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RTA Tastes Like Cotton (but not burnt?)

JustYourAverageVapeGuy

Member For 3 Years
Hey guys, I'm still new at making RTA/RBA's, and I've encountered something odd. I put together an RTA earlier today. I used one of the pre-made coils and the cotton that came with my Kanger Nebox. I made sure to prime the coil, but I have a problem; the vapor production has dropped significantly, and it just tastes like cotton. It doesn't taste burnt at all; just cotton. I thought this was really strange... I don't have any photos to show, but I'm pretty sure that I used enough cotton. Anyone know what's up?
 

AmandaD

Platinum Contributor
Member For 4 Years
Cotton can take a bit to break in. The RBA for the Nebox works well though, but you need get the amount of wick right so it performs properly. You may have too much wick - a pic would help if you can take one! Otherwise I'd suggest you search you tube videos for a relatively recent one of wicking the kanger subtank RBA (it's the same RBA).
 

Jimi D

Gold Contributor
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Member For 5 Years
I roll my wicks tight. I use cotton pads. If I don't use enough I taste cotton as well. When you feed it through it should feel tight. Then work it back and forth until there is some resistance. I then add my juice. I saturate and let it soak in for a few minutes. I then fire it up, and blow on the coils. I keep feeding juice, and blowing for about 10 times or so. I then let it cool down. Tastes fantastic after my ritual Lol
 

JustYourAverageVapeGuy

Member For 3 Years
Here's a picture
Cotton can take a bit to break in. The RBA for the Nebox works well though, but you need get the amount of wick right so it performs properly. You may have too much wick - a pic would help if you can take one! Otherwise I'd suggest you search you tube videos for a relatively recent one of wicking the kanger subtank RBA (it's the same RBA).
 

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raymo2u

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This is why I use Cotton Bacon V2, no nasty break in taste, even on the first draw...
 

Jimi D

Gold Contributor
ECF Refugee
Member For 5 Years
This is why I use Cotton Bacon V2, no nasty break in taste, even on the first draw...
I taste metal more than cotton when its a fresh build. Cotton bacon is good stuff but I wish they made them in pads.
 

Goodrat

Member For 4 Years
For cotton I like CVS sterile cotton balls. A little taste at first few hits, then clean. Lately I have been using Cellucotton from sally beauty supply. Store near by has cheap small bags instead of the megga box.
.
 

raymo2u

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I taste metal more than cotton when its a fresh build. Cotton bacon is good stuff but I wish they made them in pads.
Make sure your washing your coils before you use them! I tried explaining this in the wire resistance thread also...you ever notice the smoke that appears and that smell when you first fire a coil? thats your skin matter and oils on the coil burning and it can soak into the cotton and help cause that nasty metallic or burnt taste if you dont wash them before use!!!

I didnt touch any of this wire beside holding the spool for the wrap to wrap on...see all those skin particals and other matter? It gets worse when zoomed in more then 10x Macro!

Macro Framed Staple.png
 

raymo2u

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Re-Wicked the coil. How does this look? Too much cotton? You were right, it wasn't very tight on the last one; this one is.
It looks a bit much but it may work fine, I like having the cotton be able to slide in and out with slight resistance...but if your juice is thinner then 80Vg then it will work fine if its really tight.
 

Ryedan

Silver Contributor
Member For 4 Years
Re-Wicked the coil. How does this look? Too much cotton? You were right, it wasn't very tight on the last one; this one is.

I vaped 90% VG for a while and am currently at 90% PG. I use Koh Gen Doh cotton mostly these days and sometimes rayon, depending on the setup. With the KGD I get the best results with a lot of cotton in a coil. Same with rayon, but I stuff a bit more in there with that. Neither give me any noticeable break-in time if I get it right.

It's easy to replace a wick, so it's easy to experiment with this stuff. My idea of what 'a lot' of cotton is could be way different from yours. I tried using more and less cotton than what I was used to with a given PG/VG ratio and found what worked for me. Once I got the hang of it my vape experience got better.

Experiment with it and you'll see what works for you :)
 

s20700134

Member For 4 Years
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My personal way to wick rta's is on the lighter side in a nutshell. I make sure it's somewhat dense, however fluffy at the same time. The cotton itself that goes through the cotton physically takes up room. If it's too dense through the coil, there's less room for juice on tap for the initial draw. I do a roll, but start fluffy with a lot of squish. Then after I start rolling a little tighter. It makes for a robust wick as far as what makes contact with the coil, but fluffy enough to hold juice. It should be similar in density and give to the kind of strings that usually go through a hoodie...maybe slightly firmer. And for the ends that go on the sides, I use some sharp tip tweezers to comb out and thin them out. I've also tried threading my roll through the wicking holes and through the coil then trimming the outside. Might work for you. Sorry about the essay
Also, make sure you rotate and pull back and fourth a tiny bit to further fluff the wick.
 

Ryedan

Silver Contributor
Member For 4 Years
I agree with BoomStick. Pics help for this stuff, so here are a few shots of my Aromamizer RDTA and Psywar Onslaught wicked with Koh Gen Do cotton.

I put enough material inside the coils so when the wicks are wet there is firm pressure on the inside of the coils. I then trim the bottom and sides of the wick tails making them a bit smaller in diameter. I am also careful not to have any wicking touching any of the outside of the coils underneath so all the coil surface area is making vapor and I have air flow all around them.

2vagkdv.jpg


With the Aromamizer tank I make sure the wick tails are just tickling the top of the deck or slightly above it so I'm sure I didn't block the juice holes. It will leak if on its side, but if I close off the air flow it doesn't leak and I'm good with that. I like never getting a burnt hit :)

fp2d5y.jpg


The wick tails:

25usfw3.jpg


I like to drip other flavors into my atties on the go and I find the less wicking I have in there the better this works too.

Now this is what works for me, but as always YMMV. I've seen guys use a heck of a lot more wicking in their builds and it works fine for them. Like I said, it's easy to experiment with this stuff so trying a few approaches to this can't hurt.

Hope this helps a bit and good luck with it :cool:
 

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