Help with effectively drying boiled cotton balls

[Pensilac]

I've decided to try my hand at re-wicking/coiling my PT2 heads. I boiled a bunch of cotton balls last night and this morning they are still wet.

When I first took them out of the pot I pressed them and let whatever water I could get out of them drain off and then pressed them some more with paper towels to kinda dab off whatever extra water I could. Left them sitting over night and they're still as wet as when I set them.

I had read of some people microwaving them to dry but I'm afraid they'll smell and taste like bratwurst when I'm done.

How do you all dry your cotton?

 

[Mark Anthony]

Go to CVS and buy sterile cotton.... No need to boil.

 

[Pensilac]

I had looked at that stuff but didn't think there was a CVS around here, apparently there is though about 20 minutes away so I may pick some up. Thank you for reminding me of that!

In the meantime though, I have about 20 wet cotton balls sitting on a plate that I'd like to dry so if anyone else has any input, please fill me in!

 

[AlB53]

I don't boil mine, 100% sterile cotton balls, Rite Aid. I don't get afunny taste or anything

 

[JustMe2]

I never boiled cotton before but I would think a hair dryer might work?

 

[wonner]

How about a clothes dryer? Work for all the other cotton in our lives.

 

[Ardent]

Cotton takes a long time to dry. It is probably the best wicking material out there. You don't need to boil organic cotton. You would boil wire because it might contain machine grease, metal dust/particles and other adulterations introduced during the manufacturing process, but there is no need to boil cotton. Just use it right out of the bag. Get organic cotton. Don't use bleached cotton.

If you want to use the washed cotton right away, just use a hair dryer to dry a little bit of it and use it. It does not have to be super dry either.

 

[wesdsmith95]

so whats the purpose of boiling the cotton? To remove contaminants?

 

[AlB53]

so whats the purpose of boiling the cotton? To remove contaminants?

I think so...I smoked for 45 yrs. so............

 

[Pensilac]

I don't boil mine, 100% sterile cotton balls, Rite Aid. I don't get afunny taste or anything

I got mine from Rite Aid but they don't say sterile anywhere on them and they are bleached with hydrogen peroxide. I couldn't find any others there. I got Rite Aid Renewal brand, is that what you use? If so then I've got half a bag of it dry and if they taste fine then I'll just try them unboiled.

I do not have a hair dryer unfortunately though I'm sure it would do the trick. Clothes dryer may work as well but seems a little extreme.

Thanks everyone for the responses so far!

 

[Sthur]

I just dry with paper towels and get as much out, then refluff and use. Tiny amount is ok it will just mix in and never notice.

I boil because you never know what was done to cotton and better safe then sorry.

 

[Dakota Jim]

or walgreens
or walmart (in the pharmacy dept)

I think the boiling cotton started with the people that were buying the cotton yarn (because it looked more wick like, I guess) to get rid of the chemicals used in bleaching and dyeing

The silica wick dealers are going to get upset when this trend picks up even more
silica wick 2mm - .25 to 1.00+ per foot
cotton balls - $2.00 - $3.00 per bag - about 50-75 feet (if you aren't wasting it - but really, who's going to worry about brushing off a dropped cotton ball?)

 

[Subdivisions]

Try unrolling them. They are usually just strips that are rolled up

 

[AlB53]

I got mine in the first aid section..

 

[ions]

most sterile/organic cotton is cleaned with hydrogen peroxide (my bag of organic cotton says so on the bag) and do not get sprayed with any pesticides. You can boil if you want but it is not needed since hydrogen peroxide isn't toxic (its in most mouth washes you buy at the store). I boil mine just for peace of mind and use a hair dryer.

 

[AlB53]

We have 2 B&M here Utica/Rome , do you go to there? or on line?

 

[Spazmelda]

You could put them in a pillowcase and stick them in the dryer.

 

[DoogieTony]

What I did was: press as much liquid out as possible with paper towels, get a needle and thread, pull the thread through the cotton balls leaving a gap between each ball, tied the yarn to 2 coat hangers and hung the cotton up to dry overnight.

Worked great.

 

[JeremyR]

What I've been doing is Let it drip in strainer, I try to avoid pressing too much. Then I make a stack of paper towels and set it on them lay a big stack on top laying one by one, lightly making the paper towels contact the cotton well. The paper into the cotton just to get it wicking all over , let the towels absorb the water from the cotton. Repeat if needed. Better paper towels absorb more. Then I set mine out on a paper plate over night and its dry as a bone in the am. You can just Set under a ceiling fan or near a heating vent. Air movement really helps to dry it.

 

[Bunnykiller]

If I have doubts about my cotton, I dampen it, nuke it for 3 min at hi and its dry when done. I went for 5 min and ended up with nastyness. the cotton was almost "crumbly/crunchy" after 5 min in the microwave. Hey you learn by trying or reading the mistakes of others .