Wire Rope for Wick?

[grainey1968]

A joke it is not! These are the best wicks next to ceramic wicks that I have ever tried. Heck of a lot more robust than ceramic, but ceramic is a smoother more flavorful vape. Since ceramic is so fragile I only use it around the house, I use these SS rope wicks everywhere else.

Some suggestions:

• Use a Dremel tool with a cutoff disc to cut it, the Dremel wont fray the ends.
• Put a diaper (i.e. a sleeve over the SS Rope) of mesh, or silica, or ceramic sleeve above the top deck, I actually go all the way into, but not through, the wickhole. Then wrap your coil over the sleeve.
• If using mesh, pre-oxide it like a rolled mesh wick, or if you are experienced use the pulsing method. Bottom line you still have get an oxidation layer under the coil with mesh or bare SS Rope.
• If using mesh, dont let the rope wick touch the bottom of the juice tank, unless you have an RSST or AC9.
• Try the Peter K method of building your coil.
• Try a size smaller than what you think you need, a loose wick works better for me anyway, plus you will get less heatsink effect.
• Be persistent, once you "get it" it will become easy and will be worth the learning curve.

Edit: Oh and I only use flat ribbon wire exclusively now, it makes a much better coil, just watch your resistance, you might need one less wrap to get the same resistance you are used to.

Excellent advice!! I do pretty much as you have mentioned above. Then only thing that I would add:-

I torch the SS rope (white hot) to ensure there is nothing left from the manufacturing process or from handling the rope. Basically giving it a really good cleaning.

If you follow the tips from mikepetro you can't go far wrong

Thanks Mike!!

 

[burnie71]

I haven't found the bolt cutters yet, so I'm behind schedule already. The cable won't slide into the hole either, which means I have to unwrap a strand or two too. The flat ribbon wire I bought a few months ago got it's trial run today. Well, not a run yet... I'm still batting zero. I've come to suspect that flat ribbon wire is really an insider's joke, and everyone's getting their jolly's knowing what us new to FRW peeps are going through. Come on guys, admit it.
Hopefully tomorrow will run smoother. Actually, I know it will be smoother once I toss that FRWire and push a duck into the pond.

LMAO Sorry Uma just found your post so funny as I was listening to " I feel like dancing, Bee Gee's" when I read your post.

It really doe's work easy as, 1st time with ribbon can be a pain to tighten around pos + post but in reality easy to wrap. I am using DID 2.4 mm wire rope and a couple of wraps of #500 mesh above wick hole wrap your coil the pulse dry burn. As for cutting as suggested before use Dremal or angle grinder with cutting disc or proper wire rope cutters. I like the way Hoey cuts his posted on the usual forum.

 

[Uma]

Okay, okay, I'll try again tomorrow, but this time on the big DID instead of the little Gemini. Lord have mercy on those ducks tomorrow...

 

[Mylkshake]

After work today I decided to attempt what must be my 15th go at making the SS wire rope work as a wick. I've been trying since this thread had about 40 pages with no luck.

But today...SUCCESS from what I was about to count as another failure! I picked up some cotton cheesecloth at wal mart today, intending on using it as a diaper for under my coil (not sure where I read about that). Well, it didn't work. Produced very little vapor and flavor. Before just trashing it and sliding my old SS mesh wick/coil back into my AGA-T2 I decided I would just dry fire the life out of the cheesecloth (partially trying to take out my frustration on it haha).

Well, it worked. I cranked my Vamo up to 15 watts and gave ~8 second pulses to my 1.4 ohm coil until there was absolutely no cheesecloth left and no more smoke coming off (had to pluck a few stray fibers from underneath the bottom coil wrap that didn't burn). What I was left with was an evenly glowing 1.4 ohm coil wrapped around a now blackened SS wire rope (just under the coil though, I did ABSOLUTELY NO oxidizing before hand. simply boiled it.)

Filled her up with some juice, didn't even prime it on the coil, just gave it a quick tilt. Still reading 1.4 ohms. Gave it a puff. Success at last. Thanks everyone for all your input/ideas! My best vape to date has just been achieved. Very clear flavor, excellent throat hit, and fluffy vapor clouds. Here's to hoping it lasts as long as some speculate it might!

In case anyone is wondering this is on an AGA-T2 with 3/32 SS wire rope and 28g kanthal coil. It performs even when (awkwardly) holding it completely vertical, so any comfortable/normal vaping position works just perfectly with this set up. Thanks again to everyone, and especially shortyjacobs for starting this thread!

 

[Dusty_D]

Anyone done a U-Wick with wire rope yet? I've got a couple of my devices going with the wire rope and mesh diaper, but am looking to see if it can be taken to the next level.

 

[hcmh]

I'd like to know if they work well as a U wick also.

 

[SuperDave68]

Anyone done a U-Wick with wire rope yet? I've got a couple of my devices going with the wire rope and mesh diaper, but am looking to see if it can be taken to the next level.

actually, I am waiting for my rope to come and I am Planning on trying this as i have my AGA /2 setup with a cotton U wick. I ordered some rope from mcmaster a couple of weeks ago, but i screwed up and got 1 in 7 wrap instead of 7 in 7, it doesn't wick for crap, not surprisingly.

UPS says my order should be here tue, so I should have some results by wed.

i also ordered the different compositions of stainless, 302, 304, 316 to see if there is any different wicking properties between them. I posted earlier on this thread about this but didn't get an answer, so I guess I will have to the legwork on this

 

[Uma]

Dadgummit, I've seen pics of the U-ey cable online, but I can't for the life of me remember where nor can I remember the pros and cons of doing it. I do remember, however, that they said it was super easy to do because it didn't kink or anything like normal mesh does.

 

[BikerBob]

After work today I decided to attempt what must be my 15th go at making the SS wire rope work as a wick. I've been trying since this thread had about 40 pages with no luck.

But today...SUCCESS from what I was about to count as another failure! I picked up some cotton cheesecloth at wal mart today, intending on using it as a diaper for under my coil (not sure where I read about that). Well, it didn't work. Produced very little vapor and flavor. Before just trashing it and sliding my old SS mesh wick/coil back into my AGA-T2 I decided I would just dry fire the life out of the cheesecloth (partially trying to take out my frustration on it haha).

Well, it worked. I cranked my Vamo up to 15 watts and gave ~8 second pulses to my 1.4 ohm coil until there was absolutely no cheesecloth left and no more smoke coming off (had to pluck a few stray fibers from underneath the bottom coil wrap that didn't burn). What I was left with was an evenly glowing 1.4 ohm coil wrapped around a now blackened SS wire rope (just under the coil though, I did ABSOLUTELY NO oxidizing before hand. simply boiled it.)
...

This is a variant of the 'cigarette rolling paper' trick. I've done the same thing with SS mesh, using a thin layer of cotton (from cotton swab or cotton ball), cigarette rolling papers, thin paper napkins, etc. You may find the need to repeat after you replace the coil, to get the wick/coil boundary blackened to match the new coil.

Still trying to locate a local source for SS wire rope...only finding galvanized.

 

[GB023]

Subscribed

 

[bigv69er]

I picked up more wire guys, so you know what to do.. Pm a bro lol

 

[newfievappe]

I have been looking everywhere for this rope and I was hoping to get some from ebay if possible but I'm having trouble finding just a few feet of it that they will ship to canada. Can you guys help me out and post a few links to the places where you purchased you ss wire rope.

I cant find anything less then 10 feet, here is one on ebay could someone tell me if it looks like the right kind

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/1-16-7x7-Sta...LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item51997ebcc3&_uhb=1

Thanks!

Oh and Todd has just put out a nice video on how to make a good set up with it so take a look!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QS9MoXPsYes

 

[bigv69er]

I have been looking everywhere for this rope and I was hoping to get some from ebay if possible but I'm having trouble finding just a few feet of it that they will ship to canada. Can you guys help me out and post a few links to the places where you purchased you ss wire rope.

I cant find anything less then 10 feet, here is one on ebay could someone tell me if it looks like the right kind

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/1-16-7x7-Sta...LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item51997ebcc3&_uhb=1

Thanks!

Oh and Todd has just put out a nice video on how to make a good set up with it so take a look!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QS9MoXPsYes

Pm me.. I can help you out..
I have some 3/32 7x7

 

[Uma]

After removing 3 strands, the cable went in just fine. I finally got the new to me Flat Ribbon Wire (FRW) glowing nicely enough too. Thanks for all the helpful tips and encouragement, you've been great!
(but I still think all you FRW fans are nutszoid).

 

[anskyboy]

If anything, stainless steel rope wicks way too fast for my 30 gauge kanthal in my short did. I've placed an order for 28 and ribbon to see what configuration I can come up with.

Also, I've been using 3/32" 7x7 SS rope in my short did. Closed off the fill hole as the rope is a wicking monster. XS18 silica as a diaper that's as black as anything I've ever seen. 1 full week, 4 different kinds of juices without changing. and the best part? 0 leaks.

I'm sure if I tried to make it leak and put it upside down for a day, it'd do it. But for carrying around in my pocket, throwing it in my work bag without thinking of it, laying it on its side at restaurants and bars, I don't worry at all. It also helps that the did has a screw on top so I don't need to worry about it popping off. RBA's have come a long way with double o rings for the top, but the screw in feature is by far the most superior in terms of everyday use.

 

[anskyboy]

not embarassed at how dirty it is, because once you get the coil and setup right, you never ever think of rebuilding it and you become lazy.

been really enjoying dorky stud. turned super black though. if i close my eyes and not think about it, it reminds me a little of my dear boba's bounty.

 

[Hostile]

I put some ekowool around the rope I put in my aga t2, works great, I havent' bothered with the ribbon yet, I'm just too lazy.

 

[Roobs]

Could any of you fine folks sell me some .7 or .8 ribbon kanthal Pm me if possible Thx

 

[Uma]

All that trouble I had with the Flat Ribbon Wire? It was because the 510 connection on the Vamo needed raising in order to make a connection. I just raised it, (thanks to that poster in that thread), and lo and behold, it reads 2.2 ohms and vapes a charm.

 

[chadsmo]

Decided to join the party and I just ordered some rope. Did this thread and the OP start the whole rope craze ? If so good on ya, I've heard and seen nothing but great stuff.