RJMonette88 wrote: ↑May 13th, 2020, 1:32 pm This is all really great info. Thank you! I know nothing about e-cigs or vapes, so your wisdom is greatly appreciated! I did not change the coil, so I'm sure that potentially has something to do with it. Any tips on changing the coil?
Tips?
Heck, loads.... I'll try not to overload you with too much.
As a quick primer:
Essentially a vape is just a wire coil that heats up when current passes through it, bit like a lightbulb element.
This coil is wrapped in a cotton wick, which soaks up the eliquid like in an oil lamp.
When the coil heats up, it heats the liquid on the wick, vapourising it. When you draw on the e-cig, or in your case pump air through the intake, that vapour billows out the mouthpiece in nice white clouds.
So, that's the fundamentals of how just about every vape works and what's going on with this kit.
There's a bit more to it when you get into things like Sub-Ohming for those ridiculously big clouds, and you do have to be careful not to have too low a resistance on the coils, as you can exceed the maximum continuous discharge current of your battery, with
explosive end results. Most reputable coils have their resistance clearly stated (usually printed right on them) and there are plenty of online "vape calculators" that help you figure out the maximum safe voltage or wattage for that coil.
One major component of eliquid is Vegetable Glycerine and it's this part that produces the clouds. The higher the VG content, the thicker the clouds (and the more smoke alarms you'll upset!
). VG is an extract from things like soybean and coconut, and is a thick, syrupy, sweet liquid. Because the coil is actually touching the soaked wick, continually heating VG leads to a build-up of 'burnt sugar' gack on the coil, which inhibits the wicking process and eventually your coil will burn out. This is why it needs replacing after a time. How often depends on use.
As for filling... It can depend greatly on which atomiser you have. If you know exactly which one, let me know and I'll look further into it for you.
However, looking at the diagram posted above, that one looks like a standard Clearomiser. I heard Kanger T2 mentioned somewhere...
That's pretty easy, but best shown in a video (there are loads):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHJt9mAKEfU Tip 1: Wait about 10 minutes after filling, to let the wick (strings) saturate and soak the coil, or you could risk burning the atomiser out. At best, that will make your vented vapour smell like burnt cotton. At worst, you burn the actual coil wire and it breaks.
Tip 2: Some similar models of Clearomiser by other brands are filled from the bottom. Make sure you put the liquid between the coil and the inside of the clear tank.
The video above shows a glass dropper, but you might want to make use of a unicorn bottle with a needle nosed tip (they only cost 50p or so) instead.
Tip 2a: Do NOT put the liquid down the central tube or you'll find it leaking straight out and into your hand... and it's an icky sticky mess to clean up. Think Venkman after sampling the ectoplasmic residue off the library drawers... but worse!!
Speaking of which, most models of atomiser do NOT like being upside down or even laid flat for several hours, and can leak their entire tank out the end.
Tip 3: VG is a
thick liquid. If your mixture is too thick, it won't wick properly and your wick will burn. Too thin and it will leak.
For something like the Kanger I would normally suggest no thicker than 50% VG, but that is usually mixed with 50% PG (Propylene Glycol). You can buy 50:50 VG/PG unflavoured and nicotine free eliquid easy enough, but a small number of people are sensitive to PG.
There's no real need for PG in this kit, as you're not vaping on it, but too much water can upset the balance due to its lower boiling point. Try around 40:60 VG-water and spend some time experimenting with just the kit uninstalled.
Another alternative is 25:75 ratio of VG to Propanediol.
Tip 3a: When mixing your own, it's often easier to do it by weight than volume.
Bonus DVD tip: I haven't seen exactly how these vent kits look when assembled, but you'll want as much air as possible to be pumped
directly into the airflow of the e-cig. You'll get better clouds that way and it will help keep your coil cool, increasing longevity.
Some atomisers have the intake up the centre, others have it on the side somewhere. A few even have it up top.
UK vape tanks/atomisers are limited by law to 2ml capacity, but other countries allow more.
Blimey... Sorry, got a bit carried away there.
Hopefully this has been of some use to you and anyone else reading this. I'll do my best to answer any further questions anyone might have.