One more opinion about SS mesh wick. How I found my sweet spot!

[xbassman]

Got one of these in route from steammonkey.com.....

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[Vaponators]

vaponators....the consensus is the ticker the wick the better. I drilled out my DUD wick hole for this reason to 7/64 inch (2.8mm). It vapes way better with the ticker wick. You want your wick to slightly hug the walls of the wick hole when your sliding it in.

I agree with spraintz...with Kanthal you don't want to make a coil with too many wraps....the device becomes too unresponsive. IMO a 4 wrap 32g coil will be more responsive than a 7 wrap 30g coil....even though the 30g wire is more responsive. I don't think a 10 wrap 28g coil would work out too well. BTW the type of setups that spraintz is talking about won't work on your lavatube....1.2ohm cutoff. If you want to experiment with 28g wire and low ohm setups you need to get a provari.

Hi EDO. Many thanks to you and spraintz for taking the time to help and for those tips. I'm going to roll a thicker piece of mesh this time (Rule62 suggested 65mm) and try a 4 wrap 32g coil as you suggested. As for getting a Provari, you're absolutely right and that's actually the very next thing on my list. Thanks again.

 

[Rule62]

For me, the 65mm I mentioned earlier was approximate, because I do as many others do, and make my coil first, using a 7/64" drill bit, and then fitting the wick to the coil, which I've already installed and connected. I used to wrap the wick around a straightened out paper clip. But I've found that I prefer the wick to be as tightly rolled as possible. So I stopped using the paper clip.

 

[Vaponators]

I got my Aga - T finally working, but have a few questions.

1. How do you determine your wraps? I see 3/4 and 5/6 but what is that. If I had to guess that would be each side of the wrap. So maybe you see 5 coils o the right, and 6 on the left where the legs to the posts are?
2. I have a 7/64 drill bit and have tried over and over to use this method, but have found the cig paper seems to work best for me. I get the coils on there spot on....but always get caught up with trying to adjust the coils.
3. Is it normal for the top (near positive post) to light up first and slowly work toward the ground? What would cause that?
4. Vapor production is great, throat hit is good, and flavor isnt bad. Is there a way to make the draw just a tad tighter without really losing the rest? It almost feels like I am sucking air through a straw (no feeling of any vapor), but when I actually inhale it hits me. Basically I cannot feel any inhale until I take it into my lungs....

So far I have sanded down the top and the air hole is over the wick.
I drilled out the air hole to 1/16 (I even used jb weld to re-drill it down to 1.3mm and liked the bigger hole better)
I am using 32awg Kanthal a-1 and 400 ss mesh. I got the pre cut mesh from clouds of vapor....if you want reference to size
I rolled my wick around a 7/64 drill bit. Then I heat it...soak 3x. Then I put vg on it, heat it, soak 3x. Then I put juice on it and burn it off with a lighter 3x.
My wraps (I think) are 5 on the right and 6 on the left where they attach to the posts. I wound the coil counter clockwise so when I tighten the positive post it actually pulls the mesh closer to the post when I tighten down.
It shows 2.3 ohms, and I am vaping at 10 watts on a Vamo
It is working ok right now, but it is not consistant. Just looking for best practices as I really like this thing.

Dont want to hi-jack so I would be happy to re-post a new thread. Any help would be appreciated.

Oh and 1 last question. Can the Aga-t be setup with dual wicks? Maybe a second one in the fill hole or something?

1. Correct. In a 5/6 wrap you would see 5 coils on one side and 6 on the opposite side.
2. I had similar problems using the paper method too and aside from the layer of oxidation, it left some residue that I didn't really want to add to my vape. Using a proper sized bit or nail to twist the coil and position it on the tank makes it easy. Then just dry burn a few times.
3. Not sure about that one. I believe an optimal coil is supposed to get hot in the center first.
4. I agree with EDO. You don't really need to mess wit the air hole. It works perfectly when everything else is set up right.
5. Good question. Haven't seen it mentioned before but that doesn't mean someone hasn't tried it.

 

[Vaponators]

Got one of these in route from steammonkey.com.....

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Great choice! I think you'll love it.

 

[Vaponators]

For me, the 65mm I mentioned earlier was approximate, because I do as many others do, and make my coil first, using a 7/64" drill bit, and then fitting the wick to the coil, which I've already installed and connected. I used to wrap the wick around a straightened out paper clip. But I've found that I prefer the wick to be as tightly rolled as possible. So I stopped using the paper clip.

Understood Rule62. I know nothing is carved in stone but your comments confirmed what I was wondering about whether or not I had made my wick too thin. I think 65mm will perform better. I'll let you all know soon.

 

[xbassman]

Great choice! I think you'll love it.

Yep... I bet you're right.
After making the purchase, I found steammonkey's threads here on ECF.

This one made me glad I bought where I did.

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/showpost.php?p=7953559

BTW I'm not affiliated with steammonkey.



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[Vaponators]

Yep... I bet you're right.
After making the purchase, I found steammonkey's threads here on ECF.

This one made me glad I bought where I did.

Steam Monkey Product Updates and Discussion: Join the Troop!

BTW I'm not affiliated with steammonkey.



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Sounds like quite a complete package. You're going to have a lot of fun with it.

 

[kbalz]

I just purchased my aga-t , and looking to get into building with ss mesh , can someone guide me to a good video or post as to how to do this , or any advice or pointers . thank you

 

[Topper]

I have my only question about this device. In my opinion whole thing are reversed!
Air hole on top cap is on 180° from the wick hole? Also the wick hole is on the other side from the pin with small screw?
In my AGA-T air hole is drilled right to the pin with smallest screw on top (where I suppose must tide negative tail of coil?)
Is in your items on the same place/side air hole?
Or I should tap it and make another 0.8mm hole on opposite side...

Thanks in advance for the answers!

 

[rem700]

Air hole needs to be lined up with the wick.
Either turn cap counter clockwise to line up and leave loose or sand the bottom of the cap until the hole lines up with wick, This is assuming you are using SS mesh otherwise the air hole needs to be in a different position.

 

[Vaponators]

I have my only question about this device. In my opinion whole thing are reversed!
Air hole on top cap is on 180° from the wick hole? Also the wick hole is on the other side from the pin with small screw?
In my AGA-T air hole is drilled right to the pin with smallest screw on top (where I suppose must tide negative tail of coil?)
Is in your items on the same place/side air hole?
Or I should tap it and make another 0.8mm hole on opposite side...

Thanks in advance for the answers!

Don't worry about the small post. You don't have to use it. I used the center post for one end of the coil and the screw near the wick hole for the other end of the coil.

As for the air hole, just do the best you can to line it up with the wick. You might have to loosen the cap about a quarter of a turn to get in near the wick. Good Luck and enjoy!

 

[napdog]

I have my only question about this device. In my opinion whole thing are reversed!
Air hole on top cap is on 180° from the wick hole? Also the wick hole is on the other side from the pin with small screw?
In my AGA-T air hole is drilled right to the pin with smallest screw on top (where I suppose must tide negative tail of coil?)
Is in your items on the same place/side air hole?
Or I should tap it and make another 0.8mm hole on opposite side...
Thanks in advance for the answers!

You can sand your top cap, to make the holes match up.

 

[Vaponators]

I just purchased my aga-t , and looking to get into building with ss mesh , can someone guide me to a good video or post as to how to do this , or any advice or pointers . thank you

I hope these help.

Rolling SS mesh - YouTube

VaporChase Tutorial - How to Make a Stainless Steel Wick - YouTube

 

[zmyoung]

Okay I am trying this right now!!! Thanks!

I've been playing around with different mesh setups since I got my AGA-T a while ago. This is my first Genesis style rebuildable and it's been fun. I watched a ton of videos on the different ways people have been making wicks and coils and then I got started. Pics below.

The first few wicks were mediocre. OK vapor, somewhat muted flavor and not much throat hit. Some metallic taste as well. After some more trial and error, I found my sweet spot using 400 SS mesh (10mm x 40mm) and 30 awg Kanthal.

1. First I prepared my SS mesh. I cut out my piece, oxidized with torch and quenched repeatedly. Rolled it using a small nail and made sure it was a nice, easy fit in the wick hole. When I was satisfied with the fit, I oxidized and quenched the rolled wick several times again to oxidize any part I might have scraped while checking the fit.

2. Heated up my Kanthal wire with a lighter to make it easier to work with and I used a slighly larger nail to twist it making a 7/8 wrap with nice tight coils. I tried the rolling paper method of oxidizing my coils in the past with varied success. So this time I decided to try dry burning it on my device. I slide the nail down into the wick hole with the coil still wrapped around it, secured the positive and negative leads, and removed the nail.

3. It fired up immediately at 1.8 ohms. Dry burned a couple of times until the coil glowed red.

4. Installed the wick by sliding it down through the coil into the tank. Perfect fit!!

5. Filled up the tank with juice, primed the wick and replaced the top cap.

6. Hit the fire button and arrived at VAPING NIRVANA!

I would love to hear any of your thoughts on your RBA's, what you think of my setup and what setup is working best for you.

Happy Vaping!
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[zmyoung]

Oops maybe I will try this one - I have a Provari

Hi EDO. Many thanks to you and spraintz for taking the time to help and for those tips. I'm going to roll a thicker piece of mesh this time (Rule62 suggested 65mm) and try a 4 wrap 32g coil as you suggested. As for getting a Provari, you're absolutely right and that's actually the very next thing on my list. Thanks again.