Cotton
Wicking cotton is the material that carries e-liquid from the tank or the deck into the coil on a rebuildable atomiser. This collection holds 3 cotton products for builders, covering agleted cotton laces and loose organic pads from names including Wotofo and Geek Vape. Cotton is the cheapest component in any build and it has more influence on how that build tastes than almost anything else.
Use cotton that is sold specifically for vaping. Cosmetic cotton wool pads are frequently bleached or treated with binding agents and they are not manufactured to be heated, so they have no place on a coil. Vape cotton is unbleached, untreated and packaged to stay clean until you use it.
Agleted laces against loose pads
Agleted cotton comes as a length of cotton lace with stiffened tips, much like a shoelace. The aglet lets you thread the cotton straight through the coil without splitting or fraying it, which is a genuine time saver on a tight 2.5mm or 3mm build.
Loose pads are sheets or squares of organic cotton that you tear to size yourself. They cost less per build and give you complete control over density, which is why experienced builders often prefer them. The trade off is that you have to judge the amount by feel. That judgement takes a few builds to develop.
How much cotton a build actually needs
The classic mistake is packing too much in. Cotton should pass through the coil with light friction, sliding when you twist it but not moving on its own. Too little and the wick cannot hold enough liquid, which gives you a dry hit on the second or third puff. Too much and the cotton compresses inside the coil, liquid cannot travel through it and you get the same dry hit for the opposite reason.
Wicking an RDA against an RTA
On an RDA the tails simply sit in the wells beneath the coil, so they can be left slightly longer and fluffier. Liquid is dripped straight on so there is no pressure to fight. On an RTA the tails have to seal the juice ports without blocking them, which is a much finer balance. Too thin and the tank floods past the wick. Too thick and the coil starves. Cut the tails to reach the deck floor then feather them out across the port.
Breaking in a fresh wick
New cotton needs saturating before power goes anywhere near it. Drip liquid along the exposed cotton and into the tails until it is uniformly wet, then leave it a couple of minutes. Fire the coil in short low wattage pulses at first and watch for even wicking.
When to change your wick
Rewick when the flavour turns muddy, when vapour output drops or whenever you change to a very different e-liquid. Sweetened dessert and candy liquids gum a wick up fastest because sucralose caramelises in the cotton.
Delivery and support
UK delivery is free on orders over £20. If you want advice on cotton diameter for a particular coil inner diameter or you are choosing between laces and pads, the team is on 07827 210361 between 8.30am and 4.00pm. Rebuildable atomisers and the materials for them are sold to adults aged 18 and over only.
Vape cotton questions answered
Can I use normal cotton wool for vaping?
No. Cotton wool sold for cosmetic use is commonly bleached and often treated with binders or fragrance. None of it is made with heating in mind. Cotton sold for vaping is unbleached, untreated and packaged clean. It costs very little, so there is no reason to improvise with anything else.
What is agleted cotton?
Agleted cotton is supplied as a lace with stiffened tips, in the same way a shoelace has aglets. The stiff tip threads straight through the coil so the cotton does not fray or bunch on the way in. You then snip the aglets off and trim the tails to length. It is the quickest way to wick a tight coil and it wastes very little material.
Which cotton diameter should I buy?
Match it to the inner diameter of your coil. A 3mm lace suits a 3mm coil and gives light friction as it passes through, while a 6mm lace suits wider builds such as staggered or alien coils in a single coil RDA. If you build across several diameters, loose pads are more flexible because you tear each wick to size.
How do I know if I have used too much cotton?
The wick should slide when you twist it but not fall through on its own. If you have to force it into the coil you have used too much. The symptom is a dry harsh puff after two or three draws because liquid cannot travel through the compressed fibres. Pull the wick, remove a few strands then try again.
How often should I rewick?
Every few days for most builders. Rewick sooner than that if you switch to a very different flavour. Sweetened liquids gum cotton up quickest since the sweetener caramelises as it heats. The signs are a muddy taste, reduced vapour and a wick that has gone dark and stiff. The coil itself can usually be cleaned and reused several times before it needs replacing.
Do I need to be 18 to buy vape cotton?
Yes. Vaping products and the components for them are sold to adults aged 18 and over in the UK. Orders placed with Vapestore Direct are age verified before dispatch. Rebuildable atomisers assume a working knowledge of coil resistance and battery safety, so they are aimed at experienced vapers rather than beginners.