Dry hits on a iStick PICO 75

[Lostaboveall]

Ok so I'm still only 3 weeks into switching to vaping and this week I am encountering a new problem, the joys of dry hits, so I'm after advice on how to avoid it.

I'm using a Melo 3 tank with 0.3 ohm coils.

I generally vape between 42-55 watts depending on what juice I'm using.

I think I'm priming coils ok - when I'm switching juice or post cleaning I'll let it sit for 8 hours plus.

It could be possible that I am inadvertantly drawing to quickly, or drawing too often.

Someone was telling me to tip the tank 180 degrees from time to time - seems to help but I'm not sure.

Looking forward to getting some advice off people.

 

[The Cromwell]

Cleaning when switching?
You are not washing your coils are you?

 

[Lostaboveall]

Nah not cleaning the coils, I normally just replace them once a week unless the flavour drops right off.

 

[The Cromwell]

Don't have that tank. Could it be higher VG ejuice? High VG juice can cause wicking problems in factory coils.

 

[skt239]

When you start a new coil, are you going right to 45-55 watts or do you slowly work your way up? You should always start low and increase the wattage over the course of a few minutes, that might help. Are you getting at least a week out of the coil before it starts dry hitting?

 

[Lostaboveall]

The current company I use for eJuice VG is between 74-79% depending on the flavour.

 

[Lostaboveall]

When you start a new coil, are you going right to 45-55 watts or do you slowly work your way up? You should always start low and increase the wattage over the course of a few minutes, that might help. Are you getting at least a week out of the coil before it starts dry hitting?

Not to start with, but I have started building up the wattage slower - but I am starting at 40W - so go slower maybe?

My 0.3 ohm coils I'm getting a good week out of.

I use a 0.5 ohm coil in a different tank and that one is lasting me probably pushing 2 weeks now.

 

[skt239]

Not to start with, but I have started building up the wattage slower - but I am starting at 40W - so go slower maybe?

My 0.3 ohm coils I'm getting a good week out of.

I use a 0.5 ohm coil in a different tank and that one is lasting me probably pushing 2 weeks now.

Sounds like you are priming right. You could try and start lower...

So the dry hits occur throughout the week or near the end? I think a week to two weeks is average, two weeks being above. You could also try poking a few small holes in the cotton on the wicking ports.

 

[Lostaboveall]

I'm wondering whether its me getting more used to vaping now.....

I can see that the coils I'm using are smaller then say Smok ones, so I'm thinking whether I am drawing between puffs too quickly and not allowing the cotton enough time to soak up juice.

I'll give the poking holes a go.

 

[HondaDavidson]

If you are getting more the 2 or 3 days from Melo coils you are doing better than i ever did........

High VG juice can wick slower and build more vacuum.. that tipping the tank thing is about equalizing the pressures in the tank. Too little vacuum results in leaks too much a starved coil.
All this could just be a sub par batch of coils also. Some dont work as good as others and I found bad coils come in groups. Main reason I learned to build my own.

 

[Alter]

No matter what coil it is it requires some breakin time. Using lower power setting then gradually going up is the only way. I could take a tank or two or up to a couple days vaping depending on how much you vape to cure the wicking so it will perform, once experienced a few times you'll know when the power can be increased some. Rushing the breakin process only leads to dryhits cause the wick is still too green and doesn't efficiently pull juice. Poking holes into the wick also helps loosen it but the breakin period of a wick is crucial. Another dead giveaway is if the new coil has a taste then longer of a breakin time could be needed.
So take it easy with the new coil, allow it to breakin and it will last much longer.
If the wicking is cotton, the juice goes to the coil inside the fiber thus the fibers expand. Every time you over heat the coil your burning and plugging up the cotton fibers until there are no more or so few fibers left to pull juice with then dryhitting begins from lack of juice getting to the coil then add pulling too hard to get the vape.....cooked coil.

 

[SteveS45]

My Melo III Mini used to vapor lock causing me to burn coils so when I start to feel like the vapor is fading I open the top and see air bubbles come out of the coil as it gets saturated. I also fire it below 30 Watts. Good Luck