A Wicking Decision: Internal or External Wicking
Most vapers understand the importance of crafting high-quality coils that are made with exceptional materials. A poorly made coil will inevitably result in a disappointing vape. One of the most crucial components of a coil is the wick.
The wick of the coil is the section that absorbs the e-liquid that's inside the atomizer. The wick must be consistently saturated with liquid in order to keep the coil from burning out. A burnt coil will result in dry hits, an unpleasant flavor and poor vapor production.
If you're still in the intermediate stages of vaping, you may find it surprising that there are two different ways to wick your coil. Those of us who have used commercial systems are familiar with internal wicking. This means that the wick is wrapped in the coil, allowing a small amount of vape juice to seep through. However, there's also external wicking. This involves wrapping the coil in the wicking material, allowing the liquid to reach the wick more easily.
Believe it or not, these two types of coils produce very different experiences. We're going to break down the pros and cons of each style. First, however, it's important to get into the different types of wick materials that are available today.
Different Types of Wick Materials
Cotton
The most popular wick material. If you're going to use cotton, you must to go for a high-quality organic cotton as it will deliver a cleaner flavor. It’s also affordable and easy to use. However, it needs to be saturated repeatedly or else it will burn out.
Mesh
Becoming increasingly popular because of its durability. Usually made from steel, mesh wicks don't burn out as easily as cotton wicks. However, this material can be pricey.
Silica
Yet another frequently used wick material. However, unlike the other materials that we have discussed, this one isn’t great for external wicking because of the way in which it absorbs juice.
Internal vs. External Wicking
Internal
The more popular method. Because the wick is inside of the coil, it's less likely to burn out because of its limited contact with the wire of the coil. One drawback, however, is that it can dry out very quickly, resulting in awful-tasting dry hits.
External
When the wick is placed outside of the coil, it can absorb a significantly higher amount of liquid. It's also less likely to dry out. Hence, vapers prefer this type of coil design. If wrapped correctly, it produces fewer dry hits. External wicks, however, can interfere with the coil's ability to reach the proper temperature. Therefore, style is not as popular.
Where You Wick It
As you can see, where you place your wick greatly impacts your overall vaping experience. Ultimately, the way in which you wick your coil is completely up to you.
Tags: wicks, wicking, materials, cotton, mesh, silica, internal, external, coil, e-liquid, e-juice, vape juice, saturate, dry hits, vaping, tips