Zen~ Family Reunion

[Hawaiiboay]

I'm going to stick my two cents in here on this one.....

There have been "tests" done by many people on which mesh is the "best".
My favorite one was done by Mike himself.

What he did was had a few of his workers test different pieces of mesh he had labeled 325, 400, 475, and 500.
He had them make note of which was best for taste, wicking, etc. regardless of the PG/VG ratio of their particular juice.

Across the board, they ALL chose the 475.
The result? There is no 475. In fact, all of the pieces of mesh that they tested were all the same, cut off of the same large sheet of mesh.
There was no difference what so ever between any piece of mesh given to them to test.

That said, your oxidation process and the thickness of your wick is what is going to make the most difference to you.
The insulator is there for beginners and advanced "rollers" alike, to make the wrapping processes easier.

I use the same mesh in all of my gennies. The "fatter" the wick, the better it wicks. For me.
Regardless of the PG/VG ratio.
There is no "better" mesh for higher VG or higher PG.

The fatter the wick, the less wrap of wire you will need, it's basically the same amount of wire, just going around the fatter wicks less often. In other words, if you wrap 5 times around a skinny wick and 3 times around a fat wick, you're basically using the same amount of wire.

The ONLY gauge of wire Mike recommends for the Zen products regardless of mesh or ceramic, is 32g.
And the red AW IMR batteries.

Get yourself some 32g.

If your juice is literally catching fire, I would try adding or dropping wraps until you get a wrap that isn't catching fire.
If by burning you mean boiling or bubbling around the wire, your wire isn't tight enough.

If by burning you mean "dry" hits, it's not wicking fast enough to keep up with your vaping style.
Try tipping more or attempting to take less consecutive hits until the ceramic breaks in.
(I haven't really tried the ceramic so I don't know much about it)

And let us know how you're doing.....

Thanks for the info. Last night I did realize the wick was also boiling around the ceramic wick. I did a heat wrap but maybe I still got some open spaces. But, being ceramic isn't it not possible to have the wick not have spaces?

 

[K-man]

Vegas .

Absofreakinlutely! I may even take Ian against his will as a pre-wedding gift

I had to pass on Florida, but I did the next best thing, Rochester! The old man is doing great getting his new massive shop up and running, and trying to keep his sanity as he prepares for Florida and the new Z2. The Z2 is a thing of beauty...trust me. I even got to help package and pack some of the Limited sets You guys are gonna love them! Still got some catching up to do here and then more Rat ball busting later, sooooo, I'll catch you all on the flip side

 

[andyman97]

Sounds like you've got some really bad shorts and hot spots. First off, make sure you're wrapping the coil like this:



Wrap the coil tight enough that it's touching the wick everywhere but not so tight that it's kinking the wick. Get the top coil as close to the positive post as you can without letting the wick touch the post or screw. Make sure to adjust your coils as you're setting it up by poking and prodding the wick and coil until it glows nice and evenly. Syringe the juice out before that so the wick dries as the coil heats up.

 

[UnFettered_Soul]

Thanks for the info. Last night I did realize the wick was also boiling around the ceramic wick. I did a heat wrap but maybe I still got some open spaces. But, being ceramic isn't it not possible to have the wick not have spaces?

What Andy said in the post above mine.
Also... I think I read where you said your mesh was coming apart?

Start over with a fresh piece of mesh. (and some 32g wire)
Roll it up to the size you want.

Use a torch or even your kitchen stove.
Burn it red all the way across. Burn it red all the way across a second time.

You're after a dark grey color and it being stiff. Not brittle, just stiff.

Insert it in a dry tank, using the diagram Andy supplied, wrap your desired number of wraps.
Pulse fire, have patience. Pulse fire until it glows evenly.

Add juice, tip upside down to get the wick wet.
Tip it to where you would normally vape and fire it with the cap off.
Check for any red wire or boiling juice.

Let us know how it goes.

Edited to add:
I don't know much about the ceramic wicks, as I haven't used them much.
There are some in here who have, and I'm certain they will post to help you.

 

[K-man]

I am such a happy vaper this morning. I didn't think it was going to be possible but I managed to get a brand new Bam. I just got it set up and it works great. I'm so happy with it. Another very nice addition to my Zen collection.

This PV was sold to me at cost by an amazing Zenfidel. It's nice to know that not everybody in the ecig world is trying to make a profit off of you. This means a ton to me. What goes around comes around. Thank you K-man

You are so very welcome. I'm sure you feel as I do, in that I think it is absolutely amazing to find a like minded vaper and fellow ..... (mod ..... that is ) locally. I thought I might be the only Zenfidel this side of Toronto. I honestly think I have the largest and best Zen collection in Canada, and I KNOW that it will one day pale beside yours. Enjoy my friend!

P.S. to the rest of you. Macdo in every way, is one of us. Generous, kind, and honorable. Those are qualities that you all have, and that have made this thread the family it is. I was lucky to meet someone like the rest of you, right here in Ottawa. We've all come to understand that being a Zenfidel is based on a state of mind, not ownership. I'm quite confidant that macdo is a Zenfidel through and through.

 

[Larzis]

Vegas .

Think there are going to be two shows/fest/etc in September, Vegas and LA area, and I think both are on the same weekend. Too far out for me to figure if I will go to anything in Sept, but kinda leaning towards LA.

 

[RDY]

Mahalos for all your input and knowledge to everyone. I have a few things to look at doing to help. Currently at work so when j get home I'm gonna a drive my gf mad trying to figure some of this out. Haha. I did have one more question I forgot to ask about last night, I was having an issue with my wick breaking apart. It was 400 ss mesh and after it was wrapped and oxidized I used it for a few days and after pulling g the top piece off I seen little black pieces everywhere n noticed that it looked like the kenthal (30 gauge at the time) was burning the mesh. Is that at all normal?

You better call the fire dept your house is about to burn down


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Paradisevap]

I dont get the whole touching it red to death business, after a good rinse or boil and alcohol rinse, I just burn some alcohol off it a couple times (I do use my mini torch but not needed) then I roll it up and burn a couple drops of juice off each end of the wick a couple times wrap pulse and Vape On

 

[Fox5]

Hi everyone
it's been a while since I've logged on, I've been busy with life and all but I'm still vaping every day. Though I have a few Zenisis to use my daily driver for the past year or so is my pro mini love this combo and has for me made everything else I have obsolete.

So no to my Q: anyone know where I can purchase some new quarts tanks today or soon? I see electronix is closed and there's none to be found on house of hybrids. Over the last year or so I've managed to break 6 of them and have cannibalized the other Zens for there's, now I'm down to the last one. Also how do you like the SS tanks? I've never been a fan because I want to know how much joose I have left but might get one for an emergency back up.

Thanks

 

[Paradisevap]

Welcome Macdo ^^^ what K man said .

 

[TalkingCactus]

Good morning all



Somebody said I won the contest so I got stuck with the bill. How much is it?

Hi PG, I think that was ParadiseVap who said that. Don't worry bout it, I'm covering it.

I just wanted to give a little back to a community that has given me so much (knowledge shared through this very thread, tolerance of my bad posts, n so on). I've really enjoyed my short time here w/you all! That's it, no contest, no big deal. Just PM me your address n I'll mail you a section of Nextel to try out for yourself.

 

[RDY]

I'm on a quest to find some cutter
Some shocker
Or carny
What about it

 

[TalkingCactus]

Wow Annie you just answered something for me about why my SW is being a PITA and you didnt really even mean to! OK I am off to make it work or kick its ....................whatever has to happen will!

Lily! That's exactly what I was just trying to say in my post before this one. For the most part I have always read each n every post when I've been away, until I'm caught up (except for once or twice). And it's in reading everyone's input that I've found many gems. Sometimes, like yourself Lily, I'm just reading along n I have an "ah-ha" moment. Everything I've learned here made it so easy when it came time to set up my first gennie! The second n third times I did it, my coils lit up all the way around right off. A thing of beauty I tell ya!

 

[Hawaiiboay]

What Andy said in the post above mine.
Also... I think I read where you said your mesh was coming apart?

Start over with a fresh piece of mesh. (and some 32g wire)
Roll it up to the size you want.

Use a torch or even your kitchen stove.
Burn it red all the way across. Burn it red all the way across a second time.

You're after a dark grey color and it being stiff. Not brittle, just stiff.

Insert it in a dry tank, using the diagram Andy supplied, wrap your desired number of wraps.
Pulse fire, have patience. Pulse fire until it glows evenly.

Add juice, tip upside down to get the wick wet.
Tip it to where you would normally vape and fire it with the cap off.
Check for any red wire or boiling juice.

Let us know how it goes.

Edited to add:
I don't know much about the ceramic wicks, as I haven't used them much.
There are some in here who have, and I'm certain they will post to help you.

Thanks for the info. As far as setting up the wick that's the way j have it set up. And as for oxidizing the mesh I've been rolling it then torching it 4 or 5 times til red hot then drenching it with juice n burning the juice off 5times or so. Then installing it.

 

[Hawaiiboay]

Sounds like you've got some really bad shorts and hot spots. First off, make sure you're wrapping the coil like this:



Wrap the coil tight enough that it's touching the wick everywhere but not so tight that it's kinking the wick. Get the top coil as close to the positive post as you can without letting the wick touch the post or screw. Make sure to adjust your coils as you're setting it up by poking and prodding the wick and coil until it glows nice and evenly. Syringe the juice out before that so the wick dries as the coil heats up.

Thanks for the diagram. That's how I have my wick setup. I heat the coil up to wrap it and make sure it heats up (red hot) evenly. After that I add my juice. I have no idea what's going on. I'm guessing more or less it's just not soaking up the juice fast enough

 

[TalkingCactus]

And in the same class/conversation as the mesh story, I believe he said why he still send the 2 sizes..... but I don't recall it right now.
My point though, is it doesn't really matter what size your mesh is, if it's working for you.
You would get more of a difference in the oxidation and size of the piece you're rolling up than you will in the "thread count".

Annie, I have always crimped the top of my wicks flat n even bent over just slightly n my juice is always crystal clear down to the last drop. While that might not be why, I tend to believe it is. My MFA came that way from Mike, I've read to do that to prevent darkening here on this thread n it has worked for me. So, I tend to think that's it. Do you do this w/the wicks where you're having dark juice issues?

I think this photo shows how I do the tops, but on my AGA-T+ that I finally set up (after having it sit, new, for months).

 

[Nathanial]

Is there any Zenfidels here that know much about domaining? I own a vape related domain name, and somebody emailed me interested in buying it. Send me off a PM if you'd be willing to give me any advice

Hope everyone is doing well!

 

[Projectguy]

Good evening everyone. I'm still kickin. Darn near got blown off of the road a couple of times last night while doing transfers in the rain in a squad with a broken air conditioner.

Glad to see you safe and sound

 

[TalkingCactus]

Is there any Zenfidels here that know much about domaining? I own a vape related domain name, and somebody emailed me interested in buying it. Send me off a PM if you'd be willing to give me any advice

Hope everyone is doing well!

Check your PMs

 

[Projectguy]

Mahalos for all your input and knowledge to everyone. I have a few things to look at doing to help. Currently at work so when j get home I'm gonna a drive my gf mad trying to figure some of this out. Haha. I did have one more question I forgot to ask about last night, I was having an issue with my wick breaking apart. It was 400 ss mesh and after it was wrapped and oxidized I used it for a few days and after pulling g the top piece off I seen little black pieces everywhere n noticed that it looked like the kenthal (30 gauge at the time) was burning the mesh. Is that at all normal?

Some thoughts on lowering the temperature on the first and last coils:

1. Maybe a wrap or two more might cool things down
2. Put a kink in it man! one at where the top coil departs the wick and at the bottom where it meets the wick.... dam where are my crayons?
3. Miscellaneous Question: How many g's did you pull? And what were you flying?

PS Welcome to de tread