wick preferences?

[ScottP]

OK so I just rebuilt an EVOD and have a few pics to share.

Here are the materials that I used. You can see the 1/16 nail that i use to wrap with.


I initially wrap my 32AWG Kanthal A-1 8 to 9 times and when I first get done it is a bit loose and spread out.


This is how I compress the "spring" to fire it with a lighter, torch, or gas stove.


Now you can see the coils are much closer together.


It's a bit hard to explain without a video but I put the coil back on the nail and while holding only the nail I will pull straight down on one of the legs to unwind it...the other leg will slowly spin around the nail. I will do this to both legs until the wrap gets down to a 7/6 wrap (this is why I start at 8 or 9 wraps). This really tightens the coil up.


Picture limit reached....Next Post....

 

[ScottP]

Using the nail to make sure the coil stays perfectly lined up with the wick holes, I mount the coil in the head.


Then I remove the nail and adjust it so it is right in the middle of the head. Mount it to my SVD and check resistance...result 2.3ohms.


Here is the first test fire...a perfect glow.


Next thread the wick through. It may help to cut one end of the yarn at an angle then dampen and twist to make a fine point to twist through the coil. As you can see these coils are not spread out at all. Once I get some lower AWG wire...maybe 30-31 I am going to do this with more wraps. As you can see there is plenty of room for more.


After that it is just putting the rest of the parts on, filling it up and enjoying. On my SVD at 6.0 watts these coils vape awesomely.

 

[roasted]

ScottP - Nice pictures! So basically, the way to get a "micro" coil made (where all coils touch one another with no spacing) is to hold it with needle nose pliers while compressing the coil/spring and firing it with a lighter or torch? Then after you heat it a few times it just "sets" itself? I'm interested in building a micro coil as I hear you can get more vapor/flavor out of it, but it's not something I've done yet.

Also, which wick type are you using in your builds?

 

[ScottP]

ScottP - Nice pictures! So basically, the way to get a "micro" coil made (where all coils touch one another with no spacing) is to hold it with needle nose pliers while compressing the coil/spring and firing it with a lighter or torch?

Basically. Just keep firing it and compressing it, and working with it. It does take a few minutes. The result is a very pretty coil, that fires perfectly.

Also, which wick type are you using in your builds?

That is the Peaches & Creme brand 100% cotton yarn from Wal-Mart. I boil it for about 20min before use. Usually I boil several feet at a time and just store the boiled stuff separately until I use it.

 

[roasted]

Basically. Just keep firing it and compressing it, and working with it. It does take a few minutes. The result is a very pretty coil, that fires perfectly.



That is the Peaches & Creme brand 100% cotton yarn from Wal-Mart. I boil it for about 20min before use. Usually I boil several feet at a time and just store the boiled stuff separately until I use it.

Nice. That's the same cotton I'm currently using. I didn't have good luck with using the Q-tip cotton or the cotton ball cotton. The Q-tip was difficult because it was difficult to get a consistent thickness. The cotton was always tear drop shaped and very difficult to pull apart further to work with it. Cotton from a cotton ball always burned out in no time, but there's such a high amount of inconsistencies when working with that, whereas yarn is a consistent thickness and wrapping the coil with a drill bit/nail is always a consistent thickness.

 

[ScottP]

Nice. That's the same cotton I'm currently using. I didn't have good luck with using the Q-tip cotton or the cotton ball cotton. The Q-tip was difficult because it was difficult to get a consistent thickness. The cotton was always tear drop shaped and very difficult to pull apart further to work with it. Cotton from a cotton ball always burned out in no time, but there's such a high amount of inconsistencies when working with that, whereas yarn is a consistent thickness and wrapping the coil with a drill bit/nail is always a consistent thickness.

My thoughts exactly. My primary goal is consistency. Find a vape I like and be able to replicate it, reliably and predictably, over and over. Now I am looking to add durability. So I am going to start playing around with SS Rope when my Fogger V2 comes in. Hopefully I can get something as easy to build as this, with a wick that is as durable as SS rope and can be dry burned. If so I anticipate months between having to rebuild coils. I don't want to mess with SS mesh for the same reason i don't like messing with cotton balls. Having to figure out exactly how much mesh to roll and how tight to roll it seems like a PITA.

 

[roasted]

Whoa... this SS rope you speak of... got a link to what exactly you're eyeing up? I Googled quick but I'm not sure if what I was digging up was what you're speaking of. I wouldn't mind some level of stainless steel that I don't have to roll up each time. I have yet to hit a mesh wick that was a home run. I wonder if SS rope would even fit in something like an ARO, EVOD, or Protank... and even if it could, what size to get?

 

[ScottP]

This is what I am considering:
McMaster-Carr

However, I don't suggest jumping out there on it just yet, unless you also just want to experiment. You will probably need a Dremel type tool with cut off wheels to cut this stuff.

 

[roasted]

I'm pretty okay with continuing to use cotton. After all, if I can twist the old wick out and keep reusing coils, I'd be an even bigger fan of using this cotton yarn. Plus with how cheap/easy it is, it's hard to argue. Granted, we're only on day 2, but so far I haven't experienced any degraded performance unlike cotton from cotton balls which happened in a matter of hours. Since I'm on vacation this week, and as a result vaping like a banshee, that says something.

All I have with me this week is a lighter in terms of flammable tools, but I'll try building a micro coil later with hopes that the lighter will be hot enough to do the trick when I'm compressing the spring.

One question I do have yet, ScottP, is how long do you find the cotton wicks lasting with a micro coil vs a regular coil? Are you finding any difference in life span or are you simply seeing a difference (improvement, I assume) in taste/vapor production with the micro coil?

 

[TomCatt]

Here's my technique for re-coiling/wicking an Evod - I use 'loose' cotton (Rolled Cotton from CVS pharmacy):

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...ictorial-evod-rewicking-cotton-recoiling.html

 

[ScottP]

All I have with me this week is a lighter in terms of flammable tools, but I'll try building a micro coil later with hopes that the lighter will be hot enough to do the trick when I'm compressing the spring.

One question I do have yet, ScottP, is how long do you find the cotton wicks lasting with a micro coil vs a regular coil? Are you finding any difference in life span or are you simply seeing a difference (improvement, I assume) in taste/vapor production with the micro coil?

The lighter is what I was using...until it ran out midway through the coil I took pics of....in a pinch I had to finish with my gas stove.

I haven't really paid attention. The coil I have in now was one I built on Saturday and it's still fine. I do clean out the top part of the EVOD every couple of days and just pat dry the wicks to prevent any "cooked" juice from building up. So far it seems the coils get gunked up and need to be dry burned before needing to replace the cotton. Of course juice flavor, color, and mixture may play a part in that so YMMV.

I just refilled this EVOD but when it gets empty I may see how removing the cotton, burning the coil and just washing the cotton and putting it back in goes. Not that this stuff is in any way expensive, just as an experiment to see how long I can make it last. If it looks burned around the coil I will just toss and use a new piece.

 

[ScottP]

Here's my technique for re-coiling/wicking an Evod - I use 'loose' cotton (Rolled Cotton from CVS pharmacy):

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...ictorial-evod-rewicking-cotton-recoiling.html

I have looked at your methods but I had difficulties twisting the cotton balls just right and when I tried to vape it, it tasted funky to me, and there were tiny little white spots all throughout the cotton. Probably just my Kroger brand cotton balls. Although, I did not boil it.

I also tried the twisted legs but when I did that I had issues keeping the resistance consistent and even. Again I probably did something wrong. So far not using twisted legs I have not burned or singed the rubber gasket....maybe I am just lucky.

 

[TomCatt]

I'll twist out about 3X the length I need from the cotton and pick the 'best' section to use. I've been using the same type of cotton (actually the same box) for well over a year now, so I'm used to doing this now.


Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk 2

 

[roasted]

Man, I have to say, I'm a little put off by the fact that I burnt through a cotton wick already from the P&C yarn in pretty much 24 hours. I admittedly wasn't even touching my device much during the day as I had been days prior in the week. Meanwhile silica gives me comparable vape and flavor yet outlasts cotton considerably. I might have to rethink my angle here. Cotton may be cheap, but I don't want to rebuild heads daily.

I may give it a second thought though. People are saying it shouldn't have croaked in 24 hours time. Meh.

 

[ScottP]

Man, I have to say, I'm a little put off by the fact that I burnt through a cotton wick already from the P&C yarn in pretty much 24 hours. I admittedly wasn't even touching my device much during the day as I had been days prior in the week. Meanwhile silica gives me comparable vape and flavor yet outlasts cotton considerably. I might have to rethink my angle here. Cotton may be cheap, but I don't want to rebuild heads daily.

I may give it a second thought though. People are saying it shouldn't have croaked in 24 hours time. Meh.

What kind of juice are you using? Is it a dark juice or a really sweet one? What is happening to the cotton? Burning, Discoloring, or what? Maybe we can come up with a solution.

I am still using the same piece of P&C Yarn from Saturday's build and this is my ADV which I go through 1.5-2 EVOD fulls per day. I think that's about 4-5ml/day.

Even if the cotton does go bad, you shouldn't have to rebuild the whole head. Just yank the cotton out, dry burn the coil clean and add a new piece of cotton. I do miss the ability of silica to be able to dry burn in place, but silica is not as expansive as cotton is when it gets wet. So (if I remember right) you either have to use 3mm silica which means no micro coils and fewer wraps, OR you have to use smaller silica and then add "flavor wicks" to prevent flooding, which IMHO seems to mute flavor a bit.

 

[JayTater]

I did an experiment with a Kanger coil last night. Using 5mm Ekowool and 28AWG A1. I will post pics tonight if it holds strong through the day. So far, its kicking ...., and producing more flavor and vape than the previous micros.

More to come.....

 

[The Urb]

Thanks for the tips Scott, why do you burn the wire after you get it coiled? Is this to help get it tighter, or to make it last longer?

 

[ScottP]

I flame it while compressing it to get it to hold that shape. It makes it less "springy".

 

[roasted]

What kind of juice are you using? Is it a dark juice or a really sweet one? What is happening to the cotton? Burning, Discoloring, or what? Maybe we can come up with a solution.

I am still using the same piece of P&C Yarn from Saturday's build and this is my ADV which I go through 1.5-2 EVOD fulls per day. I think that's about 4-5ml/day.

Even if the cotton does go bad, you shouldn't have to rebuild the whole head. Just yank the cotton out, dry burn the coil clean and add a new piece of cotton. I do miss the ability of silica to be able to dry burn in place, but silica is not as expansive as cotton is when it gets wet. So (if I remember right) you either have to use 3mm silica which means no micro coils and fewer wraps, OR you have to use smaller silica and then add "flavor wicks" to prevent flooding, which IMHO seems to mute flavor a bit.

A sweeter one. It's an 80/20 mix known as "sweet caramel" from the local vape shop. My experience with cotton has always been the same. I just never got excited about cotton until now since the yarn makes it infinitely times easier to make a new wick, unlike qtips and cotton balls. First, I notice that my device gets really quiet. I no longer hear crackling or any type of noise at all. It gets so quiet and eventually, I hear next to nothing, yet it still produces vapor just fine. Last night in particular, I noticed a distant burning taste, which was the surefire warning sign that I was beginning to fry the wick. On the flip side, when I took the post off of the head, it didn't look as burnt as I had expected it to be. At the time I didn't think to redo the wick while using the same coil.

The one thing I do like more about the cotton is the cotton yarn is physically a bit larger than 3mm silica that I have. Of course, the silica might be packed tighter, but even still, I have an awful time trying to "thread" in 3mm silica into a coil built with a 1/16 drill bit, however the cotton yarn was much easier to get to a pointed tip and then thread into the same 1/16 coil.

In my case, I am not using flavor wicks. Originally I tried flavor wicks but it tasted like it was getting a little cooked. Removed them and it was fine, so I never cared to re-add them.

 

[ScottP]

A sweeter one. It's an 80/20 mix known as "sweet caramel" from the local vape shop. My experience with cotton has always been the same. I just never got excited about cotton until now since the yarn makes it infinitely times easier to make a new wick, unlike qtips and cotton balls. First, I notice that my device gets really quiet. I no longer hear crackling or any type of noise at all. It gets so quiet and eventually, I hear next to nothing, yet it still produces vapor just fine. Last night in particular, I noticed a distant burning taste, which was the surefire warning sign that I was beginning to fry the wick. On the flip side, when I took the post off of the head, it didn't look as burnt as I had expected it to be. At the time I didn't think to redo the wick while using the same coil.

The one thing I do like more about the cotton is the cotton yarn is physically a bit larger than 3mm silica that I have. Of course, the silica might be packed tighter, but even still, I have an awful time trying to "thread" in 3mm silica into a coil built with a 1/16 drill bit, however the cotton yarn was much easier to get to a pointed tip and then thread into the same 1/16 coil.

In my case, I am not using flavor wicks. Originally I tried flavor wicks but it tasted like it was getting a little cooked. Removed them and it was fine, so I never cared to re-add them.

This is exactly why I like the yarn too, predictable thickness that seems just right and easy to re-wick if needed. I have been vaping my setup at 6watts (3.7v) and the cotton has lasted nearly a week now. What settings are you using, it may be that a higher voltage/wattage just cooks the cotton faster. Just brainstorming here.