Wick materials. Safe vs dangerous.

[meatsneakers]

Keeping hydrated is also important. If I start to get dry mouth, throat hit is reduced. A few swigs of water brings back some of it, but there's nothing like that first hit in the morning

I noticed the same thing when I used to smoke, just less extreme on both ends of the spectrum. Morning smoke was a bit harsh and last smoke was a bit mild but with vaping the first hit is a monster and the last is nothing like it.

 

[subver]

Ah thanks for the suggestions guys. I guess it's just part of the vaping experience.
I recoiled my Line just now, added another coil (2.1ohm at 4.2v).. I am getting more vapor at least, throat hit might be a little more, but it might just be the break I took while recoiling
I replaced the cotton in the center of my SS wick and there was no discoloration, but I know it's not the same as using 100% cotton wick - still was nice to see.
Anyway, still happy with my ss mesh + cotton combo, but when I get my Line SS (which should be soon) I will try out a straight cotton wick. Most likely cheesecloth, I'm loving this stuff!

I may have to try those menthol crystals, though..

Anyway, I'll update when I try the 100% cotton wick as well.

 

[BJ43]

I also enjoy menthol vapes even though I never smoked menthol analogs. I have recently stopped vaping menthol though, as I have concerns about the safety of it, due to all those studies that showed an increased risk of smoking menthol as opposed to regular cigs. I know vapor is different than smoke, and there may be nothing harmful about menthol and it's just that menthol cig smokers inhale deeper, but I've recently read that other vapers are avoiding it, so, yeah. I need more info I guess...

I have less concern about menthol crystals used in vaporizers for kids with asthma and other respiratory ailments than all these food flavoring that might be safe to eat but have never been tested for harmful fumes they may give off when vaped and even burned on these LR attys.

 

[subver]

Actually, wow, that extra coil really is producing a lot more vapor! sorry to derail the thread
I need to start making more wraps on my coils!

 

[subver]

edit: woops, double post. sorry.

 

[Gummy Bear]

For what it's worth:
I add 1/2 tsp of menthol crystals to my 30 ml bottle I have it up to about the same taste as an Altoids.
I think I am as hooked on the menthol as the nic.

 

[BJ43]

OK my twine wick just broke in half under the coil. The gauze one in SS still works. I am vaping three units, the third with just SS and 7 wraps at 2.6 ohms at 5 v on a Line v2 and if I rate the vapor on this Line as a 9 the SS with gauze is a 3 and the twine a 1.

 

[BJ43]

The twine at 2 ohms and only hitting it with 3 volts couldn't handle my long and sometimes double draw.

 

[TomCatt]

Dang, bad news there BJ.

 

[BJ43]

Discarded the twine and am going for a gauze and mesh at 2.8 ohm at 5v to test and compare with the plain SS. Scientifically in hydraulics and thermodynamics I can't see that the gauze can make it wick better, actually should restrict the volcanic effect of the small hole in the center of the wick and cool the wick down which could reduce TH and the warmth of the vaper that I enjoy with the all SS. Any way only side by side comparison will tell all other factors being the same.

 

[TomCatt]

.............

 

[Quigsworth]

Interesting you mention the volcanic effect (I call it the "drinking straw" effect but I bow to BJ, he's much smarter than I am, that tends to come with age )...been thinking of how I can make a simple to make cotton wick tube...thinking of a single wrap 320 SS mesh tube around a darning needle then rolling it in cotton gauze (this is where the cheese cloth may shine)

 

[BJ43]

Interesting you mention the volcanic effect (I call it the "drinking straw" effect but I bow to BJ, he's much smarter than I am, that tends to come with age )...been thinking of how I can make a simple to make cotton wick tube...thinking of a single wrap 320 SS mesh tube around a darning needle then rolling it in cotton gauze (this is where the cheese cloth may shine)

That would be a good test as 320 mesh has almost no capillary action (wicking) and you would basically get all the wicking from the gauze. By the way I would much rather be young right now..lol more fun....70 with 30 year olds thoughts is dangerous,,,,,

 

[Quigsworth]

Off topic but too happy to care...my 2 SS Lines are waiting for me at the local US Post office close to my cottage...WOOOT!

Cottage check list: mesh, kanthal, mini torch, cotton stuff, fav. juices...oh ya, gonna be a good weekend

 

[Cyrus Vap]

You know BJ, I think you bring up a good point. The cotton yarn I've been using often gives a great vape, but I'm starting to notice it actually produces weaker vapor...I also hear a lot less sizzle....hmmmm. I guess I was so caught up in the novelty and flavor that I ignored this...or maybe I've just had variation in my coils/wick thicknesses that is causing it. I dunno.

 

[roadrash]

I must have gotten lucky right from the git go. My local discount store had sterile gauze for a buck.

I wired my usual E-2, 36 gauge Ni-chrome 2.2 ohm On a single cell 18650/ loaded volts 3.64 and for almost 2 weeks @ 12 to 16 mil of 24 nic a day. Not one dry hit. I made 6 of them at one time with different thicknesses of wick and they all perform almost the same. For the V-TH-T I give it a 9. Which makes me think this gauze wick is the best thing that could happen to a E-2.
Other type PV's maybe not.

 

[subver]

Also a note on the volcanic effect, a lot of people (including myself) report better wicking with silica or cotton in the center of a SS mesh wick - I'm just wondering how that works.
Also, I'm still pretty new at making SS mesh wicks, I definitely haven't perfected them, not by a long shot. I am, however, enjoying this SS mesh wick with some cotton cheesecloth strands in the center. It seems to be wicking great.
What are your thoughts on that, BJ?

 

[BJ43]

I must have gotten lucky right from the git go. My local discount store had sterile gauze for a buck.

I wired my usual E-2, 36 gauge Ni-chrome 2.2 ohm On a single cell 18650/ loaded volts 3.64 and for almost 2 weeks @ 12 to 16 mil of 24 nic a day. Not one dry hit. I made 6 of them at one time with different thicknesses of wick and they all perform almost the same. For the V-TH-T I give it a 9. Which makes me think this gauze wick is the best thing that could happen to a E-2.
Other type PV's maybe not.

Glad it works for you and that you can get satisfaction from 6 watts on 16ml at 24 nic per day, thats like drinking it instead of vaping it. That would kill me and probably healthier to smoke analogs.Try 6 watts at 0 nic (nada) I get satisfaction from 0 nic at about 10 watts and chain vape 4 to 5 ml a day. Each his own.

 

[BJ43]

Also a note on the volcanic effect, a lot of people (including myself) report better wicking with silica or cotton in the center of a SS mesh wick - I'm just wondering how that works.
Also, I'm still pretty new at making SS mesh wicks, I definitely haven't perfected them, not by a long shot. I am, however, enjoying this SS mesh wick with some cotton cheesecloth strands in the center. It seems to be wicking great.
What are your thoughts on that, BJ?

The volcanic effect is reduced if you stick anything in the hole, it took me a long time to find the right size hole and amount of mesh for my line v2, 45mm of 400 mesh around a small paper clip. The ones that are a little more than an inch before unwinding. A lot of mesh and a small hole works best for me at high ohms and high voltage to produce monster vaper.

 

[BJ43]

To big a hole gives you this in a few days. The juice comes up like lava and flows down the sides and builds up a ball of gunk.