Did you try the q-tip method? Stick the end in some juice, hold a q-tip on the top, and time how long it takes for the q-tip to get wet.
Wire Rope for Wick?
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Did you try the q-tip method? Stick the end in some juice, hold a q-tip on the top, and time how long it takes for the q-tip to get wet.
ive not had a chance to really play with it yet. i need to cut some wick size pieces with clean ends and then double check to make sure its too big to fit my line and other attys but once i have some smaller clean cut pieces i will try that. im also worried that there might be some subtle difference between brands due to manufacture or some other silliness that will make it not perform the same as what sj got from amazon. on a side note i also need to clean it to make sure there are no mfg oil residue or anything that will impeede wicking or effect flavors when used (provided it wicks well)...
i alos hope there isnt a performance difference between the different sizes since i couldnt find the smaller one.
OH i just looked again at the pic i took of the lable on the spool and the item number on mine is 015072 i didnt catch this before and im not sure what the difference could be as all the other specs are exactly the same.....
Well, I found the Amazon page for this Koch product, and it says it's galvanized.
Amazon.com: Koch 015072 3/32 by 250-Feet 7 by 7 Cable , Stainless Steel: Home Improvement
We don't want to mess with galvanized, right?
Amazon.com: Koch 015072 3/32 by 250-Feet 7 by 7 Cable , Stainless Steel: Home Improvement
We don't want to mess with galvanized, right?
Everything I'm finding on the Koch is that it is stainless steel that has been galvanized. Zinc is the metal used in galvanization. It will oxidize faster in salt water, so is probably not the best material to dip into eliquid. Wikipedia has this to say about inhalation: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has stated that zinc damages nerve receptors in the nose, which can cause anosmia. Reports of anosmia were also observed in the 1930s when zinc preparations were used in a failed attempt to prevent polio infections.[193] On June 16, 2009, the FDA said that consumers should stop using zinc-based intranasal cold products and ordered their removal from store shelves. The FDA said the loss of smell can be life-threatening because people with impaired smell cannot detect leaking gas or smoke and cannot tell if food has spoiled before they eat it.[194] Recent research suggests that the topical antimicrobial zinc pyrithione is a potent heat shock response inducer that may impair genomic integrity with induction of PARP-dependent energy crisis in cultured human keratinocytes and melanocytes.
Doing a quick google search of zinc oxide contact angles shows that it is potentially hydrophobic (has a contact angle of greater than 90 degrees) which means it will be a very very poor wick material.
Here you can find 1/16": ALPS WIRE ROPE 7 x 7 Lanyard Wire at West Marine
Here is 3/32nd and other lengths but minimum purchase is 10': McMaster-Carr
Doing a quick google search of zinc oxide contact angles shows that it is potentially hydrophobic (has a contact angle of greater than 90 degrees) which means it will be a very very poor wick material.
Here you can find 1/16": ALPS WIRE ROPE 7 x 7 Lanyard Wire at West Marine
Here is 3/32nd and other lengths but minimum purchase is 10': McMaster-Carr
I just spent $1.26 more for the same 7x7 3/32" stuff Shortyjacobs found here: McMaster-Carr
I suppose I'll use the other galvanized stuff to train my ivy.
I suppose I'll use the other galvanized stuff to train my ivy.
so the stainless steel stuff i got IS GALVINIZED !?! why didnt it say anything about that on the @#$& label specially when it was seperate from the stuff that actually said galvinized....
well smeg... and that being the case how do we know for sure that the other stuff being sold as ss isnt galvinized also and they just didnt mention it?
well smeg... and that being the case how do we know for sure that the other stuff being sold as ss isnt galvinized also and they just didnt mention it?
As a general rule of thumb, stuff sold at hard ware stores will be galvanized. Stuff sold at marine supply stores will be pure SS. Specialty machine shops will also tell you the full specs. Currently McMaster Carr appears to be the best place to purchase from.
The Hill Giant's video on wire rope from last night is now up on youtube. It can be found here: All Meshed Up w/ The Hill Giant Replay 2-27-13 - YouTube
Review of the wire rope starts around 28 minutes in.
Review of the wire rope starts around 28 minutes in.
Hey nice, thanks. I was interested in seeing it, but had no time yesterday to tune in live.
Alright, here's my report. My McMaster Carr order came in today.
I cut off a wick-sized wick and torched it 3 times, and burned a bit of juice 3 times, like a normal ss wick. Then I wrapped a small bit of mesh around the top and torched that 3 times + burned juice 3 times.
I had a hard time cutting the wire, so the end was all frayed, making it difficult to get through the coil. (I used the drillbit method). Eventually I decided to just remove the mesh and cram it in there.
No shorts, everything worked fine.
However, I may be getting the same problem shortyjacobs described. It seems to wick well, but having difficulty transferring the juice to the coil, and I am therefore getting a very burnt flavor. I forgot to oxidize the coil, so that *might* have something to do with it. I'm going to play a little and see if I can't get that mesh in there.
It is, however, wicking wonderfully!! And the taste is fantastic. If I do the genny-tip, it works wonderfully. More soon...
I cut off a wick-sized wick and torched it 3 times, and burned a bit of juice 3 times, like a normal ss wick. Then I wrapped a small bit of mesh around the top and torched that 3 times + burned juice 3 times.
I had a hard time cutting the wire, so the end was all frayed, making it difficult to get through the coil. (I used the drillbit method). Eventually I decided to just remove the mesh and cram it in there.
No shorts, everything worked fine.
However, I may be getting the same problem shortyjacobs described. It seems to wick well, but having difficulty transferring the juice to the coil, and I am therefore getting a very burnt flavor. I forgot to oxidize the coil, so that *might* have something to do with it. I'm going to play a little and see if I can't get that mesh in there.
It is, however, wicking wonderfully!! And the taste is fantastic. If I do the genny-tip, it works wonderfully. More soon...
Hey kilowatt - yeah, I've tried a couple times to get it working without the mesh hybrid, and I get much as you describe.
If you have a dremel tool with a cut-off wheel, or even a hacksaw, you'll get a much more even cut than using wire cutters. I first used electrical tape wrapped around the wire rope, then cut through the electrical tape with the dremel to prevent fraying. On the 7x7 and lower strand count ropes at least, that's overkill. Now I just cut the bare rope with my dremel, (well, black and decker....twice the performance for 1/3 the price!).
Something like this mini hacksaw should work.
If you have a dremel tool with a cut-off wheel, or even a hacksaw, you'll get a much more even cut than using wire cutters. I first used electrical tape wrapped around the wire rope, then cut through the electrical tape with the dremel to prevent fraying. On the 7x7 and lower strand count ropes at least, that's overkill. Now I just cut the bare rope with my dremel, (well, black and decker....twice the performance for 1/3 the price!).
Something like this mini hacksaw should work.
Alright, well I jammed the mesh in and got it working. MUCH better. Sorta messed up my coil in the process, but it's do-able.
How does it vape? Well, pretty darn good. Only a slight metallic taste (I still think that might be my coil). My coil no longer has the "hot top-coil" problem. It's heating up evenly, and the top of the wick doesn't seem to dry out anywhere near as quickly as mesh does. I'm thinking it'll last a hell of a lot longer than mesh also. Technically it should be a more even wicking action, but probably not as good as it should be due to me screwing up the wire so much. My next wick will be better.
Also, I did not oxiclean it, or do any ultrasonic cleaning. Just torched and rinsed.
Big thanks for this tip, shortyjacobs. I think we have a winner! (PS: I'm the guy on /r/rba you recommended this to)
How does it vape? Well, pretty darn good. Only a slight metallic taste (I still think that might be my coil). My coil no longer has the "hot top-coil" problem. It's heating up evenly, and the top of the wick doesn't seem to dry out anywhere near as quickly as mesh does. I'm thinking it'll last a hell of a lot longer than mesh also. Technically it should be a more even wicking action, but probably not as good as it should be due to me screwing up the wire so much. My next wick will be better.
Also, I did not oxiclean it, or do any ultrasonic cleaning. Just torched and rinsed.
Big thanks for this tip, shortyjacobs. I think we have a winner! (PS: I'm the guy on /r/rba you recommended this to)
Great!
Yep, I figured that out when I saw your thread about reversing pos and neg in a genny, you'd posted pretty much the same comment in /r/RBA. Glad the recommendation is working out!
I gotta say, with this heavy mech-mod, and the genny, and the stainless steel wire rope wick, I feel like the Bionic Man. This is a vapor machine fit for robots.
so is 25ft and 10 ft really the shortest length you can order from mcmaster? i havent tried to check out but it let me add shorter pieces to my cart... also i couldnt find any info on the shipping cost?
No way, you can order as little as 1 foot. I ordered 2. Shipping was ~$4. Here: McMaster-Carr
lol, interesting they did that for you. It says right on that page to only order the specified lengths or longer.
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