Mesh & Coil Nightmare

[chrisjw]

I'm having one of them days.... I've attempted to do my AGA-T 4 times now & each time it shorts out....Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!........

[chrisjw]

*Update.......5 times............... >

[4madcats]

Yep don't you just love the Aga-t . . . . . . actually I do when I can get it set up right, but the problem I have with mine is to get the center post tight enough to make sure I don't get any leaks, it's pulling the center post up so I lose connection

Thought I'd got it sussed by ordering some SS micro washers. All I need is one to thread the center post through at the bottom & stop it from recessing.

So they arrived today . . . . & the numpty has sent me nylon washers, perfect size but blerdy nylon

What with that & a nasty letter from HRMC think I might just crawl back into bed.

[scaffman69]

Maybe give it a whirl useing wire and wick instead of wire and mesh, much easier to do iff its doing your head in.

[chrisjw]

6................. >

[Skwoddy]

Use some silica wick, go back to it tomorrow with a fresh head, you'll only grow to hate it otherwise and not use it. I recall being in the same position and physically threw a did clone across the room, next day, first time, go figure.

[Deleted]

Argh I hate days like that so frustration

Now I wonder if you will make it to 10 !!

[chrisjw]

Attempt no. 7 & eureka!!!!!!!!!......... ....Must admit skwoddy, I haven't tried the silica wick in it yet.... That actually looks more of a nightmare.........but I refuse to be beaten..........

[chrisjw]

Jan 12, 2013 14:09:53 GMT lisa said:

Argh I hate days like that so frustration

Now I wonder if you will make it to 10 !!

Got the wee f**k sussed with 3 attempts remaining .....

[4madcats]

Not sure how silica as opposed to mesh will stop it shorting, & personally I find it more of a faff using silica in the Aga.

I always leave the syringe needle/paperclip, whatever I've used to wrap the mesh wick, in the wick when I wrap the coil, Just gives the wick some support & you can get the coil tight enough without strangling the wick. Also means you can play around with the coils without distorting the wick.
Only when I'm happy with the coils do I remove the support & gently push the wick over to the center post to get rid of any bridge. Give the wire one full wrap around the center post to get rid of any slack then tighten the top nut.

[Deleted]

Congratulations

[4madcats]

Yay just seen you've sussed it

Had a day like that on Thursday trying to do a Cobra . . . . if it hadn't been so expensive it would have ended up on the stove

[chrisjw]

Spoke too soon...........it just blew again.........I coil them the same way as you madcat, but for some reason today, it's being a nightmare.......

it's shorting from the top post

[Skwoddy]

Jan 12, 2013 14:17:28 GMT 4madcats said:

Not sure how silica as opposed to mesh will stop it shorting, & personally I find it more of a faff using silica in the Aga.

I always leave the syringe needle/paperclip, whatever I've used to wrap the mesh wick, in the wick when I wrap the coil, Just gives the wick some support & you can get the coil tight enough without strangling the wick. Also means you can play around with the coils without distorting the wick.
Only when I'm happy with the coils do I remove the support & gently push the wick over to the center post to get rid of any bridge. Give the wire one full wrap around the center post to get rid of any slack then tighten the top nut.

Silica can't short as there is no metal, SS mesh on the other hand is Steel and will short, the only issue I found with silica is two of the wraps of coil may touch together which lowers resistance. The other potential issue is feeding the silica through the wick hole but wetting the ends with juice helps.

[chrisjw]

Jan 12, 2013 14:36:41 GMT Skwoddy said:

Jan 12, 2013 14:17:28 GMT 4madcats said:

Not sure how silica as opposed to mesh will stop it shorting, & personally I find it more of a faff using silica in the Aga.

I always leave the syringe needle/paperclip, whatever I've used to wrap the mesh wick, in the wick when I wrap the coil, Just gives the wick some support & you can get the coil tight enough without strangling the wick. Also means you can play around with the coils without distorting the wick.
Only when I'm happy with the coils do I remove the support & gently push the wick over to the center post to get rid of any bridge. Give the wire one full wrap around the center post to get rid of any slack then tighten the top nut.

Silica can't short as there is no metal, SS mesh on the other hand is Steel and will short, the only issue I found with silica is two of the wraps of coil may touch together which lowers resistance. The other potential issue is feeding the silica through the wick hole but wetting the ends with juice helps.

[/b]

Yeah, I noticed that macca wraps a small bit of mesh around the ends of the silica to help thread through the holes.