This will pertain specifically to the Vandy Vape Kylin RTA and the Geek Vape Ammit Dual Coil RTA. Of course if any other RTAs with similar deck designs come around it may help with them too.
Problem
With even the most meticulous wicking job, these tanks tend to “weep” liquid. It’s so subtle that it’s almost impossible to detect where it’s coming from. Normally you’ll just see it pooled slightly around the bottom of the RTA on your mod, but can’t see where it’s coming from. Naturally most people will assume it’s coming from the 510 or the AFC.
Solution
Let me offer a disclaimer here. I only know how it’s helped me. I’ve not gotten any feedback from anyone else who has tried it so I can’t verify this truly works, only that I’ve had success.
What you do is once you’ve got your build made, and wicks inserted into the coils, you cut the cotton to the length you want, then rest a toothpick under those tails like so…
Now, wet the tucked wicks as that will make them hold their form. Then gently remove the toothpick. If you do it correctly you’ll see a little daylight from the side where the toothpick was.
The goal is to keep the wicks from touching the part of the build deck where the bottom air flow is. Otherwise (my theory anyway) this allows juice to seep from your wicks and pool onto the deck, then make its way ever so gingerly down the air holes.
If you try this and it works for you, please leave a comment below. I know I can’t be the only one to have problems with this issue. And believe me, the vape off these RTAs is just too damn good to let a little seepage get in the way of the fun.
I don’t use a tooth pick, but I also make sure that my cotton does not touch the bottom airflow. I also figured that if the cotton had contact, juice would slowly seep though the airflow.
Nope. Not common enough, anyway. I’ve read a lot here on ELR and I’d never heard this before. Doesn’t mean much, but it does mean something. Good info to know, especially with a tank this good, to keep from giving up too quickly.
I did this with my Kylin earlier and so far it’s not seeping. I’ve run two 2ml tanks and so far the top of the mod is still dry. Fingers crossed.
Not sure what that’s supposed to mean so maybe I’m not understanding correctly. You referenced the Kylin build deck, which I’m familiar with because it’s similar to the Ammit Dual, which I have. But they aren’t mutually exclusive in terms of air flow concepts. And maybe this is where clarification is needed.
So besides having their AF holes centered on the deck how are they different from all the others with side locations?
It was not my intention nor would I ever try to derail this/any thread. There was nothing said here that would motivate me to do that. And after re-reading what I said it may have come off as sounding a bit condescending. If that’s how it was taken, I apologize.
So if I may, let me re-phrase my response…
It is my understanding and experience that caution is called for in terms of wicks touching anywhere close to the deck of ANY tank (not just the Kylin or Ammit Dual) designed with bottom AF holes. And I made the assumption that anyone that has used these types of tanks would know this. Is it safe to assume that your toothpick idea (which is very cool BTW) was for the benefit of those unfamiliar with that type of AF design? Or am I way out in the corn field somewhere?
Thanks for clearing it up. I did take it as condescending and basically a slap in the face. Good to know that wasn’t your intentions.
Common knowledge (or common sense, for that matter) is a misnomer. There’s not much common to it IMO. Yeah, most people who build should know the deal with wicks touching surfaces that have airflow, and I’d venture a guess that most do. However, this deck makes it rather difficult to see what’s happening with the underside of the wick once they’re tucked in. I feel like building a wider coil - one that extends out to or just past the edge of the deck - could mitigate the need to do anything further than simply tucking the tails. But look at this build - it’s my preferred one and it’s easy to see the wicks coming out of the coil ends have plenty of room to touch where they shouldn’t…
Maybe as I said if you built wider ones they would naturally keep the wicks from touching the deck. For this build though I wanted the number of windings I had so as to prevent a longer ramp up time.
As for similarities and differences between the two decks - well you can check but the differences are very scant as to be almost non existent -
Looks groove to me. Although I try to keep the cotton away from the air intakes, it is often difficult for me to ensure I have done so. This looks like a very good method for me to try and I will do so. Yes, I have a few that slowly “seep” over time. I also like the fact that it creates a smoothed curve for the cotton as apposed to a sharp bend. That may not matter with the wicking of ejuice, but I know it effects the movement of liquids in other circumstances. Thanks for sharing!
Actually I “know” the cotton isn’t suppose to get close to the air holes but never really thought about anything else, never thought about the cotton being the cause of why I always have weeping issues with my tanks… just never dawned on me that is what might be causing it and just thought it was the “nature of the beast” and something I just had to deal with. I’ll be cracking my tanks (ya I know not a good term when talking about tanks), this eve and trying it (opening the cotton distance away from the decks). Thanks for pointing this out.
@jojo tried this yesterday and got a bit of success, but then weeping again.
I did this on Wednesday of last week on my Ammit and all was good till today. Weeping again.
So I’m not sure why this would cause a slowing of the weeping, but it appears that may be all it does. I’ll have to try again and again, see if a patter develops.
Might be over a period of time the weight of the liquid on the wicking material pulls the wicking material back down on the deck so it’s touching it again. I know my tanks don’t have a lot of room under the chimney, and that (the wicking material against the inside of the chimney) my be allowing the juice to seep down…?
