Xc-116 vs ekowool

[IcyX]

Hi guys,

i did read the the xc-116 thread which is only a couple threads down in this section of the forum but I have a few questions that I didn't really find answers to yet. Basically I would like to know what is the difference between ekowool and xc-* products. Materials? Wicking capabilities? What's the whole deal, other than the price tag?

 

[IcyX]

Wow I hear crickets chirping. Nothing? Anybody?

 

[pdib]

Haven't tried ekowool myself; but I gather that the xc-116 wicks much more effectively. I really want to try some ekowool for comparison . . . . . . (anyone?)

I think the ekowool is silica; whereas the xc is silica/ceramic. I think the xc is also more stiff/fibrous (say, like jute, compared to cotton yarns). It is still flexible enough for tight foldovers and curved wick-tails and etc.

 

[Commie]

I don't have XC, I bought XS by mistake. I'm gonna make a very frivolous assumption that XS wicks similar to XC. If that is correct, it works a little better than Ekowool of similar diameter, and a lot better than silica. Subjectively, I would say that well set up Ekowool (with a hole left open through the center) wicks about as fast as cotton ball or 400 mesh. XS wicks a little faster. Neither expand like cotton when wet.

Both taste cleaner than silica cord, with a small advantage to XS. For the price, and in my financial situation, I prefer Ekowool. If I had extra money to play with, I would likely go with XC.

 

[pdib]

Commie . . . . . . . hey commie. You got ekowool? I got xc-132 & 116. Wanna trade samples?

 

[pdib]

ok. the deal is done. couple of us will have proper comparisons in a few days. Just however long it takes the postman to get it together. Me and an anonymous ECF member . . . . . (wonder who ) . . . . . . who shall remain nameless until such time as said nameless person becomes named by naming said personhood.

 

[jayD]

I have both, but honestly I'm using strictly ekowool at the moment, for several reasons. The first being canadian xc-116 is not allowed for export. Second I'm not that sure on the health implications of inhaling ceramic fibers? but as I understand the ekowool is safe because it's amorphous silica, and not crystalline silica which is the dangerous stuff to avoid inhaling. And Third because others who were able to do side by side comparisons weren't able to notice any difference in flavor. And fourth ekowool is better price.

 

[pdib]

I have both, but honestly I'm using strictly ekowool at the moment, for several reasons. The first being canadian xc-116 is not allowed for export. Second I'm not that sure on the health implications of inhaling ceramic fibers? but as I understand the ekowool is safe because it's amorphous silica, and not crystalline silica which is the dangerous stuff to avoid inhaling. And Third because others who were able to do side by side comparisons weren't able to notice any difference in flavor. And fourth ekowool is better price.

? . . . . . . . . . . you have it? . . . . .in your possession? Is vaping it = to exporting?


edit: Oh, I see. Hard to get; if you like it, getting more . . .. . like that?

 

[pdib]

I have both, but honestly I'm using strictly ekowool at the moment, for several reasons. The first being canadian xc-116 is not allowed for export. Second I'm not that sure on the health implications of inhaling ceramic fibers? but as I understand the ekowool is safe because it's amorphous silica, and not crystalline silica which is the dangerous stuff to avoid inhaling. And Third because others who were able to do side by side comparisons weren't able to notice any difference in flavor. And fourth ekowool is better price.

This is something I'm really not getting (in general, not just you, jayD). How are we inhaling our wicking material? I want to be safe; but I just can't see this. The primary way of keeping fine fibrous materials and fine particles from becoming airborne and being respired is to wet them down. (asbestos removal, jobsite dust reduction)

 

[jayD]

I can't trust EVERYTHING I read online.. Weren't people recommending to use top fin fine bubble airstones as a solution to DIY ceramic wicks, only to find out later that just may be coated in some antifungal protectant that might be hazardous as an example? And the fact that 3M has come out and very clearly stated there product is not intended to be used for e-cigs also isn't all that encouraging. I hope I'm not inhaling any wicking material, but if I decide I wanna repeatedly dry burn a fraying wick that may give off a fiber (I don't), why not make it a safe one, instead of something of questionable safety.

 

[super_X_drifter]

I have both. I never used the eKowool because I could not wrap a good coil around it and I couldn't thread it thru a coil. Its hollow, limp and flat and I found that it frays way too easily for my building style. I have sent most of it off to other vapers, holding on to a little bit incase I ever get bored enough to try to fiddle with it.

Kiln treated Nextel XC 116 1/32" hollow diameter on the other hand is much more rigid, it's round and does not fray if handled properly. I really like it. Thanks to it, I haven't even thought of rebuilding my attys in over a week. As a previous exclusively cotton user, I much prefer the Nextel cause it doesn't deform / mushroom or droop once it gets wet, wicks like crazy and vapes the same today as it did 6 hits in.

Here's how I'm wrapping my coils with it:

+1 for Nextel.

 

[jayD]

Torching the ekowool to a white glow makes it go from limp to rigid. I wet it beforehand to avoid any fraying. I don't have any problems with the xc-116, I did get some to try it out but haven't yet for the reasons mentioned above.

 

[pdib]

Not being difficult, just musing . . . .. . what happens to the ekowool, when it is torched, to make it turn from "limp" to "rigid". Is the rigidity of these fibers temporary? (That's actually a question.)

 

[Commie]

It seems temporary in my experience. It works on cord silica as well, and, coincidentally, stainless mesh

I haven't tried to get it white-hot, only orange. After that it started turning black. After it gets stiffer, just wetting it gets it soft again.

 

[IcyX]

ok. the deal is done. couple of us will have proper comparisons in a few days. Just however long it takes the postman to get it together.

Think you fellas could do a couple wicking tests with it like the gentleman did with the different grades of ss mesh? Would love to see if it wicks faster than ekowool for the same given length.

 

[Commie]

Think you fellas could do a couple wicking tests with it like the gentleman did with the different grades of ss mesh? Would love to see if it wicks faster than ekowool for the same given length.

Oh oh oh! I love that idea. I don't think I would do it quite as scientifically as Phil Busardo, and I'm too lazy to make a video, but I'm definitely gonna take pictures and post them here. Thank you for the idea.

Lemme see, I may be able to compare a few different cottons, XC, XS, Ekowool, regular silica and a couple differen SS wicks. That should be fun!

I think Russ and PDib should try it too, we can compare results!

 

[pdib]

Oh oh oh! I love that idea. I don't think I would do it quite as scientifically as Phil Busardo, and I'm too lazy to make a video, but I'm definitely gonna take pictures and post them here. Thank you for the idea.

Lemme see, I may be able to compare a few different cottons, XC, XS, Ekowool, regular silica and a couple differen SS wicks. That should be fun!

I think Russ and PDib should try it too, we can compare results!

Volunteering me!









I will definitely test and report in some fashion.

 

[vapdivrr]

hey guys the xc will be arriving soon. when it does this will be my first attempt at anything other then a genesis atty. I will be trying this stuff out in the only dripper I have, the agi,(which is now in genny mode). I have heard this xc-116 can frey if not handled correctly, can you tell me the best way to do this? and if it takes a certain device for cutting, what is the best for this? thanks

 

[super_X_drifter]

hey guys the xc will be arriving soon. when it does this will be my first attempt at anything other then a genesis atty. I will be trying this stuff out in the only dripper I have, the agi,(which is now in genny mode). I have heard this xc-116 can frey if not handled correctly, can you tell me the best way to do this? and if it takes a certain device for cutting, what is the best for this? thanks

I cut mine with sharp scissors. Minimal if any fraying. I've only frayed it by mishandling it reinserting the needle into it to adjust the coil.

I wrap the coil with the nextel on a needle tip juice bottle cap

 

[vapdivrr]

I cut mine with sharp scissors. Minimal if any fraying. I've only frayed it by mishandling it reinserting the needle into it to adjust the coil.

I wrap the coil with the nextel on a needle tip juice bottle cap

hey thanks for that. I feel like I did when I first started vaping, excited. lately i have settled on what i think is a great vape with porous ceramic and believe that it cant get much better then this, and now with this set-up there is no where else to go, so im getting bored, that's why i am trying out this dripper thing with the xc and am excited to see what all the hype is about. thanks X