WICK (not coil) material assistance

[Huckleberried]

Hi everyone. I'm trying to get your input on different types of wick. Not coils, but wick. I've been using silica and would like to try something better. NOT COTTON. I've tried cotton (yarn&balls) and simply don't care for it. I've heard of bamboo, hemp, candle wick. If you've tried those or something else you like, suggest it for me?

All I'm using is a Protank on an MVP.

Thanks so much!

 

[wonner]

You could look into ecowool or braided ceramic, but I have no first hand knowledge of those.

All the cool kids seem to using cotton these days. I've still like silica myself.

 

[Huckleberried]

Yeah, I looked at eco, seems the same as silica. Ceramic I keep reading about, but has to be filed down and is so fragile. For the time being, I have plenty of silica. I'm fine with it, too, just looking for options. Just not a cotton fan.

Thanks wonner.

 

[K_Tech]

I recently received an order of XC-116 ceramic wick, and although I've just started experimenting with it, I think it has a lot of potential.

I'm not trying to talk you into cotton (I use it and like it) but I am curious what it was about the cotton that turned you off it?

 

[CosmicCatalyst]

I'm about to switch to something from silica myself. I don't know what the deal is but recently anything I try with silica I can taste the silica. Even if I get a nice flavorful hit I can still taste the silica in the background notes of flavor. I'll be giving cotton a go at it, but I might try buying from another distributor

 

[Silent Solution]

I have used silica in many different mms, Ekowool, and SS Mesh once. And Cotton. I must say that cotton takes the cake when it comes to my personal preference. Can I ask why you dont like cotton? I had a little trouble with it at first but since setting up various rba's with them, I wont go back to silica. (Well, I will use it and the Ekowool since I dont want it to go to waste.)

 

[Mark Anthony]

I'm a cotton user as well and love it. Waiting for their reasons why and maybe it is something we can help with.........

 

[denali_41]

i tried cotton ,didn't like it because there was no flavor till after i ran 2 tanks thru it,,and it has to be replaced every week

2mm ekowool is what i use in my protank, it lasts forever

braided ceramic didn't wick well enough for me

 

[Jayvon633]

If you can find it the XC-132 should work wonders it wicks really well if the coil around it is not too tight and its thiner then the 116.

 

[Huckleberried]

Hey thanks everyone for your replies. The thing with cotton and me, it gave off an odd flavor that took away from the flavor of juice. I primed it, let it sit probably 15 minutes before I pulled from it. Maybe I should be more patient and give it another go? 'I guess I'm just looking for my flavor right now. No flavor til you ran 2 tanks through it?

I suppose my impatience comes from everyone saying how flavorful their juice is with cotton. And maybe I used too much? It sure didn't feel like I was.

I'll try it again. I guess I'm curious about other options, too, though.

 

[Jarbs]

i noticed the first few pulls with cotton taste a bit off but after that it's lovely.

 

[catalinaflyer]

In my PT2 heads I use cotton, Drippers - well sometimes cotton and sometimes Ecowool, Kayfun - Ecowool, Fogger - NOTHING I have tried works in that aggravating POS (I threw the first one out the window near Cortez, CO and my lovely juice barista thought it was so funny she gave me a second one as a white elephant gift for Christmas), RSST - 400 SS Mesh (tried cotton, no where near fast enough wicking).

Love them all, cotton get's my #1 vote for flavor but I will admit the first 1/2 tank in a PT2 will have an off flavor. I use the cotton right out of the bag from Wal-Mart, not sterile, not organic, no boiling but I don't advocate this practice, just my way. SS Mesh is my second choice but there are some with fears of certain chemicals used in the manufacturing of SS. Ecowool, well it's #3 but the actual difference, for me anyway from 1 to 3 is not enough that I can even call it a difference.

 

[meanckz]

If you can find it the XC-132 should work wonders it wicks really well if the coil around it is not too tight and its thiner then the 116.

XC-132 Ceramic Wick - 12" Heat Cleaned

I'm gonna have to get that...I've been using the XC-116 and I love it, but it's like 3mm thick

 

[Huckleberried]

XC-132 Ceramic Wick - 12" Heat Cleaned

I'm gonna have to get that...I've been using the XC-116 and I love it, but it's like 3mm thick

Ok, now I'm super confused, Lawd hep me! The ceramic wicks I saw before were like a tiny stick??

 

[Huckleberried]

Shameless bump for more feedback. Anyone tried bamboo yarn? Hemp wick? I am going to try cotton again, have it drying out right now.

 

[pdib]

Hey, so, too much cotton turns out to be the culprit a lot of the time. You'd be surprised how little you need. Usually, if I'm using the right amount, any cotton flavor is gone after 2-5 toots. XC-132 is my second favorite wicking material. Be sure to get the heat cleaned or heat treated version. Here's an idea of how much cotton I use, and it's bordering on too much. So call this a "max" amount. Another way to tell if you've got too much crammed in there is if it has "shoulders". If it gets any wider/thicker where it's exiting the coil . . . .. too much.

 

[pdib]

Hemp can be good; but you don't get all the flavor range with it (you lose the whole middle range on citrusy juices). It's pretty good with tobacco flavors. For flavor, xc-132 is the best alternative to cotton.

 

[Huckleberried]

Thanks for the pics and the feedback Pdib.

 

[Ojen924]

Have you tried boiling cotton first. Then letting it dry? When I first started using cotton I always had a very soapy taste. Then I got some organic cotton the soapy taste was still there but much much less. So I tried boilig cotton in water then letting it dry. Much much better now. And don't use too much cotton. A little bit puffs up a lot and holds a lot of juice


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[Huckleberried]

Have you tried boiling cotton first. Then letting it dry? When I first started using cotton I always had a very soapy taste. Then I got some organic cotton the soapy taste was still there but much much less. So I tried boilig cotton in water then letting it dry. Much much better now. And don't use too much cotton. A little bit puffs up a lot and holds a lot of juice


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Yep, I have. I've tried it boiled, I've tried it not boiled. I've given it another try vaping it since sometime Tuesday evening, I'd say. So far, it's just not my thing. I'm really missing the clean flavor of my juice. Seriously, cotton is giving me a really odd flavor that's hard to describe.

It's not socky or dry skin flavored.