Wire Rope for Wick?

[bluegrasslover]

So, I had disassembled my screw wick the same day I first posted the idea. All y'all talking about it some more got me curious again. I tried a bunch of stuff just now, and ended up back where I started, only with a few tiny refinements. SS mesh is exactly 1 layer and only starts at top of wick hole. 26 Nichrome wrapped right into the threads. Works like last time. No big deal. Keeps up with the .6Ω build.

View attachment 192673View attachment 192674

Bunch of stuff being, wire to screw contact in various ways. even though it was shorting into the screw, I had a proper ohm reading (about 1 ohm when I had 28 kanthal on it)

Have you tried other size screws/thread pitches? I've tried several thus far and find that 4-40 or 2 (or 2.5mm) .5 pitch work best for me. I tried a 6-32 (32 I think, something like that) and while they worked pretty darn good, the smaller ones seem to work better. I'm guessing that the finer threads feed the coil better and the smaller diameter heats up pretty fast. I'm going to try drilling a hole down the length of the screw tonight to remove some mass to see if it fires faster.

Seems like cross threading the wire would create a bunch of micro hot spots.

I think we need a screw thread I think pdib and I have kind of hijacked this thread. Sorry.

 

[pdib]

I think we need a screw thread I think pdib and I have kind of hijacked this thread. Sorry.

Sho'nuff. Please do start a screw thread bluegrasslover, and I'll come visit you over there. Shortyjacob's wire rope idea is much better anyway. I just posted the screw thing here, cause hes where I got the idea.

 

[StaircaseWit]

Sho'nuff. Please do start a screw thread bluegrasslover, and I'll come visit you over there. Shortyjacob's wire rope idea is much better anyway. I just posted the screw thing here, cause hes where I got the idea.

I like the idea of the screw because they're readily available in stainless without labeling mystery, they aren't going to contain nylon/other threads that need to be burned off or removed (and I've never been confident enough to try that with a mystery material in there), and they'd potentially last "forever" (although the wire rope has that same potential).

If you make a "screw thread", someone post it here. I have some experimenting to do.

 

[dirquist]

If the screw thing really ends up working good the big benefit would be atty makers building them right into the atty. They could be a permanent fixture and then there would be no doubt what they are made of.

 

[millertime660]

If the screw thing really ends up working good the big benefit would be atty makers building them right into the atty. They could be a permanent fixture and then there would be no doubt what they are made of.

I was thinking about this the other day trying to figure out what was next for a gennie. Would be a cool idea

 

[silentnights]

I guess this is where I step in and finally announce to the world my all reaching, grand business plan. I am in the process of starting a company manufacturing hydrophilic composite wicks. The ceramic slurry idea isn't far off from what I am in the process of making. I still don't have the prototype in my hands, but I have contacted a molecular and chemical engineer in academia that created a coating for exactly this purpose for nasa. I have sent him 3 different material types to coat: 500 SS mesh, 7x7 wire rope, and a plain SS rod. I didn't even think about the screw which I find genius. The material that will be coating all 3 samples has the following properties:
1) Non Conductive!
2) Highly durable - Will not crack, peel, or wear. It's flexible. It can withstand temperatures up to 1000C without degrading.
3) Non Toxic - Will not release any harmful chemicals, was actively used to block hexachromium.
4) Tasteless - will not impart a taste to your juice
5) Has the potential to wick faster than SS rope - coating is naturally super hydrophilic with a contact angle of less than 5 degrees. This is what needs to be tested, and what I'm waiting on the sample for.

It has a very very high potential to be the next big thing for RBAs. I also have some ideas on how to incorporate it into dripping attys by pre bending the SS rods/screws.

Now if you go back and view all my posts in this thread you will see that I was a complete and utter beginner. However, thanks to all the contributors to this thread and doing a whole lot of research I think this will be huge. The process is not easy and the equipment to do it is not cheap. The wicks that I will be manufacturing will not be cheap (cost to end user of about an Aga). I will not be selling the product directly to individuals, only to retailers. I have a day job that I won't be ignoring and I have absolutely no sales experience. Once I get rolling I will be sending samples to retailers and reviewers (the hill giant, phil busardo, Scott Bonner, and others).

 

[pdib]

Send one to Shortyjacobs and one to me! If we're your designers, we should get to review them too!

I guess this is where I step in and finally announce to the world my all reaching, grand business plan. I am in the process of starting a company manufacturing hydrophilic composite wicks. The ceramic slurry idea isn't far off from what I am in the process of making. I still don't have the prototype in my hands, but I have contacted a molecular and chemical engineer in academia that created a coating for exactly this purpose for nasa. I have sent him 3 different material types to coat: 500 SS mesh, 7x7 wire rope, and a plain SS rod. I didn't even think about the screw which I find genius. The material that will be coating all 3 samples has the following properties:
1) Non Conductive!
2) Highly durable - Will not crack, peel, or wear. It's flexible. It can withstand temperatures up to 1000C without degrading.
3) Non Toxic - Will not release any harmful chemicals, was actively used to block hexachromium.
4) Tasteless - will not impart a taste to your juice
5) Has the potential to wick faster than SS rope - coating is naturally super hydrophilic with a contact angle of less than 5 degrees. This is what needs to be tested, and what I'm waiting on the sample for.

It has a very very high potential to be the next big thing for RBAs. I also have some ideas on how to incorporate it into dripping attys by pre bending the SS rods/screws.

Now if you go back and view all my posts in this thread you will see that I was a complete and utter beginner. However, thanks to all the contributors to this thread and doing a whole lot of research I think this will be huge. The process is not easy and the equipment to do it is not cheap. The wicks that I will be manufacturing will not be cheap (cost to end user of about an Aga). I will not be selling the product directly to individuals, only to retailers. I have a day job that I won't be ignoring and I have absolutely no sales experience. Once I get rolling I will be sending samples to retailers and reviewers (the hill giant, phil busardo, Scott Bonner, and others).

 

[Uma]

Bookmarking!

 

[zippersnapper]

Too much peppermint flavor with the screw.

Man !..too much is just right !!....

A very thoughtful and kind member sent me some ss rope he got from McMaster, arrived today..anxious to give it a go...this is exciting to follow.

My only concern is taste. It must taste good of course, without any metallic tint. The MAJOR benefit of ceramic IMO, is the "untainted" vapor it produces....

 

[shortyjacobs]

I guess this is where I step in and finally announce to the world my all reaching, grand business plan. I am in the process of starting a company manufacturing hydrophilic composite wicks. The ceramic slurry idea isn't far off from what I am in the process of making. I still don't have the prototype in my hands, but I have contacted a molecular and chemical engineer in academia that created a coating for exactly this purpose for nasa. I have sent him 3 different material types to coat: 500 SS mesh, 7x7 wire rope, and a plain SS rod. I didn't even think about the screw which I find genius. The material that will be coating all 3 samples has the following properties:
1) Non Conductive!
2) Highly durable - Will not crack, peel, or wear. It's flexible. It can withstand temperatures up to 1000C without degrading.
3) Non Toxic - Will not release any harmful chemicals, was actively used to block hexachromium.
4) Tasteless - will not impart a taste to your juice
5) Has the potential to wick faster than SS rope - coating is naturally super hydrophilic with a contact angle of less than 5 degrees. This is what needs to be tested, and what I'm waiting on the sample for.

It has a very very high potential to be the next big thing for RBAs. I also have some ideas on how to incorporate it into dripping attys by pre bending the SS rods/screws.

Now if you go back and view all my posts in this thread you will see that I was a complete and utter beginner. However, thanks to all the contributors to this thread and doing a whole lot of research I think this will be huge. The process is not easy and the equipment to do it is not cheap. The wicks that I will be manufacturing will not be cheap (cost to end user of about an Aga). I will not be selling the product directly to individuals, only to retailers. I have a day job that I won't be ignoring and I have absolutely no sales experience. Once I get rolling I will be sending samples to retailers and reviewers (the hill giant, phil busardo, Scott Bonner, and others).

Boy does that sound cool. Can't wait to see where it goes!

 

[pdib]

BTW it's so cool that your doing this! Ideas aren't worth much until someone takes the intensive time and trouble and risk to perfect them and make them available to everyone. Hats off to you.

I guess this is where I step in and finally announce to the world my all reaching, grand business plan. I am in the process of starting a company manufacturing hydrophilic composite wicks. The ceramic slurry idea isn't far off from what I am in the process of making. I still don't have the prototype in my hands, but I have contacted a molecular and chemical engineer in academia that created a coating for exactly this purpose for nasa. I have sent him 3 different material types to coat: 500 SS mesh, 7x7 wire rope, and a plain SS rod. I didn't even think about the screw which I find genius. The material that will be coating all 3 samples has the following properties:
1) Non Conductive!
2) Highly durable - Will not crack, peel, or wear. It's flexible. It can withstand temperatures up to 1000C without degrading.
3) Non Toxic - Will not release any harmful chemicals, was actively used to block hexachromium.
4) Tasteless - will not impart a taste to your juice
5) Has the potential to wick faster than SS rope - coating is naturally super hydrophilic with a contact angle of less than 5 degrees. This is what needs to be tested, and what I'm waiting on the sample for.

It has a very very high potential to be the next big thing for RBAs. I also have some ideas on how to incorporate it into dripping attys by pre bending the SS rods/screws.

Now if you go back and view all my posts in this thread you will see that I was a complete and utter beginner. However, thanks to all the contributors to this thread and doing a whole lot of research I think this will be huge. The process is not easy and the equipment to do it is not cheap. The wicks that I will be manufacturing will not be cheap (cost to end user of about an Aga). I will not be selling the product directly to individuals, only to retailers. I have a day job that I won't be ignoring and I have absolutely no sales experience. Once I get rolling I will be sending samples to retailers and reviewers (the hill giant, phil busardo, Scott Bonner, and others).

 

[zippersnapper]

Great idea pdib..Will be watching your progress closely....

 

[harmonic]

whoa is that a fishwick insulator I see you made for the top of that? humm....

 

[mikepetro]

I have had mixed results with the SS rope.

I have successfully done two builds using 7X7 SS rope with a single layer of mesh above the top deck and 33g Kanthal. One in an RSST and one in a AGA-T+. What I have found is a mixed bag for me personally.

PROs:

• Wicks FANTASTIC, almost too good
• Can leave the fill screw in on my AGA,
• Dont have to tilt until the tank is damn near empty.
• Good flavor
• Lots of vapor (after a primer puff)
• Much less sputtering
• Minimal oxidizing ritual
• Simpler construction

CONs:

• Slower response, i.e. more of a heatsink than mesh, more mass to heat up before vapor gets good
• The RBA top deck and cap heat up a good bit more
• Requires higher wattage than mesh
• Less efficient on battery life

And... even more of a juice hog than mesh, which is both a pro and a con.

For me the SS rope has been great for my home vape, where I dont care about battery life and I can put it down and use a different mod if it gets too hot. For work and travel, I think I still prefer the mesh.

I have some Kanthal ribbon on the way from the UK, I suspect it will perform better.

Can any of you seasoned tinkerers offer any suggestions?

 

[zippersnapper]

whoa is that a fishwick insulator I see you made for the top of that? humm....

Indeed my friend. I'm hoping to get the wicking ability of ss rope, with the anti "shorting out" and no need for "oxidizing" ability of ceramic..

 

[harmonic]

Indeed my friend. I'm hoping to get the wicking ability of ss rope, with the anti "shorting out" and no need for "oxidizing" ability of ceramic..

Nice. I may have to try something like that. I'm not sure I like the cotton string I am still using on mine but I still havent tried the smaller thread yet. I dont like that it could burn so a super thin fishwick tube could be the ticket. Though I am courious too about using the glass quartz tube also - I never got a chance to read the last half of dan's thread about that....

 

[ethebull]

Though I am courious too about using the glass quartz tube also - I never got a chance to read the last half of dan's thread about that....

I gave the quartz a whirl. Fussed and fussed, but never got something I would have switched to given the effort required. Seems most have left that idea in the "seemed like a good enough idea to try, but..." file.

 

[shortyjacobs]

Nice. I may have to try something like that. I'm not sure I like the cotton string I am still using on mine but I still havent tried the smaller thread yet. I dont like that it could burn so a super thin fishwick tube could be the ticket. Though I am courious too about using the glass quartz tube also - I never got a chance to read the last half of dan's thread about that....

If you're talking about the borosilicate NMR tubes, I picked up a 2.4mm ID precision tube, (one of the ones in Dan's thread)....it doesn't fit around my amazon 7x7 3/32" rope, even though 3/32" is 2.38mm. :-(.

 

[Boden]

Indeed my friend. I'm hoping to get the wicking ability of ss rope, with the anti "shorting out" and no need for "oxidizing" ability of ceramic..

Now I have to go out to the shop and make one.... *Sigh*



BTW: The glass I sent you should be there on monday.


Edit: Just had a thought. Ceramic rings for fish tanks.... Gota go

 

[harmonic]

If you're talking about the borosilicate NMR tubes, I picked up a 2.4mm ID precision tube, (one of the ones in Dan's thread)....it doesn't fit around my amazon 7x7 3/32" rope, even though 3/32" is 2.38mm. :-(.

Sand down the end of the rope where the glass would go?