Thanks guys!

 

[BJ43]

Square Braided 100% Cotton wick 6/0, 4/0, 2/0, 1/0, #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6 | eBay

Which size would you order to be 1.5 to 2 mm in diameter?

 

[L7D4N]

How do you like the Ato-Miser? I've been strongly considering ordering one from Drew.

It's not too bad, but I bored out the air holes with a Stanley 1.09MM bit, and it works even better. After the wick gets seasoned, it works great, it's just a PITA to get the air holes lined up with the coil so it vapes properly. I will be buying an extra cap next week so I can cut the top off and use a 510 drip tip with it, I can't stand the mouthpiece on the top cap.

I purchased the #1/0 size like the one in the link posted from Amazon earlier in the thread. Should I go ahead and buy another size? I'm new to size diameters in yarn/wick strands, so if I purchased the wrong one, I'll buy the proper one tonight.