Building mesh wicks

[rainbowreality]

Hi, just got myself a smok rsst to start my journey in to the world of rba's. I've watched a few you tube tutorials and made a few attempts.

And the results very nearly choked me to death! I've subsequently found out it's probably hot spots, hot legs etc. Foul wasn't the word.

I'm wondering if there's a beginners guide to building the perfect coil and mesh wick? TBH I'd prefer it not to be a video as I find I can absorb info better if I can read instructions or look at diagrams.

Any help would be very much appreciated.

 

[pez]

Hi, just got myself a smok rsst to start my journey in to the world of rba's. I've watched a few you tube tutorials and made a few attempts.

And the results very nearly choked me to death! I've subsequently found out it's probably hot spots, hot legs etc. Foul wasn't the word.

I'm wondering if there's a beginners guide to building the perfect coil and mesh wick? TBH I'd prefer it not to be a video as I find I can absorb info better if I can read instructions or look at diagrams.

Any help would be very much appreciated.

Hello mate, try speaking to clint he's in to the Genny, I think, if not he will point you in the right direction.

 

[rainbowreality]

I'll give him a try. Cheers

 

[clint]

rainbowreality

I'm definitely no expert but best advice I can give is make sure that the wick is well oxidised by flaming it with a blow torch.
When you roll your wick, you'll notice that rolling it one way will make it tighter and rolling it the opposite way will loosen it.

There are 2 ways you can set it up. You can either drop your wick into the wick hole and then coil it or you can build your coil first then put your wick in. Either way you need to make sure that the coil is making even contact with the wick, if it doesn't it'll cause hot spots and a funky taste.

One thing you could try is find a precision screwdriver that fits snuggly in the wick hole. Wrap a coil round the screwdriver and attach the coil with the screwdriver in place of the wick. When you're happy with it, carefully remove the screwdriver and then check the resistance of the coil.

Now you want to make the wick. Cut a piece of mesh about 4cm x 3.5cm and as I already said, you need to flame it so that it's well oxidised. Now roll your mesh into a straw so that it passes through the coil and the wick hole and when it's in place, roll it in the opposite direction so that the wick and the coil makes contact.

Give it a test fire and make sure the coils are glowing evenly, adjust coils or wick if needs be and hopefully you'll be good to go.

Easy peasy! (Not). Practice makes perfect.

 

[rainbowreality]

Thank you very much Clint, much good advice!

 

[maddog72]

I wouldn't worry too much your first couple are always ropey when you first start. I don't, but I know a lot of people find it easier to roll by asking a paper clip or something similarly sized to start the roll. I am generally ham fisted and find it easier to coil my wire around a 2.5 Allen key connect it up(remove the key), check resistance and how it's lighting up. I roll my mesh, torch using a burner on my hob as I am too cheap to buy a cooks torch, drench and repeat until I have done it four times. The wick should then with a bit of tightening slide in to the coil. I prefer this way to wrapping around a wick as I have a habit of strangling the wick. It also allows me to take out the wick every few days and dry burning the coil to get rid of the gunck that builds up. BTW mesh wicks often need a breaking in period ( tank full) until they stop tasting metallic.

 

[rainbowreality]

Cheers maddog72 great advice One thing, what do you mean by drenching?

 

[LilyRed]

Hi rainbowreality - watch Todd's review on setting up the aga-s - whilst it might not be the RBA you have, he gives a great demonstration on how to set up a mesh wick; the mesh setup starts just after 9 mins in

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuMQrbtSvrk

 

[clint]

rainbowreality How you getting on mate?

 

[rainbowreality]

Waiting impatiently for more mesh supplies to arrive Clint!