XC-116 or Ekowool

[Watchmyshoes]

I've been using ekowool for sheathing my ss cable and building rda's but I had a guy tell me this weekend that ceramic was the way to go and it is better than ekowool. Just wanted to find out some opinions from some other members who've tried both before I pull the trigger and order some.

 

[Statistic]

I tried Nextel and silica for sleeving on ss cable. I got better flavor with the silica.

Although, I was never able to keep the cable from cooking my juice. Once I tried plain ole 100% cotton I haven't looked back. I know you can't dry burn it, I refused to even consider trying it for months because of this. Cotton actually lets you know way ahead of time that it needs more juice, not nearly as easy to burn the stuff as I expected.

 

[Technonut]

In my close to 3 years of vaping, I have never came close to any wick I like better than XC-116. It wicks like no tomorrow, retains good flavor, is very durable, and is just plain good.. I use it in just about everything I have. Some may say it's not proven safe, but unless folks are getting manufacturer specs on the fiber diameter of the silica they're using, anything below 6 microns could be an inhalation hazard with that.

Just make sure to get the kiln-treated stuff, and give it a torch for good measure. I have some ekowool, and IMO, it's not as good. When I do use use silica, it is the German silica. It has a 6 micron fiber diameter, and gives me just about the same flavor as the XC-116. Next up would be the Nextel XS. (The difference is XS is silica, and XC ceramic) I've never tried the XC-116 over SS rope in a genny. I used to use 500 SS mesh.. I haven't used it in awhile though since I kept finding charred black particles in my top cap using the mesh. I've yet to see anything like that with the XC-116 when I use that alone as a U wick in a genny.

Also, the trick with XC-116 is to wrap the wire just tight enough to make contact with the wick.

Just my .. I'm sure many other opinions will be along soon.. I'm speaking of the XC-116 in general since I use it primarily in the Terminator C, Kayfun-style with a conversion kit for the Term C, stand-alone U wick in my gennys with no mesh or SS rope at all, and recently the Hercules.

 

[vdefazzio]

When I was considering Ekowool and the Nextel, I went with Ekowool. As I was researching both of them, I was really put off by the seller, Omega something something...I forget the exact name, there is a big warning about the XC-116 being only for industrial purposes and not to be used for other purposes.

EDIT:
Here is the link to the warning, big red letters about half way down the page:
http://www.omega.com/pptst/XC_XC4_SLEEVING.html

 

[pdib]

yes. because omega doesn't heat treat it. It would be harmful in that state. The product they are selling requires PROPER kiln heat treating to remove a sizing which should not be vaped or ingested. Obviously, they don't want people "back porch torching" their product and suing them. Heck they probably even have a conscience.

 

[Technonut]

When I was considering Ekowool and the Nextel, I went with Ekowool. As I was researching both of them, I was really put off by the seller, Omega something something...I forget the exact name, there is a big warning about the XC-116 being only for industrial purposes and not to be used for other purposes.

EDIT:
Here is the link to the warning, big red letters about half way down the page:
Nextel Braided Ceramic Very High Temperature Sleeving

Yeah, and here is 3M's own tech document stating that Nextel ceramic fibers exceeds 7 microns, and poses no inhalation dangers.

http://www.3m.com/market/industrial/ceramics/pdfs/health_safety.pdf

I'd be more worried about silica of unknown fiber diameter than XC-116...

A control group
similarly exposed to quartz (silica) dust developed lung
granulomas and fibrosis. From this study it was
concluded that thepotential for Nextel 312 Ceramic Fiber
dust to cause pulmonary fibrosis or other significant lung
injury is minimal.

Although Nextel fibers are classified as ceramic fibers,
they are manufactured in continuous lengths and have
diameters (approximately 7 to 13 microns) which are not
considered to be respirable by humans. Since they are
not considered to be respirable, inhalation exposure to
Nextel 312, 440, 550, 610, or 720 fibers is not expected
to pose a carcinogenic risk to humans. They may,
however, cause mechanical irritation of the nose and
throat.

I get no more nose or throat irritation with the XC-116 than German silica.. (which is no irritation at all )

Nextel ceramic fibers do not meet the critical geometric dimensions for respirable fibers (note R in 97/96/EC) Nextel fibers do not have to be classified as dangerous substances according this directive.

 

[pdib]

I used nextel exclusively for months and had absolutely no irritation or discomfort from it. Great wicking material. If it makes you queasy, don't use it.

 

[Technonut]

Big Tex's site seems to be down ATM.. Here is the only other place I know of to get the proper heat treated XC-116 for vaping:


XC-116 Ceramic Wick - 12" Heat Cleaned

This wick is pre-treated by SnG Vapor with heat to remove contaminants. We recommend a small dry-burn after wrapping to remove any latent skin oils present from processing, but we have heated this wick to over 750deg Celcius to remove contaminants. 3M tech sheets state that the minimum safe temperature for removing sizing is 700deg C, and we go a hare over that to ensure full cleaning.

700 degrees Celsius is 1292 degrees Fahrenheit.....

750 degrees Celsius is 1382 degrees Fahrenheit....

 

[Watchmyshoes]

Thanks for everyone's very honest opinions about their thoughts on ceramic. It was an interesting read and also made me think about how much may be unknown about the items we use in vaping, but one thing I do know is that we damn sure knew how bad things were in analogs yet we continued to use them and with that said I ordered some xc116 and xc132... Hopefully it lives up to the hype

 

[DSmooch]

its a shame bigtex is out of the game...

 

[nelsonm64]

so the general consensus for Flavor is:

XC-116 - German Silica - Ekowool - XS-116 - normal Silica ?

 

[Technonut]

so the general consensus for Flavor is:

XC-116 - German Silica - Ekowool - XS-116 - normal Silica ?

To me, (taste is subjective) The XC-116 and German silica are very close.. As are the XS-116 and Ekowool. Most of the regular silica I've used from different sources is at the bottom of the chain. The XC-116 IMO has a cleaner taste than Ekowool and XS-116... If any of that makes sense...

In durability, the XC-116 is tops.. I've been using the same pieces in 3 RBAs for about 3 weeks now, just dry-burning every 3 tanks or so, and it's stlll in great shape. A few feet has lasted me for months

Note: In the following video, The person is NOT using the kiln-treated XC.. I only recommend using it when properly treated per 3M specs..


GG, GGTS 3.5 WICKS Silica vs Nextel SHOWDOWN - YouTube

 

[nelsonm64]

I can't get my hands on XC-116 because I live in canada so I had to settle for German Silica, glad to hear its up there with XC-116.

 

[woden57]

Thanks to this thread I'm using XC-116 from SNG on an EVOD rebuilt 32 gage coil.
I have found my happy place. My search is over.

 

[div]

I got my first ever xc-116 yesterday. A friend got my nimbus up with 28g, dual coil @ 0.5...wow oh wow. Silica just falls apart on me, I'm still practicing and don''t have coils and wrapping perfected yet. I did a u-wick (?) with silica on my aga-t2 (had ss mesh in there before) and it works, but see already it's going to drive me bonkers. Well, I'll keep practicing, won't give up. Think I need to get some german silica then. xc-116 won't fit in the holes for the aga, and I don't want to drill bigger holes.

 

[Technonut]

I got my first ever xc-116 yesterday. A friend got my nimbus up with 28g, dual coil @ 0.5...wow oh wow. Silica just falls apart on me, I'm still practicing and don''t have coils and wrapping perfected yet. I did a u-wick (?) with silica on my aga-t2 (had ss mesh in there before) and it works, but see already it's going to drive me bonkers. Well, I'll keep practicing, won't give up. Think I need to get some german silica then. xc-116 won't fit in the holes for the aga, and I don't want to drill bigger holes.

Here's a thread showing how folks are fitting it into the AGA-T2


http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/rebuildable-atomizer-systems/427611-xc-116-size.html

 

[mookpm17221]

Ive tried every method i can think of and i cant get eco into a genny, and i don't want to drill either man. I feel your pain. Stuff just turns to fluff when handled :/

 

[pizza2me]

Marking this one! Thinking of trying other wicks. have only used SS mesh so far. Great info folks!

 

[Shopan]

rbasupplies.com has a nice deal At the moment...

 

[Technonut]

rbasupplies.com has a nice deal At the moment...

Thanks for the link! It's great to have another source for properly treated XC-116...